PARLIAMENT | Sabah Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal has been cleared of misappropriating RM1.5 billion in rural development funds when he served as the federal rural and regional development minister between 2009 and 2015.

This is according to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Liew Vui Keong, who said the Attorney-General's Chambers has classified the case as "no further action" due to insufficient evidence.

"The MACC had opened an investigation paper against the Sabah chief minister on April 21, 2017, and the investigation paper was sent to the senior federal counsel on May 23.

"After scrutinising all the evidence, the prosecutor decided on June 28 that it is not going to continue with prosecution because the evidence obtained was insufficient for further action," he said during the question-and-answer session at Dewan Negara today.

He was responding to Jamilah Sulaiman (Parti Bersatu Sabah) who had enquired about the status of Shafie's case.

During its investigation last year, it was reported that MACC scrutinised some 350 projects under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry.

The projects were to be carried out between 2009 and 2015 in Kota Kinabalu, Kudat, Kota Belud, Ranau, Beaufort, Keningau, Lahad Datu, Tawau and Sandakan.

The RM1.5 billion was said to be part of RM7.5 billion allocated for water, electricity and road infrastructure development projects.

MACC had recorded statements from more than 45 people in connection with the case.

The Parti Warisan Sabah permanent chairperson said Shafie was not given special treatment during the probe, unlike another leader who is not made to wear the orange MACC lock-up attire. 

He, however, did not name the politician he was referring to.

Shafie, who is also Warisan president, was probed under Section 17 of the MACC Act and was made to wear the orange lock-up uniform when he was detained, according to Liew.

MACC had also checked Shafie's account and failed to find the purported misappropriated fund, he said.