MACC, AGC must explain delay in probing Sabah graft scandal: Puad

Summary

• Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi has criticised the government for being slow in investigating alleged corruption scandal involving Sabah leaders.

• He says the issue is becoming hotter by the day and is not showing signs of abating.

• Puad sarcastically suggests MACC and the Attorney-General’s Chambers to seek a gag order from court instead.

Another Umno leader has lambasted the government for being a slowpoke in investigating the alleged corruption scandal in Sabah, which implicates a number of the state ministers and ruling party assemblypersons.

In a statement, Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi said the issue is becoming hotter by the day and is not showing signs of abating.

“Is this a new form of transparency? The rakyat has been confused as to why there is no prosecution until today,” he said, comparing the speed of authorities’ treatment of the Sabah case with recent corruption investigations against Umno leaders.

“The rakyat wants to know what is the status of this (Sabah) case. The MACC and the Attorney-General’s Chambers must explain,” Puad added.

The Johor legislative assembly speaker was referring to the Sabah corruption scandal which saw a whistleblower alleging several state leaders of taking bribes from him.

The whistleblower, who is a businessperson, had leaked a series of video clips showing purported conversations where the elected representatives allegedly admitted to receiving hundreds of thousands of ringgit for supporting him to get a mining exploration licence.

Don’t play hide and seek

Puad urged the authorities to “not play hide and seek” on the case.

He also sarcastically suggested that MACC and AGC seek a gag order from the court to silence the people.

“Perhaps the AGC and MACC do not want to be accused of being hasty again.

“But is it really the case? Or are there some other issues? Do not play hide and seek.

“Rather than letting this issue continue boiling on social media, perhaps it is better for the MACC and the attorney-general to apply for a gag order,” he said.

Progress concerns

On Thursday, Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin also raised concerns over the status of authorities’ probes into the scandal during a debate in the Dewan Rakyat.

He said that the public, especially Sabahans, should be given closure and not be left wondering about the case affecting 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.

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