Kedah Menteri Besar Sanusi Nor has denied involvement with a feedlot project linked to a corruption charge against Padang Serai MP Azman Nasrudin.
Noting that the alleged offence involved a project which fell under the purview of the previous state government administration, Sanusi, who is also the Kedah Perikatan Nasional chairperson, said the matter was “before his time”.
“This was before my time, before 2020. I do not know the details, and I am not sure. I don’t know anything. I have only read about it in the newspapers,” the New Straits Times quoted Sanusi as saying at a press conference in Alor Setar today.
He added that the project is no longer ongoing after Kedah Agro Holding Bhd (KAHB) was dissolved and subsequently privatised.
“This was before our administration. (KAHB) has been closed.
“We implemented a voluntary separation scheme at the time and ceased operations before the company was taken over by a private entity,” Sanusi (above) said.
Sanusi took office as the Kedah menteri besar in May 2020, following his predecessor Mukhriz Mahathir’s resignation.
Abetment charge
Azman is accused of abetting a businessperson to receive RM400,000 in bribes for a feedlot project under the state government, with the crime alleged to have occurred on June 23, 2020, when the lawmaker was the state exco for agriculture.
Azman is said to have ordered KAHB to issue an offer letter to a businessperson, Hassanaim Fauzi, who paid the bribe.
The bribe was allegedly given to another businessperson, Amar Assuat Abu Bakar, who has also been charged with soliciting and receiving a bribe from Hassanaim.
Amar was charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act for soliciting and taking bribes, while Azman was charged under Section 28(1)(c) of the same law for abetting the crime. Both pleaded not guilty to the charges at the Shah Alam Sessions Court yesterday.
‘Politically motivated’
Sanusi also echoed Azman’s claim that the prosecution was politically motivated, asserting that there is “something strange” at hand.
“Those who gave (bribes) were different people, received benefits were different, and the one who was charged was someone else. There’s something strange there.
“To those following the issue, the perception is clear, but since this is now a court matter, I cannot say much,” Sanusi added.
Azman had previously said he regards the action against him as a form of “selective prosecution”, claiming that it was a retaliation after he criticised Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on social media over a corruption case involving Anwar’s former aide, Shamsul Iskandar Akin.
Azman’s lawyer, N Surendran, also said the politician’s legal team believes the charge against their client is defective, contrary to the law, and against court proceedings.
Sanusi further confirmed today that PN will not take any action against Azman while the case remains before the court.
“We will not take any action. He is not guilty yet, unless and until the court finds him guilty.
“Being charged does not mean he is guilty; he is not guilty until proven otherwise,” he added. - Mkini
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