In a statement today, he said he was resigning from the post, which he has held since May 2013, following the Johor Bahru Sessions Court’s move to charge him yesterday.
The Endau assemblyman thanked the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, and Menteri Besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin for having confidence in him during the period of his service with the government.
He had earlier taken leave from the position on March 1 following investigations on his son and special officer who were arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over alleged graft offences.
On March 8, Khaled announced a reshuffle in the executive council, which included Md Jais Sarday, the exco for education, information, entrepreneur development and cooperatives, taking over the housing and local government portfolios in an acting capacity.
Abd Latif, 51, and real estate consultant Amir Shariffuddin Abd Raub, 44, claimed trial yesterday to 33 charges allegedly committed at a bank in Larkin Perdana here, between Nov 13, 2013 and Oct 19 last year, for a total amount of RM30.3 million.
He stands accused of conspiring with Amir to accept bribes from certain individuals as an inducement to obtain approval for the release of a number of Bumiputera-reserve housing lots to the public, and for a discount in the contribution amount to the Johor State Housing Fund for the Eco Botanic Project in Pulai.
Amir allegedly accepted bribes from certain individuals for himself and Abd Latif to allow for any transaction with regard to approval for release of the Bumiputera lots to the public and discount in fund contribution.
The charges were framed under Section 28 (1)(c) of the MACC Act 2009 read with Section 16 (a)(B) and Section 24 of the same Act, which provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years, and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Sessions Judge Mohd Fauzi Mohd Nasir set RM2 million as bail with one surety for each accused and May 23 for re-mention.
In a cover note accompanying the statement, Abd Latif’s lawyer Adzly & Co said the amount was too heavy for him to raise by last night.
The note said Abd Latif was deeply touched by contributions from his family, friends and the community in Mersing, who worked hard to collect the amount to enable him to be released today.