Summary

  • PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan says Warisan deputy president Darell Leiking bet on a horse stuck at the starting block for decades.

  • He says it would be difficult to find anyone with the same kind of optimism as Leiking.

PSM couldn’t help but poke fun at Warisan deputy president Darell Leiking’s recent choice of bets.

"I was surprised to see him backing MACC. He should’ve known better than to go for something which has a one in a million chance of winning," joked PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan.

"If this were a horse race, it looks like Leiking bet on the horse that has been stuck at the starting block for decades. It only gallops at breakneck speed when non-ruling politicians are involved,” he told Malaysiakini.

Given the track record of Malaysian authorities, Arutchelvan said it would be difficult to find anyone else with the same optimism as the Warisan leader on both sides of the South China Sea.

“MACC has been quite consistent over the years that they won’t take action against the sitting government of the day and you don’t need a rocket scientist nor a bomoh to tell you this,” he added.

Warisan deputy president Darell Leiking

Earlier today, Malaysiakini reported Leiking stating that he lost a bet to a friend on whether those implicated in the Sabah scandal would face legal consequences.

“To one of my friends who told me - some time ago when the videos were published by Malaysiakini - that nothing would happen and they would not be charged even though many videos were published because these people are clever at settling, I admit that you won the bet

“I owe you the ‘kon low’ mee and the ‘ngiu chap’ too,” he said on Facebook.

Disappointed with Azam

On a serious note, Arutchelvan said he was disappointed with MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki’s statement that the videos related to the Sabah scandal cannot be used because they have been “edited”.

“Azam with his vast powers could easily summon the whistleblower, give him assurance and get the full unedited videos if he wants to. It is an offence for any person to conceal criminal evidence unless corruption is no more a criminal offence in the country.

“Although this does not come as a surprise, it still hurts to hear the same excuse being peddled over the years. Perhaps, there was just a little more hope with the current government,” he added.

The PSM leader also drew attention to a photograph from the “not too distant past” which featured then opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Harapan leaders demanding the resignation of MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki.

The photo from Jan 20, 2022, was of PKR Youth submitting a memorandum to Anwar - then the opposition leader - pushing for Azam to resign.

“Things change when people come into power,” Arutchelvan said.

In 2022, Azam was embroiled in controversy for acquiring stocks for a family member in 2015.

This prompted various Harapan leaders to call for the MACC chief to resign.

The Anti -Corruption Advisory Board (ACAB), however cleared Azam of any corruption or abuse of power.

Azam’s contract as MACC chief has been renewed twice under Anwar’s administration.