The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has urged Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen to hand over evidence of an alleged dodgy land deal involving companies linked to Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud's family.
 
The MACC said in a press statement issued today that it took Chong's allegations seriously and wanted Chong to help in its investigations.
 
"MACC welcomes any kind of evidence and information from the public and we would be very much appreciative if Chong would forward any information on this matter to the MACC.
 
"We will look into this matter seriously and we will do our investigations, as we have done before. Please forward us the valuable information and evidence to help us in this investigation," the MACC statement says.
 
Yesterday, Chong claimed that seven companies linked to Taib's family had acquired 94,773 acres of state land for RM200 million, far below the market price of RM1 billion.

MACC: We're not stalling

Chong, who is also a member of the Sarawak legislative assembly, said shell companies with no track record in the plantation sector wre involved in the transactions, which took place between 2000 and 2008.
 
He decided to make this information public on grounds that MACC's investigations into the long list of allegations against Taib were taking too long.
 
Chong also urged the MACC to listen to his coming speech in Parliament, during which he would reveal further details of his claims.
 
MACC in its statement also denied delaying the investigations against Taib. 
 
"We need time to investigate thoroughly as various people are involved, directly or indirectly, and to also collate related documents in this particular case," the statement adds.