GEORGE TOWN: Former Penang deputy chief minister II Dr P. Ramasamy missed a planned trip to Indonesia yesterday to receive a peace award, as he was barred from leaving the state.
Instead, he spent two hours at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office and was instructed to return for further questioning today.
Ramasamy was asked to explain to the MACC about the procurement process for the Golden Chariot during his tenure as chairman of the Penang Hindu Endowment Board (PHEB).
“They wanted details of the chariot purchase for the Waterfall Hilltop Temple. I’ve been asked to return at 10am tomorrow (today),” he said after leaving the office at 5pm yesterday.
Ramasamy visited the MACC office to clarify why he had been stopped from boarding a flight to Banda Aceh.
The travel ban, imposed at MACC’s directive, disrupted plans to receive a peace award from Wali Nanggroe Aceh for his efforts in brokering peace between Jakarta and Acehnese independence groups.
The MACC investigation into PHEB has picked up steam with several former commissioners being called up for questioning over the past few weeks. It is believed that a former board executive director was also detained yesterday.
Current PHEB chairman RSN Rayer said in August that an independent audit had flagged several concerns regarding the board’s administration, management and finances, prompting further investigations.
