Summary

  • An NGO based in Sabah criticises Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for praising state Chief Minister Hajiji Noor over his supposed qualities in handling political turmoil.

  • Sabah Entitlement and Equity Now (Seen) reminds Anwar that the state administration is implicated in a bribery scandal.

A Sabah-based NGO has thrown brickbats at Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for singing Chief Minister Hajiji Noor’s praises during a buka puasa event in the state yesterday.

Sabah Entitlement and Equity Now (Seen) president Duncan Cheng questioned how Anwar could compliment the chief minister for his supposed qualities in handling political sandstorms when the state administration was implicated in an alleged bribery scandal.

“It is very confusing for the people of Sabah to see Anwar expressing his appreciation to a chief minister who is being investigated by the MACC over a corruption scandal involving viral video clips, which showed nine assemblypersons discussing bribes with a whistleblower.

“Anwar’s statement made it seem like he approves the (alleged) corrupt activities of the chief minister. He has lost his principles and forgotten his commitment to have zero tolerance for corruption.

“I hope the prime minister would stop pretending to fight corruption, the people are already sick of his drama,” Cheng said in a statement today.

He was responding to a news report on a buka puasa event in Tuaran yesterday, where Anwar reportedly commended Hajiji for being “calm and moderate” in facing political turmoil in the state.

According to Berita Harian, the prime minister said Hajiji’s abilities were important in ensuring stability in Sabah and allowing the government to focus on more pressing issues for the state and its people.

The state administration has been implicated in a bribery scandal after a whistleblower released a series of video clips showing several state leaders purportedly discussing bribes they received for supporting a mineral exploration licence.

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