'Politically funded': Sabah anti-graft rally organiser files police report

Summary

• Gempur Rasuah Sabah organisers lodges report against Zulkarnain Mahdar for alleging the rally was politically funded.

• The Dec 31 anti-corruption rally, led by Suara Mahasiswa UMS, targeted political corruption involving figures like Musa Aman and Hajiji Noor.

• Organisers warn of more reports against false claims, stating the rally is the start of a broader movement against corruption.

The organiser of the Gempur Rasuah Sabah rally filed a report against Gerakan Kuasa Rakyat Malaysia chairperson Zulkarnain Mahdar over claims protesters were paid to provoke unrest.

In a Facebook post, the organiser questioned Zulkarnain’s identity and his connections to the Sabah government and newly appointed governor Musa Aman.

“Yet, he (Zulkarnain) is overly eager to deny the efforts of students gathering to combat corruption.

“Two pieces of evidence have been submitted to the investigation officer for this case,” the statement read.

Gempur Rasuah Sabah’s coordinator Muhamad Fadhli Muhamad Kasim lodged the police report at the Tanjung Aru police station on Jan 4. The report was shared in the same post.

Fadhil stated that he had read Zulkarnain’s allegations claiming that political parties paid participants in the Gempur Rasuah Sabah rally to provoke unrest.

Fadhil also referenced an article in Sinar Harian, where Zulkarnain accused the rally of being funded by opposition parties in Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia.

Previously, Zulkarnain had filed his own report against Fadhil and UMS Pro-Warisan, alleging they insulted Musa by accusing him of corruption during his tenure as Sabah chief minister.

‘More aware, more discerning’

The anti-corruption rally, held on Dec 31 last year, was led by Suara Mahasiswa UMS and attracted around 50 participants.

Protesters carried placards with anti-corruption messages targeting Musa, Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, and other politicians.

The rally organiser further warned that more police reports would be filed against those accusing the protest of being politically funded.

“The public is becoming more aware and discerning about the issues raised throughout the campaign for the Gempur Rasuah Sabah peaceful assembly,” it said.

The Dec 31 rally was only the beginning of a movement by students and citizens to gather, criticise, and speak out against corruption, it added.

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