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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."
New Straits Times
28-04-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Sanusi says Saifuddin REE allegations damaged his reputation
ALOR STAR: Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor told the High Court here today that allegations made against him by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail in 2023 had significantly damaged his reputation and political standing. Testifying in his defamation suit against Saifuddin, the Jeneri assemblyman said that accusations of stealing rare earth minerals and misappropriating RM1.6 billion in Malaysian Road Record Information System (MARRIS) funds had cost him votes during the 2023 Kedah state elections. He told High Court Judge Datuk Dr John Lee Kien How @ Mohd Johan Lee that the remarks, made on July 15, 2023, were particularly damaging as they had come from the Home Minister. "After the election, although I received a high number of votes, had those statements not been made, my majority could have been 30,000 instead of 16,000. The impact continues to be felt even today," he said when questioned by his counsel. Sanusi disagreed with the defence's suggestion that the remarks did not defame 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, also Pakatan Harapan secretary-general, defamed him by claiming he misused funds from MARRIS. 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. Sanusi claimed that Saifuddin made defamatory remarks accusing him, as Menteri Besar and representative of Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI), of stealing rare earth elements (REE) in Kampung Chong, Sik, which received widespread media coverage. Earlier today, the plaintiff's side called four witnesses to testify, including Kedah MBI former CEO Muhamad Sobri Osman. Sanusi is represented by lawyers Wan Rohimi Wan Daud, Yusfarizal Yussof, Mohd Faizi Che Abu, and Nur Iffah Hizwani Omar, while the defence team comprises lawyers Navpreet Singh, William Leong, and Sakina Siraj. Proceedings are set to resume tomorrow at 11am, with Saifuddin and another witness expected to testify.
