No report yet over Arumugam’s allegations

ALOR SETAR: Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak said he has not lodged any report with the authorities over the allegations against Barisan Nasional contained in the statutory declaration filed by former Bukit Selambau assemblyman V. Arumugam.
He said that he would only lodge a report if he had valid proof to back those allegations.
“If I have valid proof showing ‘so-and-so’ tried to bribe Arumugam, my former state executive council member, then I would hand the proof over to the authorities,” he said.
Azizan said that the state had never accused former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid of bribery as the statement that linked the latter to Arumugam’s resignation came from the statutory declaration.
“What I said was based on the statutory declaration that said Arumugam was approached by someone who claimed to represent Mahdzir, and offered him RM5mil to cross over,” he said after chairing the state executive council here Wednesday.
Azizan was asked to comment on media reports that quoted Mahdzir as denying allegations that Barisan had offered RM5mil to Arumugam. This was contained in a statutory declaration that Arumugam had appended to his resignation letter.
“If we have RM5mil, it is better for us to distribute it among our component parties for our development projects. We never pressured Arumugam to join Barisan,” Mahdzir had said.
Mahdzir said he would leave it to the Election Commission to investigate the validity of the statutory declaration.
Azizan also said he let the Commission investigate the validity of the statutory declaration.
“I do not have locus standi to declare the validity of the statutory declaration. Let us just wait for the outcome of the Election Commission meeting this Friday,” he said.
The Commission was due to meet Friday to discuss the date for the Bukit Selambau by-election now that the seat is vacant.
Azizan said that the state would continue searching for Arumugam, who has been missing over the past few days.
“I want to know if he and his family are well. I hope he is safe and has found some peace of mind,” he said.
Arumugam had resigned after allegations surfaced that he had married a second time without divorcing his first wife. He also claimed he was being pressued and harassed to leave PKR and join Barisan.
Meanwhile, Azizan said that Arumugam’s executive council portfolios would be handled by state Tourism, Community Development and Human Resources Committee chairman Mohammad Radzhi Salleh.
Arumugam had chaired the Domestic, Trade and Consumer Affairs, Unity, Siamese Community Affairs, Estate Workers and Indian Community Affairs Committee.
“Mohammad Radzhi will monitor the programmes under Arumugam’s portfolios and he will be assisted by other state exco members until the council reshuffle next month,” Azizan said.

tunku : nowadays an "ustaz" can twist his tongue too. "ustaz" azizan did that.when the news of arumugam's "secret affair" came out, he blame the media and so on. then when it is confirmed that arumugam involved in it, he twisted the whole issue and blame the bn for trying to buy out arumugam.here is what arumugam did,click here. like what mahadzir khalid(i hate this guy) said, it's better for BN to spend the money (RM5mil) for people development than buying a man.buy buying a man you will only get his support but developement for people will get the people's support which is more vital now. we hope that a person like azizan will be careful of his words next time.as an ustaz and a leader, moreover from so called "islamic" party should not twist the truth.before this i had respect for "ustaz" azizan but not anymore now.he should had just admitted that his exco member did the wrong thing and now he had resigned,period.that will put him at a higher place.