A PAS-led NGO representing former Armed Forces personnel (Kerabat) will be meeting the Armed Forces chief on Jan 17, and if there is no investigation within two weeks, the former soldiers have threatened to demonstrate in front of the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) building.

Kerabat president Lt-Col (Air Force) Mohd Nazari Mokhtar has urged its members to lodge nationwide reports with the police and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) following what they deemed as RM160 million of the LTAT’s funds being used as a bailout to help a crony company.

He said many members felt that the business deal was an abuse of the fund by the powers-that-be and possibly an abuse of power by the present Defence Minister (Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) and Prime Minister (Najib Abdul Razak) and his deputy to help a suspected crony company.

“We agree with the view by PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli that this deal smells of corruption and do not want the soldiers’ fund to be used for this purpose,” he said, adding that the fund should be used for the welfare of those who had served the Armed Forces.

“Kerabat has 40,000 members nationwide and would not hesitate to protest outside the LTAT building if there are no developments over our request for a probe by the police and the MACC.”

Mohd Nazari said former army personnel view the latest development seriously as they do not want the fund catering for former servicemen which amounted to RM65 billion to be abused.

“Whatever has been said about the soldiers fund not being used are mere statements and we are asking the authorities and the Defence Ministry to investigate and be more transparent about the deal,” he said.

“From the feedback that I got, the army veterans do not like the deal at all but they may be forced to keep quiet after having served with the government. However, I am asking them to come out and join us in making a report so action can be taken to investigate,” he said.

Agong is army commander in chief

It was reported previously that LTAT, through its investment arm Boustead Holdings Berhad had purchased the land from Selangor Umno Wanita chief Raja Ropiaah Raja Abdullah’s company Awan Megah (M) Sdn Bhd following a legal action brought by carpet businessman Deepak Jaikishian who filed a suit through his company Astacanggih Sdn Bhd.

LTAT had also defended the purchase , saying no army veterans’ funds were used in the acquisition.

Mohd Nazari said an inquiry should be held despite the disclosure made by the LTAT, as these are merely statements and as former army veterans, an inquiry should be held about why the funds are used in such manner to bail out people.

He said the army serves under the Yang di-Pertuan Agung where he is the commander in chief and they would not hesitate in bringing the issue to the Agong.

“We will also push the Agong to hold an inquiry over the whole land deal, if there is no proper probe by the authorities,” he said.