A Sabah state opposition member has questioned the credibility of the corruption-free pledge signed by the Sabah cabinet yesterday, led by Chief Minister Hajiji Noor.
Kapayan assemblyperson Chin Tek Ming said the concerns stemmed from unresolved allegations surrounding the mining scandal that implicated Hajiji’s previous administration and several current elected representatives.
“It is difficult for the public to accept this pledge when investigations into serious allegations involving senior leaders are still not resolved,” said the Warisan lawmaker in a statement.
It was reported that Hajiji and all state ministers had recited an anti-corruption pledge yesterday and signed an official document witnessed by Sabah MACC director, Fuad Bee Basrah, in Kota Kinabalu.
Chin (above) pointed out that although more than a dozen videos related to the mining scandal have surfaced, only two former assemblypersons, Yusof Yacob and Andi Muhammad Suryady, have been charged in court so far.
“As a lawyer with over 25 years of experience in criminal cases, including corruption matters, I find it hard to understand why investigations are taking so long, especially when the alleged methods appear similar,” said Chin.
He also noted that Fuad’s presence at the pledge ceremony could raise public concern about the perception of independence.
On Feb 11, businessperson Albert Tei, who first exposed the mining scandal, questioned the status of the remaining 13 politicians he had also implicated in the videos after 15 months had passed.
Tei, who claimed to have bribed the politicians in exchange for mineral exploration licences, has been charged twice in relation to the scandal.
‘Restore public confidence’
Commenting further, Chin urged MACC to speed up investigations into Tei’s reports and make the findings public to restore confidence.
“Public trust can only be restored through transparent investigations and clear action,” he said, adding that the government should pay attention to public reaction and address the concerns openly.
The Sabah state election last year saw eight out of 10 candidates implicated in the alleged corruption scandal emerge victorious.
These included seven who contributed to Hajiji-led Gabungan Rakyat Sabah's (GRS) 29 seats, and one from a former GRS component party, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star). - Mkini
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