Deputy Finance Minister Awang Adek Hussin has admitted that he had received cash contributions via his personal account, as alleged by a blogger, but said the deposits were donations for social programmes.
Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby, Awang said the donations flagged were made to one of three personal bank accounts set up in 2004 for the purpose of funding programmes in Bachok, Kelantan, where he is Umno division chief."Many companies give donations to fund social programmes for the people of Bachok, my division. I have all the records, of who the money comes from and what it is used for,” he said.
“A special officer handles this and I will hand (the records) over the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).”
Asked why the donations are not made to the Umno division or banked into an account set up in Bachok Umno's name, Awang said that this was "not encouraged".
“Firstly, the (welfare) activities (are) for the rakyat and not for Umno. Secondly, Umno divisions are not encouraged to collect donations. It’s party rules,” he clarified.
He said donations, in the form of cheques and cash, are used for programmes like Hari Raya aid of RM100 per family for 4,000 families and English-language tuition classes for students in 33 primary schools.
"I accept all donations, unless it comes with vested interests, like giving a donation to get a contract. I don't have anything to do with the award of contracts as it is all done at committee level and I am just a deputy minister," he said.
He said the Johor Umno division leader who is alleged to have placed the deposits in order to obtain a government contract, has been a "long time donor".
"I don't give my donors anything," he said, adding that most of them are "friends" who want to help him meet expectations of the people of Bachok who seek assistance.
He stressed that "none of the money is for personal use" and that he is a "very transparent person".
"I even come here to volunteer information," he said.
No link to PM and DPM's aides
The anonymous blogger, 'Thewhistleblower711', had alleged that Awang had received more than RM100,000 in "contributions" in stages from the Johor leader whose company won a Public Works Department contract.
The contract was to provide services to Bangunan Sultan Iskandar, previously known as the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Building, and the adjacent Johor Bahru Sentral.
Apart from Awang, the blogger had named two aides to the prime minister and deputy prime minister.
Asked about this, Awang said he has no inkling as to why the duo have been named and said he has no links to them.
"My conscience is clear," he added.
The blogger had also published purported copies of the cheques and cash deposit receipts involved in the transactions.
The MACC has confirmed that it is investigating the matter.
Malaysiakini
No comments:
Post a Comment