At a press conference here today, MACC chief Azam Baki said the anti-graft agency has arrested nine individuals and recorded statements from 31 people to assist in its investigation.

He said the first investigation paper involves false claims amounting to RM361 million which came from sukuk funds, while the second case concerns false disclosures involving RM416 million in sukuk funds and RM50 million in bank loans.

“The third case involves certain parties who allegedly solicited and received around RM12 million in bribes,” he said.

It was reported that MACC arrested four people, including a man with a “Datuk Seri” title, on suspicion of submitting RM360 million worth of false claims over the 18km MEX II project, which aims to connect Putrajaya to KLIA.

Quoting sources, The Edge said the arrests were linked to funds from a RM1.3 billion sukuk issuance for the highway.

Construction for the three-lane dual carriageway began in 2016 and was due to be completed in December 2019.

Earlier this month, works minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said the government was working closely with all stakeholders to resolve MEX II’s prolonged delay, which he said had stalled because of serious cash flow problems.

The 26km Maju Expressway, or MEX, links Putrajaya and Cyberjaya with Kuala Lumpur.