Warisan VP quizzed by MACC yet again

Sabah cabinet member and Warisan vice-president Peter Anthony appeared at the Sabah Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)  headquarters in Kota Kinabalu this morning for questioning.

Anthony, 49, is the minister-in-charge of infrastructure development and the Melalap assemblyperson.

Kota Kinabalu-based newspaper Daily Express speculated that Anthony was being questioned over road maintenance contracts worth RM1.5 billion that was awarded directly to five companies.

The newspaper also speculated that the MACC might also be questioning Anthony over the alleged sale of a palm oil estate to the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda).

According to the New Straits Times, Anthony was accompanied to the building by Warisan secretary-general Loretto S Padua, Warisan Youth chief Mohd Azis Jamman, Tanjong Kapor assemblyperson Ben Chong and a lawyer.

In February, Anthony had lodged a police report claiming that he was a victim of slander by a website which alleged that he had abused his power in awarding the road maintenance contracts.

"I am suing the (website) as the minister as it is accusing us of abuse of power. They also know at the ministry-level, we have no authority to appoint contractors through direct negotiation, never.

"But this is possible at the Finance Ministry-level as practised since the Sabah government was formed," he said at the time.

In 2017, Anthony was arrested by the MACC to assist in investigations on the aborted sale of the palm oil estate to Risda.

Risda is under the purview of the Rural Development Ministry, which Mohd Shafie Apdal helmed between 2013 and 2016.

Shafie is currently the Warisan president and Sabah chief minister.

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