Umno rep Yusof Apdal denies arrest part of govt’s politics

KOTA KINABALU: Umno’s Lahad Datu assemblyman Yusof Apdal, recently released from remand in a corruption investigation, denies he has been subjected to a political game of the government.

Yusof, a younger brother of Parti Warisan Sabah president Shafie Apdal, was remanded for six days as part of an investigation into the alleged misappropriation of RM1.5 billion in rural development funds for Sabah.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was reported to be scrutinising 72 out of an original list of 350 projects under the federal rural and regional ministry, which Shafie had headed before he left the government, for suspected embezzlement of funds.

Yusof, the Silam Umno division head, said it was the opposition’s ploy to make him look like a victim of political games by the government and to win the people’s support for the upcoming general election.

Yusof also vowed to remain loyal to Umno and keep the party the people’s choice.

“I thank all Umno members in Lahad Datu, especially in Silam, for their moral support,” he said during a press conference here today.

“This challenge does not shake my loyalty to leaders, both in the state and at the federal level.”

Yusuf, 57, said his detention was just part of the standard operating procedures of the MACC.

“In fact, I thank the MACC for its good treatment of me when I was in detention,” he said.

“I fell ill twice and the MACC sent me to the government hospital for treatment. Although I had to wait for some time (for the treatment), I received good medical attention.”

Another younger brother of Shafie’s, Hamid, and Hamid’s son in law, Manzur Hussein Awal Khan, were also remanded and later released.

Shafie is currently under remand. The order expires on Monday.

The projects under investigation were planned to be carried out between 2009 and 2015 in Kota Kinabalu, Kudat, Kota Belud, Ranau, Beaufort, Keningau, Lahad Datu, Tawau and Sandakan.

The RM1.5 billion was said to be part of RM7.5 billion allocated for water, electricity and road infrastructure development projects.

Some RM170 million in bank accounts and assets of the companies involved in the projects have reportedly been frozen.

While opposition leaders have claimed the investigation was politically motivated to smear the image of Warisan ahead of the next general election (GE14), Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and the MACC have denied this, insisting that the anti-graft agency operated independently. -FMT