The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) made several high-profile corruption case arrests in Sabah, Melaka, Johor and Kuala Lumpur in 2017 to close the year on a high note.
Despite facing various challenges and obstacles throughout the year, the MACC was not deterred in carrying out its responsibility of eradicating graft which has been declared as the country’s number one enemy, regardless of the status of the individuals involved.
Among the cases which caught the public’s imagination was the embezzlement of Sabah rural development funds to the tune of RM1.5 billion allegedly linked to former Rural and Regional Development Minister, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and both his brothers, Datuk Yusof Apdal and Hamid Apdal.
The case sparked a media frenzy when Yusof, 57, was detained by the MACC on Oct 17 to assist in the investigation. Two days later, Shafie Apdal was also picked up over the same case after giving his statement to the Sabah MACC.
With the arrest of Shafie Apdal, who is also Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) president, also included were Warisan’s vice-president Datuk Peter Anthony, its Youth Chief Datuk Azis Jamman and a civil engineer who is also a consultant with a company, the MACC detained 11 individuals in total over the case.
On Oct 27, Shafie Apdal, who is Member of Parliament for Semporna, was released on a RM100,000 bail in two local sureties with a deposit of RM80,000.
