KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 – The government must stake a firm stand and take immediate actions to counter corruption in the country including passing the Political Funding Bill and placing the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission under the Parliament.
Making the call in a statement here today, the Presidential Council of Pakatan Harapan (PH) said the party was concerned and deeply disturbed by the recent revelations in the media about the exhorbitant fees paid not only to leading politicians for simply sitting on boards but also to a top civil servant who was already being paid for his job as well.
The number of such disclosures have been increasing day to day, the statement signed by PKR President Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah President Hj Mohamad Sabu, Secretary General of DAP Loke Siew Fook and UPKO President Datuk Seri Madius Tangau said.
Former Chief Secretary of Government, Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan in a court statement recently revealed that he had been receiving up to RM30,000 a month as a member of the advisory board of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB). This, for doing nothing and when there had not been even a single advisory board meeting.
This has raised questions as he was being paid for his service to IMDB when he was still employed as the government’s chief secretary.
Even more distressing are the new reports of leading politicians being paid staggering sums, the statement said.
In the case of Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB), a former director of UKSB has testified that Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has received between S$200,000 and S$520,000 a month.
The former director also said that current Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin through UMNO Rembau Division had accepted between RM50,000 and RM200,000.
“Both these cases are cause for high concern, as they involve not only top political figures but key figures in the public service,” the PKR presidential council said, reiterating its pledge to weed out corruption.
–WE