Abd Latif quits Johor exco post

JOHOR BARU: Embattled Johor Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Abd Latif Bandi has resigned from his post with immediate effect.

This comes after he was charged at the Sessions Court here on Wednesday with 33 counts of graft.

In a statement issued by his lawyer, Abd Latif thanked Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar and Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin for giving him the opportunity to serve the state government.

"Following the charges made against me, I have taken full responsibility to resign from the Johor Local Government and Housing executive council.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family, friends, exco partners, Mersing community, and those who have supported me," he said on Thursday.

Among the charges, Abd Latif is accused of having abetted property consultant Amir Shariffuddin Abd Raud to convert bumiputra lots into non-bumiputra lots.

In total, he is said to have abetted to convert 1,480 houses.

Abd Latif is also accused of helping to reduce the quantum of payment that developers had to contribute towards the Johor Housing Fund for converting these lots.