The Sabah Progressive Party (Sapp) wants the state government to clear the air on the speculation that Chief Minister Musa Aman is ill.

The speculation comes in the wake of the state leader's conspicuous absence from various public functions in recent weeks.

In view of this, Sapp information chief Chong Pit Fah urged the office of the state secretary to issue a clarification on the matter.

"The persistent rumours will not do the state any good, especially in terms of investors," said the opposition leader.

musa aman pc in sabah 190608 01 Chong also said if Musa ( left ) is indeed unwell, then an acting chief minister should be appointed to ensure the smooth running of the state administration.

"In the absence of a chief minister and with no acting chief minister, decisions cannot be made," he added.

According to unconfirmed reports, Musa is currently in Singapore undergoing treatment for what has been described as a stress-related ailment.

A Kota Kinabalu-based journalist, who declined to be named, claimed that Musa was taken in a private jet belonging to a timber tycoon.

Local blogger Ronie Klassen said the chief minister's health is the question that is being constantly raised by top civil servants, senior politicians as well as the media in the state lately.

Officials from the Chief Minister's Department have remained tightlipped on the whereabouts of Musa or his condition.

Missing from DPM's function

Musa's absence has raised many eyebrows.

The most glaring being the national Tadau Kaamatan celebrations at Padang Merdeka on Sunday, which was officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

Also present were Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, Information, Communication and Culture Minister Rais Yatim and several state ministers.

Commenting on Musa reportedly seeking treatment in Singapore, the blogger said: "Ironically, all the widely publicised talks about the Sabah Medical Centre by both the federal and state government on having state of the art medical facilities and expertise doesn't seem to impress Musa or his trusted lieutenants, that he had to be whisked away to a foreign country for medical treatment."

The blogger is also not surprised that Musa may be suffering from a stress-related ailment due to the tremendous pressure he has been under over various issues.

These include the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) issue which is yet to be fully resolved, the conversion of Wisma Khidmat into a private hospital, the proposed coal-fired powered plant, the construction of the Kimanis gas pipeline to Sarawak, the ongoing trial of the Mazu sea goddess statue project, the awkward position of Raymond Tan in the state cabinet and the mounting pressure from within Sabah Umno/BN for him to be replaced.

"But the most nerve-wrecking one has to be the seizure of his offshore funds worth US$400 million by Hong Kong authorities following the detention of one of his close aides in Hong Kong last year," added the blogger.

UPDATE: A source close to Aman Musa said that the Sabah CM was on an unannounced five-day holiday with included a routine medical check-up.