Mat Sabu’s aide to cooperate in probe

THE aide of Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu, who is under a graft probe, will follow his boss’ advice to extend his full cooperation to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

“Our minister has issued a statement and we will follow that,” he said in Kota Baru.

The aide is under probe for purportedly accepting payments to settle his debt and lift his bankruptcy status.

In the Parliament lobby, Deputy Defence Minister Liew Chin Tong reminded PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli that he “is just one phone call away from us”.

On Wednesday, Rafizi had alleged that documents detailing payments amounting to more than RM800,000 confirmed that the aide’s bankruptcy status was “settled” through a “crowdfunding” initiative.

The documents, according to Rafizi, had showed four payments – amounting to RM318,525, RM100,000, RM300,000 and RM100,800 respectively – made on May 30 and 31 this year.

Liew said he had known the aide for six years and that they had been working closely.

“I knew he was bankrupt. In order for the appointment (to be made), some of us – friends and family – had tried to help him clear his bankruptcy (and) be eligible to work.

“There is no hanky-panky,” he said, adding that there was no need to blow the issue out of proportion.