Penang land sale probe: MACC extends remand for agency chief and company director

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) logo is pictured at its headquarters in Putrajaya, September 9, 2025. — Picture by Choo Choy May

First Published: Monday, 24 Aug 2026 1:14 PM MYT

GEORGE TOWN, Aug 24 — The remand period for a government agency chairman and a company director has been extended for another three days until Wednesday to assist investigations into an abuse of power case involving the disposal of land in Penang, with losses estimated at RM1.96 million.

The order to further remand the two men, both holding the title Datuk and aged in their 40s and 50s, was issued by Magistrate Nurhanisah SH Sahul Hamid.

On Thursday, five people, comprising a government agency chairman, two company directors, a technical manager and a female clerk, were detained at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office.

They were remanded for four days from Friday. Three of them have since been released on bail.

The chairman is suspected of abusing his position while serving as deputy chairman and a member of the Board of Directors to approve the sale of eight plots of land belonging to an agency under a ministry in Seberang Perai Selatan in 2015.

The land is believed to have been sold to a company owned by his associate at a price significantly below market value, resulting in losses estimated at RM1.96 million.

The case is being investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009. — Bernama