Ramadan bazaar scandal: I did not pocket any money, says Bukit Bintang MP

PETALING JAYA: Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun admits he wrote a letter to support a Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia youth leader’s application to rent Ramadan bazaar lots, but denies he made any money out of it.

The DAP treasurer said on Friday (June 15) that he was shocked when he learnt about the news and stressed he did not tolerate any form of the “rent-seeking culture”.

Fong denied he received some part of the money allegedly collected by Pribumi Youth leader Mohd Noorhisyam Abd Karim's or his friends, and said he would not hesitate to lodge a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) if there was evidence of impropriety.

Fong was responding to the Ramadan bazaar scandal involving Mohd Noorhisyam, who is accused of misusing political connections to secure 80 bazaar lots and renting them out for as high as RM5,000 per lot.

“On June 5, Mohd Noorhisyam asked me for help to issue a support letter to assist traders who could not get a licence from DBKL (Kuala Lumpur City Hall) so they could do business at Jalan Masjid India during Ramadan.

“He said they would not be charging traders any fee.

“The support letter was issued on the condition that except for the charges imposed by DBKL, no one else would get rental fees from the traders,” Fong said in a statement Friday.

He added that he only showed his support for traders to do business there, and DBKL still had the authority to make a final decision.

Fong's statement came after DBKL said it only gave in and approved Mohd Noorhisyam’s application for bazaar lots after receiving Fong’s letter of support.

When contacted, Fong said he was currently overseas and would not be back for several days.

“I am in Hong Kong now. I will come home a few days from now. I will closely follow the case and hold a press conference if necessary,” he told The Star.