‘BN candidate involved in illegal land sale’

PAS claims that Azahar Ibrahim abused his power when he was the Rengit assistant district officer in relation to a land matter.

LABIS: PAS launched its first attack against Barisan Nasional’s Tenang candidate, Azahar Ibrahim when it accused the former Rengit assistant district officer (ADO) of power abuse while in office.

Johor PAS deputy chief Dzulkefly Ahmad said that as an ADO, Azahar had approved, albiet illegally, a private land for auction eight years ago which resulted in legal action being taken against him.

Speaking at a press conference today, he said Azahar, whose resignation last week enabled him to contest in the Jan 30 by-election, had supposedly auctioned off the land belonging to Mansor Mohamad for RM70,000.

Mansor had purportedly failed to pay for the land allowing Azahar to proclaim the sale of the land.

In the ensuing legal suit, Muar High Court in 2008 ruled in favour of Mansor with cost. The Segamat Land Office was named as defendant.

Dzulkefly claimed that Azahar’s dubious track record showed he was unfit to represent the people of Tenang.

PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub, who was also present at the press conference, said Azahar had found ways to cheat Mansor and sell the land.

The attack on the BN candidate was reflective of the heated Tenang by-election which had so far been mired with personal attacks from both sides of the political divide.

BN kicked off the assault when MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek chastised Normala Sudirman, the PAS candidate, for her refusal to shake the hands of male voters.

PAS and Pakatan Rakyat leaders said the harping on the issue was aimed at scaring the Chinese voters, the electorate pivotal in deciding the outcome of the Tenang vote. - FMT