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

EXCLUSIVE [VIDEO INSIDE] | A businessperson, who has been rattling Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor’s administration with his videos, has unveiled a fourth recording which suggests that the state’s top leader is aware about the quantum of the alleged kickbacks to elected representatives.

The clip featured Deputy Chief Minister Shahelmey Yahya, who also serves as the state’s works minister.

The businessperson, who admitted to offering bribes to the politicians in exchange for supporting his application for a mining exploration licence, told Malaysiakini that the latest video is an edited version of the one Malaysiakini sighted.

The whistleblower reiterated that he is willing to hand over the full recordings of all eight videos to the authorities if his request for protection and immunity is granted.

In the clip, which begins at “Part 3”, the whistleblower pointed out to the Tanjung Keramat assemblyperson that the latter was among the first to support Hajiji during the political crisis in the state in January last year.

“So he gave you a ‘hadiah’ (gift) (in return for the support),” he told the assemblyperson.

“Don’t tell me, he doesn’t know that you need funds for this ‘barang’ (thing) to help your ‘kawasan’ (constituency) or whatever.

“I am sure he knows. This is the game,” he said, to which Shahelmey could be seen nodding.

“After he (Hajiji) became solid, cemented (his position as chief minister), he used all kinds of excuses to cancel (the application),” he added.

The whistleblower told Malaysiakini that the “hadiah” purportedly referred to a “mining exploration licence quota” which could allegedly fetch a handsome price.

‘Hajiji upset because portions were not declared?’

The whistleblower then suggested to Shahelmey that the chief minister was displeased because the YBs or assemblypersons did not reveal their respective “bahagian” (portions).

“This is what I heard, including from his (Hajiji’s) people. They claim it is because these YBs never told the CM how much they took,” he said.

The whistleblower then asked Shahelmey, who is also the MP for Putatan, if he had declared (his portion) to the chief minister.

“Did you tell him? No? I understand because this is your ‘rezeki’ (income),” he added, to which the deputy chief minister replied that he did not.

Shahelmey then proceeded to explain the purported process involved in these matters.

“We say… ‘Others have asked, I have not asked, I have not received’... It’s like that. So he (chief minister) signs, and says ‘remember, you check, if this is still there’.

“Meaning he knows, this is your portion, that is your portion,” he added.

READ MORE: Tempasuk rep claims whistleblower 'maliciously edited' conversation

Shahelmey then revealed that the practice was similar in the past when it involved logging concessions and oil palm plantations.

“Like in the old days, YBs asked for logging lots, and timber was given. Then it changed to the era of asking for oil palm,” he added.

Shahelmey refused to comment on the matter, adding he would issue a statement later.

“No comments (for now). I just came out from the state assembly. I will issue a statement later,” Berita Harian reported him as saying.

Political conspiracy allegation

Following last year’s political crisis dubbed the “Kinabalu Move”, Shahelmey was slapped with a six-year suspension from Umno for throwing his weight behind Hajiji who helms Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), which is aligned with the Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim-led coalition government.

With the video recordings surfacing ahead of the upcoming state election, there are allegations that it could be linked to certain political parties, notably Umno which has an axe to grind.

However, Sabah Umno has denied involvement.

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

This is the fourth video which has been leaked since Malaysiakini reported on Oct 9 having sighted the eight videos of assemblypersons discussing the repayment of money, which the whistleblower claimed were bribes given in relation to the exploration project.

There was also another video - which is not part of the eight - of former Sabah Mineral Management (SMM) chief executive officer Jontih Enggihon accusing the chief minister of abusing his powers and favouring certain individuals.

Yesterday, Malaysiakini published a video of Tempasuk assemblyperson Mohd Arsad Bistari revealing how a RM70 million project was blocked and blaming the “old team” which consisted of state finance minister Masidi Manjun.

This video was also edited to exclude the part where money changing hands was discussed.

On Wednesday, there was a video of Kemabong assemblyperson Rubin Balang holding a business negotiation with the whistleblower about using a firm belonging to his children for the mining exploration quota.

However, the deal hit a brick wall when the veteran politician dismissed the RM3 million offer as a “waste of time”. The whistleblower clarified that no bribe was offered to him.

Hajiji has denied any wrongdoing and has vowed that his administration would cooperate with MACC if an investigation is launched.

However, he called for the whistleblower to be arrested and investigated first to be fair.

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