DAP leader Lim Guan Eng today questioned the Melaka state government for continuing to appoint an official previously convicted of criminal breach of trust (CBT) to several high positions in government institutions.

And the man in the centre of the controversy, Hasnoor Sidang Husin, has just been appointed chief executive officer of the newly set-up Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) on Jan 1.

Lim revealed at a press conference in his office in Melaka that Hasnoor was found guilty of CBT in 1995.

Despite this, he said Hasnoor was appointed as the deputy chief for the Melaka water authority from 2000 to 2001 and chairperson of the state's Islamic council from 2001 to 2003.

Hasnoor was transferred to MITC as CEO since Jan 1.

Lim, a former Kota Melaka MP, urged the Melaka Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam to look into the matter.

"Legally, the appointments may not be wrong, but ethically, the public impression is not good because the question of credibility, transparency and integrity comes in," he said.

Lim said it was a serious matter of credibility and accountability when an individual convicted of CBT was appointed to hold a post in a "holy institution" such as the Islamic council and given full authority to handle multi-million projects under MITC.

Background check

He called on the state government to conduct background checks before making appointments to top posts in government institutions.

"If Hasnoor's appointment is made with the state government fully aware of his previous criminal record, then it is a very irresponsible act," Lim said.

Last November, Lim also exposed the case of Abdul Manaf Jaffar, secretary of the state's Jasin Municipal Council who was serving in the post despite being declared a bankrupt in October 2002.

The chief minister had defended Abdul Manaf's appointment but Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi stepped in and ordered the controversial appointment terminated.