The chairperson of the Penang Regional Development Authority - a statutory body in the state - pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court today to 15 charges of accepting bribes totalling more than RM800,000 between June 2025 and July this year.

Shaik Hussein Mydin, 53, was accused of corruptly receiving RM847,107.61 through Aliran Ilham Sdn Bhd (AISB) in multiple transactions from ATSH Management Sdn Bhd (ATSH) director R Albert Suresh. The alleged bribes ranged from RM45.51 to RM244,620.

The payments were allegedly received as an inducement for appointing ATSH as a subcontractor to AISB for a RM23.27 million project to construct a 10-storey hostel block and facilities using the Industrialised Building System at Institut Kemahiran Tinggi Perda in Bukit Panchor, Seberang Perai Selatan.