Revealed – RM600mil cause of Kedah PAS crisis

March 6, 2012

by Susan Loone@www.malaysiakini.com

EXCLUSIVE: The crisis in Kedah PAS erupted after Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak’s alleged insistence on awarding an RM600 million mega-project to an Umno-linked company. This was confirmed by Phahrolrazi Mohd Nawawi, one of the two PAS state assemblypersons who had initially refused their reappointment as exco members.

Malaysiakini had asked Phahrolrazi (left) yesterday to confirm or deny speculation that he had refused the reappointment because Azizan had pressured him into endorsing the project.

“Yes. It was something to that effect,” was Phahrolrazi’s reply.

Sources close to the Kedah government had earlier told Malaysiakini that Phahrolrazi and Ismail Salleh had both refused their reappointments due to disagreements with Azizan.

But the straw that broke the camel’s back, according to the sources, was when the duo were allegedly pressured into endorsing the RM600 million road project to a company linked to a former Kedah UMNO division leader.

Phahrolrazi would not disclose the details of the project, other than to say it is a joint venture between the company and a government-linked company (GLC). He also put the price tag at “several million ringgit”.

“I did not agree to it. We usually make collective decisions at the state exco meetings, but Azizan often wants to override them,” he alleged. Asked if an open tender had been called for the project, Phahrolrazi said this did not apply to the GLC concerned, but said the contract has yet to be awarded.

“We managed to stall it. I believe we can resolve this issue as we have not awarded the contract yet,” he said.

Phahrolrazi made these remarks when approached after a press conference at his home yesterday, during which he announced his decision to accept the exco reappointment.

This followed a peace deal brokered over the weekend, involving moderation by the PAS top brass. The deal involved the formation of a steering committee that will monitor PAS’ exco members in Kedah.

‘Many differences of opinion’

Phahrolrazi admitted that he had never been close to Azizan to start with, also saying that he and Ismail had many differences of opinion with the MB. The road project was one example of this.

But now that the steering committee is in place, Phahrolrazi said, he was relieved because Azizan’s (left) actions would be subjected to greater scrutiny and he may drop his infallible attitude.

“The Menteri Besar will no longer be able to override decisions and he will no longer be able to say that outsiders cannot intervene in the running of the state,” he said.

Phahrolrazi claimed that PAS Vice-President Mahfuz Omar had resigned as chairperson of Syarikat Kedah Sato Sdn Bhd, another Kedah government-owned company, in 2010. He alleged that this too was because Azizan had intervened in the management of the company.

At the time of writing, Malaysiakini was unable to obtain a response from Azizan or his office. His aide said Azizan wants to rest and will not issue any statement soon. Contacted again today, Phahrolrazi said Azizan was in hospital because he was feeling ill.

He added that neither he nor Ismail have received any documentation confirming their reappointment as exco members.

The Kedah PAS crisis began last week, with Phahrolrazi and Salleh making it clear they would abstain from taking their oaths as exco members. This was interpreted as a vote of no-confidence against Azizan.

Advisory role only

Meanwhile, PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali today denied claims that the steering committee will usurp the powers of the state exco. He said that the steering committee will merely play an advisory role in issues which may require feedback from the party’s top leadership.

“Thus, the establishment of the steering committee is not an attempt to usurp the powers of the Menteri Besar. The committee has no powers to interfere in the administration of the state,” said Mustafa in a statement today.

Mustafa explained that the committee was first used back in 1990 when PAS was able to take reign of Kelantan. It continued its function until sometime after 2008.

“Now, we are reactivating the committee because there is a need now to give advice to state government leaders,” he said. He added that PAS’s central committee will meet on March 12 to appoint committee members.

With additional reporting by Jimadie Shah Othman