GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Front Party (PFP) has lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) against a DAP state assemblyman for alleged abuse of power to obtain billions of ringgit worth of projects for a company linked to him.
PFP president Datuk Patrick Ooi told newsmen today that he has evidence of interference by the assemblyman, who has also served as councillor in the local government, to obtain the projects.
He said that government servants have been supplying him with evidence, until today, on the alleged graft involving the assemblyman.
He, however, refused to identify the assemblyman involved.
"I have been collecting and compiling the evidence for the past six months. I strongly believe we have a case here. The alleged graft (occurred) between 2008 and 2015.
"The evidence I have with me includes proof of the man receiving allowances from said company. Property projects are also included in it, hence the reason for the whopping (amount of) money involved in this case," Ooi said, before lodging the report at Penang's MACC office on Friday.
Ooi added that he had six men who could serve as witness to the case, and ready to assist the MACC in its investigation.
A source has told the New Straits Times that the majority of the projects involved housing projects, where the assemblyman had allegedly interfered so that the deals go through to the company.
It is understood that the projects are worth about RM1.3 billion.
"This might just be one area. There is a possibility that the amount involved might be more, considering his years of service in the local government," the source said when contacted.
The source said there were a few people who had a hand in the deals, which made it difficult for the authorities to trace it, until today.
"The areas with alleged interference are in paper works and the appointment of lawyers for documentations," the source added.
It is learnt that the assemblyman had served as a Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) councillor since 2008 until 2013.
He contested in the 13th General Election for a mainland-base state seat and is currently serving as an assemblyman after winning the election.
On June 30 last year, Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng claimed trial to a charge of alleged abuse of power with regards to the re-zoning of land from agriculture to commercial, and the purchase of his Jalan Pinhorn bungalow at below market price.
The joint trial for both cases is expected to begin later this year.
In August this year, state Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh was also detained in connection with the illegal carbon filter processing factory in Sungai Lembu.
Should the MACC finds evidence of possible graft in the report lodged by PFP, this will lead to the third person from DAP to be arrested and investigated for corruption in a space of two years.