Pakatan Rakyat leaders today lodged a report with Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission alleging political secretary to Higher Education Minister Khaled Nordin has misused public funds for party elections.

Speaking in Parliament this afternoon, PKR tian chua 02 information chief Tian Chua (right) revealed ‘authentic and legal’ documents claiming Zainal Abidin Othman, political secretary to Khaled, had abused the ministry’s letterhead to book 70 bedrooms in Mandarin Court Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

Tian Chua said the bedrooms were booked for March 24 to 26 (coinciding with the Umno general assembly) and that deposit payments had made banked into the hotel’s bank account.

"These rooms were not booked for any government programmes but instead for Umno delegates attending the general assembly next week.

"I have learnt too that the payment was made by Zainal through a government’s cheque to Mandarin Court Hotel," said the Batu MP, adding that all the ‘evidences sent through fax’ were given to MACC today.

Tian Chua however did not reveal the exact amount of the deposits, but said a room for two with breakfast at the hotel costs RM165.

khaled nordin Should the MACC act on Pakatan’s report it could be yet another ‘political killer’, this time gunning Khaled (left) who is vying for the vice-presidency in the upcoming Umno elections, after former deputy president hopeful Mohd Ali Rustam was barred from contesting two days ago on allegations of vote buying.

Bookings not for other reasons

To Azan Ismail, (PKR-Indera Mahkota) the allegation shows the ministry has ‘guaranteed the rooms for the delegates and would bear the entire cost’ based on the confirmation letter produced by Zainal.

"The dates chosen to book the rooms are similar with that of the Umno general assembly. It is not possible that the bookings were made for other reasons," said Azan, adding that MACC should act quickly before the general assembly begins.

higher education minister abuse of govt funds mandarin court hotel 190309 02 "If the allegation is true, then MACC should not delay its probe as this would not be good for the Umno assembly. As for the persons involved, they could face being disqualified from contesting.

Azan added the Higher Education Ministry had the right not to write a letter using its letterhead if payment was made to a third party.

"But the ministry’s letterhead was used to book the rooms for Umno delegates. It appears as if the ministry has done this before. It is also strange for a ministry to do such a thing."

Public money misused

Tian Chua meanwhile said reliable information revealed that a cheque had been banked into the hotel’s bank account. This he said should prompt the MACC to issue a warrant against the hotel.

"We need to know into which account the money has been transferred as payment," he said.

PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin said the MACC still has room to investigate the matter before the general assembly kicked off as it entailed ‘public money being manipulated or used unnecessarily’.

higher education minister abuse of govt funds mandarin court hotel 190309 03 Tian Chua, Azan and Shamsul claim the ministry letter penned by Zainal on March 2 to Mandarin Court Hotel stated that the hotel allow ‘our guests to check-in at the hotel at any time and the bill be forwarded to us after the guests leave’ (we would prefer to pay weekly). This arrangement is valid until March 24.

The letter further stated: "In accordance, please make the necessary arrangements and advise us on how to go about it. We would like our guests to check in using their names at the front desks.

"The number of rooms, duration of stay and guest names will vary from time to time and will be forwarded to you before check-in time," the letter went. It ends with Zainal’s signature and his mobile number.

Explaining the contradiction of dates involved, Tian Chua said a recent check with the hotel concerned revealed that the rooms ‘have been booked until March 26 to 27' and that payment had been made into the hotel’s bank account.