Graft scandal: Reveal identities of prospecting licence-holders - Sabah rep

Amid an ongoing corruption scandal in Sabah, one of its assemblypersons has called for the federal government to reveal the identities of those given prospecting licences.

The only cure for the disease of corruption is transparency, Moyog assemblyperson Darell Leiking said during the Sabah assembly sitting today.

“What I suggest to the government is this, if they want to make things clear and there’s really nothing to hide, reveal all the companies that have been awarded this prospecting licence so that we will know who they are.

“These are the assets of Sabah and this is the future of Sabah, and we are letting people manage our assets with so many dubious happenings behind the scenes,” he said during the debate on the state budget.

Leiking also suggested the reform of Sabah’s state assembly to include an oversight committee for the resources in the state.

Previously, a whistleblower claimed to Malaysiakini that he had evidence of corruption involving eight Sabah assemblypersons.

The whistleblower is a businessperson who has since admitted to also being the person who gave the alleged bribes to the politicians to secure a mining project in which he had already made a significant investment.

While he reportedly did get a licence for the project initially, it was later rescinded.

Thanks for speaking up

Former Sabah chief minister Mohd Shafie Apdal agreed with Leiking’s suggestion.

Jontih Enggihon

“There must be transparency. The question of transparency is good,” the Senallang assemblyperson said after Leiking’s speech.

Besides that, Leiking praised former Sabah Mineral Management (SMM) chief executive officer Jontih Enggihon, who “told the world” about the mismanagement of minerals in Sabah.

Leiking said that he had met with civil servants who complained about abuse of power.

He told them to emulate Jontih in coming forward as many of them were afraid of facing repercussions for doing so.

“Now when I ask them (the civil servants) to come out, be like Jontih, a lot of them are afraid of the repercussions.

“So I want to put on record Moyog thinks Jontih is an example that we all should be,” he said.

Collusion denial

Yesterday, Jontih denied the allegation of colluding with the whistleblower behind the videos of the alleged corruption scandal.

He also claimed to possess evidence to substantiate his allegation that Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor “abused his powers”.

A screencap of a video clip featuring Jontih Enggihon

He said that he is willing to pass on the evidence in his possession to the MACC.

The video on Jontih was the first to be released on Nov 12. In the video, which was recorded with his consent, he alleged that the chief minister, who is also the SMM chairperson, had interfered in the selection process.- Mkini