KANGAR: Perlis Perikatan Nasional chairman Mohd Shukri Ramli today says he's still the menteri besar despite calls for him to step down after being investigated over allegations of abuse of power by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Shukri, who is Perlis Perikatan Nasional (PN) commissioner, said calls for him to relinquish the post were confined to social media and not in the state administration or the party.
"It's people's right to say that, but as for now, I'm still the Perlis menteri besar."
He said this after chairing the executive council meeting here.
Shukri said he would focus on managing the state administration.
He confirmed that he was arrested by the MACC for eight hours to record his statement on Tuesday.
"I wasn't arrested right away, and according to my lawyer, the eight-hour arrest was only to assist in the investigation.
"I accept the MACC probe with an open heart.
"Perhaps this will give me the space to be more disciplined to ensure a clean up of my administration as the head of state government.
"If the MACC wants to call me up again, I will be ready."
On Tuesday, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed that Shukri was arrested when he went to graft-buster's headquarters in Putrajaya and was released after spending eight hours having his statement recorded.
It was learnt that Shukri, who is also Perlis Pas commissioner, is being investigated for abuse of power related to infrastructure development projects, including the repair, maintenance, supply and services in Perlis since 2022.
Two weeks ago, the MACC detained six people, including Shukri's son, for an investigation into an alleged false claim amounting to RM600,000 involving the state's infrastructure and supply contracts.
In a related development, Shukri said the state government is mulling to establish an Integrity Unit in the state government office to prevent discrepancy in the in the administration following the MACC probes.
"InsyaAllah (God willing), we have identified weaknesses that we need to remedy and if there's no issue, we will establish the Integrity Unit at my own office by having an officer from the MACC onboard.
"It is still at planning level, and I was informed that some other states already have Integrity Unit at the Menteri Besar office.
"I think following what have transpired recently, I will discuss with the state exco members and the State Legal Advisor to study the possibility of having a MACC officer at my office," he said.