ALOR STAR: Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor today said he is the real target behind the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) probe on alleged corruption in the Kedah Football Association (KFA).
The Kedah Menteri Besar claimed that the move to remand KFA president Zulkifli Che Haron and three others was a plot to tarnish the state's reputation after months of futile effort to directly link him with any corruption scandal.
"This is sheer persecution against those who are not aligned to them (the unity government). That would be me.
"They (those investigated by MACC) are just accessories. The real target is me. They have been trying for months but did not find anything (on me).
"What to do you people want, the truth or to persecute people?
"You people have found the truth, that Sanusi has no case (corruption) but you are trying to cook up something.
"One of them is by building the narrative that there is a lot of corruption in Kedah, even in football," he told reporters after attending a monthly gathering with civil servants at Wisma Darul Aman here today.
Asked whether he has been contacted by MACC to record his statement over the ongoing probes, Sanusi who is also KFA president said the agency has yet to reach out to him.
"I am willing to cooperate. Just bring on the questions, I want to answer them," he said.
Sanusi also blasted MACC for allegedly parading Zukifli and three others during the remand proceeding on Friday, as if they were being taken to the court to be charged for corruption.
"They were merely summoned to have their statement recorded but instead they were paraded as if they were being charged.
"They (MACC) purposely parked the vehicles away (from the court building) and invited the media to take their pictures. All these are cheap propaganda.
"Certain quarters are using government agencies. That is why I am upset. A government agency should not be abused in such way," he said.
Sanusi has also categorically denied that there is any element of corruption in KFA and the four individuals remanded by MACC.
He also stressed that the donation in question was not amounting to RM6 million as reported earlier.
"They have not been found guilty of anything. In fact, the money (donation) went into KFA's account, not even their personal account.
"Hence, why treated them like accused? They were summoned to facilitate the investigation. I don't even understand what case they are probing.
"They (MACC) asked about RM6 million, actually the exact donation is about RM5 million.
"The money was donated to KFA but suddenly they are accused of corruption. What kind of corruption is it, since the money is still in the (KFA) coffer and we used it to pay off debts? Hence, where is (the element of) corruption there?
"If the money went into the pockets of the four individuals, you can frame them for corruption.
"Other people should be investigated, not them. Among the four of them, only one person is managing KFA while the rest had no connection with KFA at all," he said.
Sanusi added that the incident has affected KFA's image to the extent of shunning away potential sponsors from donating to the association in managing football development programmes in the state.
On Friday, it was reported that the MACC had remanded KFA chief executive officer Zulkifli Che Haron and three individuals, including two consultants aged between 40 and 60 years, to assist in the investigation of a case involving solicitation and acceptance of bribes amounting to RM6 million.
The alleged corrupt funds were believed to be a reward for helping a company owner secure construction project tenders for a racecourse and projects to manage, operate, and maintain five water retention facilities in Kedah.