Johor govt denies link to statutory body chairman nabbed for suspected graft

The Johor government has firmly denied any connection to the chairman of a housing committee at a federal statutory body, who was recently arrested on suspicion of corruption. Jafni Shukor, the state housing and local government committee chairman, expressed hope that the public would not jump to conclusions or link the case to the Johor government.

Jafni emphasized that the state government is committed to ensuring that the people of Johor have access to affordable housing, and such a significant trust should not be tarnished by individuals who seek to exploit the hopes and hardships of those seeking to own a home.

Earlier, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in Johor arrested the suspect, a man in his 40s, for allegedly soliciting and accepting bribes and abusing his power when handling housing applications. The suspect is accused of seeking about RM4,000 each from roughly 400 applicants for housing lots between 2016 and 2025, totalling around RM1.6 million. Additionally, it is alleged that the suspect made withdrawals from the committee's bank account using fake invoices.