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New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
RM177mil cash seizure among largest in agency's history
KAJANG: Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki revealed today the RM177 million seized in a case linked to the ninth prime minister is one of the largest sums he has seen in his 42-year career. He said the only comparable case was the RM53.3 million found during the 2016 Sabah Water Department scandal, previously the biggest in his experience. Azam made the remarks, without specifically naming Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, while launching Universiti Islam Selangor's (UIS) integrity policy. He said the massive amount of cash had a strong "scent of money." "I remember holding a press conference in October 2016 where I saw mountains of cash stacked in an MACC room in Sabah. Even if there had been faeces in that room, you wouldn't have smelled it because the only smell was that of money, sweet, tempting. At a March 3 press conference, the MACC displayed nearly RM170 million in foreign currencies and 16kg of gold bars worth almost RM7 million. The items were seized from three locations, including a "safe house", in a corruption and money laundering probe involving Ismail Sabri, according to the MACC. The cash was in currencies including Baht, Riyal, Pound, Won, Euro, Swiss Franc, and Yuan. Azam also addressed claims of selective prosecution made earlier this year. "I responded: just look at the money on the table, does this look like a case of selective prosecution?" he said. He said members of the Special Committee on Corruption recently questioned him about claims of systemic corruption in Malaysia. "I told them, the corruption we're seeing today stems from the values instilled in us by our families, our own attitudes, and the environments where we were educated. "We once had leaders determined to combat corruption, which led to the formation of the Anti-Corruption Agency (BPR). "But after the economy began to boom and more people amassed wealth from the share market, society began chasing material wealth. Integrity took a backseat. We even began raising our children to chase success and money rather than teaching them to be good and useful people," he said.
Borneo Post
30-04-2025
- Borneo Post
‘I knew nothing about contractor fee scheme' – former Water Dept boss
KOTA KINABALU (April 30): A former director of the Sabah Water Department told a money laundering trial at a Sessions Court here today that he had no knowledge about an unofficial meeting alleging him of agreeing to contribution collections from contractors at about 27.5 percent from project costs at the contractors' respective divisions. Ag Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib, 63, who was testifying before judge Abu Bakar Manat, said that what transpired in the said unofficial meeting was nothing to do with him. Under examination-in-chief by his counsel Datuk Hj Ansari Abdullah, Ag Mohd Tahir, who opted to give sworn evidence, claimed that what was said in the unofficial meeting was a statement from Teo Chee Kong. Ag Mohd Tahir, who was the first witness for his defence with his wife Fauziah Hj Piut, was responding to a question from Ansari in regards to a witness statement by 36th prosecution witness. It was revealed in the prosecution stage trial that the 36th prosecution witness had testified among others that on April 7, 2005, the 36th prosecution witness confirmed Ag Mohd Tahir's attendance in a meeting with division and district engineers at a meeting room of the Sabah Water Department headquarters. Recapping the 36th prosecution witness' evidence, the 36th prosecution witness had testified that after the said meeting with Ag Mohd Tahir, the 36th prosecution witness had attended the said unofficial meeting whereby the 36th prosecution witness claimed that only Teo and engineers from divisions and districts were there. The 36th prosecution witness also had testified that in the said unofficial meeting Teo had allegedly told the engineers that Ag Mohd Tahir had allegedly agreed to the percentage of collection contributions from project costs. When asked how was his work relationship with the 36th prosecution witness, Ag Mohd Tahir said that just normal as one of the staff at the said department. Ag Mohd Tahir was on trial together with Fauziah, 58, and former deputy director of the Sabah Water Department, Lim Lam Beng @ Lim Chee Hong, 69. Ag Mohd Tahir faces 11 charges while Fauziah faces 19 charges under under Section 4 (1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. Fauziah has another two joint charges with Ag Mohd Tahir under Section 4 (1)(b) of the same Act and Ag Mohd Tahir also has another charge under Section 4(1)(a) of the same Act. The alleged offences against Ag Mohd Tahir and his spouse were allegedly committed at his office here, a house in Sembulan, at bank branches, at a condominium, in Sulaman and a tower in Kuala Lumpur between October 4 and November 4, 2016. Lim was alleged to have committed the offences at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office at Jalan UMS and at a house here between October 13 and November 8, 2016. Deputy public prosecutors Mahadi Abdul Jumaat and Haresh Prakash Somiah appeared for the prosecution. Fauziah was represented by Ansari and together with Ansari, was counsel Erveana Ansari. As for Lim, he was defended by counsel Datuk Tan Hock Chuan, Baldev Singh, Karpaljit Singh and Kelvin Wong. The trial will resume on June 25.
New Straits Times
30-04-2025
- New Straits Times
Ex-Sabah Water director denies approving contractor contribution scheme
KOTA KINABALU: A former Sabah Water Department director has denied agreeing to the collection of contributions. Testifying in his defence before Sessions Court judge Abu Bakar Manat, Ag Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib said he was completely unaware of any decisions made during the unofficial meeting where he was purportedly to approve a contribution amounting to 27.5 per cent of project costs from contractors. He said that all statements regarding the meeting had come from Teo Chee Kong, who was his deputy at the time. Ag Mohd Tahir made this statement in response to a question from his counsel, Datuk Ansari Abdullah, relating to the testimony of the 36th prosecution witness, Suhaimi Asbullah. On trial alongside Ag Mohd Tahir, 63, are his wife, Fauziah Piut, 57, and former deputy director, Lim Lam Beng, 66. The trio are jointly facing 37 charges of money laundering involving cash and bank savings totalling RM61.57 million, as well as the unlawful possession of luxury items between October and November 2016. During the prosecution stage, the 36th witness testified, that on April 7, 2005, he confirmed Ag Mohd Tahir's attendance at a meeting with divisional and district engineers at the department's headquarters. Recounting Suhaimi's testimony, the witness said that following the meeting with Ag Mohd Tahir, he attended an unofficial session which, he claimed, was only attended by Teo and engineers from various divisions and districts. The witness further testified that, during this unofficial meeting, Teo had allegedly informed the engineers that Ag Mohd Tahir had approved the 27.5 per cent contribution collection from project costs to be implemented in the respective divisions or districts. When asked about his working relationship with the 36th prosecution witness, Ag Mohd Tahir described it as normal, typical of a department head and his staff. Deputy public prosecutors Mahadi Abdul Jumaat and Haresh Prakash Somiah appeared for the prosecution. Fauziah was represented by Ansari and Erveana Ansari, while Lim was defended by Datuk Tan Hock Chuan, Baldev Singh, Karpaljit Singh, and Kelvin Wong. The trial will resume on June 25.
Borneo Post
29-04-2025
- Borneo Post
Money laundering trial adjourned pending caution statements
The Kota Kinabalu Court Complex. KOTA KINABALU (Apr 29): A Sessions Court here on Tuesday put off the defence trial of three individuals, including a former director of the Sabah Water Department to April 30 for money laundering charges, pending the production of caution statements that were recorded nine years ago. In his decision, judge Abu Bakar Manat took the position to adjourn the trial of ex-director Ag Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib, 60, Ag Mohd Tahir's wife Fauziah Hj Piut, 58, and former deputy director of the said department, Lim Lam Beng @ Lim Chee Hong, 69, when the defence stage trial was supposed to proceed on Tuesday. 'In view of to the position stated of that the defence counsel (for Ag Mohd Tahir and Fauziah) still insist for caution statements of Ag Mohd Tahir and Fauziah, taken on October 15, 2016, to be supplied before we can proceed with the defence case. 'So in view of that, we take position to adjourn the matter until tomorrow (today) morning,' said the judge. The trio had been tried for alleged money laundering offences involving cash, bank savings as well as alleged unlawful possession of luxurious items. During a previous hearing, the judge had fixed a three-day trial from April 28 to 30 for them to answer their defence. Ag Mohd Tahir and Lim had opted to give evidence under oath from the witness stand while Fauziah chose to give an unsworn evidence for her defence. The prosecution offered 38 witnesses to the defence. It was reported that according to counsel Datuk Ansari Abdullah, who represented Ag Mohd Tahir and Fauziah, they may call or interview six individuals, namely Tan Sri Pairin Kitingan and Datuk Raymond Tan, both former Ministers of Infrastructure Development, Datuk Felix Madan and Datuk Michael Emban, both former Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, former Deputy Permanent Secretary (Development) of the State Ministry of Finance Datuk Peter Thien and Teo Chit Ming. Ag Mohd Tahir faces 11 charges while Fauziah faces 19 charges under Section 4 (1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. Fauziah has another two joint charges with Ag Mohd Tahir under Section 4 (1)(b) also of the same Act and Ag Mohd Tahir also has another charge under Section 4(1)(a) of the same Act. The alleged offences against Ag Mohd Tahir and his spouse were allegedly committed at his office here, a house in Sembulan, at bank branches, at a condominium, in Sulaman and a tower in Kuala Lumpur between October 4 and November 4, 2016. Lim was alleged to have committed the offences at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office at Jalan UMS and at a house here between October 13 and November 8, 2016. Deputy public prosecutors Mahadi Abdul Jumaat and Haresh Prakash Somiah appeared for the prosecution. Counsel Datuk Tan Hock Chuan, Baldev Singh, Karpaljit Singh and Kelvin Wong defended Lim.
New Straits Times
26-04-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Sabah can tackle doctor shortage by strengthening STEM education, says deputy minister
KOTA KINABALU: The way to address the doctor shortage in Sabah is through strengthening Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education from the school level, said the deputy higher education minister. Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, the Sepanggar member of parliament, said Sabah lags behind other states when it comes to student involvement in STEM. "Medicine is part of STEM, and if we don't emphasise this at the school level, not many will go on to pursue medicine, engineering or other related disciplines. "The core issue lies in our schools. We need to fix this at the root. "If students aren't equipped or interested in STEM subjects early on, it becomes difficult for them to qualify for medical faculties later." He said this at a Hari Raya celebration at Tun Ahmad Shah Mosque here. Recently, former state health director Datuk Dr Christina Rundi said that instead of having an ideal ratio of 1 doctor to 400 people, Sabah has 1 to 700. Mustapha added that Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has established a medical faculty to support the state's aspirations of producing more doctors. "Now the challenge is ensuring our children meet the requirements and have the interest." Mustapha had earlier urged those who just received their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia results to apply for courses that offer better employment prospects. Meanwhile, commenting on water woes at UMS, he said the Sabah Water Department would give priority in supplying water to UMS tanks. "At the same time, if there is a reduction in water supply from the Sabah Water Department, we have nine tube wells that were built last year to temporarily meet the needs of the students." Present was Inanam assemblyman Datuk Peto Galim.
