The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) arrested the president of a Sabah-based NGO, a man in his 60s, on July 21 for allegedly misappropriating RM2 million intended for a cultural hall project in 2022. The suspect reportedly applied for and started the project without approval from the NGO’s supreme council members, violating internal protocols [1, 2, 3, 4]. Sabah MACC director Datuk Mohd Fuad Bee Basrah said, "The case is being investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 for abuse of power" [4]. The president is expected to be charged at the Kota Kinabalu Special Corruption Court on July 23 [1, 2, 3, 4].
On the same day, MACC detained the NGO’s secretary and treasurer, a man and woman in their 30s, at its Putrajaya headquarters over alleged money laundering involving RM5 million from the organisation's funds [1, 5, 6]. The two suspects allegedly conspired to receive, possess, transfer, convert, and use proceeds of unlawful activities linked to the misappropriation between 2021 and 2023 [1, 5, 6]. MACC Anti-Money Laundering Division director Datuk Norhaizam Muhammad said, "The case is being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA 2001)" [5]. The secretary and treasurer are slated for court on July 29 at the Shah Alam Sessions Court [1, 5, 6].
The alleged RM7 million misappropriation involves RM2 million for the unapproved cultural hall project and RM5 million linked to laundering activities by the two officials. Investigations are ongoing. The next procedural step is the Sabah NGO president’s expected charge on July 23 and the secretary and treasurer’s charge on July 29.
