Published November 4, 2009

6 people charged with corruption in Malaysia

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(KUALA LUMPUR) A Malaysian government lawmaker and five other politically linked people were charged yesterday with corruption in unrelated cases, hitting both the ruling coalition and opposition alike.

Abdul Rahman Bakri, a parliamentarian of the ruling United Malays National Organisation party, pleaded not guilty in a court just outside Kuala Lumpur to making false claims on eight occasions, his lawyer Salehuddin Saidin said.

Abdul Rahman faces up to 20 years in prison for each offence and risks losing his seat if found guilty. Parliamentarians who serve a year in prison or are fined RM2,000 (S$818) or more lose their seats.

Abdul Rahman is alleged to have claimed RM10,000 for events, such as student programmes and a family day, that never took place while he was a state lawmaker late last year, Mr Salehuddin said. He was freed on bail, and a first hearing has been set for Dec 14, he said.

The five others charged for various other graft offences were Abdul Rahman's aide for helping him make the false claims; a former aide to the chief minister of opposition-run Selangor state; an aide to a Selangor state legislative assembly member from an opposition party; a former ruling coalition assembly member and a company director, a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission official said.

All of them face jail if found guilty, said the official, who declined to be named citing protocol. -- AP