A Warisan assemblyperson has slammed a gag order bid, linked to Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, against businessperson Albert Tei, who has released a series of videos and documents implicating over a dozen Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) politicians in a mining scandal.
Calvin Chong called it “shocking” that the application, filed during the recent mention of a corruption case involving two GRS assemblypersons linked to the scandal, listed preventing Tei from “humiliating the chief minister” as one of the grounds.
“Is this Hajiji’s backdoor attempt to protect himself? It’s an outrageous misuse of the court process. Courts exist to uphold justice, not to shield political leaders from criticism.
“What I can’t seem to fathom is also the fact that why is Hajiji now trying to get involved in a matter which he claimed to be not involved in the first place?” the Elopura assemblyperson said in a statement.
Chong was referring to a gag order request made at the Kota Kinabalu High Court last week. The request was not made by Hajiji.
Instead, it was made by a lawyer representing two government assemblypersons who are on trial for allegedly taking bribes from Tei.
The court rejected the application.
Information leak
Chong further questioned how Hajiji knew of Tei’s testimony to the MACC, suggesting the information must have leaked from within the commission.
“As head of government, Hajiji’s duty was not to benefit from the leak but to demand accountability by lodging a complaint against those responsible.
“His failure to act raises serious concerns about whether the chief minister is safeguarding the integrity of institutions or compromising them,” he added.
Chong further criticised the move to bar Tei from entering Sabah just a day before the businessperson, who himself faces charges in connection with the scandal, was scheduled to appear in court.
“Taken together, these incidents reflect not the rule of law, where laws apply equally and fairly, but rule by law, where power is wielded to serve political convenience. This is a dangerous path for Sabah and for Malaysia.
“As the head of state, Hajiji is duty-bound by the oath of office that he has taken to act with transparency, accountability, and integrity. To do otherwise is self-serving, corrosive of public trust, and beneath the dignity of his office.
“The people of Sabah and Malaysia deserve answers. The chief minister must show that he serves the law and the people, not himself,” he added. - Mkini
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