GRS clinging to Harapan, BN ties due to corruption cases: Warisan MP

Summary

• Warisan MP Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis claims GRS is sticking with Harapan and BN out of necessity, citing corruption cases tied to mining licence approvals.

• Two GRS reps were recently charged with accepting bribes; a businessperson who allegedly offered the bribes was also charged.

• Isnaraissah asserts that the federal government avoids working with Warisan because its president, Shafie Apdal, is too vocal in defending Sabah’s rights.

A Warisan leader has claimed that Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) is clinging to its alliance with Pakatan Harapan and remains open to working with BN, not out of strategy, but because ongoing corruption cases have left them with no choice.

Kota Belud MP Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis linked the matter to the state’s corruption scandal involving mining licences.

She referred to a statement by Sabah Chief Minister and GRS chairperson Hajiji Noor in May, where he said the coalition was prepared to contest the upcoming state election on its own, only to change his tone a few days later.

“Why? Because they have cases,” said Isnaraissah, referring to the scandal that allegedly implicated several GRS assemblypersons.

“You think GRS doesn’t want to contest solo? They do. You think we don’t know they’re fighting among themselves?” she added in a video recording.

Isnaraissah made the remarks during a Warisan event in Kuala Penyu, Sabah, yesterday.

On June 30, two GRS assemblypersons - Andi Suryady Bandy and Yusof Yacob - were charged in court with accepting bribes related to applications for mining licences in Sabah.

The businessperson and whistleblower who exposed the scandal, Albert Tei, was also charged with allegedly offering bribes to Andi and Yusof.

All three pleaded not guilty.

‘Federal govt fears Sarawak 2.0 if Shafie returns’

Separately, Isnaraissah claimed the federal government is reluctant to work with Warisan because the party’s president, Shafie Apdal, has been outspoken in defending Sabah’s rights.

“Why hasn’t anyone invited him (to work together)? Because Shafie has the potential to turn Sabah into another Sarawak.

“The federal government is doing everything it can to avoid a Sarawak 2.0. After the state election, they don’t want Sabah to become like Sarawak.

“Why? Because then they’ll be forced to allocate more funds. If the Sabah chief minister is strong and vocal, Sabah becomes stronger - and more federal money ‘flies out’,” she said.

As such, Isnaraissah urged Sabahans to choose leaders who are bold in fighting for the state’s interests in the upcoming state polls.

“When the state election comes, we’re choosing the chief minister of Sabah, not the chief minister of Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia).

“We don’t need Malaya’s blessing to decide who becomes Sabah’s chief minister,” she added.

Shafie previously served as chief minister after Warisan secured the state in the 2018 general election.

However, his government fell after Warisan lost in the 2020 state election.

The Sabah state election is expected to be held this October, with the legislative assembly needing to be dissolved by September.

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