Kuala lumpur: A former minister has been remanded for five days to assist investigations into a hotel lease issue involving Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) in Saudi Arabia.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the remand order, which runs from today until Sunday, was issued against the individual, who is in his 60s, by Magistrate Ezrene Zakariah. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) made the application at the Magistrate's Court today.

The former minister was arrested at about 4.30 pm yesterday when he appeared at the MACC to have his statement recorded. MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman confirmed the arrest and stated that the case is being investigated under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009.

The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) Report on TH, which was made public on July 29, documented weaknesses in TH's management and operations between 2014 and 2020. It also listed problematic investments requiring a forensic audit and highlighted suspicious transactions and concealment of information.