Warisan rep: Reformist govt gave me 'Harapan' to bet on wrong horse

Summary

• Warisan deputy president Darell Leiking responds to PSM’s S Arutchelvan mocking his poor judgement.

• The Moyog assemblyperson says that his overconfidence stemmed from a reformist government at the helm.

Warisan deputy president Darell Leiking admitted that his “misguided overconfidence” in the MACC stemmed from his belief in the reformist ideals of the Pakatan Harapan-led federal government.

However, the Sabah politician said he has since learned his lesson.

“Touche, Mr Arutchelvan. I admit I was overconfident in the MACC and bet on the ‘wrong horse’,” he said, responding to PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan, who mocked his faith in the commission.

“I admit my misguided overconfidence and ‘terlampau ada Harapan’ (having overwhelming hope) in MACC’s so-called ability to enforce and bring justice for Sabahans and all Malaysians,” he added in a Facebook post.

Leiking (above), who is the Moyog assemblyperson, quipped that he was fortunate the bet only involved kon lou mee and ngiu chap Penampang.

“Rest assured, lesson learned,” he said, conceding defeat to those who ridiculed his “overconfidence that MACC, under a reformist government, would act on the Sabah scandal”.

Earlier today, Arutchelvan told Malaysiakini that he was surprised that Leiking had bet on the MACC.

“He should’ve known better than to go for something which has a one in a million chance of winning,” he joked.

“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 added.

Arutchelvan said this after Leiking revealed that he lost a bet to a friend on whether those implicated in the Sabah scandal would face legal consequences.

Yesterday, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said the videos related to the Sabah scandal cannot be used because they have been “edited”.

Following this, senior lawyer Shafee Abdullah urged Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor and the implicated assemblypersons to lodge a police report against his client over the videos.

Shafee is representing the whistleblower who released the videos alleging that they contained discussions regarding the bribes he gave to the assemblypersons in exchange for mineral exploration licences.

Leiking should be wiser when placing bets on MACC, quips PSM

Sabah scandal: Shafee urges CM, reps to lodge report on 'edited' clips

Leiking says lost bet on whether those in Sabah scandal would face action

Azam: Edited Sabah scandal videos can't be used for probe, inadmissible