Azahar downplays abuse of power claims

By Adib Zalkapli

January 25, 2011

Azahar Ibrahim (L) said that it was unfair for PAS to blame him solely for the case. – Bernama pic

LABIS, Jan 25 – Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Tenang candidate Azahar Ibrahim played down today PAS’s allegation that he had abused his powers when serving as the Segamat assistant land administrator.

The former Labis Umno treasurer said he had acted according to procedure.

“It was according to the procedure for civil servants. Furthermore, no action was taken against me,” Azahar told The Malaysian Insider.

“So up to them to say anything they want,” he added.

Johor PAS deputy chief Dzulkefly Ahmad claimed earlier today that Azahar had caused a private land to be auctioned illegally in 2003 resulting in legal action against the Umno man.

In PAS’s first attack against the BN candidate, Dzulkefly claimed that Azahar had carelessly issued an order to sell off the property owned by Mansor Mohamad without his knowledge.

The Islamist party also questioned Umno’s candidate selection process and declared Azahar as unsuitable for public office.

“It is common procedure of all government departments. Police has its own procedure; the government of Malaysia has its procedure. In this case, it was the land office and the Johor government’s procedure,” said Azahar.

He added that it was unfair for PAS to solely blame him for the case.

“It was not really my fault. No such thing. It is a misleading accusation,” said Azahar of his last-held position as the Rengit assistant district officer.

In the January 30 by-election, Azahar will face former teacher Normala Sudirman, who also left her profession to be a full-time politician.

The Tenang by-election was called following the death of Datuk Sulaiman Taha on December 17.

Sulaiman retained the Tenang state seat in Johor, Umno’s birthplace and political fortress, in the last general election after he defeated PAS’s Mohd Saim Siran by a majority of 2,492 votes.

The seat is situated within the Labis parliamentary constituency, a stronghold of Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek and currently represented by his son Chua Tee Yong.

Another Labis state seat, Bekok, was also won by BN’s Tan Kok Hong with a majority of 1,944 votes.

BN currently controls 50 of the state assembly seats, while DAP has four and PAS, two. - Malaysian Insider