KEPALA BATAS: Kepala Batas Umno Tuesday (6 Jan) lodged a police report against Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) councillor Johari Kassim for making slanderous allegations against it which were published in a newspaper Monday (5 Jan).

Its secretary Datuk Ahmad Darus said the report in a Malay newspaper had quoted Johari as saying Kepala Batas Umno owed RM100,000 in assessment arrears.

"The allegation made by Johari had tarnished the image of Kepala Batas Umno and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also the head of the division," he told reporters after making the report at the Seberang Perai Utara (SPU) police station Tuesday morning.

In the newspaper report, Johari, a MPSP councillor from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), was reported to have said Wisma Umno Kepala Batas' assessment arrears now had exceeded RM100,000.

"Based on the records at the MPSP office and existing bills, we do not have any amount outstanding. All bills have been paid in full," said Ahmad, adding that the division would institute legal action against Johari if he did not rectify the matter.

SPU deputy police chief Supt Shukri Awang confirmed receiving the report and said investigations had been launched.

Meanwhile, Johari, when contacted, said the news report contained factual errors.

"The arrears I was referring to concerned Wisma Umno at No 2, Lorong Bagan Luar 1, Butterworth and not Wisma Umno Kepala Batas in Kepala Batas as was reported," he said. (Bernama)