The Perlis executive council did not approve converting then menteri besar Azlan Man’s overseas leave entitlement into cash payments from 2013 to 2017, the Kuala Lumpur sessions court was told today.
Norazlan Yahya, former secretary of the Perlis exco and state assembly, said the state’s enactments have required the exco to approve all of the menteri besar’s allowances and privileges since 1992.
“Under the enactment, for administrative purposes, the allowances and privileges of the Perlis menteri besar are managed by the menteri besar’s office through the senior private secretary.
“Those of the state assembly speaker, exco members and assemblymen are managed by the state assembly and exco division,” he said, according to Bernama.
Norazlan, the 15th prosecution witness, said the menteri besar is entitled to two first-class airfares and three economy-class tickets for children annually, capped at the cost of a return trip between Kuala Lumpur and London.
Under the enactment, he said, the menteri besar can also hire an aide whose travel allowances would be akin to government officers serving abroad.
“I also confirm that the article (in question under the enactment) remained unamended throughout my tenure as secretary of the state assembly (and exco) until my retirement,” he said.
Azlan is standing trial on 10 charges of submitting false claims and receiving funds from illicit activities.
The former Bintong assemblyman is accused of making false claims for overseas holiday trips worth over RM1.18 million between December 2013 and December 2017.
They involved quotations of flight tickets to London and invoices of Sri Kedawang Travel & Tours (W) Sdn Bhd and Aidil Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd.
He also allegedly received RM1.06 million from illicit activities between February 2014 and December 2017 at the Maybank branch at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Kuala Lumpur, CIMB Bank in Putrajaya, and Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
The trial before judge Azura Alwi continues on Sept 8.
