Summary

  • Sabah Umno says the state government is suffering from a “cancer” which is worsening day by day, following revelations that more ruling politicians are involved in the mining licence scandal.

  • Sabah Umno strategic communications director Datu Rosman Datu Ahir Zaman points out that three deputy chief ministers have been implicated.

The latest revelation that six more senior politicians from the Sabah ruling coalition are implicated in the mining scandal has sent shockwaves through Sabah Umno.

Sabah Umno strategic communications director Datu Rosman Datu Ahir Zaman described the scandal - now engulfing 15 leaders from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), including state assembly speaker Kadzim Yahya - as nothing short of “madness.”

“The Sabah government is suffering from a ‘cancer’ that is worsening day by day,” he added.

With the latest names implicated, Datu Rosman said three of Chief Minister Hajiji Noor’s deputies are accused of accepting bribes - Star president Jeffrey Kitingan, PBS acting president  Joachim Gunsalam and Shahelmey Yahya.

“I believe the people want to see a better Sabah than what we have now. However, the current reality stands in stark contrast to the hopes of the people.

“The ruling elite has gone mad!!!” he emphasised in a statement.

Sabah Umno chief Bung Mokhtar Radin himself is embroiled in a corruption case together with his wife in relation to Felcra.

Six more implicated in scandal

Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported that it has obtained the names of six more politicians purportedly involved in the mining scandal.

A source has furnished Malaysiakini with screenshots purportedly taken from video recordings involving the implicated leaders. Malaysiakini was also shown brief excerpts of the recordings but was not allowed to reproduce them.

Apart from Jeffrey and Joachim, the other four were Star deputy presidents Ellron Alfred Angin and Robert Tawik, PBS former president Maximus Ongkili, and deputy president Jahid Jahim.

In addition to the video evidence, the source alleged that WhatsApp messages and other documents exist to corroborate the transactions.

Shahelmy was implicated in the first round of video recordings, which were released in stages since last November by a whistleblower who claimed the assemblypersons accepted bribes in exchange for mining exploration licences.

The others were state finance minister Masidi Manjun, state minister of science, technology and innovation Arifin Arif, who is also Sabah governor Musa Aman’s son-in-law, and state assistant minister of industrial development and entrepreneurship Andi Suryandy.

Also implicated were Sindumin assemblyperson and chairperson of Qhazanah Sabah Bhd Yusof Yacob, Kemabong assemblyperson and chairperson of Sabah Economic Development Corporation Rubin Balang, Tempasuk assemblyperson Arsad Bistari, and Kuamut assemblyperson Masiung Banah.

Two of the assemblypersons, together with the whistleblower, identified as Albert, are expected to be charged on Monday.

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