Mat Sabu's aide 'crowdfunded' more than RM800,000, claims Rafizi

Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu. -Bernamapic

PETALING JAYA: PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli claims to be in possession of several documents involving an aide to Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu, who is facing an ongoing graft probe by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

The aide had been advised to go on leave pending corruption investigation into alleged third-party assistance in settling his debts amounting to more than RM800,000.

Rafizi alleged these documents, which detailed payments amounting to more than RM800,000, confirmed that the aide's bankruptcy status was "settled" through a "crowdfunding" initiative.

According to Rafizi, the said documents showed four suspicious payments, each totalling RM318,525, RM100,000, RM300,000 and RM100,800 respectively, made on May 30 and 31, this year.

."The excuse given to me is that these funds were raised from a 'crowdfunding' initiative in order to clear his status as a bankrupt.

"I find it hard to accept this excuse, because I know another Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) leader who has not been successful in collecting sufficient funds to pay off his fine, even though he is more famous than Mohamad Sabu's aide," he said in a statement posted on his Facebook on Wednesday (Aug 15).

Rafizi said that this incident should serve as a lesson to party leaders to strengthen Pakatan Harapan, which comprises PKR, DAP, Amanah and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.

Rafizi, in urging the authorities to continue ongoing investigations, said that this case reveals a culture of corruption and favours the top echelons of power in the Government.

"They know that every politician and their aides need money to run the party and to build influence.

"There are also politicians and aides who are tempted by the promises of luxury, something that they couldn't taste when they were the Opposition previously," he said.

The outspoken PKR leader proposed that the Government implement a "Declaration of Interest" initiative to ensure that ethics are upheld by Government officers when they meet with lobbyists or individuals from the private sector.

"If we can check on the identities and the motive of a group when they meet a minister, this will ensure ministers and lobbyist to be more careful, as their appointments are recorded," he said.

At the same time, Rafizi urged the Government to reconsider proposals to make compulsory the asset declaration for ministers to the MACC.

"The best way is to publicly declare assets with a statutory declaration. If the politician refuses to declare his assets publicly, then he/she isn't qualified to be a civil servant.

"The latest case involving a senior aide to the Defence Minister should be made a lesson that we need stringent asset declaration laws in place," he added.

At present, the MACC, in its graft probe, is trying to ascertain whether the debts were settled with the intention to secure projects in return.

The MACC has recorded statements from 10 individuals, including the aide, several contractors and business representatives.

In a brief statement on Wednesday (Aug 15), Mohamad Sabu, better known as Mat Sabu, welcomed investigations by the MACC, saying that he will never compromise on integrity related issues.-Star