Nik Aziz, Wee Ka Siong cleared by MACC

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has cleared Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat of any wrongdoing over two graft allegations. The two involved Nik Aziz' haj pilgrimage trip which was sponsored by a local businessman and the appointment of his son-in-law Abdul Ariffahmi Abdul Rahmanas as chief executive for Perbadanan Menteri Besar Kelantan (PMBK).

On the haj offer, MACC's Operation Review Panel chairperson Hadenan Abdul Jalil said Nik Aziz had not "asked" (meminta) the company to pay for the haj trip costing RM65,000.

"Furthermore, Nik Aziz also did not go for the trip. The attorney general has scrutinised the case and no charge can be made," Hadenan said.Nik Aziz did not go for the haj last year, but made the trip this year.However, the seven-member panel headed by former auditor-general Hadenan noted there are weaknesses in procedures which must be rectified.

On the appointment of Nik Aziz's son-in-law Ariffahmi, Hadenan said the MACC's thorough investigations found that the menteri besar has the power to appoint any officers or staff.

“The appointment is seen as merely changing positions and under the PMBK enactment, the menteri besar has wide powers to appoint its officers and staff,” he said, adding the panel would like to advise state governments to improve their system, procedures and regulations in appointing officers.

Nik Aziz had been under fire last year in the appointment of Ariffahmi and also over the haj offer.

The operations panel is tasked to review cases of corruption or abuse of power which had been investigated by MACC but classified as 'no further action' needed.

The panel also cleared Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong  over allegations of conflict of interest in holding a post in an architectural firm related to the Port Klang Free Trade Zone project.Wee, who had a stake in consultancy firm Hijau Sekitar Sdn Bhd, had denied the firm had worked on PKFZ. 

New evidence in probe on Tajudin 

Hadenan also denied claims that MACC was not taking action on former Malaysia Airlines (MAS) chief Tajudin Ramli.According to him, the investigations are still on-going, particularly after new evidence has emerged over the matter.

"Allegations that the MACC is not investigating are baseless as there is new evidence which has emerged and the MACC is looking into it," he said.

Asked as to whether the new evidence concerned what had been reported in the blogs, Hadenan stressed the matter is still being investigated.

Asked whether the attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail is also being investigated for not wanting to institute action against Tajudin, Hadenan decline to comment.

Tajudin is being probed over the purchase of MasKargo facility in Hahn, Germany, which resulted in huge losses to the national carrier.MACC had initiated investigations on Tajudin since 2002, and the Malaysia Today website operated by Raja Petra Kamarudin has alleged that the matter was put on cold storage on orders from Abdul Gani.

In 2002, MAS lodged its first of a series of police reports against Tajudin, who was executive chairman from 1994 to 2001, for causing the national carrier more than RM8 billion in losses.

This prompted a two-prong investigation by the police Commercial Crime Investigation Department and also the MACC. The CCID had recommended action, only for it to be shot down by the attorney-general.

This has led to speculations which were raised by Social Care Foundation chairperson Robert Phang Miow Sin , that records and pictures showed Abdul Gani to be close to an aide of Tajudin, which resulted in no action being taken.

Abdul Gani has however did not want to comment on the relationship or the haj trip which they shared together this year.

PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub had also called for the formation of a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the matter.

Besides Hadenan, the other members in the panel included Cecil Abraham, Nik Mohd Hasyudeen Yusoff, Walter Sandosam, Aminah Pit Abd Raman, Md Hamzah Md Kassim, Dr Syed Noh Syed Ahmad.

Also present was MACC director of investigations Mustafar Ali.

Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/150854