Malaysia's ex-deputy PM detained

Malaysia's anti-graft agency arrested a former deputy prime minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, yesterday in connection with an investigation into suspected misappropriation of funds from a charity foundation, the agency said.

Ahmad Zahid leads the opposition as the president of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the once-powerful party that ruled Malaysia for 60 years before being ousted in a shock general election defeat in May.

He is the latest former high-ranking official to be arrested over suspected graft since the election.

Ex-premier Najib Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, face multiple charges in connection with a multi-billion dollar scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Najib has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to 32 criminal charges involving more than 2.3 billion ringgit ($553.6 million) allegedly siphoned from 1MDB.

Rosmah has pleaded not guilty to 17 money-laundering offences.

Ahmad Zahid was arrested following an investigation into alleged "abuse of power, breach of trust, and money laundering", the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said in a statement.

He will be brought to a Kuala Lumpur court today to face several charges under anti-corruption and money laundering laws, the MACC said.