By Lourdes Charles      

PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA: An MP was among five politicians from both sides of the political divide in Selangor who were arrested for alleged graft.

The MP is believed to be from Umno. The others include a special assistant to a Selangor state DAP executive councillor and a former special assistant to Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.

It is learnt that the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) also arrested the MP's special assistant and a company director for apparently attempting to cheat the Government via false claims amounting to thousands of ringgit.

All five are expected to be produced before the Shah Alam Sessions Court here today.

The MP, who was formerly a state assemblyman, is alleged to have made false claims by submitting invoices purportedly to purchase materials for a programme that never took place last year.

His special assistant apparently abetted him and submitted similar claims. The former assistant to Khalid, who is a member of PKR, is expected to be charged under the Penal Code for attempted cheating.

He is alleged to have tried to dupe the president of a government-linked company of RM50,000 (S$24,400).

The money was purportedly meant to organise a state government function.

Also expected to be in the dock today is the company director who allegedly submitted the false claims to the Hulu Langat district office for the purchase and supply of goods for several non-existent programmes in the Teratai constituency last year.