KOTA KINABALU: Warisan Plus leaders seem to be feeling vindicated after the explosive claims of corruption in Malaysian politics by outgoing Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador.
Warisan secretary-general Loretto Padua Jr said this was what the previous Warisan-led state government had been saying all this while, particularly before the Sabah elections last September.
Loretto said his party president, Shafie Apdal, as well as other political partners had consistently spoken out against the Perikatan Nasional-led government for trying to put political pressure on elected representatives from the then Warisan Plus government.
“Of course, we know about this all along (corruption and intimidation) but we didn’t expect it to come from our top cop,” Loretto told FMT.
“Yes, we feel vindicated because this is like ‘we told you so’.
“I stand by my previous statement that our assemblymen were offered rewards to cross over and, if they refused, were instead put under pressure by government agencies like the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) or the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), which were used as political tools.”
Yesterday, Hamid spoke of his disdain for corruption, saying people were “drunk on power, willing to buy over others (and) threaten others”.
He also charged that people, particularly politicians, were quick to jump on the force when policemen were involved in bribery but ignored their own doings.
Loretto said he was thinking of lodging a report with the MACC on Monday, subject to agreement by the Warisan leadership.
He hoped a thorough investigation would be carried out as the disclosures by the IGP warranted a probe.
DAP’s Luyang assemblyman Phoong Jin Zhe said this called for an immediate investigation on those who defected, especially in Sabah.
He said before the 16th Sabah election last year, Sabah DAP had exposed the fact that middlemen had approached their representatives, offering rewards, including money, assets and positions, to convince them to defect.
Hamid’s disclosure strengthened the assumption that these claims were not baseless, he added.
“I was also offered money and positions if I agreed to defect before the polls were called, but I stood firm to remain with DAP and the Warisan Plus coalition,” Phoong said when contacted.
“All my colleagues were approached by different ‘agents’ from the then opposition camp.
“There was someone behind all these but apparently the MACC seemed reluctant to act despite numerous reports lodged by us and our coalition members.”
Phoong also seconded a proposal by DAP organising secretary Loke Siew Fook to establish a royal commission of inquiry to safeguard the credibility of the police force.
“This is clearly an open challenge to our nation’s integrity and accountability,” he said.
Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin urged MACC to accept the challenge posed by Hamid to investigate these “party-hoppers”.
“Politicians from our side have complained a lot about the ‘buying’. Now, a high-ranking official has talked about the same issue.
“Switching sides does happen in politics but when groups of elected representatives choose to switch sides within a short time, there is definitely a reason for it.” - FMT
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