By Adib Zalkapli
KOTA BAHRU, Nov 15 – Kelantan Umno Youth today urged Datuk Nik Abdul Nik Aziz Nik Mat to vacate the mentri besar post, saying that the PAS spiritual leader’s decision to cancel his plan to perform the Haj in Mecca does not prove his innocence.
The state Umno Youth chief Anuar Safian also asked Nik Aziz’s son-in-law, Ariffahmi Abdul Rahman to resign as the Kelantan Mentri Besar Corporation (PMBK) CEO for alleged abuse of power.
“While the case is under investigation, Nik Aziz, along with Ariffahmi, should resign to save the state from embarrassment,” Anuar told reporters here.
He was speaking outside the Kelantan federal building after submitting a memorandum to the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) urging the body to hasten the investigation.
Nik Aziz had admitted that he had received sponsorship amounting to RM65,000 from a businessman linked to PMBK to perform the Haj.
He also said that the sponsorship is not a bribe adding that he had received numerous offers from many people who were willing to pay for the trip.
“The Mentri Besar cannot accept any form of sponsorship from any party especially from those who have benefited from Kelantan’s natural resources, as he is the head of the state government,” said Anuar in his memorandum to the MACC.
“Although it was reported that the Mentri Besar had cancelled his plan to perform the ritual, it does not mean that there was no element of corruption,” he added.
On Ariffahmi’s alleged wrongdoings, Anuar claimed in the memorandum the PMBK chief had appointed contractors for various jobs in the state investment arm without going through proper procedure.
The MACC probe against the PMBK began last week and had resulted in the sacking of its corporate liaison officer Syed Azidi Syed Abdul Aziz for allegedly leaking the corporation’s information to the MACC and conspiring with Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen.
Syed Azidi had denied all the allegations against him and asked Ariffahmi to resign calling him a liability to Nik Aziz’s administration.
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