Johor exco member goes on leave amidst graft probe

Johor state executive councillor Abd Latif Bandi has gone on leave following a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) probe on graft on an alleged land and housing scandal in the state.

According to Bernama, Abd Latif went on leave from today to "clear his name". Abd Latif is in charge of housing and local government.

"He (is going on leave) to handle the issue with his family and special officer," fellow exco member Jais Sarday told reporters in Kota Iskandar.

All matters under Abd Latif's portfolio are on hold while urgent matters will be handled by Menteri Besar Khaled Nordin, he said.

Jais, however, stressed that Abd Latif is not going on leave because he was implicated in the case.

"He is not under investigation or charged. We have to be clear on that," he reportedly said.

He said Khaled made the announcement over Abd Latif's leave application at today's exco meeting, but the case was not discussed at the meeting.

Abd Latif's son and a special officer were also arrested last Friday for allegedly receiving kickbacks to convert bumiputera housing lots into non-bumiputera lots, which can be sold at higher prices.

His decision to go on leave was confirmed by fellow state cabinet member Md Jais Sarday, who stressed that doing so does not mean Abd Latif was directly involved in the investigations.

"He wants to handle affairs regarding his family and officers... He is not the subject of investigations. We have to be clear on that," said Md Jais, according to Bernama.

He added that the MACC's probe was not discussed during the exco meeting today, where Abd Latif informed the menteri besar of his decision.

Audience with Sultan

According The Star, Abd Latif was subjected to four hours of questioning by the MACC yesterday.

Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, who is "furious" over the matter, also granted the executive councillor an audience yesterday, sources told New Straits Times.

"The executive council member linked to the people arrested was granted an audience with the ruler this morning.

"He (Sultan Ibrahim) is furious but I think the menteri besar is even more angry about it," NST quoted an unnamed source as saying.

Opposition leaders have urged Khaled to explain the spate of arrests, but Khaled said he would not comment until the investigations are completed.

MACC quizzed the executive councillor a day after it arrested and remanded a developer over the case.

A total of seven suspects, including a lawyer and two other developers, have been arrested and 45 bank accounts containing RM15 million have been frozen in connection with the case.

Last Friday, MACC also seized 21 luxury cars and five high-powered motorcycles in raids related to the case.- Mkini