MALACCA Chief Minister Idris Haron denied claims that he had appointed a politician who was involved in high-profile corruption cases to an important post in Malacca Umno, Bernama reported yesterday.

Idris shot down a local English language newspaper report, saying that he had never officially appointed the individual to hold any important posts within the party administration.

“I only directed him to conduct monitoring to ensure the smoothness of the party machinery and he is not involved in administering the party machinery,” he told reporters at Tangga Batu yesterday.

He said this in reply to an allegation in an English Language newspaper that he had appointed a senior government officer with the title of ‘Datuk’ who has since been remanded by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to help in investigations over corruption cases involving local government projects in Malacca.

“I only appointed him to ensure work to put up (Barisan Nasional) flags and banners that complied with the stipulated regulations.

“If even that too is turned into a big issue… I don’t know why because the task is not a position which involves leadership or party administration but (only) monitoring,” he said.

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

The New Sunday Times reported that MACC last year seized more than RM150 million in cash, vehicles and assets in the possession of the politician.

He is being investigated under Section 53 (3) of the MACC Act and was granted bail of RM100,000 with two sureties.‎ – April 24, 2017.