sapura energy

SAPURA Energy Bhd (SEB) announced the resignation of Datuk Shahriman Shamsuddin from its board of directors today, just hours before the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) revealed that its investigation into SEB’s foreign assets is expected to be lengthy and complex.

Shahriman, 56, resigned from his role as non-independent and non-executive director due to other commitments, according to the company’s Bursa Malaysia filing.

He is a member of the Shamsuddin family, which holds significant equity interest in SEB through Sapura Holdings Sdn Bhd.

Earlier in the day, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki told reporters that the commission’s investigation into SEB’s overseas assets – valued at approximately US$3.3 million (RM14 million) – is expected to be protracted due to the complexity of international cooperation and data access.

“The investigation into SEB’s overseas assets is expected to take time, as gathering the required information is a lengthy process,” said Azam at a press conference held at MACC headquarters.

He added that formal requests for assistance would be made to authorities in jurisdictions such as Brazil, the Netherlands, and Singapore.

The probe centres on the alleged abuse of power involving RM12 million by certain individuals, believed to have occurred in 2018 when Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) injected capital into Sapura Energy, effectively transforming it into a government-linked company (GLC).

Azam said 15 witnesses have been interviewed so far, with no arrests made.

He also confirmed that MACC had frozen several assets belonging to directors of Sapura Petroleum and their families, including two luxury homes worth RM5.5 million reportedly owned by SEB’s Chief Executive Officer.

“In this first phase of the investigation, we are determining whether the RM12 million is connected to an offence under Section 23 of the MACC Act,” Azam said. — TMR