ALOR STAR: The office of the Kedah Menteri Besar brushed off claims that Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor owned a bungalow in Sik, as circulated on social media since yesterday.
His press secretary, Muhamad Mat Yakim said the house, located near the Sik Hospital, belonged to Sanusi's elder brother who built the home using the latter's own income as an underwater welder.
"A photo of a bungalow in Sik attached with a Google map is being projected with the assumption that the house belonged to him (Sanusi). The photo is being circulated by slanderers and envious people in the social media."
"It is baseless and nothing but slander," Muhamad said in a statement today.
Sanusi held the Jeneri state seat in the Sik district prior to the state assembly dissolution at the end of last month to pave the way for the 15th state election this Aug 12.
A Facebook page, "Kerajaan Perpaduan YDPA" uploaded a post with the photograph of the bungalow.
The caption read: "This is a huge bungalow, I hear it is located in Sik, Kedah, it costs RM7.8 million. Ehem.. whose house is it? Wish to know as well… does it belong to an Islamic fighter? It is okay, we shall soon find out who the owner is... Used (your) brother's name... There you go, so much for the struggle for the poor."
Muhamad claimed that slanderers were working hard in the run up of the state election to create a perception that Sanusi has amassed wealth after assuming the post of menteri besar three years ago.
"None of Sanusi's money was used to build the house, not even a single sen. It belongs to someone else using the person's own hard-earned money for decades.
"All this while, the person had been saving his income as an underwater welder, having to leave his wife and children behind for months.
"Is it wrong to save money after decades of work, risking his own life to give a glimpse of happiness to his family?
"The owner of the house is not a politician. He has nothing to do with politics or the election. Why is he being victimised as if the house was built by using dirty money?
"Is it a sin for him to be related to Sanusi? Just because he is the elder brother to the Menteri Besar of Kedah, he does not have the right to build a big house using his own money?" he said in the statement.
He claimed that most of the people in Sik were aware that the bungalow belonged to Sanusi's elder brother, Budin.
Muhamad said Sanusi described his brother as a person with strong will, a diligent worker, disciplined and highly motivated.
"Sanusi admires his elder brother's strong will, hard work, discipline and determination to improve his life. His brother is also smart in managing his money and buying of properties.
"Just stop this slander as it is nothing but a sinful act," said Muhamad.
