G17 ringleader: I acted on my own

Former Sabah National Registration Department (NRD) chief Abdul Rauf Sani has admitted leading a team which processed identity cards to unqualified immigrants.

However, he claim that was working alone and did not take orders from political masters.

"I did it on my own. I am a government servant, if this was an instruction (from higher ups), it will be in written form," he said.

Abdul Rauf said this in his testimony to the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on Sabah's problem with illegal immigrants.

He confirmed that he and his men had operated out of the residence of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's political secretary Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin in Kuala Lumpur.

However, Abdul Rauf insisted that Abdul Aziz had no role in his operation.

"Everyone knows him as the political secretary, but we do not implement what he says, public servants don't take orders from a political secretary," he said.

The RCI conducting officers, who are representatives of the Attorney-General's Chambers, did ask him to disclose why they were operating out of Abdul Aziz's home.

Yesterday, former Tamparuli district NRD chief Yakup Damsah who was part of a so-called G17 unit had revealed that they operated out of Abdul Aziz's residence, where they were asked to sign identity cards meant to be issued to immigrants.

When contacted yesterday, Abdul Aziz said he did not remember such events.

[More to follow]