AN UMNO leader has called for the resignation of Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Shukri Ramli after the latter’s son was charged with submitting false claims.
Taking to Facebook, UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi pointed to the state’s weak administration as the reason such crimes could be committed.
“It wouldn’t have happened if Shukri wasn’t the menteri besar. His administration is weak,” Puad said.
“Fortunately, Perlis is a poor state. There are no mega projects that can be stolen from. With a weak and easily deceived administration, Perlis will further retrogress.”
Puad further anticipated PAS’ response to the scandal by giving a “standard answer” that Shukri didn’t need to resign as those accused have not been found guilty and therefore, there is no reason why the Perlis MB must resign or vacate the Sanglang state seat.
“They will say, after all, it is not the Perlis MB who has been charged and he did not defend his son’s actions,” he remarked.
“These are all hypocritical responses. The people should not be surprised. There is no need to say that PAS is an Islamist party. PAS is not an Islamist party. Haram to others but halal to PAS.”
Puad’s statement comes following news reports that Shukri’s son Mohd Syafeeq, 35, was charged in the Kangar sessions court on Wednesday (May 23) with falsifying claims of more than RM19,000 for the supply of drinks for the Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail in February.
NST reported that Mohd Syafeeq pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him before judge Norsalha Hamzah.
Mohd Syafeeq was accused of submitting a government order document under the name Farid Abdul Hamid, worth RM19,505.10, for the supply of drinks to Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin at Tuanku Fauziah Hospital, despite knowing that it contained false details.
He allegedly submitted the claim to Nurul Nabilah Sukri, an administrative assistant at the district administrative unit of the state secretary’s office, with the intention of misleading her superior on Feb 19.
The charge was framed under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, punishable by imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the false claim or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Syafeeq’s lawyer Fadhly Yaacob pleaded for a lower amount, saying his client has a wife and a child to support with his combined income of RM1,500 each month as a padi farmer and from selling LPG gas.
He also told the court that his client had been cooperating with MACC and had no risk of jumping bail.
The court fixed bail at RM20,000 with one surety and set June 28 for case mention. – May 23, 2024
