MACC has arrested businessperson Albert Tei after raiding his residence in Puchong, Selangor, according to his lawyers.
Based on short video clips shared with Malaysiakini, a group of MACC operatives in full tactical gear - including bulletproof vests and balaclavas - put Tei in handcuffs before escorting him into an unmarked black sedan.
His legal counsel, Zaid Malek, who recorded the video, was heard asking the officers repeatedly where they were taking Tei and to speak to the officer in charge, but to no avail.
Tei - who is the central figure in a slew of corruption allegations against prominent politicians - was seen raising his hands to the camera several times while chanting “lawan tetap lawan” (we fight on) before he was placed inside the car.
The officers, who came in several vehicles, then took Tei away, only to return to the house minutes later.
Puzzled by the action, Zaid told Malaysiakini that he was checking why MACC had returned to the residence.
Later, when met by Malaysiakini at Tei’s home, Zaid said the MACC officers left for a second time at about 12.50pm, still with the businessperson in their custody, without disclosing where he was being brought to.
Likening the authorities’ actions to an act of kidnapping, the lawyer slammed the officers for acting unjustly and behaving in a way that “makes it seem like the law doesn’t exist in Malaysia”.
“Not a single MACC or police officer showed me their authority card. I asked them repeatedly where (Tei) was being taken to, and not a single officer informed me (of the details),” Zaid said.
He confirmed that while Tei had been issued a search warrant for his home, the document was sent from “an unknown number claiming to be an MACC officer” who allegedly failed to state his identity.
A whistleblower’s treatment
Earlier today, another lawyer representing Tei, Mahajoth Singh, in a statement, said MACC officers had raided the residence with a warrant.
The counsel described it as an illegal entry as they had already fixed a date to record Tei’s statement on Monday.
“Is this how an informer of corruption is treated? Why break into his house when he is the one who provided the information?” Mahajoth asked.
He said the anti-graft officers also demanded to take Tei to their headquarters in Putrajaya.
“The contradiction is glaring and unjustifiable. 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.
“Malaysia now appears to be the only country where individuals who disclose alleged high-level corruption are the ones raided, hauled away, and threatened with prosecution.
“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,” the lawyer added.
Malaysiakini has reached out to the MACC and its chief commissioner, Azam Baki, for comment.
Meanwhile, former law minister Zaid Ibrahim criticised MACC for raiding Tei’s home while his counsel was out of town.
“MACC definitely needs a total revamp by the next government,” he said on X.
Aide’s alleged association
Tei has been on a warpath to take down politicians whom he allegedly gave money to for mineral exploration licences, which he did not end up getting.
His latest accusation was levelled against Malacca PKR chief Shamsul Iskandar Akin, whom Tei claimed he had spent RM629,000 on.
Shamsul, who is a former political secretary to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, had purportedly assured Tei that he could recoup the money channelled to politicians in Sabah.
Tei had also furnished Malaysiakini with WhatsApp screenshots from December 2023 in which Shamsul purportedly requested money while travelling abroad.
In another snippet of Tei’s conversation with Shamsul’s alleged proxy, it was alleged that Anwar had given the green light for Tei to record his conversations about kickbacks with Sabah politicians.
Shamsul has since resigned as Anwar’s political secretary in anticipation of the accusations levelled against him. He has vowed to defend himself.
He has lodged a police report against Tei over a claim linking Anwar to video recordings of several Sabah politicians in the mining licence scandal.
MACC is expected to record Shamsul’s statement today. - Mkini
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