Probe into claims on exco member

(NST) ALOR STAR: An internal investigation is under way against a state executive councillor who is alleged to have made excessive claims since Pakatan Rakyat took over the reins of the state government last March.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak has directed the investigations to be carried out to ascertain the allegations which appeared in a blog on May 13 and May 18.

Azizan, when contacted, said: "One of my officers informed me about it and I have read a print-out of the blog entry containing the allegation.

"I think by now, everyone in Pas and Pakatan Rakyat would have known about it since it is on the Internet," he said without naming the state executive councillor.

Azizan did not rule out the possibility that the allegations were aimed at destroying the state executive councillor's reputation and the credibility of the Pas-led state government.

"It could be a fitnah (defamation) against the person and the state government. We will also check with the state financial officer on the matter, and whether the exco member is entitled to make such claims.

"As far as I am concerned, the person is innocent until proven otherwise," he said.

Azizan did not elaborate on the allegations but according to an article written in Malay by 'Penyiasat Persendirian', the exco member had made allowance and mileage claims totalling RM148,922.65 between last March 2008 and March this year.

The writer also claimed that the exco member had made 24 trips to Langkawi between March and December last year and another 12 trips to the island between January and March this year.

The detailed write-up also included other specific allegations regarding the expense claims.

The state executive council consists of 10 members. Seven of them are Pas members and the rest from Parti Keadilan Rakyat.