Penang DCM, religious council threaten to sue Chegubard, PAS leaders for defamation

2026-03-13 - 05:04

Penang DCM I Mohamad Abdul Khalid with members of the state’s Islamic religious council at the press conference today. He said letters of demand had been served to Bersatu’s Badrul Hisham Shaharin and three state PAS leaders. GEORGE TOWN: Penang deputy chief I Mohamad Abdul Hamid and the state’s Islamic religious council (MAINPP) have threatened to sue Bersatu’s Badrul Hisham Shaharin and several state PAS leaders for defamation. According to Mohamad and MAINPP, this follows claims by Badrul, also known as Chegubard, and three Penang PAS leaders that the council misappropriated funds and abused their power. Lawyer Habib Rahman Seeni Mohideen, representing Mohamad and MAINPP, said letters of demand had been served to Badrul, and Penang PAS’s information chief Fawwaz Jan, youth deputy chief Hafiz Alias, and Penaga assemblyman Yusni Mat Piah. Mohamad and MAINPP are demanding that the four apologise and stop disseminating the allegations. They also want the four to promise not to republish or repeat the said comments. “We have given them seven days from today to comply, failing which we will initiate court proceedings,” Habib Rahman said at a press conference here. Meanwhile, Mohamad, who is also the MAINPP president, denied the allegations of misappropriation and abuse of power, calling such claims malicious. He said that he would pursue legal action to defend the council’s “reputation and integrity”. Earlier this month, Mohamad was summoned to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) office in George Town to assist in the agency’s probe into the alleged abuse of zakat funds. The anti-graft agency is investigating allegations that zakat funds were abused by a senior state government official for the purchase of land. Others summoned to have their statements recorded include members of the state Islamic religious Council, members of the state zakat board as well as officers and staff at the state zakat centre. Mohamad also explained that part of the zakat funds was used to settle the outstanding mortgage of a recipient who had passed away. “The payment was credited directly to his housing loan account, which is under his wife’s name.” On the purchase of three land lots in Seberang Perai Selatan covering 14.6918 acres and valued at RM9.86 million, Mohamad explained that the lots were purchased using tawaquf funds to strengthen Muslim land ownership and support those who are destitute. The land lots, he said, were purchased based on the current market price, which was determined by the valuation and property services department.