Published: Sunday June 24, 2012 MYT 6:57:00 PM

Finance Ministry gives Kelantan three weeks to probe alleged currency scandal

BACHOK: The Finance Ministry has given the Kelantan state government three weeks from Sunday to carry out a thorough investigation into allegations of irregulaties in the dealings of Kelantan Golden Trade (KGT) Sdn Bhd.

Deputy minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin said the findings of the investigation on the Kelantan Mentri Besar Incorporated-owned company, which produces the state's dinar and dirham currency, must be made public.

"If the people are not satisfied and dispute the findings, the ministry will ask Bank Negara Malaysia and the Securities Commission to investigate the case," he told reporters when met at a Bachok-level Malaysia People's Bungalow function in Perupuk, here Sunday.

Awang Adek was asked to comment on three police reports lodged against a senior official of KGT over alleged mismanagement of the gold and silver currency exchange involving millions of ringgit.

The police reports were made by former KGT executive director Nik Mahani Mohamad on Jan 31 this year, Japanese investor Takao Kono on May 28 and Frenchman Mohamed Esfih on June 1.

Awang Adek said his ministry did not want to instruct the two government agencies to investigate the case now so as to give the Kelantan government the chance to conduct its own investigation and the findings to be immediately made public.

He said the ministry did not want the issue to prolong as it could tarnish the image of Islam, since the issue had drawn the attention of many including non-Muslims.

"The issue should not be taken lightly by the state government as it involves the interest of the public who have invested a lot of money in the currency exchange," said Awang Adek, who is also Kelantan Umno liaison deputy chairman. - Bernama

More News