Mohd Sidek should resign as EAIC chairman over RM30,000 1MDB allowance

SHAH ALAM - Former chief secretary to the government (KSN) Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan who was embroiled in a dispute over a RM30,000 allowance he received while he sat as 1Malaysia Development Berhad’s (1MDB) advisory board member has been asked to step down from his current post.

Former Court of Appeal judge Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof said Mohd Sidek who is the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) chairman should voluntarily resign due to his involvement in the troubled sovereign wealth fund.

This follows the revelation Mohd Sidek made in court when he testified in the 1MDB trial.

“The honourable way is for Mohd Sidek to resign from his current position as EAIC Chairman immediately to protect the credibility of the institution.

"This is the best step that could be taken so that EAIC's name would not be tarnished because of his involvement in 1MDB”, he told Sinar Premium on Saturday.

Asked if Mohd Sidek should return the allowance he had received during his tenure in 1MDB, Mohamad Ariff said it was not the main thing that should be done.

Instead, he said the most important thing was that Mohd Sidek took immediate action by admitting his alleged involvement in the 1MDB scandal.

He said such action would show that Mohd Sidek was responsible for his actions while he was the KSN, adding that it would make it clear to the public that he took full responsibility when it comes to issues involving integrity.

“I do not think returning the amount (allowance) received from 1MDB is sufficient.

"The main thing is integrity which is very important and such political culture must be eradicated," he said.

Apart from an allowance of RM30,000 per month for two years (July 2010 to June 2012), Mohd Sidek was also reported to have remained as the 1MDB board member after his retirement, receiving an allowance of RM10,000 per month until June 2015.