THE MALAYSIAN Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) investigation on alleged corruption involving more than RM6 million in relation to the Kedah Football Association (KFA) are now at the final stage.
Its senior investigations director Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hashim said that the Menteri Besar of Kedah, Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, who is president of the association, was questioned today as part of the process.
"Detailed information related to the investigation cannot be revealed to the public because they contain sensitive and confidential information," he said in a statement today.
Sanusi earlier today spent three hours being questioned by MACC officials.
Citing a source, Sinar Harian reported that MACC began the investigation after it received a report from a contractor who alleged that the company had previously been promised projects in the state if it channelled funds to the football association's account.
Last Friday, four individuals were remanded to assist in the investigation in the case of soliciting and accepting bribes of more than RM6 million in 2020.
The included the association’s CEO Zulkifli Che Haron who was released on MACC bail on January 7.
Sanusi has denied any wrongdoing, insisting that the individuals arrested are not "rich people" but live in abject financial conditions.
"None of them are rich, all of them are poor,” he was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.
“Some cannot even afford to fill up their cars (with fuel). Some have been laid off and are trying to rebuild their lives by working on various jobs.
“If they had gotten RM6 million as reward, they would not be that poor," he said.
Sanusi also said that since its establishment, KFA has had to finance its football team and related activities through donations and contributions because the body is not a profit-making company.
Sanusi claimed that the RM6 million corruption allegation is linked to a donation from a company.
The company involved had a concession for a water treatment plant project in Kedah and had hoped that the concession would be extended, he explained.
However, the state government did not continue the concession and the company asked for the RM6 million donation to be returned.
"I know that the plot involves a large company that lobbied to get the water treatment concession extension,” he was quoted as saying.
He explained that the state did not want to continue the concession as it wanted to do the project itself. – The Vibes, January 11, 2024
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