Four remanded in Kuching over Sarawak drainage project corruption

By Dorcas Ting

KUCHING, Feb 5: Four individuals, including three businessmen and a Vietnamese woman, have been arrested in Kuching as part of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) Ops Flush investigation into alleged corruption involving government drainage and irrigation projects.

The suspects, aged between 25 and 60, were detained yesterday (Feb 4) and will be remanded for five days until next Monday (Feb 10) to assist MACC’s investigation.

During the operation, authorities confiscated RM1.39 million in cash and various luxury assets, including an apartment and a land grant, each valued at RM380,000, a Ford Ranger Raptor 2.8, a Proton X70, as well as gold and jade ornaments, including 18 jade bracelets and a luxury watch worth RM8,000.

All suspects are being held at the Kuching Magistrate’s Court for remand proceedings. However, a 71-year-old suspect has been released on MACC bail.

Among those arrested was an engineer from the Drainage and Irrigation Department, Sarikei Division, suspected of accepting bribes from a company in exchange for awarding projects worth RM12.02 million between 2018 and 2020.

The other suspects, including contractors and business owners, are believed to have been involved in the scheme.

MACC confirmed that these arrests are part of a broader probe into corruption in Sarawak’s drainage and irrigation projects between 2018 and 2020, with the total project value estimated at RM12.02 million. The investigation is ongoing, with further developments expected.

Yesterday, Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reported that MACC had arrested a total of six individuals, including a civil engineer and three company owners aged between 40 and 70, for allegedly bribing officials to secure government projects in Sarawak.

Preliminary investigations suggest that bribery has been occurring since 2006, with contractors allegedly allowing others to use their licenses in exchange for a 10 per cent commission on project value.

All suspects were expected to be brought to the magistrates’ courts in Miri, Sibu, and Kuching today for remand applications.

The case is being investigated under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009. – DayakDaily

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