Rafizi not buying crowdfunding excuse for Mat Sabu’s aide

The PKR vice-president asks how the aide could have raised such a large amount of money when even a popular activist has so far failed to settle his fine via crowdfunding.

(FMT) – PKR’s Rafizi Ramli today questioned the explanation given for a large sum of money deposited into the bank account of Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu’s aide, who is being probed by anti-graft authorities over the matter.

In a Facebook post, Rafizi said based on documents he had sighted, the aide received four “suspicious” payments in 48 hours.

The former Pandan MP said he was told that the money, used to clear the aide of bankruptcy, was derived from crowdfunding.

“But I find this hard to accept as I know another Amanah leader, Mazlan Aliman, who is still unable to collect enough funds to settle his lawsuit even though he is more well-known than Mohamad’s aide,” he said.

Mazlan, an activist, was fined RM500,000 in 2016 after he was found guilty of defaming the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda).

Yesterday, it was reported that Mohamad’s aide was being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), which has been tasked with ensuring that all aides and political officers of ministers are free of dubious dealings before they are formally appointed.

MACC was believed to be investigating transactions totalling RM800,000 which was deposited into the aide’s bank account soon after Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, took his oath of office.

The aide, in his mid-40s, is said to be close to the Amanah president and was chosen from dozens of others who were also vying for senior posts under the minister.

According to an FMT source, the aide was declared bankrupt by the Insolvency Department even before Amanah was formed.

The source said the aide had approached close friends – “about a dozen of them” – to help him settle some RM800,000 in personal debts.

Rafizi, who is running for deputy presidency in the coming PKR polls, urged the government to introduce laws making it compulsory for the prime minister, his Cabinet members and their family members to publicly declare their assets.

The PKR vice-president said the law should also apply to MPs, assemblymen, menteris besar and their executive councillors.

“The recent case involving an aide to the defence minister should serve as an example of the need for stricter laws on asset declaration,” he said.