Kedah FA stands by chief executive, officials amid corruption investigation by MACC

THE KEDAH Football Association (KFA), which has been rocked by the arrest of four officials, including the chief executive officer (CEO), by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) last week is standing by its assertion that they are innocent of any wrongdoing.

Its president Datuk Sanusi Md Nor has insisted 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 said.

“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 was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.

He added 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.

Last Friday, media reports said that the MACC had obtained a remand order to detain four individuals, including the CEO, to assist investigations into a case of receiving bribes amounting to RM6 million in 2020.

Bernama reported that according to a source, the alleged bribes were believed to have been given in exchange for assistance in securing tenders for constructing a racing circuit, as well as for managing, operating, and maintaining five water retention ponds in the state of Kedah.

Sanusi claimed that the RM6 million corruption allegation is linked to a donation from a company.

The Kedah chief minister said that the company involved has a concession for a water treatment plant project in the state and had hoped that the concession would be continued.

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 by Berita Harian yesterday.

He explained that the state did not want to continue the concession as it wanted to do the project itself.

Decisions made by executive council

Meanwhile, the association’s CEO Zulkifli Che Haron was released on MACC bail yesterday.

KFA’s media and public relations committee chairman Ibrahim Ismail said in a statement that Zulkifli was released at about 10am after giving his statement with three other individuals.

Zulkifli had been called up to give his statement to assist in MACC’s investigation on Thursday. He was later notified that he was being detained after he showed up at MACC.

He was remanded on Friday morning.

"KFA hopes that members of the public, especially football fans, do not speculate and stop all baseless accusations because investigations are still in the early stages.

“The association denies all accusations of corruption, and stresses that anyone accused is not guilty until proven otherwise,” Zulkifli said in the statement yesterday.

Ibrahim said the appointment of the CEO was made to ensure smooth administration of the association.

He stressed that KFA does not have any connection with state projects.

All decisions related to the association must be made by the KFA executive council, and the CEO only carries out his duties to ensure smooth administration and management of the football body.

"Throughout the inception of the association, our main source of funding is through contributions and sponsorship from companies and corporate bodies, and all funds received are recorded in the annual financial report of the association and tabled for audit and scrutiny.

“For the record, KFA’s CEO was appointed in August 2020 and has worked hard to resolve salary arrears and settle debts from statutory bodies since the change in the leadership and management of the association," Ibrahim said.

Incidentally, KFA is commemorating its hundredth anniversary this year as it was founded in 1924.

The association officially opened its new headquarters building in Alor Setar on November 23 last year. – The Vibes, January 8, 2024