'I'm not a suspect in cooking oil probe,' says ministry sec-gen

 

Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry secretary-general Datuk Azman Yusof clarified on Saturday that he was not a suspect in the investigation into alleged overspending on subsidised cooking oil last year. -NSTP/L. MANIMARAN

KUALA LUMPUR: Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry secretary-general Datuk Azman Yusof clarified on Saturday that he was not a suspect in the investigation into alleged overspending on subsidised cooking oil last year.

Azman said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had called him in to explain the procedures involved in the distribution of subsidised cooking oil, and that he was not being investigated.

He said this in response to claims that he had overspent on subsidised cooking oil by more than RM9 million, exceeding the approved quota.

The reports also accused him of axing quotas and granting cooking oil quotas to two companies that shared the same registered address.

The reports quoted one MACC source, according to Berita Harian.

"I am ready to cooperate with the authorities, since so far I have also received good cooperation from them by helping me uncover many cases of smuggling, especially cooking oil and diesel," Azman told reporters when met in Ipoh yesterday.

Azman said he authorised the extra quotas to ensure that there was an adequate supply of goods in the market.

He said this was within the limits allowed by the law and in line with his authority as the secretary-general of the ministry.

"There were no decisions deemed unlawful as they followed the due process under the law," he said.

He added that the issue was likely brought to the fore following new orders given to officers at his ministry regarding the standard operating procedures, which were deemed unsuitable.

Earlier this month, two company directors, including the son of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin, were charged with nine counts of submitting false documents and possessing cooking oil, which is a controlled item, over the allowed limit.

Muhammad Faisal Hamzah, 39, and Azizul Abdul Halim, 55, were reported to be directors of Rimba Merpati Sdn Bhd, a wholesale cooking oil licence holder. They pleaded not guilty. - NST