PUTRAJAYA: Pro-Perikatan Nasional blogger Syarul Ema Rena Abu Samah (pic), better known as Ratu Naga, is being investigated over “rewards” she allegedly received for helping non-governmental organisations get grants.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Tan Sri Azam Baki said the agency was questioning Syarul Ema following complaints lodged against her.
The chief commissioner, however, did not disclose details of the investigation.
“We have received reports and we are investigating,” he said.
Azam said the blogger would not be remanded for now.
“We are only questioning her. We don’t plan to have her remanded, at least for now,” he added.
He also confirmed that his officers raided her house in Old Klang Road but did not disclose whether any items were taken.
Earlier yesterday, Syarul Ema’s husband, Ezad Zainal said several officers claiming to be from the MACC had raided their house at about 9.20am and “arrested” her.
He claimed the arrest was an “abuse of power”.
“They came, they searched (our house) and they took her,” Ezad said yesterday.
Asked for more details about the search, he said the officers only informed him that his wife was needed to facilitate an investigation.
“They didn’t allow my lawyer to intervene,” he said.
Syarul Ema’s lawyer Nabila Khairuddin claimed her request to meet her client was denied and that MACC officers refused to say why she was detained.
“The IO merely told me they are taking her statement,” she said.
Syarul Ema was the subject of a police investigation in October for social media posts that allegedly defamed Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, the wife of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
In December, she filed a lawsuit against the government seeking to nullify a provision in the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 that requires organisers to inform police about gatherings in advance, claiming it was not enforceable.
