PARLIAMENT | Upgrading works for the Sungai Intan Water Treatment Plant, which is one of 70 projects in Sabah investigated by MACC, was awarded to Chief Minister Musa Aman's “anak buah,” according to Parti Warisan Sabah president Shafie Apdal.

This was revealed by the Semporna MP during the 2018 Budget debate in the Dewan Rakyat today.

According to Shafie, the upgrading work for the treatment plant was awarded to Musa's "anak buah" via open tender, while consultancy work was awarded to Sabah Umno Youth  secretary Shahelmey Yahya, also via open tender.

"The open tender was called and 'anak buah' Musa Aman secured the project. The consultant who managed the project was Shahelmey Yahya. He is also the Sabah (Umno) Youth secretary.

"He is also the consultant for the Pan Borneo project if that project (water treatment plant) had failed, how was he awarded (the contract for the Pan Borneo project)?" he asked.

Shahelmey (photo) is the CEO of a Borneo Highway Sdn Bhd.

Shafie did not explain what he meant by "anak buah", which has various meanings in Bahasa Malaysia.

Shafie, who helmed the Rural and Regional Development Ministry prior to being dropped from the cabinet by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in 2015, said the upgrading work tender was between RM45 million and RM50 million.

"The initial project (the water treatment plant) was built in the 1990s and it was already run-down. Then came the upgrading project.

"Both the Rural and Regional Development Ministry and state government worked together (to build this project). The federal government could not have done this without approval from the state government as the latter owned the land and river,” he added.

Last month, MACC chief commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad visited the Sungai Intan Water Treatment Plant, which is located in Semporna, amid the commission's probe into the alleged misappropriation of rural development funds for Sabah involving RM1.5 billion.

Shafie, who now leads the Sabah-based opposition party Warisan, and his supporters have linked the probe to the coming general election.

Meanwhile, Shafie who was detained by MACC on Oct 19 for six days, was puzzled about why he was summoned again yesterday.

"I was called by MACC for signing a letter in related to Universiti Malaysia Sabah, this has nothing to do (with the previous) ministry.

"I was summoned because of that signature which was beyond my power (UMS not being under the jurisdiction of the Rural and Regional Development Ministry)," he said.

"This is the dilemma for those in politics. It is hard (for us) to support, it is hard (for us) not to support either," he added.

He spent four hours verifying several documents after being summoned yesterday.