Bankrupt aide: Don’t blow things out of proportion, Liew tells Rafizi


“In order to help him, some of us, friends and family members, tried to help him to clear his bankruptcy status so he would be eligible to work.”

(FMT) –The deputy defence minister says Mohamad Sabu’s aide received legitimate help from friends and family members to clear his debts.

Deputy Defence Minister Liew Chin Tong today hit out at PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli for going to the media instead of contacting the defence ministry over claims that an aide to its minister Mohamad Sabu had sought “third-party assistance” in clearing his debts.

“Rafizi is only a phone call away from us. He could have called the minister or myself, or the person he referred to in order to seek clarification,” Liew said, adding that there was no need for a “trial by media”.

The aide in question was allegedly declared a bankrupt but was said to have settled his debts of over RM800,000 through crowdfunding.

Rafizi claimed to have sighted several documents detailing payments of RM318,525, RM100,000, RM300,000 and RM100,800 made to the aide on May 30 and 31 this year.

However, he questioned the explanation that the money had been raised through crowdfunding.

Mohamad’s aide is reportedly being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), which was tasked with ensuring that all aides and political officers of ministers are free of dubious dealings before they are formally appointed.

MACC is believed to be investigating the transactions which were soon after Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, took his oath of office.

The aide, in his mid-40s, is said to be close to the Amanah president and was chosen from dozens of others who were also vying for senior posts under the minister.

Liew said he had known the aide for six years now and had worked closely with him.

“I knew that he was bankrupt,” he added. “In order to help him, some of us, friends and family members, tried to help him to clear his bankruptcy status so he would be eligible to work.

“There was no hanky-panky involved,” he said when met by reporters at the Parliament lobby.

Liew said the MACC should be allowed to conduct its investigation and decide whether to clear the aide or charge him.

“But I think this case shouldn’t be blown out of proportion. He got loans from friends. We helped. This is legitimate.

“There shouldn’t be presumptions about the accused. I feel there is no need for Rafizi to blow things out of proportion.”



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