MACC arrests Tei in sudden raid amid explosive graft scandal at PMO

A team of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers arrived at the home of Albert Tei this morning before taking him away to Putrajaya for questioning, as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim faces his greatest challenge following the businessman's shocking expose this week of high-level corruption involving his office.

The officers had arrived with a warrant to raid his home in Puchong.

This was despite MACC earlier saying Tei’s statement would only be recorded on Dec 1, a contradiction his lawyer says raises serious questions about procedural fairness.

"These sudden enforcement actions make a mockery of the prime minister’s public claim that this administration upholds integrity and due process. Institutions that operate with integrity do not ambush whistleblowers or informers, contradict their own timelines, or behave as though they have something to fear from transparency," said Tei's lawyer Mahajoth Singh.

"This upside-down use of state power is not just alarming; it is a direct attack on informers and the public’s right to know."

He said Tei had been cooperating with investigators and would continue to do so, but warned against any action "that departs from proper legal procedure" or "political interference".

Mahajoth meanwhile questioned why no similar action had been taken against Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, Anwar's political secretary who resigned this week following Tei's explosive revelations that he had showered him with gifts, rented homes and cash in return for a favour that also involved the role of the prime minister and Azam.

"Such selective enforcement speaks volumes," said Mahajoth.

On Tuesday, Tei - the man behind explosive videos implicating Sabah Chief Minister and GRS chairman Hajiji Noor and 14 ruling politicians in corrupt practices - revealed that he had spent almost RM630,000 on Shamsul in the hope that the latter would help him negotiate with Hajiji to recover the money he paid to several GRS politicians.

Tei showed proof that he paid for renovations, luxury gifts, tailored suits, appliances, furnishings for two properties, as well as cash totalling about RM350,000 for Shamsul.

Tei also released secretly recorded video of a conversation last week with a woman identified as Shamsul's proxy, who has since identified herself as Sofia Rini Buyong.

In the video, Sofia agreed with Tei's suggestion that the money and gifts he spent on Shamsul were in exchange for help in speaking to Hajiji to recover monies paid to ruling Sabah politicians.

'Azam knew the plan'

Sofia said it was Shamsul and Anwar's idea that Tei secretly record his conversations with various Sabah politicians, adding that Shamsul had also spoken to Azam about the plan.

She later denied everything she was heard agreeing with Tei, adding that it was a conspiracy to undermine the government.

Yesterday, Sofia went to the MACC headquarters for her statement to be taken.

But Mahajoth said with Azam himself implicated in the scandal, MACC’s investigation would be “structurally tainted” and “legally questionable”.

"When the head of an investigative agency becomes personally entangled in the allegations under scrutiny, that agency can no longer conduct a credible, impartial or lawful investigation as long as that individual remains in office," he said.