Cops summon Azmin over claims of misconduct by PKNS

 

Selangor opposition leader Azmin Ali says he was summoned over allegations he had made in the legislative assembly concerning PKNS earlier this year. (Facebook pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor opposition leader Azmin Ali has been summoned by police over his allegation made in the state assembly that the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) had engaged in misconduct.

Azmin, the Selangor Perikatan Nasional chairman, said he had been notified to show up at the Shah Alam police headquarters tomorrow to give a statement.

However, the Hulu Kelang assemblyman claimed that the notice was unconstitutional and intended to intimidate him.

“I believe the issuance of the notice against me clearly violates the constitutional provisions and laws as enshrined in the Federal Constitution and the state constitution.

“It appears to be an attempt to intimidate and put pressure on me, and this could possibly extend to other assemblymen,” he said at a press conference at PN’s headquarters here.

Azmin, a former Selangor menteri besar and PKR deputy president, said the state constitution guarantees freedom of speech for assemblymen taking part in debates in the state assembly.

He said it protects the elected representatives from civil or criminal proceedings from anything said or presented in the assembly.

This right cannot be challenged or questioned in any court or tribunal outside the legislative assembly, he said.

Azmin said he has instructed his lawyer to file an application for judicial review over the notice to have his statement taken.

He said his lawyer has sent a letter to the police requesting that they postpone or suspend the interview, pending a decision by the court.

In March, Azmin had urged the Selangor government to explain PKNS’s decision to sell its development rights for PJ Sentral, which was expected to yield a return of RM1.04 billion, to Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB) for RM270 million.

A month later, he alleged that Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari had ordered that a police report be made against him following his exposure of alleged misconduct within PKNS.

He claimed the police report was aimed at silencing him. - FMT