MACC joins the post-for-project fray, Joseph Kaos Jr
Malay Mail Tuesday, January 12th, 2010 13:30:00

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission (MACC) has opened a file to look into possible elements of power abuse by the Selangor State government’s post-for-project demand in the Yayasan Basmi Kemiskinan (YBK) fiasco.
Yesterday, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) Bersih Bangun Selangor (Bebas) lodged a report with the anti-graft body against Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim on alleged abuse of power.
Bebas chairman Mohd Abdul Raof Mokhtar lodged the report at MACC's headquarters in Putrajaya yesterday.
Abdul Raof said: "I find that there is an element of threat towards YBK. So we are reporting the matter to the MACC. This RM300 million UiTM project is good for the people," Raof told Bernama.
MACC's newly installed deputy chief commissioner Datuk Mohd Shukri Abdull told The Malay Mail that MACC had received the report.
“We need to study the report first before deciding to investigate or not. We need to find a basis to probe the matter.”
The Malay Mail had reported last week that YBK and its subsidiary Permodalan YBK Sdn Bhd, could not proceed with the development of a UiTM campus on its 448-acre plot in Serendah because it refused to bow to pressure from the State government.
The State government, it is learnt, had used the inability of the foundation to settle quit rent arrears that run into millions of ringgit for portions of its 1,642 land bank as a "bargaining chip" to get Khalid and another exco member Rodziah Ismail appointed to YBK's board of trustees.
The UiTM project is estimated to be over RM300 million and expected to create spin-off revenues worth over RM1 billion.
Responding to our report, Khalid had last week said the State government's involvement in YBK will ensure transparency and accountability in managing the State's resources that had been handed over to the foundation.
In a statement, Khalid said, "the State is worried about the lack of transparency in ensuring the foundation's resources are managed prudently and will benefit the poor community in Selangor. Since we have provided a huge land bank to the foundation that is worth millions, the State must make sure the poor benefit from the use of the land".
Khalid added that the move by the State was not a political decision but a tactical one to ensure that the resources were managed in a transparent and accountable manner.
Meanwhile, YBK chairman Datuk Zainal Abidin Sakom told The Malay Mail yesterday that the move by Bebas to lodge a report with the MACC was an initiative made on the NGO's own accord.
“I have never heard of the NGO and I don’t know who the chairman is. Nevertheless, the NGO’s move is very much welcome.”
Asked if YBK would lodge its own report with the MACC, Zainal said: “Our lawyers are still in the midst of studying whether there are grounds to lodge a report,” said Zainal.
“But it is not something urgent for us