KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 15): A senior civil servant wants to sue Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa for constructive dismissal, claiming the former chief secretary to the government took action against him for raising questions on issues such as 1MDB.  

Mohd Ezuwan Hassan, a director in the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, said he was an administrative and diplomatic officer under Ali between 2012 and 2017.

He claimed he was “sacked” (placed in cold storage) for questioning Ali on 1MDB, integrity issues, choice of officials in promotions, and other matters.

In a media statement, Ezuwan said his action against Ali was also on behalf of his late father, Datuk Hassan Jantan, who had served as a senior officer with the Defence Ministry.

He claimed Hassan was allegedly reprimanded by then Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for opposing the sale of the ministry’s land in Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur to 1MDB at a nominal sum.

“As a result of my father's opposition in 2011, he was brought back to within ‘the pool’ in the Public Services Department (PSD) and he passed away on Jan 14, 2014, at the intensive care unit of Kuala Lumpur Hospital, five months before he was due to retire,” Ezuwan said.

He added that Ali's wife had also allegedly defamed his late father.

Ezuwan said he has appointed the legal firm of Gani Patail Chambers to file a suit against Ali, after informing Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador and the director-general of the PSD over the matter.

Before a civil servant files any legal action, he must seek the permission of the PSD.

Ezuwan said he has only now decided to take legal action, as he had just recovered from Covid 19, after being warded at the Sungai Buloh Hospital last month.

“With this, I would like to announce my resignation and give 30 days’ notice of early retirement effective today, after serving the public service for 19 years.

“I want to focus on this legal action and other programs in my hometown in Merlimau, Melaka,” he said. 

The Edge is trying to get comments from Ali on the matter.