Op Sohor

CYBERJAYA — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) revealed today Johor Regent, Tunku Mahkota Ismail had provided information that assisted the investigations under Op Sohor, which are currently still ongoing.

Its chief commissioner, Tan Sri Azam Baki said the Regent also wanted to curb smuggling at the country’s borders.

“I would like to inform that His Royal Highness Tunku Mahkota Johor as Regent of Johor, has been very cooperative in this matter and wants such activities to be curbed,” he told the media after the close of the Anti-Corruption Graduates Convention (KOMAWAR) here today, adding that the syndicate is believed to be focused only in the southern region of the country with no new arrests being made.

“I expect so far there has been no (new arrests), if there are any links, (for instance) when we look into money laundering it might be possible there are other parties benefitting from this activity, and if so, we will investigate further,” he said.

He also said that the commission was looking into the reasons behind the existence of the online media company that two of the suspects arrested under Op Sohor were working for and confirmed that both suspects were not from any mainstream media.

“They work for a company, which name I can’t reveal, and we’re looking into why it was set up,” Azam said, adding that they believed that both the suspects acted as enablers by leaking information to the syndicate.

The MACC had arrested five senior armed forces officers on Wednesday for allegedly leaking military operation information to smugglers and colluding with a syndicate to smuggle in contraband, including drugs and cigarettes, estimated to be worth RM5 million a month.

Meanwhile, Azam said during his speech at the close of KOMAWAR that it was organised not only to provide exposure and education on corruption and integrity but to instill values and build character among university students.

The biennial KOMAWAR’s objective is to shape a generation of graduates to reject corruption and allow youth to support integrity and transparency in the country’s administration, he added. — BERNAMA

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Friday, August 15, 2025

MACC to investigate online media company over smuggling link

The post Op Sohor: MACC received information from Johor Regent appeared first on The Malaysian Reserve.

KUALA LUMPUR — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (SPRM) will investigate an online media company following the arrest of two of its staff members during Op Sohor, who are believed to be involved in a smuggling syndicate.

MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed that the owner of the company would be summoned soon to provide a statement.

“We have reason to believe the media company is being used as a front to enable and facilitate money laundering activities,” he told Bernama today.

Azam added that investigations are ongoing to determine the company’s involvement in the smuggling operation.

He also revealed that the two journalists arrested, along with eight other individuals—including senior military officers, are believed to have previously served in the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF).

“They are former MAF personnel, and initial investigations suggest they may have provided information to the smugglers,” Azam said.

On Wednesday (Aug 13), the media reported that MACC had remanded 10 individuals, including five senior MAF officers and two journalists from a news portal, suspected of involvement in a smuggling syndicate in the southern part of the country.

Also remanded were a company manager, an administrative assistant from the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), and a foreign woman.

The suspects, aged between 30 and 55, were arrested in the Klang Valley during Op Sohor, conducted by MACC’s Intelligence Division in collaboration with the police (PDRM). — BERNAMA

The post MACC to investigate online media company over smuggling link appeared first on The Malaysian Reserve.