part, corruption, network, Penang?Or, more, worms, wood?

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) moves in on a Penang shark!

According to The Star today, by-lined senior crime reporter Lourdes Charles, the Penang State MACC director Latifah MD Yatim has confirmed the arrest of a senior consultant "acting for the Penang state government" for alleged graft involving RM350,000.00.

The modus operandi is simple, or so it seems.

From The Star again, the consultant was said to have demanded RM400,000 from one of the contractors involved in the RM11 million upgrading works of the Free Trade Zone in Bayan Baru. The contractor initially refused to pay the consultant but when the man refused to sign any acknowledgment for works done and for payments to be made, the contractor gave in and negotiated the amount.

Once the amount had been agreed upon, the contractor lodged a report with the state MACC. Several MACC officers were immediately assigned to probe the report. The MACC reportedly placed the man under surveillance for several weeks and moved in on him on Wednesday after he was alleged to have collected the money and gone back to his office.

Meanwhile, The Star says, the state MACC is also monitoring several others involved in the project and they will be called up to assist in investigations.

A sting?

According to The Star, the said upgrading project is being carried out by the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP).

However, my sources said the project was funded by the federal government, and the contractor -- whose name I shall withhold -- was appointed by a federal agency.

MPPP is involved in the coordination aspects on the work site, as well as the various stages of local council approvals. The consultant was engaged by MPPP through an open tender to oversee the project.

My sources also revealed that the consultant, a Penang-based aged 55 whose name I shall also withhold for the time-being, has a track record for being strict in his work.

My questions are:

1. Was this senior consultant actually collecting bribes on behalf of the whole conduit of greased palms, not excluding the Heads of Department at the local council and the federal agency as well?

2. Or was he being framed for being strict with the federal-appointed contractor?