Warisan leader demands GRS state position on Armizan graft claims

Summary

• Warisan supreme council member Calvin Chong demands that Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) state its position on the corruption claims faced by Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Armizan Mohd Ali.

• Chong says GRS politicians cannot rely on the principle “innocent until proven guilty in court” as an excuse to remain silent or avoid responsibility.

• This follows Armizan's denial of claims that he was involved in a corruption scandal related to Sabah mining projects.

Warisan supreme council member Calvin Chong today told Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) to state its position on the corruption allegations faced by Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Armizan Mohd Ali.

The Elopura assemblyperson said GRS politicians cannot rely on the principle “innocent until proven guilty in court” as an excuse to remain silent or avoid responsibility.

“If the leaders of the GRS government they support are found guilty in this corruption case, are they willing to resign collectively as a sign of respect for the voters and commitment to anti-corruption principles?” he asked in a statement.

Chong (above) pointed to several GRS assemblypersons who have been accused of graft.

Denial

On Tuesday (March 25), Armizan denied claims that he was involved in corruption, after messages went viral on social media linking him to an alleged corruption scandal involving mineral exploration projects in Sabah.

The GRS deputy secretary-general claimed that the person responsible for spreading the claims was a former elected representative that he did not name.

A search on Facebook found several postings citing a “Datuk Z” claiming Armizan was involved in negotiations between an Indonesian firm and Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM) over mineral exploration licences in the state.

The postings included photos of an alleged visit by SMM and Armizan to the Indonesian company’s office in Jakarta in May 2023.

Reminder of promises

Commenting further, Chong referred to GRS' promises in the last election, in which the party promised to uphold transparency, justice and accountability.

READ MORE: Name your sources, Armizan dares critics linking him to Sabah mining scandal

"The people are watching and evaluating every move of their elected leaders.

"If they continue to vacillate, evade responsibility, and refuse to take a firm stand, they should be prepared to be punished by history and the voters in the next election," he said.

The Sabah assembly will be dissolved in October to make way for a state election.

Chong urged the MACC to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the allegations against Armizan.

Since November last year, eight Sabah assemblypersons, the state speaker and Chief Minister Hajiji Noor were implicated in an alleged corruption scandal by a whistleblower.

The whistleblower had 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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