PUTRAJAYA (March 7): Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (DPMM) president Rizal Faris Mohideen Abdul Kadir has given his statement to the police's commercial crime unit here today, over the alleged misappropriation involving RM5 million that was given by the Prime Minister's Office to DPMM before the 14th general election.

The sum was alleged to have been deposited into Yayasan DPMM Pulau Pinang Bhd's account, which was allegedly controlled by Rizal Faris.

It is understood that Rizal Faris arrived at the police station at 2pm, after having been summoned by the police. He left at 5.30pm after his statement was recorded, according to police sources. Yesterday, the police took statement from DPMM secretary general Don Nazwim Don Najib.

The Edge reported on Monday (March 4) that the duo would be called in to give their statements. On Tuesday (March 5), Bukit Aman commercial crimes director Commissioner Datuk Mazlan Mansor confirmed that the police are investigating the RM5 million for possible criminal breach of trust.

"I confirm that we are investigating the matter. We will definitely call up the relevant parties to assist with the investigation," he said, according to a report by The Star.

The Edge understands that part of the RM5 million may have been used to organise a cat show in Langkawi, which was officiated by former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, just before the 14th general election (GE14).

His successor, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, is the current member of parliament for Langkawi after winning the seat in GE14.

Rizal Faris is also presently embroiled in a tussle with DPMM's office bearers over not holding its annual general meeting within the stipulated time, which resulted in a court action being filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court by a rival faction to force Rizal Faris, Don Nazwim and DPMM to hold an extraordinary general meeting.

In court documents, the rival faction claimed the RM5 million which was supposed to be allocated to DPMM by the Prime Minister's Office before GE14, was instead deposited into the account of Yayasan DPMM Pulau Pinang Bhd without approval from DPMM's executive council.

Subsequently, the rival faction, led by deputy DPMM president Datuk Seri Syed Hussein Alhabshee, held an EGM on Nov 22 last year to remove Rizal Faris from being president — a post he was supposed to hold for three years after being elected in May 2017. The move was said to have garnered the support of 89 out of 92 delegates who were present. 

However, hours later on the same day, Rizal Faris and his supporters held an AGM and removed the DPMM's office bearers, including Syed Hussein.

Subsequently, Syed Hussein and 17 others filed an injunction last December to prevent Rizal Faris and Don Nazwim from carrying out the motions his faction passed in the AGM, including for Syed Hussein to be removed from his post. The case has been fixed for hearing on April 4.