Penang police have started investigations into the allegations that Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy’s former staffer demanded money from applicants for low-cost and affordable housing units in the state.
Sources said police have recorded statements from two journalists who attended the press conference held at the lobby of the state government offices in Komtar on March 9.
The allegations were made by two of Ramasamy’s former staff and representatives of several non-government organisations in Penang at the press conference.
When contacted, Timur Laut District police chief ACP Soffian Santong confirmed that they have recorded the journalists’ statements but declined to elaborate further.
Ramasamy told Malaysiakini that he would leave it to the police to investigate the matter.
He said he had sacked the two staffers who held the press conference, K Eelamperu Valuthi and U Thava Kumar, as there were complaints against them.
He said after Eelamperu Valuthi and Thava Kumar were sacked, they lodged MACC and police reports.
Eelamperu Valuthi was the DCM II’s personal assistant while Thava Kumar was his driver.
They also handed over a memorandum on the matter to a representative of Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow at Komtar.
‘No formal complaints lodged’
“One of the complainants, Eelamperu Valuthi, wanted me to take action against the (accused) special assistant but how could I take action when there were formal complaints against the staff?” Ramasamy said.
He said the special assistant accused of corruption was initially in charge of housing but later handled citizenship issues.
He resigned in 2018 to work on his own business, Ramasamy said.
At the March press conference, Eelamperu Valuthi said he quit his job as Ramasamy’s personal assistant as he was unable to accept the alleged malpractices of his colleague, who allegedly demanded money from low-cost home applicants.
“I quit my job in 2019, as I could no longer accept and tolerate the wrongdoings of Ramasamy’s special assistant.
“I sent a letter to Chief Minister Chow stating the malpractices of the special assistant in 2019 after I quit my job.
“However, there has been no action against the said individual over the matter,” he said.
Other NGOs also participated in the press conference, including Persatuan Kebajikan Surplus Pulau Pinang with its president Sophian Mohd Zanin, and Urban Life Volunteers executive secretary Sarah Abdullah. - Mkini
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