According to sources, the three officers attached to MBSA’s Sungai Buloh office were part of a protection racket run by enforcement officers who would collect monthly payments from illegal businesses.

This is the latest in a string of arrests of MBSA officers after a social media user exposed gambling dens in Bandar Baru, Sungai Buloh.

So far, five officers have been arrested. The most recent arrests, involving officers aged 40 to 43, brings the total number of MBSA officers arrested to eight.

“They were arrested at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya. It is as if accepting protection money is a ‘culture’ among the enforcement officers that the illegal businesses were unafraid of action by the authorities,” a source said.

It is understood that MACC is seeking a remand order for the three who were arrested yesterday.

When contacted, MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya confirmed the arrests but declined to comment further.