Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub made the call today, as he implied that Johor state executive council member Abdul Latif Bandi couldn’t have acted alone in the crimes he had allegedly committed.
Latif yesterday claimed trial to 33 counts of corruption involving land valued at more than RM30 million.
“The MACC needs to open an investigation paper on Khaled and the other state exco members, as any attempt to convert a land status, or to sell a land or property, must be approved by the state administration first,” Salahuddin told a press conference here today.
“It’s not possible that the approval was obtained merely through the powers accorded to Latif.
“He must have gone through a process whereby the approval was obtained in a state government meeting, in this case, an exco meeting chaired by Khaled,” he said.
Salahuddin added that it would be “strange” if the investigation into the case was limited to Latif alone, because Khaled, as the menteri besar, should also be held accountable for it.
“The MACC must state if Khaled and the other state exco members are already under investigation,” Salahuddin said, urging the anti-graft agency to start doing so, if they have not already.
Meanwhile, Salahuddin also said that the Johor state government should be subjected to a management audit immediately, on top of annual financial audits.
“This is important so the menteri besar’s office can also be audited. I would suggest the federal government appoint a recognised international audit firm to do the management audit.
“Because I do not want corrupt practices in the state government to spread even further. We want the state government to be free of corruption.
“This is in line with the Johor Sultan’s statement that he would not allow any of the state government officers to be involved in corruption,” Salahuddin added.
Latif, 51, was accused of conspiring with real estate consultant Amir Shariffuddin Abd Raub, 44, to accept bribes from certain individuals.
The bribes were said to be an inducement to obtain approval for the release of a number of Bumiputera-reserved 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.
Latif was dropped from chairing the state’s housing and local government portfolio last month, after he took leave following investigation into his son and Latif’s special officer, both of whom were arrested by the MACC prior to Latif being nabbed.