The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has begun investigating the multi-million logging scandal involving Umno Pahang, following the two reports lodged in July and August.

Last week, two Kuantan ACA officials took away several files from Seruan Gemilang Makmur (SGM) Sdn Bhd, a Kuantan-based logging company.

SGM director Lee Sin today told malaysiakini the files included the company profile, list of directors, minutes book and share register documents.

He said these records were among those in a list of documents that the ACA officers said they required.

"They said the documents are to be used for investigations, but also said their probe is expected to take at least a year to complete. They further said that several people will be called to provide statements," Lee said.

When contacted, ACA Kuantan director Rahim Musthakaim claimed he was unaware of the status of the probe.

"I don't know...I have about 50 officers in my office and they are carrying out investigations into so many things. I wouldn't know (the status) until they conclude the investigations and submit the findings to me," he said.

Asked whether Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaacob would be called to provide a statement, Rahim said his officers are given a free hand to do so if the need arises.

Delay questioned

To date, the two complainants - DAP national publicity chief Ronnie Liu and PAS member of Parliament for Kuala Pahang, Mohd Iqbal Hamdy Mohd Rusdi - have yet to be contacted by the ACA.

Liu had filed the complaint at the ACA headquarters in Putrajaya in July, while Mohd Iqbal had lodged a report in August on behalf of Barisan Alternatif.

Contacted for comments today, Mohd Iqbal questioned the delay, pointing out that he had lodged his report four months ago.

"Why hasn't action been taken before this? In the Terengganu case, they acted even before a public complaint was lodged," he said, referring to a complaint about a logging concession allegedly awarded by the PAS-led government.

He said the ACA has been dragging its feet because the Pahang case is believed to involve several prominent Umno figures in the state.

Malaysiakini reported in August that Umno Pahang had been awarded a logging concession for a huge tract of 10,000-acre land - about 40sq km in size - near Pekan, believed to be worth tens of millions of ringgit.

The concession was awarded in 1998 by the state government, then under Menteri Besar Khalil Yaacob (now the information minister), ostensibly for an oil palm plantation.

The complaints to the ACA were partly based on the current Pahang MB's denial of the state Umno's involvement in a transaction with SGM. Adnan claimed that he was in the dark over the deal since the approval was made during his predecessor's tenure. Adnan took over from Khalil in 1999.

Adnan also said he knew SGM had dealt with "one of two individuals" who allegedly cheated the company through misrepresentation and forgery.

In 2000, Umno Pahang gave SGM the exclusive right to fell, extract and sell the logs in the area. In return, the company paid the party a mere RM50,000 for the deal, said to be far lower than the real value.

Although almost all of the land has been stripped to date, Umno has repeatedly failed to pay a RM4.8 million land premium so that the logging activities can start.

The deal turned sour last June after the state forestry department refused to renew the company's logging licence for a remaining 3,000-acre site, prompting SGM to seek legal redress.

Two police reports have been lodged by SGM, in which company officials claimed that two of Adnan's close aides had received separate 'unofficial' payments amounting to more than RM320,000, so that the company could secure the lucrative concession.