PUTRAJAYA: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has been arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

The MACC confirmed that he was arrested at 3.15pm Thursday (Oct 18).

In a Facebook post, the Umno supreme council member Datuk Lokman Noor Adam said that Dr Ahmad Zahid announced that he was arrested at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya on Thursday (Oct 18).

"Datuk Seri Zahid informed me that he was arrested upon his arrival at MACC headquarters. All are invited to gather here at 9pm," he said.

Dr Ahmad Zahid is being investigated over alleged misappropriation of funds belonging to Yayasan Akal Budi, of which he is the chairman.

MACC is investigating claims that RM800,000 belonging to the foundation was used to pay off his credit card bills.

Graft investigators have had four questioning sessions with Dr Ahmad Zahid, the first being on July 3, followed by three interviews last week on October 10, 11 and 12, with each interrogation lasting more than eight hours.

On Wednesday, MACC officials sent a notice to the Umno president requesting him to be present at the anti-graft authority's headquarters here in Putrajaya at 3pm Thursday (Oct 18).

It is also said that Dr Ahmad Zahid is expected to be charged the following day on Friday (Oct 19).