The Finance Ministry has given the Kelantan government three weeks from today to carry out a thorough investigation into allegations of irregularities in the dealings of Kelantan Golden Trade (KGT) Sdn Bhd.    

Its deputy minister, Awang Adek Hussin said the findings of the investigation on the Kelantan Menteri Besar Incorporated-owned company, which produces the state's dinar and dirham currency, must be made public.     

"If the people are not satisfied and dispute the findings, the ministry will ask Bank Negara Malaysia and the Securities Commission to investigate the case," he told reporters when met at a Bachok-level Malaysia People's Bungalow function in Perupuk, Bachok, today.     

Awang Adek was asked to comment on three police reports lodged against a senior official of KGT over alleged mismanagement of the gold and silver currency exchange involving millions of ringgit.     

The police reports were made by former KGT executive director Nik Mahani Mohamad on Jan 31 this year, Japanese investor Takao Kono on May 28 and Frenchman Mohamed Esfih on June 1.     

Awang Adek said his ministry did not want to instruct the two government agencies to investigate the case now so as to give the Kelantan government the chance to conduct its own investigation and the findings to be immediately made public.     

He said the ministry did not want the issue to prolong as it could tarnish the image of Islam as the issue had drawn the attention of many including non-Muslims.     

"The issue should not be taken lightly by the state government as it involves the interest of the public who have invested a lot of money in the currency exchange.     

"I believe the state government does not want this to happen or has supported the alleged scam and does not wish to hide this because sooner or later the public will know," said Awang Adek, who is also Kelantan Umno liaison deputy chairperson.     

‘AKSB probe still on’

Meanwhile MACC said it is still proceeding with investigations into Syarikat Air Kelantan Sdn Bhd (AKSB) on charges of misappropriation of federal government funds for a clean water programme in the state.    

MACC Deputy Commissioner (Operations) Shukri Abdul said the commission was still carrying out investigations based on facts, and not merely public information.     

"The probe does not have a specific period, we will duly announce upon completion," he told reporters after the opening of the Kelantan MACC office complex by Sultan Kelantan Sultan Muhammad V in Kota Baharu today.     

Mohd Shukri was commenting on the investigation based on a report by the Kelantan People's Action Council to MACC on March 20, on allegations of AKSB fund misappropriation.     

He said, when the MACC investigated a certain case which was not taken to court, it did not mean there was no case. Rather, it could be due to inadequate evidence.     

On Selangor Menteri Besar's political secretary Faekah Husin, who reportedly wrote a support letter for a legal firm connected to her family be considered as a panel lawyer of Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad, Mohd Shukri said the commission was studying the matter.     

- Bernama