Orders came from Putrajaya, says MACC intelligence man
By Debra Chong, The Malaysian Insider
The order to investigate Teoh Beng Hock’s state lawmaker boss for alleged graft came from Putrajaya, a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) intelligence officer told the coroner’s court today, hinting at a far more complex turn of events in Pakatan Rakyat-ruled Selangor.
Assistant enforcer Arman Alies told the court investigating the mysterious circumstances surrounding the political aide’s death that he was with the national anti-graft body’s intelligence division, based in Putrajaya.
He also said the Selangor branch had its own intelligence division and its office was on level 15 of Plaza Masalam, directly above the state office.
Teoh was the political secretary to first-term Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah. The MACC had called him in on July 15 as a witness to help investigate claims Ean Yong, who is also the DAP state assemblyman for Seri Kembangan, had misused his allowance meant to help residents in his constituency.
The 30-year-old Teoh was found mysteriously dead nine floors below outside the Selangor MACC office here the next day.
His family and employer claim foul play was involved.
Under questioning from lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, who is acting for the Selangor state government, Arman said he and three other officers from the MACC headquarters had received orders from Putrajaya to get involved with an operation investigating Pakatan Rakyat (PR) assemblymen in Selangor.
“So, orders from Putrajaya, not Selangor?” Malik asked.
Arman gave a firm yes.
His statement, however, seemed to contradict the Selangor MACC officer leading the investigations against PR.
Mohd Anuar Ismail had previously told the inquest that the PR probe was initiated by top anti-graft officials from Selangor.
In his testimony, he named Selangor MACC deputy director Hishamuddin Hashim and investigations unit chief Hairul Ilham Hamzah.
