Macc Denies Arresting Syed Saddiq

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The MACC has denied arresting former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (above) who has been at the agency’s headquarters in Putrajaya for questioning since this morning
MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki confirmed this with Malaysiakini when queried on Syed Saddiq’s status
“No,” he said in a brief reply via WhatsApp
Syed Saddiq’s aide Luqman Long explained that the former minister was called in for a second time to assist in investigations and arrived at the MACC’s headquarters at about 10am today
He said Syed Saddiq was asked to give a statement regarding the RM250,000 that was allegedly missing from the Muar MP's house safe
“He went to the MACC again at about 10am […] but he’s still in the MACC building and hasn’t left,” Luqman told Malaysiakini this afternoon
“He was summoned to assist in investigations regarding the money at his house,” he said
Yesterday, Syed Saddiq had to cut short his attendance at Parliament when he was summoned to give a statement to the MACC
He arrived at about 4pm yesterday and left about three hours later
Earlier today, rumours circulated that the MACC had arrested Syed Saddiq
“It is untrue. So far, he is still assisting investigations and no arrests have been made,” Luqman said when asked about this
He said the MACC was questioning Syed Saddiq regarding his financial records before the 14th general election and during his tenure as youth and sports minister
The MACC was treating Syed Saddiq fairly and was only asking questions related to the investigation, Luqman added
On March 25, Syed Saddiq had lodged a police report claiming that RM250,000 had gone missing from his safe
He said most of the missing money was to fund renovations at his house in Petaling Jaya
Of the missing sum, RM90,000 belonged to him whereas RM50,000 belonged to his mother and RM70,000 to his father
The incident occurred amid turbulence within Bersatu where Syed Saddiq - the party’s former youth chief - sided with Langkawi MP Dr Mahathir Mohamad who is leading a rebel faction
Pro-Mahathir Bersatu Youth members have accused the MACC of harassing those who oppose the Perikatan Nasional government, but the anti-corruption agency has denied any political motive behind the investigation. - Mkini

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