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New Straits Times
29-04-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
MBI never issued RM500,000 compound over REE theft, court hears
ALOR STAR: The High Court was informed today that the letter of a RM500,000 compound issued to the Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) on Oct 4, 2022, had been revoked as it was never issued to the state-owned company. Former state Land and Mines Office (PTG) director Datuk Mohd Fauzi Mustaffa said the letter was disposed of after a man admitted that he was responsible for the theft of rare earth elements (REE) minerals in Kampung Chong, Sik, a day later. "Yes, the letter did exist on Oct 4, 2022. I signed the letter. However, it was revoked on the same day. "The letter was never sent to MBI after further investigation by the enforcement team revealed that a suspect had admitted to the theft. "A new letter of compound was subsequently issued on Oct 5, 2022, to Ho Chung Ming," he informed the court. Fauzi, who is currently the Deputy State Secretary, was testifying as a witness in Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor's defamation suit against Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. Sanusi filed the writ of summons and statement of claim through Faizi and Associates at the Alor Star High Court on Aug 3, 2023. He alleged that Saifuddin, also Pakatan Harapan secretary-general, defamed him by claiming he misused RM1.6 billion in Malaysian Road Record Information System (MARRIS) funds and accusing him, as the MBI chairman, of stealing REE minerals Kampung Chong, Sik. According to the statement of claim, Saifuddin allegedly made defamatory statements during a speech at the Unity Tour Programme and the launch of the Kedah Unity Machinery event at Guar Chempedak public field in Yan on July 15, 2023, at 8.30pm. The speech was part of a political campaign by PH and Barisan Nasional (BN) in the lead-up to the state elections in August. Yesterday, Sanusi, who is also the Jeneri assemblyman, testified to the court that allegations made against him had significantly damaged his reputation and political standing. In today's hearing, lawyer Navpreet Singh, who led Saifuddin's defence team, applied for the letter to be tendered as an exhibit. However, the plaintiff's lead lawyer, Yusfarizal Yussof objected on grounds that the Oct 4 letter was never issued to MBI. "I must object as the witness testimony clearly stated that the letter was never issued, and there is no record in the PTG Office. I believe a non-existent document should not be accepted as an exhibit in the court," he said. Judge Datuk Dr John Lee Kien How @ Mohd Johan Lee subsequently ruled out the defence's application. "My consideration on this is that the witness had stressed several times that the letter was revoked, and it does not exist in the office (PTG) record. "Therefore, I don't see any reason why it should be marked as evident. It makes it even more complicated. I only allow it to remain as an ID (Identified Document) in the defence's submission," he said. The court set May 11 for the trial to resume.
New Straits Times
29-04-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
'No misappropriation of Marris funds by Kedah govt'
ALOR STAR: The High Court here was informed that there is no misappropriation of the Malaysian Road Record Information System (Marris) funds by the Kedah government. Lawyer Yusfarizal Yussof, instead, informed the court today that it was part of the account reconciliation process by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor's administration. "There is no issue of Marris account management flouting the law, and this was confirmed in the Auditor General's Report between 2021 and 2023. "Secondly, it is clear that the application submitted by the state government to the Finance Ministry was not meant to use Marris funds for development. "It is just a reconciliation of funds. However, many people might get confused on this matter." Yusfarizal later asked Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail whether he agreed that Sanusi had never used Marris funds for development projects. Saifuddin replied that he agreed, but with further comments based on the Auditor General's Reports. Saifuddin was testifying as a witness in the trial of a defamation suit filed by Sanusi against him. Sanusi filed the writ of summons and statement of claim through Faizi and Associates at the Alor Star High Court on Aug 3, 2023. He alleged that Saifuddin, who is also Pakatan Harapan secretary-general, defamed him by claiming he had misused RM1.6 billion in Marris funds and accused him, in his capacity as MBI chairman, of stealing rare earth element minerals in Kampung Chong, Sik. According to the statement of claim, Saifuddin allegedly made defamatory statements in a speech at the Unity Tour Programme and the launch of the Kedah Unity Machinery in Yan, at 8.30pm on July 15, 2023. The speech was part of a political campaign by PH and Barisan Nasional in the lead-up to the state elections in August 2023. Yesterday, Sanusi, who is also Jeneri assemblyman, testified in cour t that the allegations made against him had significantly damaged his reputation and political standing. Sanusi is represented by lawyers Yusfarizal, Wan Rohimi Wan Daud, Mohd Faizi Che Abu and Nur Iffah Hizwani Omar, while the defence team comprises lawyers Navpreet Singh, William Leong and Sakina Siraj. Yusfarizal informed the court that the account reconciliation process was done to correct errors made by the previous administration. "If we study the (Marris) account, it should contain RM1 billion, but the actual amount in the account was less than that. "This is because the previous administration had used the funds without proper accounting," he said. Judge Datuk Dr John Lee Kien How @ Mohd Johan Lee has set May 11 as the next hearing date. Yusfarizal said he believed that Saifuddin had agreed, albeit with comments, that Sanusi had never used the Marris funds for development. "That is the crux of the issue because the plaintiff, in his political rally, alleged that Sanusi had breached all financial governance by using the funds for development."
