KUALA LUMPUR – The Kedah Football Association will initiate legal action against those who alleged its members and president were involved in graft amounting to RM6 million, said president Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.
“Please await letters of demand at your homes and offices,” said the Kedah menteri besar in a Facebook post.
Sanusi said the state football body would issue a statement regarding the allegations and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) investigation, which he added was “deliberately” made viral for political mileage of certain quarters.
He also said the issue was to tarnish the Kedah FA and the state government’s leadership.
Sanusi added that he would disclose the documents relating to the privatisation of Kedah Darul Aman FC, the RM5-million loan application and the RM1.3-million repayment.
He will also reveal project applications that were not approved due to non-compliance and audit documents to show the Kedah FA’s transparent financial management.
Yesterday, Sanusi recorded a statement at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya, as part of a probe into alleged graft at a state football association involving RM6 million.
The anti-graft agency said it was in the final stages of completing investigation papers over the claimed corruption.
However, MACC senior director of investigations Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hashim said he could not reveal details of the probe to the public, as it contained sensitive information.
Previously, sources within the MACC revealed that the ongoing probe was initiated after a contractor reported being promised state projects in exchange for channelling RM6 million into the football association’s account.
Last Friday, the MACC announced the remand of four individuals, including a CEO and two consultant representatives from a football association in the northern state.
They were suspected of soliciting and accepting bribes exceeding RM6 million. The funds were allegedly intended to influence the awarding of a tender for a race-track construction project, as well as a project to manage, operate and maintain five water reservoir plants in Kedah.
Kedah FA chief executive Zulkifli Che Haron was released on MACC bail last Sunday.
Sanusi had previously claimed that he was the real target in the corruption case involving the state FA, adding that the remand was merely an accessory to create a case against them, on top of creating a negative narrative on the Kedah government. – January 12, 2024