VETERAN journalist and blogger Datuk A. Kadir Jasin has snubbed the Malaysia Madani administration for making a poor choice of political appointment – yet again.
This time around, he ‘congratulated’ Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government for ‘fulfilling” the agenda of his deputy Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi vis-à-vis the appointment of former Baling MP and UMNO supreme council member Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim as the new Kedah Regional Development Authority (KEDA) chairman.
“The Deputy PM’s agenda must be adhered to. The promise of Pakatan Harapan (PH) can be broken,” penned the former Bersatu supreme council member in his latest Facebook post. “Two governments in one state. The PM’s government and that of the DPM’s.”
Zahid who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister made the announcement during his speech at a breaking of fast event held at Masjid A’ Ala in Jitra (Keah) last night (April 5).
“We wish to ensure that all projects to be carried by the ministry through KEDA will proceed smoothly,” justified the UMNO president and Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman.
The Bagan Datuk MP also said it was imperative to ensure that federal government projects in the Perikatan Nasional (PN)-ruled Kedah be rolled out effectively to benefit the people.
“The allocation approved for Kedah – especially through the ministry and KEDA – must be implemented effectively because their performance is not just evaluated based on spending output or percentage but rather on the tangible benefits for the people,” he noted.
“This is because the satisfaction of the people is not just measured by the number of projects, but by the benefits that they get from them.”
Recall that on Dec 9 last year, Azeez who was also the former Lembaga Tabung Haji chairman was accorded a full acquittal in his corruption and money-laundering case.
Judicial commissioner Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid allowed his application for a discharge and acquittal for nine charges – three corruption charges and six money-laundering charges – after deputy public prosecutor Nik Haslinie Hashim did not raise any objection.
Lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad further informed the court that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had decided not to take any further action against his client. He added that the investigation has been completed and all the seized assets and property have also been returned to Abdul Azeez.
Earlier on Sept 23 last year, Azeez was given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal by Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi following a representation submitted by him.
He was initially charged with three charges of graft and 10 money-laundering charges. However, the Court of Appeal allowed his application to strike out four money-laundering charges.
It was reported that Azeez faced three counts of accepting bribes amounting to RM5.2 mil and six charges of money laundering worth RM972,414.60 in relation to road projects in Perak and Kedah for offences allegedly committed between Sept 2010 and April 2018. – April 6, 2023
