Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Annas Khatib sued Adam Abdul Hamid

5th. May, 2007 NST

Former D-G sues fisheries authority chairman


KUALA LUMPUR: The former director-general of Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority has filed a libel suit against the authority’s chairman, Adam Abdul Hamid.

Datuk Annas Khatib Jaafar, who retired on April 22, filed the suit through Dasuki and Co at the High Court here yesterday. He is seeking general damages, compensation, and aggravated and exemplary damages.

Annas is also seeking an injunction to restrain Adam from publishing or making statements that would affect him.

He claimed that Adam’s statement to the press last month and what he said in a letter dated Feb 6 to the Anti-Corruption Agency meant that he (Annas) had committed misappropriation of funds with regard to the construction of the authority’s RM55 million new complex at Kuala Kedah, Kedah.

Annas claimed that Adam’s statement also meant that he had committed misappropriation of funds by awarding the project to Pembinaan Zakaria Salleh Sdn Bhd through direct negotiations.
He claimed the allegations made by Adam also meant that the price tag was excessive, that normal tender procedures were not followed, and he did not spend government money economically.

Annas said that it indirectly meant that he had committed corrupt practice by offering the project to Pembinaan Zakaria Salleh.

He claimed that the writing, printing and publication were a vicious attack and campaign to deny him from continuing his term in the administrative and diplomatic service.

Annas alleged that Adam must have known that the allegations were not true as the project was implemented in 2002, long before his appointment as the director-general.