LABUAN MP DECLARED BANKRUPT?

KOTA KINABALU: A bankruptcy notice published in a newspaper prompted inquiries from the curious public, wanting to know whether the person named was current Member of Parliament (MP) for Labuan, Datuk Yusoff Mahal.

They were eager to find out because this would mean that unless the amount had been settled, it would jeopardise his chances to defend the seat in the coming general election as well as his position as Labuan Corpration Chairman and Labuan Barisan Nasional Chairman.

A Department of Insolvency source confirmed the matter to Daily Express but declined further information.

According to the notice, the Labuan High Court had issued a notice of bankruptcy to Yusoff on Aug. 7 this year. The amount owed was not revealed.

It said that the action on Yussof Mahal (H0152854/570501125165) of No. 90 Kg. Layang-Layangan, Jalan OKK Daud, Federal Territory of Labuan, stemmed from an application filed on 24.05.12. Daily Express tried but could not reach the MP for comments. He also failed to show up for a function that he was supposed to officiate in the evening.

It was learnt that Yusoff's firm was awarded a project to build a RM20million central market on the island several years ago.

However, work was abandoned halfway and Labuan Corporation had to re-tender the project.

Ironically, Yusoff's immediate predecessor, Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman was, himself, also embroiled in a court case for not declaring he was a bankrupt while standing as a guarantor for a firm.

That resulted in him not being nominated in the 2008 election and Yusoff taking over.

Suhaili's position as LC Chairman was also not extended while his position as Labuan Umno Division chief was suspended.

He is appealing against the court decision.