Zahid: Peter Anthony's arrest not politically motivated

KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic) has denied that the arrests of Parti Warisan Sabah vice-president Datuk Peter Anthony and two others by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) were politically motivated.

"This case, involving Rural and Regional Development Ministry projects in Sabah, is something that people have been hearing about for a long time.

"But I appreciate that the current minister is ready to hand over evidence or documents to help smoothen investigations," said Dr Ahmad Zahid after launching the 10th Asean Ministers Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication on Friday morning.

Also at the event was Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

"In this matter, I am confident we are transparent, there is no political element," said Dr Ahmad Zahid.

He added that leakages should not have happened and that the federal government's commitment to rural areas in Sabah and Sarawak should not be "lost along the way".

Warisan vice-president Datuk Peter Anthony, and two others were arrested on Thursday by the MACC in investigations into the siphoning of more than RM100mil from rural project funds.