PUTRAJAYA – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested 22 individuals over the investigation on the misappropriation of MITRA funds for the socioeconomic development of B40 Indian community under the Ministry of National Unity.
Most the detainees of Ops MITRA 2.0 by the MACC were company directors, presidents and secretaries of organisations and societies.
According to a source, six of them have been remanded between four to six days beginning today at the Selangor, Kedah and Putrajaya Magistrate Court.
Meanwhile, 16 individuals have been released on MACC bail.
The operation was carried out in seven states namely, Perak, Selangor, Kedah, Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka yesterday.
The source added, investigation has identified 337 companies, societies and non-government organisations (NGO) involving RM203 million in grants approved since 2019 and 2021.
The focus of MACC’s investigation involved two phases, where Phase 1.0 focussed on 27 companies, societies and NGO that have received funds between RM1 million and RM9 million.
In October 2021, the MACC arrested 18 individuals from 10 companies, societies and NGOs to assist in the same misappropriation case.
The operation also focussed on the remaining 17 companies and organisations from the similar group that have received funds between RM1 million and RM9 million.
According to that source, the MACC also collaborated with the Ministry of National Unity to set up a special internal investigation team and focussed on 310 companies that have received funds below RM1 million.
The internal investigation would investigate all forms of applications, expenditure report and the programmes carried out by the MITRA (Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit) grants recipients from 2019 until 2021.
The highest allocation was approved in 2019 involving over RM90 million to 205 companies, societies and NGOs.
From that amount, eight companies have been identified to have received over RM1 million in grants.
The Chief Commissioner of the MACC, Tan Sri Azam Baki verified the operation and arrest when contacted. He also said that the investigation is ongoing. -MalaysiaGazette
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