Arrested Warisan veep innocent until proven guilty, Shafie says

Parti Warisan Sabah president Mohd Shafie Apdal said he would let the law take its course following the arrest of his party’s vice president Peter Anthony by MACC.

"We will facilitate according to the law. We will follow the law, we shouldn't be afraid to follow the law," he told Malaysiakini today.

Shafie also said that Peter, who was arrested after appearing at the MACC office in Kota Kinabalu, is innocent until proven guilty.

"(But) I don't want to say much as it is still under investigation. Let the law take its course," he added.

Shafie was greeted at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport today by hundreds of supporters, consisting mainly of Warisan party members.

Many of them took photos with Shafie, while others took the opportunity to shake his hand and hug him.

Beaufort Warisan deputy coordinator Johair Matlani told Malaysiakini that Shafie’s warm welcome is a sign that the party is uniting in the wake of Peter’s arrest.

"The opposition usually comes out stronger the more it is pressured.

"Usually, only 20 to 30 people would come to receive Shafie, but I see so many people here today, almost everyone from the nearest party divisions came to state their support.

"And their sympathy to the problem faced by Warisan has increased, starting today," the former PKR member said.

Despite Peter's arrest, Johair (photo) is firm in her belief that he is a "man of integrity," given that he was only arrested after appearing at the MACC office in Kota Kinabalu to have his statement recorded.

There had been much chatter among Warisan leaders in the hours leading to Peter's arrest, as several senior MACC officers were said to have arrived in Sabah.

The commission on Wednesday reportedly seized about RM179 million in cash in a series of raids in the state.

The MACC claimed the existence of a syndicate that claimed payment for government infrastructure projects that were declared completed, despite the projects not even being carried out.

Peter was reported to have been a recipient of such projects involving the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, previously helmed by Shafie.

He has denied wrongdoing, stressing that he received the contracts based on proper procedure.

Peter is expected to be produced at the magistrate's court this afternoon for remand.- Mkini