MB in hot water over RM6mil

PUTRAJAYA: Graft investigators are expected to call up a Mentri Besar over alleged corruption amounting to RM6mil involving a football association.

It is learnt that a probe into this claim came after a report was lodged by several contractors who alleged they were promised projects in the state if funds were channelled to the accounts of the football club.

Sources said that based on an investigation carried out so far, it is believed that a person who holds a high position in the state government as well as the association had made such a promise to contractors who contributed to the club.

“However, after making the contributions, the contractors claimed that they did not receive any project as promised by the said individual,” said a source.

The same source said the contractors, who felt cheated, had lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

MACC senior director of investigation Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hashim confirmed that the said Mentri Besar would be called soon.

However, he did not indicate when this would take place.

On Jan 5, four people, including a chief executive officer of a football association, were remanded as graft officers probed allegations of them seeking and accepting bribes amounting to more than RM6mil.

Subsequently on Jan 8, reports emerged quoting Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor as saying that he was the one being targeted amid accusations of corruption in the Kedah Football Association (KFA).

Muhammad Sanusi, who is also KFA president, claimed that the arrest of the four people, including the association’s CEO, was intended to cast a poor image on his administration.

“The target is actually me. For months, they have been looking for a case against me. (But) you can see the truth. Sanusi has no case (against him).

“But they still create one, including the perception that there is a lot of corruption going on in Kedah. Even football (here) also has corruption,” he was reported to have said.

He added that law enforcement agencies should not be used as a tool in running down those who have a different political stance from the unity government.