Azam said the second phase of questioning was related to Ismail’s declaration of assets.

“We will be recording his statement this Thursday,” he said at a press conference after attending the 11th Certified Integrity Officer Convocation Ceremony here today.

“As I mentioned before, this phase of questioning is in relation to the declaration of assets he made to MACC under Section 36(1)(a) of the MACC Act 2009.”

Ismail spent seven days giving his statement to MACC after being named as a suspect in an ongoing investigation involving four of his former senior officers.

The most recent session, held on March 24, lasted for five hours, bringing the total time spent on his testimony to over 30 hours.

MACC is investigating the discovery of about RM170 million in cash and 16kg of gold bars worth millions of ringgit, all of which were seized in raids at the residences of the four officers and three other premises believed to be “safe houses”.

A money changer was also arrested as part of the probe into Ismail.

On a separate matter, Azam said MACC was investigating the issue of illegal durian farms in Raub, Pahang.

He said the probe, which began in 2021, had been expanded to examine possible failures in governance at the state land office.

Earlier this month, an enforcement operation at an allegedly illegal Musang King durian farm in Sungai Klau, Raub, led to the felling of some 200 trees, sparking a backlash from farmers who claimed that their crops were unjustly destroyed.

The Pahang government denied violating any court order during the April 8 operation, insisting that the enforcement was lawful.

Raub MP Chow Yu Hui and Save Musang King Alliance chairman Wilson Chang were arrested for allegedly obstructing officers during the operation. Both were later released on police bail.

Pahang ruler Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah recently called for a stop to encroachments on state land. He also said that 14,495 hectares had been illegally occupied and cultivated with oil palm, rubber, and durian trees.