‘Unfreeze’ some accounts to ensure timber workers get paid, Adenan tells MACC

Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem says the economy could be affected if companies are unable to pay their workers. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, May 16, 2015.

Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem has asked the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to consider freeing some of the accounts it froze in a recent raid on illegal timber operations, in order to enable the companies to pay the workers' salaries.

The Borneo Post reported that Adenan had asked the affected companies and individuals to go their local MACC offices to discuss the matter.

“The companies employ thousands of workers. If their accounts were to be frozen, they would not be able to pay these workers,” Adenan reportedly said in his opening remarks at a special press conference on “Ops Gergaji” in Sibu yesterday.

Adenan said he had asked MACC to "revoke, vary or reconsider" some of the orders it had issued since the integrated raid that saw more than 500 company and individual accounts being frozen.

“They (MACC) have agreed to reconsider and if necessary – if it’s justified – they can revoke or vary the order. I thank them for that because if this thing goes on, there are thousands of workers rendered unpaid, it would affect the economy. Activities of companies would be put on hold, which will be very bad especially for the local economy," he said.

MACC has also seized 1,785 logs since the operations began.

“The purpose of law is not only to punish the guilty, but also to protect the innocent,” Adenan said.

Meanwhile, MACC's deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull said that the commission would expedite its investigations.

“After checking, if truly nobody is involved in corruption or income tax (evasion), we will release (the accounts) as soon as possible,” he reportedly said.

He said that under usual circumstances, it would take about two months to complete investigations.

“If we take longer – as mentioned by CM on the freezing of the accounts – it will impact not only workers, but also the economy,” Mohd Shukri said.

- TMI