KOTA KINABALU, Oct 25 — Lahad Datu assemblyman Datuk Yusof Apdal rejected claims he was arrested by anti-corruption authorities allegedly targeting his elder brother, the sacked federal minister turned opposition leader Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.

Yusof also stressed that he remained loyal to both Umno and Barisan Nasional despite his arrest, and said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was simply performing its duty.

"Maybe some opposition might say it has political motive. But it is part of MACC’s responsibility to investigate and get information in the case they are going after,” he said.

Yusof was arrested by the MACC on October 17 and subsequently remanded for a total of six additional days.

He is currently hospitalised for a severe case of haemorrhoids.

"The recent events will not affect my loyalty to Umno, of course I am still with them. I am grateful for the moral support given to me by my division throughout my six days in remand,” he said.

He also said, that the episode has not affected his relations with Shafie, who was sacked as a federal minister in 2015 and went on to become the president of a newly-established Parti Warisan Sabah that aims to unseat Barisan Nasional in the state.

"We are brothers. It’s not a problem. We have a different stance. We don’t agree – I have my own stance. I have never been against leadership of Umno and shown support to the president and prime minister,” Yusof said.

He then warned people not to believe rumours that the investigation was politically motivated.

The Silam Umno division chief said he was treated professionally during his detention, and allowed to seek medical treatment for his haemorrhoids while in custody.

He said he was prepared to brief his party about his arrest, if necessary, but declined to comment on the investigation.

Yusof was among 13 people arrested including his brothers, Shafie and Hamid, for an investigation into the suspected misappropriation of RM1.5 billion from the Rural and Regional Development Ministry between 2009 and 2015.

Shafie held the portfolio until his sacking in 2015.

Only Shafie remains under MACC custody. He is expected to be released this Friday.