Malaysia Update

Former Penang deputy chief minister 1 Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin says he is not power crazy

PUTRAJAYA: Embattled Penang politician Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin is having second thoughts about quitting as state assemblyman, creating a huge poser as to whether the anticipated Penanti by-election will proceed.

The Parti Keadilan Rakyat representative said he might stay on, now that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has said it did not have enough grounds to charge him with corruption.

Fairus resigned as Penang deputy chief minister 1 and Penanti assemblyman last week amid allegations over illegal quarrying operations.

He expressed confidence that the Pakatan Rakyat leadership would reassess his position.

"I'm sure the leadership will hear out what the people of Penanti have to say," he told the New Straits Times in a telephone interview.
If Fairus plans to return as Penanti assemblyman, he has until Monday to get the Penang speaker to notify the Election Commission on the resignation retraction, as the EC has to announce the vacancy in 10 days after being given the notice of vacancy.

If he misses the date, even if he is keen to stay on, he will not be able to do so as the law prohibits elected representatives who have resigned to contest for the next five years.

If the EC is notified of his retraction before the deadline, there will be no by-election in Penanti.

"He has every right to change his mind and remain as assemblyman, as he was rightfully chosen by the voters in Penanti," said EC deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar.

Fairus, who sounded visibly relieved, asked that the MACC statement which absolved him of the allegations be read to him.

"I thank God for bringing out the truth. Truth always prevails. I am just a leader for my voters, not one who is power crazy or out to enrich myself."

Fairus had said he wanted to resign to further his studies.

Yesterday, he conceded that he was also pressured to let go of his positions following the probes initiated against him.

"True, that was one of the reasons. When the baseless allegations were levelled against me, I felt that I needed to be given space for the issue to be cleared.

"It was not that I was afraid to face the consequences of the chalked-up claims, but rather to reflect the traits of a genuine leader," he said.

The MACC said the decision to clear Fairus was reached after all statements in the investigation reports were studied and the investigation papers referred to the commission's legal and prosecution unit, which subsequently found that the statements offered no grounds for prosecution.

The attorney-general, who was informed of the findings, agreed with the decision not to prosecute Fairus.

MACC Investigations Department director Deputy Commissioner Datuk Shukri Abdull said investigations revealed that Fairus' scope of duties and responsibilities under his portfolio had no direct link to the Penang quarry industry.

(Apart from chairing the state Religious Affairs Committee, Fairus was also chairman of the Entrepreneur Development, Cooperatives, Information and Community Relations Committee.)

Shukri said probes showed that Fairus was merely tasked with handling investigations into a case that involved the alienation of land at Lot 954 and 955 in Mukim 20 of the Seberang Prai Tengah district.

Shukri also said the commission would send a team to Penang to conduct studies in promoting transparency and accountability as well as on the procedures and ethics in accepting contributions and donations.

He said the commission would propose that the findings of this study be implemented by all states and ministries.