Nik Aziz reiterated that the supposed donation from the previously unknown business outfit was not connected to the state government.
“There is no project which has been approved for the company. I did not ask anybody to represent me to receive the mock cheque and news reports on it (the representative) are nonsense,” he said after chairing the state executive council meeting here.
I’da World caused a stir when it announced the RM4 billion contribution at a dinner and launch of a project at a hotel here on Sunday.
At the event, its executive chairman, Abdul Rahim Abdul Wahab, presented a mock cheque for the amount to the menteri besar’s younger brother, Nik Din.
Rahim had said the contribution was not connected to the state government’s supposed approval of its RM313.71 billion Super Mega Seri Tujuh project in Tumpat but was to be used for development projects, including improving the border town of Rantau Panjang.
Nik Aziz, the Pas spiritual leader, admitted that his brother received the mock cheque but he had never asked Nik Din to represent him.
Nik Din later said he was invited to the dinner in his personal capacity and was surprised when his name was called to accept the cheque.
“I didn’t know why my name came up because state civil servants were also present.
“I went up to the stage to receive it as it was not nice for me to decline since they had called my name.”
Nik Aziz dismissed Rahim’s contention on Tuesday that the menteri besar and state executive councillors were aware of the intended project and the donation for the state.
“Yes, it is true that they came to my office and house but there was no talk on the gift. There is definitely no approval for the project.”
Senior state executive councillor Datuk Husam Musa called on the authorities to investigate the company as the issue involved the state government.
“Don’t talk about an approval; we have never even discussed it.”
I’da World, incorporated in 2007 with a paid-up capital of RM1 million, claimed that it was involved in many projects overseas, including in Japan and China.
The Seri Tujuh project was envisaged to turn Tumpat into a world financial centre and playground for the rich. The components of the project include a theme park, sports centre, international cultural centre and shopping and recreational facilities.
Meanwhile, I’da World has uploaded pictures and documents on its website in response to a statement by state executive councillor Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah on Monday.
The pictures showed, among others, the company officials visiting sites for a proposed hotel and taxi and bus terminal in Rantau Panjang and meeting Nik Aziz at his office while documents posted were letters that it had written to the state Economic Planning Unit and its replies.
Amar had reportedly said the Seri Tujuh project was never approved by the state exco as the proposal for the project had not been submitted.
Read more: RM300b project claim is baseless, says Nik Aziz http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/07ida/Article#ixzz10Ilxk3bB
