ZAKAT FUND ISSUE: MOHAMAD READY TO ASSIST MACC PROBE

KEPALA BATAS, Feb 3 (Bernama) -- Penang Islamic Religious Council (MAINPP) president Datuk Dr Mohamad Abdul Hamid said he is prepared to give a statement to assist investigations into allegations of abuse of power involving a senior state government official related to the use of zakat funds.

Mohamad, who is also Deputy Chief Minister I, said that so far MAINPP and Zakat MAINPP have given full cooperation to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

“We are giving our full cooperation. As the president of MAINPP, together with the council’s secretary, we have handed over all relevant documents to the authorities, and so far, several officers have been called in by the MACC to assist with the investigation.”

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“At this point, I have not yet been called by the MACC, but I am ready to do so and to fully cooperate, as the process is transparent and all procedures are being followed,” he told reporters after the Zakat Fitrah amil (collectors) accreditation ceremony and the state government’s Ihya Ramadan contribution presentation here today.

He was commenting on the state MACC’s investigation into allegations of abuse of power involving a senior state government official related to the purchase of land using zakat funds in the state.

The MACC investigation team has visited several offices suspected of being involved to obtain relevant documents, and statements from two individuals believed to be connected to the case have been recorded by the MACC.

Last Saturday, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state government is giving the MACC full latitude to conduct an independent investigation into the alleged abuse of power and will not interfere or carry out an internal investigation into the matter.

-- BERNAMA