Klang valley: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested six officers and a former enforcement officer of a Selangor local authority (PBT) for allegedly accepting bribes in return for expediting business licence applications and renewals.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, all seven male suspects, aged between their 30s and 50s, were detained between 10 am and noon yesterday in the Klang Valley. They are also suspected of receiving bribes from business owners to protect certain companies from legal action.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the seven suspects conspired to commit these offences between 2019 and 2023. It is believed that they received monthly bribes ranging from RM500 to RM15,000, transferred into their personal accounts from two company owners.

A four-day remand order lasting until February 14 has been issued against all the suspects by Magistrate Ameera Mastura Khamis. This order followed an application by the MACC at the Shah Alam Magistrate's Court this morning.

Selangor MACC director Mohd Azwan Ramli confirmed the arrests, stating that the case is being investigated under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009.