Barely a week into the job, a report has been filed against Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

The report was filed in Ipoh by Perak DAP leaders this morning.

They accused the menteri besar of abusing his power to appoint three advisers and one information chief with the status of executive councillors.

pakatan lodge macc report against zambry 120209 02 According to DAP state secretary and lawyer Nga Kor Ming, the advisers would be entitled to a salary and allowances of RM240,000 per annum.

The amount includes their RM15,000 monthly salary, holiday allowances worth RM20,000 per annum, a car and a driver, monthly bills allowance worth RM1,000, clothing allowance worth RM3,500 annually and the license to acquire firearms.

In total, the state government would be spending RM720,000 of Perak's money annually to pay for the salaries and allowances of the three advisers.

"There are no provisions in the Perak state constitution to allow for such appointments and this is the people's money," he told reporters after lodging the report.

Also present was DAP state chief Ngeh Koo Ham and some 20 party supporters.

'Act of treason'

Yesterday, Zambry appointed three advisers and a state information chief. The four will receive perks similar to those received by state executive councillors.

They are Mohd Najumuddin Elies in charge of Muslim affairs, Chang Ko Youn (Chinese community affairs), S Veerasingam (Indian community affairs) and Hamdi Abu Bakar (state information chief).

Chang, who is Gerakan deputy chairperson and Veerasingam, who is also MIC vice-president, were defeated in the Beruas parliamentary seat and Sungkai state seat respectively in the last general election.

pakatan lodge macc report against zambry 120209 03 Nga said Zambry would also be wasting Perak's money by paying Hamdi as the state government's information chief.

"The appointment of the four individuals would mean that the Perak BN government would have to bare their salaries and allowances worth RM960,000 annually.

"This is a waste of people's money especially during a time where the world is facing an economic slowdown," he added.

Furthermore, he said their appointments were done without the approval of the Perak state assembly and this contravened the state's constitution.

"No position in the state government with exco status can be given as according to the state constitution nor can there be any individual who is not a state assemblyperson be appointed to such position," he added.

Nga also said such appointments made without the consent of the 'legitimate menteri besar' have financial implications and as such can be described as a form of 'embezzlement and abuse of power'.

"His (Zambry's) action can also be seen as a form of ' penderhakaan ' (treason) against the state's monarchy since appointments with exco status must have the consent of the sultan," he added.

Zambry could not be contacted for comment.