PUTRAJAYA: After having his statement recorded for five hours, Selangor Menteri Besar’s strategic communications director, Yin Shao Loong, was released by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) at 3.55pm today.
A relief Yin told reporters outside the MACC headquarters that he was called in due to the press statement he issued about the MACC raids in Unisel, Mentri Besar Incorporated (MBI) and Jana Niaga Sdn Bhd last week.
"I told them that I issued the press statement on the MACC raids within my capacity as the press officer in the MB's office," Yin said.
MACC also questioned why he tweeted a copy of the summons he received from them yesterday.
"It's my personal Twitter account. I can tweet whatever I like," he added.
"After all, I know the late Teoh Beng Hock (a press officer who died while under MACC's investigation) and it's good to let people know where I am."
Describing MACC as professional in carrying out their duties, Yin however, thought it was a complete waste of time to summon him just because of a press statement.
"I was basically asked to make a statement about my statement which they've read in the Star. I think it's a waste of time to call me in just because of that."
As the investigation procedures took a long while to be completed, Yin thought he might not be able to return home.
But the head of MACC investigation division Datuk Simi Abd Ghani assured that Yin was called in to assist MACC in its investigation into Unisel.
"He is not a suspect. But we need him to assist us with the ongoing investigation into Unisel," Simi told the New Straits Times over the phone.
The MACC investigation team is currently going through Yin's five-page statement and Simi is uncertain if Yin would be summoned again in the near future.
"I haven't gotten the full report. So I can't comment," Simi said.
A summons to appear at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya was sent to Yin's office yesterday.
On August 22, MACC raided the three entities – a move the Selangor government described as an attempt to smear its image.
It was reported that Jana Niaga allegedly received monetary compensation and a new contract from Unisel despite failing to complete a previous contract.
Unisel and MBI said in a statement that the deal was the result of a High Court and Court of Appeal order to settle the dispute between the university and Jana Niaga via arbitration.