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Saturday, 21 March 2009

More Perak assemblymen to be questioned by MACC

by Roslina Mohamad - The Star

KUANTAN: Several more Perak assemblymen will be called in to give their statements to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over the state assembly’s Rights and Privileges Committee decision on Feb 18 to bar its Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and his six exco members from the assembly.

However, the number of those involved is not immediately known.

According to MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan, statements by the state assemblymen were expected to provide a more complete account of the issue.

“They will include those from Barisan Nasional if they attended the proceeding”, he told reporters after attending a get-together session between MACC and Tengku Mahkota of Pahang Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah here on Friday.

Ahmad Said was asked to comment on the development of the matter where seven people were already questioned by MACC.

Four committee members, DAP’s Ong Boon Piow (Tebing Tinggi), Loke Chee Yan (Kepayang) and Sum Cheok Leng (Bercham) and PKR’s Chan Ming Kai (Simpang Pulai), showed up at the Perak MACC headquarters on Thursday.

Canning assemblyman Wong Kah Woh who accompanied them was also questioned as he was the complainant whose report led to Dr Zambry and the exco members being barred from the assembly.

Another member, Husin Din (Selinsing) of PAS, had his statement recorded with the MACC several days ago while Speaker V. Sivakumar, provided the details at the Mentri Besar official residence on Feb 26.

To a question, Ahmad Said replied it was part of the investigation process as there were elements for abuse of power.

“As far as we are concerned, there are elements (for abuse of power).

“When I talk about this, people will get angry, but for us, there are such factors. So, MACC conducts a probe,” he added.

On calls by the opposition for the commission to investigate Umno vice president Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam who was barred to contest in the coming party polls, Ahmad Said said MACC would not be involved as the offence was infringement of party ethics.

He, however, added that anyone was welcomed to lodge a report but one must know that violations of party ethics and disciplinary problems were not criminal in nature.

“As such, we do not probe into the case but we will move in if it involves corruption,” he said.

Meanwhile, state director Datuk Shukri Abdullah said he had yet to get reports pertaining to several Umno members in Pahang who were among those penalised by the party’s disciplinary board recently.

He reminded anyone who wished to make a report to do so by giving the right facts and solid evidence and not merely based on ‘empty talks’ or rumours because it would not help in getting a conclusive investigation.

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