Fairus to be charged soon?

Former Penang Deputy Chief Minister 1 Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin is widely expected to be charged with alleged corruption very soon.

It was previously expected that he could be charged as early as this morning but an officer with the enforcement unit of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) told Malaysiakini that it will not take place today.

Fairus is expected to be charged within this week.

Earlier this morning, Fairus' lawyers were on standby to make an appearance at a short notice at the Butterworth Sessions Court.

Journalists too had packed the courthouse after news of a possible arraignment broke out over the weekend.

Mohammad Fairus, who is also the Penanti state representative, resigned from the first deputy chief minister's post effective April 8.

The MACC completed its investigations on him last week over his alleged involvement in the controversial quarry operations in Seberang Perai.

MACC had then submitted its completed investigations papers to the prosecution division for further action.

In recent months, Mohammad Fairus' role in the party and state had diminished considerably.

He was removed as the state exco in charge of religious affairs and was replaced as the state deputy head as well.

He also had to give up his post as the state football association president.

Replacement to be known on Wednesday

In a related development, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is expected to announce his new deputy to replace Mohammad Fairus on Wednesday.

Lim was reported as saying that he was still waiting for feedback from PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim.

"Anwar asked to be given until today to make a decision but I decided to give him three more days.

"Although it is my prerogative to appoint the candidate, in the spirit of camaraderie, I will respect Anwar's decision," he told reporters in Penang yesterday.

Anwar, who was also in Penang yesterday but at a separate location, also confirmed that and said he would be submitting the name today.

"We will forward the name of the candidate as soon as possible, maybe tomorrow, the earliest," he had told reporters.

Anwar also confirmed that two names had been proposed - that of state executive councillor Abdul Malik Abdul Kassim and Sungai Bakap state assemblyperson Maktar Shapee.

Abdul Malik, the Batu Maung state representative, and Maktar are the only two Malay PKR state assemblypersons in Penang. Fairus was the other.

However it also believed that PAS was also trying to name its own candidate for the post.

PAS and DAP leaders believe that given the good cooperation between the two parties in Perak, especially during the Bukit Gantang by-election last week, this could be translated to Penang too.