Mat Hasan: I was 'homeless' after GE14, not broke

RANTAU POLLS | Responding to jibes, former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Mohamad Hasan has clarified that he was ‘homeless’, not broke, after the 14th general election.

This comes after his decade-old case involving an RM10 million transfer was revived on the campaign trail for the Rantau by-election.

Critics had poked fun at his remarks on being sad after being told to leave the menteri besar's residence after BN lost the last general election - while claiming to have used RM10 million to purchase an apartment in London.

Mohamad, who is BN's candidate for the Rantau polls, clarified today that he had been without a home, not penniless.

"I said I had nowhere to go, not that I didn't have money... I forgot to buy a house in Seremban.

"As a man, as a father, a husband, I felt very sad. I didn't know where to take my family.

"By right I should have one place in Seremban," Mohamad said at a press conference in Rantau today.

He said he then left for his home in Kuala Lumpur, which was being occupied by his children.

Mohamad had previously been probed for a RM10 million transfer to London in 2008, which was conducted through a money changer.

The case was revived by Negeri Sembilan state assembly speaker Zulkefly Mohamad Omar on the campaign trail.

Mohamad said he had done nothing wrong, and that the transfer was for the purchase of an apartment in London.

'Decision by state executive council, not me'

Meanwhile, Mohamad also rebuffed new allegations by Zulkefly last night over misconduct in land transfers.

Speaking at a ceramah last night, Zulkefly said the state government was planning to seize land that Mohamad had allegedly given to his cronies.

The cronies had allegedly not paid taxes on the land they received.

Responding to this, Mohamad challenged Zulkefly to go ahead with his plans.

"Seize it lah. Do what is necessary. If laws were broken, the government can do as it wishes," he said.

Mohamad, however, said he had never abused his position as menteri besar to grant land.

He said any such decision would be made by the state executive council.

"I have never approved (any land transfers) personally in my capacity as menteri besar.

"It was all approved by the state authorities, that is through the executive council.

"If the executive council made a decision, that is the decision of state authorities, not mine," he said. - Mkini