MACC probe in Johor not politically motivated - Shahrir Samad

Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Abd Samad said it in fact brought a clear message that all actions of the people including government employees were being observed.

"This is a message. Do not think that the MACC is not observing, the people are not observing or officers in the organisation are also not observing.

"So do not try. When caught, one has to face the consequences," he said when commenting on a recent case here, today.

He had earlier launched the Johor Bahru City Foundation Integrated Education Project 2017 Session at Sultan Ismail Library at Johor Bahru City Council.

Shahrir said he believed the issue would be distorted by the opposition in the coming general election but he is confident the support of the people for the state government is generally unaffected.

"I do not think support will be affected, as what is important is that the action is not politically motivated. This is like some people say about Felda recently when a former general manager and a deputy general manager were charged for criminal breach of trust and abetment.

"In this case, the investigation and action had started from Felda itself as the agency had been set up for so long, and it has its own governance.

"Later there will be investigations by the company's accountant, legal firms appointed and the results of the internal investigation will be submitted to the Auditor-General before MACC could take any follow-up actions," he said.

On Feb 24, six individuals including the son and special officer of a senior state government officer were arrested by MACC over a property corruption and embezzlement scandal in the state.

MACC also froze 45 bank accounts valued at RM15.5 million and seized 21 luxury cars, five high-powered motorcycles, RM500,000 in cash including foreign currencies as well as documents to assist investigations.