MACC reports lodged against two Pg councillors

Several NGO members have filed reports with the MACC against two Penang Island City Council (MBPP) councillors.

Persatuan Kebajikan Supply Pulau Pinang, an NGO that focuses on improving the lives of the urban poor, claimed that councillor Shahrudin Mohamed Shariff purportedly lived in a Sungai Pinang public housing unit, which is meant for the poor.

"He earns RM4,000 monthly, so how can he be eligible for public housing? This is not right," said the NGO chairperson Sophian Mohd Zain when met outside the MACC office.

"We do not expect the public housing unit supervisor to lodge a report because the project is under the local council," he added.

Last October, the Penang government reportedly disagreed with the federal government's decision to increase the monthly household income qualification rate from RM1,500 to RM3,000 for those who want to rent public housing units.

Accompanying Sophian was former MBPP councillor Noor Syazwani Mohd Amin, who said the matter had been highlighted to state leaders but no action has been taken.

Concerned citizen Anas Sofy, who was also with the group, said the matter was brought up in a WhatsApp Messenger group - where top state leaders were made aware of the problem.

"He is out during the day but returns at night. The house has been renovated, has air-cond and Astro cable. How can that happen when it is a public housing unit?" Anas asked.

When contacted, Shahrudin, who was appointed as the MBPP councillor this year, said he was aware of the report but could only comment after 5pm as he would be attending a meeting prior to that.

Meanwhile, the other report was lodged against councillor Ahmad Azrizal Tahir for allegedly holding two state-appointed posts.

He is accused of being a MBPP councillor while holding a Village Development and Security (JKKK) committee member post and enjoying the salaries and perks of both posts.

"This is a clear case of conflict of interest. How can this person hold two government posts?" Sophian asked.

"Where is the integrity and transparency of the state government? He should be probed and the state must explain this to prove itself," he added.

The group said they would be handing over relevant documents to MACC to assist in the investigation.

According to Azrizal, he only took up the JKKK post in Batu Maung for a few months to help resolve a crisis in the committee.

"After the crisis was settled, I let go (of) my post. I don't hold the post anymore," he told Malaysiakini.

"I was asked to handle the problem in the JKKK until the matter is resolved. The complainants ought to do their homework first before lodging a report," he added. - Mkini