Have courage, debate graft scandal in Sabah assembly - Warisan rep

Summary

• Sri Tanjong assemblyperson Justin Wong urges GRS leaders to explain the mineral mining corruption scandal during the final Sabah state assembly sitting before the state polls.

• Wong highlights its impact on Sabah’s reputation, citing local and international media coverage.

Sri Tanjong assemblyperson Justin Wong urged Gabungan Rakyat Sabah leaders to come clean over the ongoing corruption scandal linked to the approval of mineral mining licences in the state.

Wong (above) said the issue should be addressed during the fifth session of the 16th Sabah state legislative assembly, which begins tomorrow and is set to run for four days - the final sitting before the state polls.

“The corruption scandal has not only sparked intense discussion among Malaysians, but has also been reported by international media outlets such as CNN, Channel NewsAsia, South China Morning Post, and others.

“This incident has caused severe damage to Sabah and has tarnished the good name that generations of Sabahans have painstakingly built over the years,” the Warisan leader said.

The scandal involves Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, eight assemblypersons, and a whistleblower-businessperson who admitted to offering bribes in exchange for mining licences.

A series of secretly recorded videos exposing the alleged wrongdoing are now undergoing forensic analysis by the MACC.

“Because of the wickedness and greed of a few, the entire population of Sabah is now forced to bear the consequences of their sins - an injustice to us all.

“Their wrongdoing has brought shame and burden to the people of Sabah, and their actions are inexcusable,” Wong added.

The best forum

He said the state assembly offers the most appropriate forum for the matter to be debated and transparency demanded.

“GRS leaders involved must no longer hide - if they had the courage to accept bribes, they must also have the courage to face the consequences.

“The people of Sabah demand that this corruption scandal be fully exposed in the assembly. They have the right to know the truth,” he said.

Yesterday, Elopura assemblyperson Calvin Chong also called for the issue to be debated in the upcoming sitting.

However, he questioned whether such a discussion would be allowed, given that speaker Kadzim Yahya had also been implicated in the controversy.

In March, Kadzim responded to the allegations, stating that he only borrowed RM50,000 and was unaware of the alleged RM350,000 referenced in the whistleblower’s video published by Malaysiakini.

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