KUALA LUMPUR – A senior official from the Johor Hockey Association (JHA), who was recently remanded as part of an investigation into the abuse of power and the misappropriation of RM26,603.44 for personal use, has been granted bail by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Speaking to Scoop, MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki said that bail was granted as the commission is yet to receive a proper contributor statement from those who provided funds to the hockey association.
"Based on the information we received from MACC officials in Johor, the suspect, who was remanded for five days, was granted bail today as the funds contributors have yet to come forward and provide both audio and written statements.
"We need their statements in order to reconcile the financial reports.
"It is standard procedure for us to release suspects on bail when no statements have been received from the contributors. However, the case is still under investigation, and once we receive the contributor statements, the suspect will be called back to assist with the investigation.
"We are expecting to receive the contributor statements within the next two to three days, and the suspect was granted bail this morning.
“The case is being investigated under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009, and we cannot comment further on the investigation or its potential outcome," Azam said in a brief phone call when contacted.
Previously sources within the hockey fraternity told Scoop that the funds in question were part of a RM1.3 million allocation provided by the Johor State Sports Council (MSNJ) to finance activities by the state hockey association, including the renowned Sultan of Johor Cup for the years 2023 to 2025.
The source also revealed that JHA’s former secretary-general, who is currently the manager of the state’s Sukma hockey team, has also been arrested for submitting false documents regarding the association’s financial reports.
It is understood that RM15,000, which was intended for a training camp for state hockey athletes in 2023, was misappropriated and used for personal expenses – while RM11,603.44, allocated for equipment subsidies for the state men’s Sukma team, was also misused.
It is also understood that claims were submitted to MSNJ, despite none of the development programmes and other hockey-related activities in the state being carried out over the past few years. – February 16, 2025
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