AN Umno politician in Malacca, who was remanded last year for graft involving more than RM150 million, is expected to be charged soon. 

New Sunday Times reported that Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) last year seized more than RM150 million in cash, vehicles and assets in the possession of the politician. 

This included RM41 million cash and RM12.6 million in bank accounts, 56 land titles belonging to Yayasan Melaka in Sabah, and six State Economic Planning Unit (Upen) files on land reclamation projects. Nine vehicles – two Toyota Vellfire, a Toyota Camry, a BMW, a Proton Waja, a Perodua Myvi, a Proton Exora, and two Toyota FJ Cruiser worth about RM200,000 each –  were also seized. 

The politician, who is a Tangga Batu Umno division committee member, is reported to have been appointed to a “special position” in his party on Wednesday. It is understood the appointment was made after Malacca Umno executive secretary Shamsudin Mehat took leave for health reasons, said the report.

The politician’s appointment as the state BN and Umno special functions secretary was announced by Malacca Chief Minister Idris Haron at the Klebang Kecil Umno Youth, Wanita and Puteri annual conference. The announcement is yet to be made publicly. 

“We merely asked him to take care of the people on the ground. There was no official letter issued to him and there was no official appointment. Shamsudin, the state Umno executive secretary is hospitalised as he is sick. So at the moment, I am merely asking him to carry out special functions while Shamsudin is on leave,”

“He is a political activist… he is the best person we have to help us on the ground. He can help place flags on poles and take care of our activities. Let him work for the party and let the court judge (whether he is guilty of corruption),” Idris was quoted as saying. 

The politician was special officer to the Malacca Historical City Council mayor when he was arrested and remanded on Nov 28 last year. 

He is being investigated under Section 53 (3) of the MACC Act and was granted bail of RM100,000 with two sureties. 

He was detained for 24 hours on Dec 2 to assist in investigations into illegal money-laundering activities under Section 4 (1) of the Anti Money Laundering Act 2001. 

His removal from the city council was announced by Idris at the state assembly in February, after which he was placed at the Tangga Batu Umno service centre. – April 23, 2017.