An MACC source said the suspects are believed to have accepted bribes from a construction company to sign an additional development agreement for the project without SPNB board approval.

“The signed agreement was believed to contain unfair clauses, causing SPNB to incur losses amounting to tens of millions of ringgit,” the source said.

The source said a five-day remand order was issued until Aug 3 for the suspects, in their 40s to 60s, by magistrate Irza Zulaikha Burhanuddin.

“All of the suspects were detained when they arrived at the MACC headquarters between 6.30pm and 7pm on Monday,” the source said.

“However, one suspect was released on MACC bail after their statement was recorded.”

When contacted, MACC investigation division senior director Hishamuddin Hashim confirmed the arrests and said the probe is being carried out under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009.