By Nancy Nais
KUCHING, Dec 14: Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) candidate for N11 Batu Lintang, Voon Lee Shan claimed that he was still “traumatised” after he was questioned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) last Sunday.
Voon, who is also PBK president and a lawyer, was approached by MACC officers on Dec 12 at about 8.30am while on his way to Kenyalang Park for a campaign event.
The incident, which he said “left him in fear of his life” led to him lodging a report at Sungai Maong police station today.
According to his report, Voon shared the chronology of events that transpired that day, starting with how he had to stop his car in front of a bus stop near St Faith Church to answer a telephone call.
“A white vehicle suddenly appeared and blocked my car from the front. Another dark coloured vehicle came from behind and suddenly pulled over next to me, at the driver’s side. I was alone at that time.
“A man who tried to come out of the black car had difficulty in doing so because it was pulled so close to the driver’s door. When he successfully came out, the man gave me a sign to wind down the windscreen which I did.
“Without speaking a single word, the man seized my car keys. This put me in shock and (a state of) fear,” Voon said.
The man who allegedly snatched Voon’s car keys spoke in Bahasa Malaysia and said he was from the MACC.
However, he did not explain his abrupt actions, nor was Voon being investigated for any sort of crime, he claimed.
As he was in shock over the treatment, Voon said he could not respond to the man for a few minutes.
“I don’t know any of these men and I have never met them before. It was then I realised that I have been followed and my life is in danger.
“In order to protect myself, I then took video of myself speaking to this man. I also saw one of them taking video of me as well. The man then instructed me to follow him after showing his authority card and a document seeking my presence at MACC.
“Again, no reason was given to me as to why I should go to MACC or of any crime I was being investigated. I clearly mentioned in the video of how I was treated and he never denied robbing me of my car keys and blocking my car,” Voon said.
He also alleged that he was not allowed to make a phone call to get his colleagues to come and help him.
However, Voon managed to contact a party leader and a supporter who hurried to the scene.
He added that it was only upon their arrival that the MACC officer finally gave him back his car keys.
Voon was allowed to drive to MACC himself, while the men followed from behind.
“Once inside the MACC offices, I was surrounded by not less than 10 men. I have no freedom of movement and they even followed me to the toilet and stood outside the door. I was scared and intimidated in the way they handled me.
“After four hours of being interrogated and having my statement recorded, they allowed me to go home. During interrogation, except mentioning Section 16(B)(a) MACC Act by the recording officer, I was not informed of any offenses I was under investigation or being arrested for,” Voon said.
Voon claimed he viewed the incident as an assault, and was “unlawfully put under arrest, detained and robbed of his car keys”.
The day of the incident, MACC Sarawak had issued a statement denying that its officers had “chased down and arrested” the PBK president.
The commission said an investigation was underway involving a video clip that was disseminated by Voon during the 12th Sarawak State Election campaign period.
“The Kuching MACC has tried to contact him several times but to no avail. On Dec 12 (today), the MACC officers tracked him down and met him around Kenyalang Park.
“The MACC officers explained to him about the need to come to the MACC Office to assist in the investigation. He was also handed a notice to attend the inspection under Section 30(1)(a) of the MACC Act 2009 as required by law,” it said in the statement. — DayakDaily
