New Straits Times

PENANG FRONT PARTY ACCUSES DAP REP OF ABUSING POWER TO GAIN BILLIONS

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GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Front Party (PFP) has lodged a report with the Malaysian AntiCorrup­tion Commission (MACC) against a DAP state assemblyma­n for alleged abuse of power to obtain billions of ringgit worth of projects for a company linked to him.

PFP president Datuk Patrick Ooi said he had evidence of interferen­ce by the assemblyma­n, who has served as councillor in the local government, to secure the projects.

He said that government servants had been supplying him with evidence on the alleged graft involving the assemblyma­n.

He, however, refused to identify the assemblyma­n.

“I have been collecting and compiling the evidence for six months. I strongly believe we have a case here. The alleged graft (occurred) between 2008 and 2015.

“The evidence I have with me includes proof of the man receiving allowances from the said company.

“Property projects are also included in it, hence the reason for the whopping (amount of) money involved in this case,” Ooi said, before lodging a report at Penang’s MACC office on Friday.

Ooi added that six men could serve as witnesses in the case, and were ready to assist MACC in its investigat­ion.

A source told the New Straits Times that the majority of the projects were housing projects.

It is understood that the projects are worth about RM1.3 billion.

“This might just be one area. There is a possibilit­y that the amount might be more, considerin­g his years of service in the local government,” the source said.

The source said several people had a hand in the deals, which made it difficult for the authoritie­s to trace.

“The areas with alleged interferen­ce are in paperwork and the appointmen­t of lawyers for documentat­ion.”

He contested the 13th General Election for a mainland-based state seat and is serving as an assemblyma­n after winning the election.

On June 30 last year, Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng claimed trial to a charge of alleged abuse of power in the rezoning of land from agricultur­e to commercial, and the purchase of his Jalan Pinhorn bungalow at below market price.

The joint trial for both cases is expected to begin later this year.

In August, state Welfare, Caring Society and Environmen­t Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh was detained in connection with the illegal carbon filter processing factory in Sungai Lembu.

Should MACC find evidence of graft in the report lodged by PFP, this will lead to the third person from DAP being arrested and investigat­ed for corruption in a span of two years.

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