KOTA SAMARAHAN: Investigation into the purchase of a luxury hotel in Kuching by Felda Investment Corporation (FIC) is at the final stage, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said today.
Its chief commissioner Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad said the commission is expected to complete the investigation soon.
He, however, did not provide details on the specific timeframe for the completion of the probe.
“It (case) is in the final stage now and (hopefully) will be completed soon,” he said.
It was reported FIC’s 2014 purchase on the hotel, which could accommodate 213 guest rooms and apartment suites, had raised suspicions of corruption and abuse of power.
It was alleged that FIC paid between RM40 million and RM50 million more than the actual market value of the hotel.
Three teams from MACC headquarters, accompanied by their Sarawak counterpart, visited the offices of three companies and the hotel as part of the investigation into the case in July this year.
The three companies, which include a developer and property agent, were believed to have been involved in the purchase of the hotel, allegedly bought by FIC at an inflated price about two years ago.
On the purchase of another hotel in Kensington, London by FIC, Dzulkifli said the case would require more time as it involved another country.
“We are applying through our AG (Attorney-General) for a mutual assistance with the United Kingdom.
“We are still communicating with them,”
“The case can only be completed once we are given mutual assistance from our counterparts in the UK.” he said.
The four-star Park City Hotel in Kensington, comprising 62 guest rooms and two three-bedroom serviced apartments, was reportedly overpaid by at least £20 million (RM110 million).
It was reported that FIC had bought the hotel for £98 million (RM543 million) in 2014.
Dzulkifli was speaking to the reporters after an anti-graft gathering at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) today.
Earlier, more than 1,000 university students gathered at the university’s Arena Gemilang, DeTAR Putera to show their support for efforts to curb corruption in the country.
“The young generation today will be leading the country in the future, thus, they have an important role to help Malaysia become a corruption-free nation,” he said.
“This year, we are targeting university students and equip them with effective thinking skills on how to handle and fight against corruption.
"We need to educate them on the consequences of abuse of power, receiving and offering of bribes and how these unhealthy practices can destroy a nation.” he added.
MACC, he said, plans to focus its awareness programmes on younger students next year, such as those in the primary and secondary schools.