Phee denies 'RM2m in bank accounts frozen'

Penang state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh has denied news reports claiming that MACC had frozen RM2 million in his bank accounts.

The DAP assemblyperson said he was "shocked" to read such reports in "BN-controlled newspapers".

Phee claimed that these were lies fabricated to tarnish his reputation and end his political career.

"MACC should come clean to state whether such information has been told or leaked to the press, or take action against the ones who did.

"I have not been notified by the MACC that my accounts have been frozen," he told a press conference this afternoon.

Phee said his lawyer, RSN Rayer, attempted to meet with MACC officials today but were told that they were not free to do so.

Several mainstream media organisations had reported that Phee's bank accounts had been frozen, citing an MACC source.

According to Phee, the media organisations that published these claims did not contact him for verification.

The Sungai Puyu assemblyperson said he had instructed his lawyers to send legal notices to these media organisations.

Phee was arrested on Aug 10 for allegedly issuing letters to the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) to halt action on an illegal carbon filtering factory in Bukit Mertajam.

High Court ordered Phee's release

MACC raided the factory, MPSP and Phee's office in Komtar. Also raided were his service centre in Sungai Puyu and his house in Butterworth.

MACC intended to remand Phee for five days from Aug 12, but on Aug 15, he was ordered to be released by the High Court in Penang.

Phee said he was taking legal action against the newspapers as he felt the reports have also tarnished the name and image of the Pakatan Harapan Penang state government. 

He thanked Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, his fellow state exco members, as well as DAP leaders and supporters who believed in his "innocence", and that he did not commit any corruption. 

Describing his detention as "an evil conspiracy", Phee denied taking any bribes from the illegal company and said he, nor his family, have any interest in the business, which started operations in Bukit Mertajam in 2002. 

He also said the owners of the factory are not related to him. 

"I have faithfully served the Penang people as a state exco and elected representative and any letter I issue, is based on my duty as a state exco," Phee added.

"My family and I will fight these lies and clear my name."

Meanwhile, Rayer slammed the MACC for the agency's "irresponsibility" in leaking unverified information to the press.

He also ticked off the newspapers for publishing such "lies" as this could put Phee and his family at risk.

"Imagine that the whole world knows you have RM2 million in your account. Even if it is not true, it exposes Phee and his family to much risk," added Rayer, the DAP Seri Delima assemblyperson.

When met at Putrajaya today, MACC deputy chief commissioner Azam Baki denied that the graft-busters leaked the information.

"I don't know about the news but on our part, we never leaked any of our investigation's information (to the media)," he told reporters attending the signing of the Corruption-Free Pledge by Wisma Putra today. 

Azam, however, declined to comment if Phee had that much cash in his bank accounts.

"I cannot share with you what we have actually discovered. No denial nor confirmation," he added. - Mkini