It’s a conspiracy, says Hamzah over alleged links to RM15mil bribe

 

Former home minister Hamzah Zainudin said it seemed ‘certain people and businessmen’ were pressured into making false claims against him.

PETALING JAYA: Former home minister Hamzah Zainudin has denied being involved in a RM15 million corruption case.

Earlier today, businessman Sim Choo Thiam was charged with demanding RM15 million from another businessman, Hep Kim Hong, some time in June 2021.

The prosecution said the sum was meant as an inducement for Hamzah to assist Hep’s company, Asia Coding Sdn Bhd, to secure projects from his ministry.

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Sim, who pleaded not guilty to charges of soliciting and receiving RM15 million to secure projects from the home ministry, was also slapped with three other charges.

In a statement, Hamzah said it seemed “certain people and businessmen” were pressured into “pointing their finger” at him.

“I wonder why my name is being mentioned when I have nothing to do with this,” said Hamzah.

“The four charges say that bribes were paid to ‘get home ministry projects’. What are these projects?

“It is clear that these accusations have been deliberately fabricated in such a way as to drag my name into matters that do not directly involve me.”

The Perikatan Nasional secretary-general said it was “peculiar” that Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers only recorded his statement this evening, after the charges were brought against Sim.

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Hamzah said the charges that implicated him were meant to discredit PN and Bersatu, adding that deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi previously talked about a “court cluster” involving PN and Bersatu leaders.

“I believe this is because they are worried about PN’s strength,” said Hamzah. - FMT