Sabah graft exposés 'sign from God', ex-CM says in urging swift action

Summary

• Warisan president Shafie Apdal believes a whistleblower’s recent exposés on alleged corruption among Sabah leaders is a “sign from God”.

• The ex-CM says authorities must fulfil their obligation by investigating the matter promptly.

• Sabah BN chief Bung Moktar Radin calls on authorities to be transparent and announce their investigation findings to give closure to Sabahans.

PARLIAMENT | The recent exposés on alleged corruption scandal involving Sabah leaders is a “sign from God”, said Warisan president Shafie Apdal.

The Semporna MP thus urged law enforcement agencies such as the MACC to fulfil their responsibilities by investigating the matter and ensuring justice is served.

"What happened recently was a sign from God. Several YB (elected representatives) at the Sabah state level (were exposed of) their involvement... their voices were heard admitting that they have taken (money), and that they should lay low for the time being.

"I want to ask agencies such as the MACC to investigate this. I think investigations have been ongoing, but I don't know why after days of questioning the CEO... they should already get the tail part of it.

"There must be some money trail, document trail, or corresponding letters and such. Speaker, as a lawyer, (you must be familiar with the phrase) that justice delayed is justice denied," Shafie said in his speech when debating the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's royal decree earlier today.

The former chief minister was referring to a whistleblower’s claim that several Sabah elected representatives received bribes in the hundreds of thousands each in exchange for their support for a mineral exploration licence.

The disclosures published by Malaysiakini included video clips showing the assemblypersons purportedly discussing the bribes they received from the whistleblower, who is a businessperson.

‘Lack of enforcement’

Shafie also expressed concerns that a lack of enforcement in the case could potentially cause the rakyat to lose confidence in the country's administration.

"If the law is not enforced, there will be doubt, people will start questioning where there is some delay (in the probe).

"We have to enforce the law. If there is wrongdoing, then say so, and similarly, if the authorities find nothing wrong.

"The responsibility is like Allah's order to Muslims, there are things that are obligated while there are others which are 'sunat' (not obligatory but encouraged).

“There are rules, and if one fails to fulfil what is obligated to them, then they will be sinful," he added.

'Don't leave us hanging'

Another Sabah lawmaker also raised the same issue in the Dewan Rakyat today and urged MACC to act swiftly.

Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) said the authorities must tell the public the outcome of their investigations.

He added that the public, especially Sabahans, should be given closure and not be left wondering about the case that affects their state.

"We Sabahans want to know how long this matter would be dragged out. Would the police and MACC really investigate it and leave no stone unturned?

"Is there any element of corruption in the case or not? If there is none, then tell this to the rakyat. If they find such an element, then they should do the necessary.

"There must be an end to this. If not, the videos will continue to be viral until the end of time," he said.

Bung also slammed state-own company Sabah Mineral Management’s legal letter to Malaysiakini, where it warned the news portal of contempt proceedings over its news report on the scandal on Monday.

"If all news portals in Malaysia are threatened like this, then we will be doomed.

"There would be no more avenues for the people to channel their information to the world because they are stopped by the court, lawyers and whatnot."

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