Kedah Umno Liaison Committee chairperson Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah has asked state executive councillor Tan Chow Kang to go on leave over the allegation of "rebates" from Kedah government allocations to non-governmental organisations.

He said the chairman of the environment, Chinese community affairs and transport committee should assume responsibility in the matter.

Ahmad Bashah said this to reporters at a ‘Maulidur Rasul’ event at SMK Simpang Kuala yesterday evening when asked to comment on the alleged suspension of one of Tan's personal assistants over the rebates issue.

Kedah MCA chairman Chong Itt Chew had claimed that eight NGOs in the state had informed him that they were required to pay back to the PAS-led state government between 25 and 30 percent of the state government financial aid they received.

Ahmad Bashah said: "If the state executive councillor asks his personal assistant to go on leave, the councillor himself should also assume responsibility and do the same thing to facilitate investigation by the authorities. It looks like there is no transparency. This kind of thing (rebate) has never happened before and it involves public funds."  

He also said it was hoped that the authorities would conduct the investigation quickly to verify or dismiss the rebates allegation.

- Bernama