Warisan says GRS rep's reply on graft scandal sounds like admission

Summary

• Warisan supreme council member Sarifuddin Hata claims GRS Youth chief Jonnybone Kurum’s remarks in Sabah state assembly appeared to admit to the corruption scandal surrounding the state government.

• He says the statement was disappointing and would let Sabahans judge Jonnybone’s remarks.

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Reading between the lines, Warisan supreme council member Sarifuddin Hata claimed that a Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) assemblyperson appeared to admit to the corruption scandal surrounding the state government.

“I was very shocked,” he said in a statement, recounting GRS Youth chief Jonnybone Kurum’s response to his question in the state legislative assembly yesterday.

“Jonnybone’s statement seems to imply that he believes the GRS government under the leadership of Chief Minister Hajiji Noor practices corruption.

“This means that from the beginning, he has accepted the corrupt practices that exist within the current government's administration,” he added.

Sarifuddin (above) said Jonnybone’s reply gave the impression that the latter felt there was “nothing new or wrong” about assemblypersons being implicated in the mineral exploration licences scandal.

“I’m very disappointed with his stance, but I will leave it to the people of Sabah to judge his insulting statement,” the Merotai assemblyperson said.

Jonnybone had responded to Sarifuddin, who had asked whether unity should go hand-in-hand with integrity in the effort to develop Sabah.

Perception vs court ruling

In his reply, the Telupid assemblyperson said all parties must acknowledge that the fight against corruption must begin with self-accountability rather than finger-pointing.

“When it comes to corruption, I don’t want to dwell on it too much because it’s a broad issue and often becomes a matter of perception,” said Jonnybone.

He argued that corruption can only be considered proven when a case is brought to court and a judgment is delivered.

“Otherwise, it remains just a perception or a topic of conversation.

“If you say you are free from corruption, I think you should ask yourself. And if you claim that the current or previous government has never been involved in corruption - I find that hard to believe too,” he added.

Slew of videos

Since November, a businessperson had released a slew of videos and Whatsapp messages implicating eight assemblypersons whom he accused of accepting bribes from him in exchange for mineral exploration licences.

MACC is currently in the process of investigating the allegations.

Hajiji has claimed that the videos are part of an attempt to undermine his administration ahead of the state election.

The businessperson is also accused of being part of a cartel seeking to monopolise mining in the state.

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