Co-op body Angkasa in hot soup over RM1.27 mil cars purchase
| Harakahdaily, | 01 February 2012 |
Feb 1: PAS Youth has called for an immediate investigation on cooperative umbrella body Malaysian National Cooperative Movement, or Angkasa over its purchase of seven Toyata Camry cars for RM1.27 million for use by its directors.
“An immediate investigation must be taken to bring Angkasa back to its former glory during Ungku Aziz’s tenure and to regain the people’s confidence in its role,” said PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan Tantawi, referring to Angkasa's former chief who headed the body for 30 years.
Earlier, saying the purchase was not authorised, Ukhwah cooperative chief Mustapa Kamal Maulut said the amount was far beyond the 2010 budget of RM400,000.
Accusing 7 Angkasa officials of abuse of funds in a report he lodged with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, Kamal said the seven cars were bought in 2010 without the approval of Angkasa’s general meeting.
The seven include its chief Dr Mohamad Ali Baharom, his deputy Fatah Abdullah, vice president Arime Zainuddin and four other officers Murtadho Bahari, Jamal Abdullah, Nasir Khan Mohammed Yaakob and Suresh Kumar.
“They have clearly abused the power of Angkasa’s board of directors and no action had been taken even after the report was lodged,” he added.
Kamal also said that he and seven other members had been sacked without concrete evidences for protesting the matter.
Established in 1966, Angkasa, an apex cooperative body, received funds through a commission facilities participated by more than 5,000 cooperatives in Malaysia.
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