By Lourdes Charles (The Star)
KUALA LUMPUR: Former Penang Deputy Chief Minister (DCM 1) Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin has been cleared of graft by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
It is learnt the commission found insufficient evidence to prosecute him for alleged involvement in illegal quarry dealings in Penang.
Sources said the person who allegedly paid money to Fairus denied paying the former deputy CM any money as gratification or for favours in return.
They said the person concerned was also cleared of any wrongdoing.
The commission probe was in response to allegations by national PKR Youth executive council member Amizudin Ahmat at a Seberang Prai Municipal (MPSP) council meeting.
Fairus, who resigned from all posts on April 8, was alleged to have been working hand-in-glove with several quarry operators.
Meanwhile, when contacted, Fairus said he received a call from a senior commission investigative officer yesterday afternoon to tell him he was cleared of the charges.
Fairus, who was in Kuala Lumpur, said the good news coincided with the birth of his sixth child here hours earlier.
‘‘It is a good omen. I may mount a campaign to clear my name.
“However, I have some personal issues to settle first,’’ Fairus said.
In George Town, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng declined to comment on the situation when approached by journalists after the late session of the state assembly.
“I don’t know anything. It’s the first time I’ve heard about this,” Lim said.
However, PKR state executive councillor Abdul Malik Abul Kassim said word of Fairus being cleared had spread via SMS.
BERKATALAH BENAR WALAUPUN PAHIT !
It is learnt the commission found insufficient evidence to prosecute him for alleged involvement in illegal quarry dealings in Penang.
Sources said the person who allegedly paid money to Fairus denied paying the former deputy CM any money as gratification or for favours in return.
They said the person concerned was also cleared of any wrongdoing.
The commission probe was in response to allegations by national PKR Youth executive council member Amizudin Ahmat at a Seberang Prai Municipal (MPSP) council meeting.
Fairus, who resigned from all posts on April 8, was alleged to have been working hand-in-glove with several quarry operators.
Meanwhile, when contacted, Fairus said he received a call from a senior commission investigative officer yesterday afternoon to tell him he was cleared of the charges.
Fairus, who was in Kuala Lumpur, said the good news coincided with the birth of his sixth child here hours earlier.
‘‘It is a good omen. I may mount a campaign to clear my name.
“However, I have some personal issues to settle first,’’ Fairus said.
In George Town, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng declined to comment on the situation when approached by journalists after the late session of the state assembly.
“I don’t know anything. It’s the first time I’ve heard about this,” Lim said.
However, PKR state executive councillor Abdul Malik Abul Kassim said word of Fairus being cleared had spread via SMS.
BERKATALAH BENAR WALAUPUN PAHIT !
