Press Statement By Penang State EXCO Member for Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Phee Boon Poh In Komtar, George Town On 21.8.2017.
My family and I are shocked and angered to read false newspaper reports in Utusan Malaysia, New Straits Times, The Star as well as Chinese newspapers led by Sin Chew Jit Poh and Guang Ming Daily that RM2 million cash in my four personal bank accounts have been frozen by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission(MACC). It is wrong for such information to be disclosed or published in the press, especially when I have not been informed and only read about it in the BN-controlled newspapers.
I have just been discharged from hospital after taking medical leave. I am shocked as to how these BN-controlled newspapers can gain access to these information. Did the BN-controlled media get it from MACC or did they fabricate such lies to wreck my political career and try to bring down the Penang state government? MACC should come clean and state whether there was a leak and if so, take the appropriate punitive action.
I have not been served with any notice by MACC that my personal bank accounts have been frozen. When my lawyer YB Rayer, requested to meet with the MACC officers today, to get my personal effects, MACC told Rayer that they could not see me today but only meet me on another day.
I do not have RM 2 million as reported in these personal bank accounts. I will be filing a defamation suit against these Barisan Nasional controlled newspapers from the Malay, English and Chinese press out to destroy my reputation and integrity as well as tarnish the clean image of the Pakatan Harapan Penang state government.
I will be instructing my lawyers to file a notice of demand immediately to protect my family, clear my name and prevent BN from continuing with their evil conspiracy to tarnish the good name and clean image of the Penang Pakatan state government led by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
So far, I have complied with all the instructions given by MACC. I will continue to do so, even though MACC had detained me illegally by an invalid remand order for 3 days. I wish to thank the Penang Chief Minister and EXCO members, my party comrades and well-wishers for their support during this difficult period and believing in me that I am innocent of corruption.
This is an evil political conspiracy against me and the Penang state government. I reiterate that I am clean and free from corruption. I did not take any money from the unlicensed carbon-filter-processing factory in Sungai Lembu. Neither did my family or I have any personal interest in the factory nor are the owners of the factory related to me.
I serve the people of Penang faithfully, in my capacity as an elected State Assemblyman and Penang state EXCO member. Any letters written by me is done in the course of carrying out my duties as a Penang state exco member. My family and I shall fight these vicious lies to clear my name.
PHEE BOON POH