The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today called off a raid at the eleventh hour on Selangor exco member Roziah Ismail's office at the state secretariat, after negotiations with her lawyers.

NONEThe commission had earlier dispatched five officers to Roziah's office in Shah Alam as part of their investigations at 2.45pm.

However the PKR state representative's officers refused to allow the MACC personnel into the office.

Roziah was attending the state exco meeting at the time but her lawyers who arrived at the office negotiated with the MACC officers, resulting in the raid being called off.

The MACC personnel left the office at 3.55pm, avoiding reporters and photographers. Rodziah was not seen on the premises during this time.

The visit was part of the MACC's ongoing graft probe believed to be a result of a report lodged by corruption watchdog Gerak.

‘ACC did not follow rules’

Speaking to reporters later, lawyers Salim Basheer and Ariff Azami confirmed that the MACC had gone to Rodziah’s office to seize documents.

However, they said the MACC could not do this today because they did not follow procedures in that Rodziah had not received prior notification.

“We pointed out to them that they did not comply with the legal requirement (to issue) a notice and to specify what documents are needed from my client,” said Ariff.

NONEHe said that the MACC agreed to comply with this requirement and return another day, but the date yet to be set.

Salim was unsure about the details of the investigation, but believes that it is related to the distribution of state allocations for the state constituency of Sementa, held by Umno, which is under Rodziah’s purview.

“Whatever the case, we will cooperate fully,” said Salim.

Roziah is the exco in charge of welfare, women affairs and science technology and innovation.

MB: We are open for investigations

Meanwhile, Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim said in jest that it was "quite common" for MACC officers to visit the state secretariat building and it would be "strange" not to have the anti-graft watchdog around.

"We welcome (any) investigation, but they (MACC) must go through the (legal) process. If you investigate any of our officers... the officer has the right to call for legal assistance... and they have to be interviewed in this building," he said.

He said the two requirements were imposed following the death of DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock and officers have been instructed the contact a panel of lawyers for assistance in the event they are under investigations by the authorities.

"But we will not stop MACC from doing their job," Khalid told reporters after chairing a six-hour state executive council meeting.

Khalid also clarified that Rodziah has been cleared by doctors of carrying the AH1N1 flu virus and was fit for duty, but her driver has been tested positive for the deadly virus recently.

This is the MACC's second raid on an office belonging to a Selangor exco member. On July 15, the MACC had raided the office of exco member Ean Yong Hian Wah.

They had then summoned his aide Teoh for questioning at their office in Shah Alam. He was found dead outside the building the next day and an inquest is in progress.