M. Saravanan remains defiant after pleading not guilty to three corruption charges, saying those seeking to bring him down should challenge him politically.
KUALA LUMPUR: “If you want to bring me down, challenge me politically.”
That was the defiant message from former Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan today after he pleaded not guilty to three corruption charges involving RM1.097 million.
The Tapah MP said he was not ashamed of the charges and was prepared to face the court, insisting that the facts would eventually reveal what he described as false information used against him.
“I am not ashamed of these charges because when the facts come out, the people will know the truth and how I was accused based on false information,” he told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex.
Saravanan also distanced himself from individuals named in the charges, saying he had no relationship with them.
He acknowledged knowing Syed Amirul Syed Ahmad, who is named in the charges, but stressed that they had no personal relationship.
Saravanan said anyone seeking to defeat him politically should do so through the ballot box.
“If you want to bring me down politically, send the best candidate to Tapah and challenge me.
“Do not use tactics like this to bring someone down from politics. I have a family too,” he said.
He also urged the authorities to expedite the trial, saying he was ready to cooperate fully and did not want the proceedings to be prolonged.
“I am ready to face the court and fully cooperate. My only request is that the trial be expedited and that no delay tactics are used to tarnish my name,” he said.
Saravanan said he had been speaking to the Prime Minister about the matter for the past six months but stressed that he never sought special treatment or intervention to have the case dropped.
“I was not asking the Prime Minister to cover for me. I was asking him to help expedite the case because I was not involved,” he said.
He said he had maintained from the outset that he was prepared to be charged and would use the court proceedings to clear his name.
“Names of people I do not know, who never appeared before, have suddenly emerged.
“There are only a few witnesses. The case could be completed within a month if necessary. If the government is genuinely sincere in charging me, I urge them to expedite the case.
“Do not use delay tactics to tarnish my name. I am ready to face the court,” he said.
