Both graft giver and taker should be probed - Bung

Denying Sabah Umno’s involvement, state liaison chief Bung Moktar Radin urged the authority to probe both alleged graft giver and takers in the series of video clips allegedly showing Sabah politicians engaging in corrupt acts.

“We’re not involved in this scandal,” Sinar Harian reported Bung as saying today, adding he only wanted MACC to investigate the matter.

“Because right now, I see the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) leaders accusing that there are bribe givers. So, if there are bribe givers, that means there are also people being bribed, meaning both sides need to be investigated by the MACC.

“Solve it, investigate it. We want the MACC to investigate immediately because it is causing distrust among the people of Sabah. Many blogs are painting various stories, including linking Umno as the mastermind behind the circulation of this hot news.

“Umno is not involved at all in this scandal and I strongly deny it,” he added.

Bung seems to be taking a different stand from Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, who on Nov 12, said he would cooperate with the authorities on the allegations but called for the “bribe giver” to be arrested and probed first.

“We are asking the authorities to investigate. We will cooperate, but also investigate those who gave the bribes.

“The bribe giver has a bad intention of getting something from the government.

“When they fail, this (the audio recording) emerges. So, in my opinion, to be fair, arrest them and investigate them first,” he was reported as saying.

Since Nov 9, Malaysiakini has been publishing damning clips from a whistleblower - allegedly showing Sabah politicians engaging in corrupt acts.

The whistleblower had appealed to the MACC for immunity from prosecution before handing over evidence to the authorities for further action.

However, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said he could not provide a written guarantee on the matter, which was affirmed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

On Sabah assemblyperson Yusof Yacob’s claims the videos could have been generated using artificial intelligence, Bung said an investigation must be conducted regardless.

“As far as (Yusof) Yacob, he said the video could be AI… but (let’s) investigate whether it is really AI or not.

“Let the people of Sabah know the real cause and what actually happened. Any assemblypersons involved should be summoned and investigated so that this issue can be resolved promptly,” he stated.

‘Emulate Hajiji’

On a related matter, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi defended Hajiji’s statement in regard to the exposés – where the latter urged the MACC to probe the matter.

“I’ve seen the media reports on the videos and find other leaders should emulate Hajiji’s stand on the matter.

“As we all know, the Sabah government’s mandate will lapse in October next year and whatever happens will depend on the results of the authorities’ investigations,” said Zahid, who is the Umno president, at a press conference.

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