There is no political element in the high-profile operation carried out by the MACC in Sabah, according to Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He was commenting on whether the move could be perceived as being politically motivated.

Zahid also thanked current Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob for providing related evidence, which included documents needed to facilitate the probe.

"We have been transparent (in handling the investigation)," he said.

"There is no political element in this case and we should put our trust in MACC to ensure that projects are truly beneficial to the rakyat instead (of) going awry or being misappropriated because some people have their own agendas," he added.

As of yesterday, MACC had frozen RM179 million in bank accounts in relation to the case.

The commission yesterday also arrested Parti Warisan Sabah vice president Peter Anthony and two others to facilitate investigations.

Warisan is headed by former rural and regional development minister Mohd Shafie Apdal, who was dropped from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's cabinet in 2015 over his critical views on 1MDB.

According to the MACC, there was a syndicate in Sabah which would make claims for government projects that were never carried out. 

MACC deputy chief commissioner of operations Azam Baki had confirmed that an operation was underway but declined to name the ministry involved.

Peter had denied wrongdoing, stressing that he received the contracts based on proper procedure.

Shafie now helms Warisan after he was dropped from cabinet in 2015.