KANGAR: Retired teacher Mohd Shukri Ramli made history after being appointed as the first Perlis Menteri Besar who is not from Barisan Nasional (BN) following Perikatan Nasional's (PN) shocking sweeping victory in the November 2022 state election.

The state Pas commissioner and Perlis PN chairman led the charge to a historic victory, winning 14 out of 15 state seats for grab to topple BN for the first time since the country's independence in 1957.

The soft-spoken, down-to-earth leader hit all the right tones upon taking the Menteri Besar office by adopting a diplomatic, non-combative approach in dealing with the unity government at federal level.

However, the relatively calm political landscape in this smallest state in the country was rocked by the arrest of Shukri's son by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in April.

Following is the chronology leading to his son's prosecution at the Kangar Session Court today.

April 24, 2024:

MACC detained six individuals including, the Menteri Besar's son, a political secretary and a civil servant to assist in the investigation regarding the alleged falsification of documents involving false claims amounting to RM600,000.

They were subsequently remanded for two days to assist in the investigation related to the implementation of infrastructure development projects, such as repair and maintenance work, supplies and services, throughout Perlis since 2022.

April 25, 2024:

Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli confirmed that his son was among the six individuals remanded by MACC and said he did not harbor any suspicion towards the graft buster agency.

He said his son should bear the consequences if found guilty while acknowledging his shortcomings in state administration were due to being too trusting and lenient.

Shukri extended his full cooperation to MACC in assisting with the probe, stressing that he did not want any misconduct or wrongdoing in the state administration.

April 26, 2024:

MACC released all six suspects, including Menteri Besar's son, after their remand order expired. They were released on RM10,000 bail each.

However, the investigation took a twist as it was reported that the MACC was also looking into the alleged supply of drinking water to the Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail as part of its probe into false claims amounting to RM600,0000.

It was reported that based on a copy of a payment note, dated Feb 19, that went viral, the RM19,505 worth of drinking water claim was allegedly supplied to Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin who is receiving treatment at the Tuanku Fauziah Hospital here.

However, it was learnt that no such supply was delivered as claimed.

April 28, 2024:

The MACC Special Operations Division senior director Datuk Azmi Kamaruzaman confirmed that the graft buster agency was probing "a senior political leader in a northern state" over suspicion of appointing companies tied to him for supply projects amounting to RM300,000.

The media have reported that sources claimed that the individual was also being probed for appointing a number of companies for road works and maintenance, using RM1 million in funds from the Menteri Besar's Office.

The sources believed that the companies that were awarded with the projects were linked to the individual's son.

The companies allegedly used documents with falsified information for the works that included the supply of mineral water as well as hampers and souvenirs.

April 30, 2024:

MACC detained Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli to assist in an investigation under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 involving an abuse of power issue.

It was reported that he was detained about 11am when he arrived at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya before being released on bail about 7pm after giving his statement.

Upon leaving the MACC's headquarters, Shukri confirmed to the media representatives that he was being investigated by the graft buster agency but was unaware of which offense.

May 22, 2024:

MACC released a media coverage invitation letter, to notify that it has obtained permission to charge a company owner and a former political secretary in two separate courts today.

According to the invitation letter, the company owner will be charged in the Kangar Sessions Court while the former political secretary will be charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.

The media reported that according to sources, the Menteri Besar's son is to be charged in the Kangar Session Court while the MB's former political secretary to be charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2024/05/1054210/chronology-perlis-menteri-besars-son-corruption-case