Teresa admits graft probe against ex-aides may affect CEC polls chances

Summary

• DAP vice-chairperson Teresa Kok admits that a recent corruption probe involving two of her former officers could affect her chances in the upcoming party polls.

• The Seputeh MP says many DAP delegates are unhappy with her, as they believe she had ordered the duo’s arrest for alleged abuse of her constituency’s funds.

• Kok says she believes the MACC investigation is related to the purchase of smart boards at allegedly inflated prices for schools in Seputeh.

Teresa Kok has not ruled out the possibility that the MACC investigation against her former aide could affect her chances of defending her seat in the DAP central executive committee (CEC) election on March 16.

The Seputeh MP acknowledged that there were party members who were dissatisfied with her following the arrest of her former staff over alleged corruption related to the supply of interactive smart boards to several schools in Kuala Lumpur.

“I might be affected in the party election because for DAP delegates who know my former aide, I feel they might use their votes to remove me or reject me,” she told Malaysiakini when asked about the possibility of a movement against her in the DAP polls.

“My former aide had served me for more than 10 years. So, many members could not accept it when I decided to dismiss and terminate his service last year after I discovered misconduct without my knowledge.

“There was misappropriation of my parliamentary allocation, and since then, several Seputeh DAP members have been unhappy with me.

“They have spread many criticisms against me among DAP members and branch leaders,” she added.

Alleged misappropriation

On March 6, the DAP vice-chairperson revealed that the MACC had arrested two of her former staff who previously managed finances and constituency funds at her service centre before resigning last year.

Kok believes the MACC investigation is related to the purchase of smart boards at allegedly inflated prices.

She explained that in late October last year, the Federal Territories Implementation Coordination Unit under the Prime Minister’s Department contacted her to inform her that her constituency’s allocation had been used to channel RM99,000 to 16 schools for smart boards and smart TVs.

However, Kok stated that she never approved such a large-scale allocation, and further investigations found that the company issuing the invoices was a fraudulent entity.

It is understood that one of the individuals MACC detained in connection with the case is a candidate in the DAP election.

Following this, allegations have emerged accusing Kok of using the MACC to influence the upcoming CEC election.

However, Kok insisted that she had no influence over the MACC and denied filing a report with the commission.

A test for DAP delegates

When contacted today, Kok said she had not had the opportunity to explain the issue to party members, particularly in Kuala Lumpur, who knew her former aide.

“Until he was arrested by the MACC, many were shocked, especially since my former aide is one of the candidates in the DAP leadership election.

“So, the arrest seemed as if I had ordered it. But we know I don’t have the power to give such orders,” she added.

However, Kok stated that the incident serves as a test for herself and the DAP delegates who will be voting in the party election.

“I see this as a test for party delegates regarding DAP’s principles.

“What are DAP’s principles? What attracted them to join DAP? DAP’s principles are about integrity, accountability, responsibility, good governance, and democracy.

“So, if what happened at my service centre occurred, and I did not take action and terminate his service, what else could I do? I do not want my parliamentary service centre to become a hub for corruption,” she said.

On March 7, the MACC confirmed the arrest of two individuals, including an MP’s aide, as part of an investigation into corruption involving the supply of interactive smart boards to schools.

The case is being investigated under Section 16 of the MACC Act 2009.

The report also claimed that both men, in their 30s, had solicited and received approximately RM500,000 in bribes in exchange for approving RM1.5 million in public funds under the “Projek Mesra Rakyat” initiative for the supply of interactive smart boards.

Both were reportedly arrested while giving statements at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya on March 5 before being remanded for four days.

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