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KUALA LUMPUR – Johor Baru Umno chief Tan Sri Shahrir Samad has confirmed he will not contest in the coming general election.
In a Facebook post, the former minister said he wanted to clear his name, as he is facing a money laundering charge in court.
“I am defending my integrity and good name in court.
“It will not be fair of me to ask JB voters to clean my name (by voting for me). I need to clear my own name in the court,” the Umno veteran and long-time former Johor Baru MP said.
He said he would still lead Barisan Nasional’s election machinery in Johor to ensure victory in the coming polls on November 19.
Shahrir is facing a money laundering charge for allegedly failing to declare RM1 million as part of his income to the tax authorities in 2013.
The undeclared funds are allegedly from former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is currently serving jail time for graft charges in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case.
Shahrir first became Johor Baru MP in 1978 and has defended the seat repeatedly in elections for Umno-BN, except for one time when he stood as an independent candidate.
He lost the seat to Pakatan Harapan for the first time in 2018. – The Vibes, October 27, 2022