Perak MB defends Exco men held for alleged graft

IPOH, Aug 21 — The Perak government yesterday defended the two State Executive Council (Exco) members detained by the Anti-Corruption Agency for allegedly receiving bribes to approve a housing project.

"The Pakatan Rakyat state government did not approve a housing project costing RM180 million at Seri Iskandar. The two Exco members could not have approved the project since it does not exist," said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin.

Describing it as a political conspiracy, he said the case would not affect the running of the state government.

Mohammad Nizar, who had earlier chaired a Pakatan Rakyat meeting at his residence here, said the state government would not stop the ACA from investigating its state assemblymen.

Also present were PKR vice-president Dr Lee Boon Chye, state PKR chairman Ismail Yusof, state DAP chairman Datuk Ngeh Koo Kham and state assemblymen.

The ACA yesterday detained the two Exco members and four men for corruption involving a housing project costing RM180 million at Seri Iskandar near here.

They were also believed to be involved in bribery in the form of sexual favours.

The ACA said three of them including an Exco member were detained after receiving bribes over RM100,000 for speeding up the processing of a housing project.

Mohammad Nizar said Pakatan Rakyat would form a panel of lawyers to defend the detained Exco members.

-TMI