Thursday, June 26, 2008

Ezam to lodge report

Thursday June 26, 2008

By MANJIT KAUR

PETALING JAYA: Former PKR stalwart Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor intends to lodge a report with the Anti-Corruption Agency over the allegation that the Selangor Mentri Besar’s office may have committed a criminal breach of trust.

Mohamad Ezam said he would do so after consulting his lawyer.

He had alleged that the Mentri Besar’s office had collected funds from businesses for the 100-days-in-office celebrations and deposited the cash into the PKR account instead of the state coffers, which was tantamount to a criminal breach of trust.

“If I am told to lodge a report, then I may do it by the end of the week or early next week.

“I have the letter with the official Selangor state government letterhead that was used to solicit funds, and I think I have more than enough evidence,” he said yesterday.

Asked about the contents of the letter, Mohamad Ezam said he would expose it when the time was right.

“This is a clear abuse of power, as one cannot use the government letterhead and solicit for funds for the party (PKR).

“I think I have a strong case against them,” he said, adding that his lawyer would advise him if he should lodge the report against the state government or Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim

Khalid had said there had been efforts to raise money, which he believed were unnecessary, and admitted the money was in PKR’s account.

He also said the money would be distributed or channelled to various welfare funds.
Gerak Malaysia, however, said the Pakatan Rakyat-led government in Selangor must be more transparent in its administration and management including the usage of state funds and distribution of contracts.

Its chairman Mohd Nazree Mohd Yunus said in a statement the Selangor Government must portray a different attitude from when Barisan Nasional held the state.

“The funds collected should be deposited into the state government’s account and not into PKR’s account, as it has now given the wrong impression,” he added.

Mohd Nazree suggested that the Selangor Government set up an ombudsman council with representatives from PKR, PAS and DAP.

Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has started investigations into the allegations.

State ACA director Jaafar Mahad said his officers had lodged their own report following the allegations published in the newspapers.

“We are making enquires,” he said.

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