Two people from a group of 40 veterans have expressed regret over accusations of “acting” in returning the RM100 compassionate money given to them earlier by the Penang government.

The imam of the Pulau Mertajam mosque in Bukit Mertajam, Saidin Chik, 72, said he was disappointed with the statement by the Penang Religious, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Abdul Malik Abul Kassim that he and his colleagues had pretended to cry when giving back the money two days ago.

“It is unfair for him (Abdul Malik) to say that because we were not acting on that day, and we shed our tears as we felt very sad.

The tears can also mean that we are happy to be able to return the RM100 since it came from a forbidden source,” Saidin told reporters today.

Another veteran, Md Saat Md Safar, 70, who also returned the money on Wednesday, said that he did so willingly after knowing from where the money came from.

Meanwhile, Penang Umno state liaison secretary Azhar Ibrahim denied that Umno had forced the veterans to return the money, adding that it was their right to do so.

- Bernama