Sabah reps' alleged corruption videos: What has happened so far

• UPDATED NOV 17: The article has been reformatted for easier reading. New allegations involving Hajiji Noor and Rubin Balang, as well as MACC’s latest response have been added.

The political scene has been rocked by a whistleblower claiming to have evidence of corruption involving eight Sabah assemblypersons.

Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor has also been dragged into the scandal.

Malaysiakini boils down the issue to the key details.

The whistleblower

The whistleblower is a businessperson who has since admitted to also being the person who gave the alleged bribes to the politicians.

He has been seeking whistleblower protection from the MACC and has also appealed to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

In his letter to the Agong, he claimed that he had paid the bribes out of desperation to secure a mining project in which he had already made a significant investment.

While he reportedly did get a licence for the project initially, it was later rescinded.

In the course of making his exposes, the whistleblower has also received a death threat.

The politicians and evidence

The whistleblower claimed that he had video evidence incriminating eight assemblypersons.

Those implicated or claimed to have been implicated thus far are:

Chief Minister Hajiji Noor

• On Nov 12, a video was released in which former Sabah Mineral Management (SMM) Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Jontih Enggihon accused Hajiji of abusing his powers.

  He claimed, among others, that Hajiji was looking out for the interests of one contractor.

  Hajiji had earlier that day denied any involvement in the corruption scandal.

READ MORE: 'I am CM, you are CEO' - whistleblower reveals new video

• UPDATE: On Nov 17, Jontih claimed he had evidence to substantiate his claims against the chief minister.

Deputy Chief Minister Shahelmey Yahya

• On Nov 15, a video excerpt was released in which Shahelmey Yahya appears to claim that Hajiji is aware of the quantum of the alleged kickbacks to elected representatives.

READ MORE: 'CM knows everyone's portion', deputy CM says in new clip

Yusof Yakob (Sindumin assemblyperson)

• On Nov 11, Malaysiakini published a 17-second audio clip of a politician discussing whether he could return RM500,000 in purported bribes to the whistleblower in instalments.

  The identity of the politician was not disclosed.

• Yusof Yakob later issued a denial that it was him and claimed the audio could have been generated by artificial intelligence.

READ MORE: 'Bribes for YBs': 'RM500k sahaja' audio clip played for MACC officers

Rubin Balang (Kemabong assemblyperson)

• On Nov 13, an excerpt of the whistleblower’s taped conversation with Rubin Balang, in which the two discussed using the politician’s children’s name for a mining project after the whistleblower’s earlier licence was rescinded.

  In the video, Rubin - who is also the Sabah Economic Development Corporation (Sedco) chairperson - said that Hajiji granted him “one” when he asked for “two” but is “grateful” nevertheless.

  He did not specify what he was talking about, but subtitles in the video claimed it was licences.

• Rubin said the video showed no elements of corruption.

READ MORE: 'Asked for two, got one, still grateful' - whistleblower exposes rep's video

• UPDATE: On Nov 16, the whistleblower accused Rubin of receiving a coal mining licence in 2023 as a reward for supporting Hajiji.

  Rubin declined to comment, citing MACC investigations.

Mohd Arsad Bistari

• On Nov 14, a video excerpt was released in which Mohd Arsad Bistari is heard complaining about projects that are being “disekat” (blocked) by someone, who is believed to be Hajiji.

  In the video, Arsad also appears to blame Sabah Finance Minister Masidi Manjun for what happened.

  The whistleblower claimed that the edited version does not contain the part where the pair talked about the money that purportedly changed hands for the assemblyperson to support the whistleblower’s project in the state.

• Arsad claimed that the video was maliciously edited and that he was speaking sarcastically in the video.

READ MORE: Whistleblower's latest: 'Sakit hati' over RM70m deal, 'broke' finance minister

MACC response

• The MACC has thus far refused to give whistleblower protection to the businessperson, saying he needed to file an official report first.

  The whistleblower’s later admission that he was the bribe giver has further complicated the matter, as the Whistleblower Protection Act does not cover those who have taken part in wrongdoing.

READ MORE: KINIGUIDE | Whistleblower Protection Act 2010: What does it cover?

• UPDATE: On Nov 17, the MACC said it had received a report on the whistleblower, and that its investigation thus far does implicate assemblypersons in corruption.

  It has also taken statements from five assemblypersons thus far.

  Of the five, Malaysiakini understands those who have given their statements thus far are Shahelmey, Rubin, and Arsad.

Political response

• Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has said that whistleblower protection should not be given to bribe givers, saying both sides must be investigated.

• Hajiji said the allegations appear to be aimed at undermining the Sabah government.

• Hajiji’s rivals in Umno have denied involvement, and have likewise called for a thorough investigation.

• UPDATE: On Nov 16, the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission ordered Malaysiakini to take down the article and video involving Arsad. Malaysiakini is consulting its lawyers on the matter.

  Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the takedown request came from the police - who claimed it would jeopardise their probe into the death threat against the whistleblower.

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