JOHOR BARU: The Johor Baru mayor has been arrested for allegedly taking bribes from contractors as an inducement to approve projects.

       The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) director Datuk Azmi Alias confirmed that Datuk Adib Azhari Daud (pic) was arrested at the Johor MACC office at around 3pm yesterday.

       Investigations showed that Adib Azhari, who is just weeks away from retirement, allegedly accepted money from contractors to approve projects while he was mayor of the Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP).

       The 60-year-old was the MBIP mayor from Nov 22, 2017, to Nov 16, 2019, before he was appointed as the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) mayor on Nov 17, 2019.

       Before MBIP was upgraded to a city council, he was the president of the Johor Baru Central Municipal Council (MBIP’s previous name) from Jan 17, 2017.

       Adib Azhari is expected to be brought to the Magistrate’s Court here for a remand application at 9am today.

       The case is being investigated under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009.

       When contacted, state local government and housing committee chairman Ayub Jamil declined to comment on the arrest.