Two customs officers from the east coast were arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday for suspected involvement in graft and money laundering.

azlanThe duo, a married couple, were arrested at their home where, according to the MACC, "hundreds of thousands" in cash were found "littered" all over the house.

"This is part of a joint operation being run by a task force of six government agencies, led by the MACC," the commission's director of investigations Mustafa Ali told a press conference in Putrajaya.

He revealed that more than 100 companies in Penang, Kuantan, Johor, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur were raided in the day-long operation yesterday as the task force seized records and files to assist in investigations.

This included a search of an office used by MBSA councillor Ang Leng Kiat. The task force seized some 50 boxes of files and documents from the premises.

“But this has nothing to do with any (political) party, or individual,” Mustafa said, explaining that it was coincidental that Ang’s was one of the shipping firms investigated, among many others.

Other agencies involved in the operation, which was planned since a month ago, include the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) and Bank Negara.

In a statement issued later today, MACC said the operation also has nothing to do with the Selangor government, despite claims by "irresponsible individuals" otherwise.

‘Interlinked groups of individuals’

Mustafar identified two modus operandi that the ‘syndicate’ or interlinked groups of individuals used to facilitate illegal transfers of money out of the country.

“This involved the under-declaring of imported goods with the collusion of (corrupt) officials, as well as the transfer of monies overseas via moneychangers,” he related.

NONEMustafa (right) added that billions of ringgit are lost annually from such activities, though he did not specify the actual or estimated amount when asked to elaborate, only saying only the amount “is substantial”.

The nationwide crackdown, which took place all day yesterday, involved search and seizures of evidence from 85 forwarding agents, a holding company, 24 other related companies and 25 customs premises.

A total of 150 ‘suspicious’ bank accounts have also been frozen under the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Funding Act (AMLATFA) pending further investigations.

The raid came on the footsteps of allegations that the MACC has been lacklustre in its anti-graft action. with almost no ‘big fish’ cases being prosecuted.

This latest operation, while the biggest thus far, also failed to involve any big name, though Mustafa said that investigations were still under way.

Malaysia has also been identified by an international anti-graft watchdog as one of the countries with large amounts of cash seeping away via illegal and illicit transactions.