KUALA LUMPUR (May 15): The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has dismissed claims of a news portal report about the recent arrest of five members of the Perlis State Legislative Assembly.

MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, when contacted, said the report of an arrest — linked to an investigation into abuse of power and corruption involving a son of the Perlis menteri besar — was untrue.

"That [allegation] is not true...it's just a rumour," he said.

On Tuesday, a news portal reported that a senior political leader in the state had claimed that five Perlis assemblymen would be arrested by the MACC in the near future.

This followed the arrest of the Perlis menteri besar's son, who was detained by the commission at the end of April, for allegedly making false claims for work that was not carried out amounting to RM600,000.

Meanwhile, Perlis Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli said he is open to the MACC conducting an investigation if there is a need.

"It’s just a rumour. We are open [to an investigation]. If there is anything, let's investigate, but as far as I know, the five people (assemblymen) are not arrested," he told reporters after chairing the executive council meeting at the State Legislative Assembly Complex here on Wednesday.

Mohd Shukri said the state government plans to place an MACC officer in the state administration office, and this will be studied together with the state secretary, as well as the state legal adviser and state finance officer.

"Because the MACC officer is only on loan to the state, the salary must be borne by the state. The terms and conditions are already there. [It's] just the requirements in the state. We will discuss more thoroughly before we decide," he said.

It is understood that the MACC is completing investigation papers related to the case of the Perlis menteri besar's son, along with several other individuals, who were allegedly involved in submitting documents and false claims worth RM600,000 over the past two years. The investigation is expected to be completed next week.