KUALA LUMPUR — Bribes ranging from as little as RM2,000 to RM50,000 are believed to have been used to sidestep environmental enforcement, following the remand of six individuals by the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in a case that underscores the fragility of regulatory compliance.
The suspects — four men and two women aged between their 40s and 60s were remanded for four days until 24 January 2026 after an application by MACC at the Shah Alam Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
According to a source familiar with the investigation, the suspects allegedly paid cash inducements to a civil servant as an exchange for not taking legal action against their respective premises for offences under the Environmental Quality Act (EQA) 1974.
“The bribes are believed to have been given between February and November 2025, with amounts ranging from RM2,000 to RM50,000, all paid in cash,” the source said.
The arrests were carried out separately under Op Nature at several locations across Negeri Sembilan and the Klang Valley between 10.30am and 12.30pm on Monday.
Following the arrests, MACC also conducted searches at factories and residences linked to the suspects around the Klang Valley and Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, the source added.
The involvement of relatively small sums, investigators say, raises serious concerns about how environmental regulations meant to safeguard public health and ecological sustainability can be undermined through illicit payments.
When contacted, Selangor MACC director Mohd Azwan Ramli confirmed the arrests and said the case is being investigated under Section 17(b) of the MACC Act 2009, which relates to the giving of bribes.
Investigations are ongoing, and MACC has not ruled out further arrests as it probes the extent of the alleged scheme. – January 21, 2025