AN embittered Shafie Apdal, who blames the government for his recent detention by anti-graft authorities, said his role in helping Prime Minister Najib Razak create inroads into Sabah politics has been forgotten.

Shafie, who left Umno two years ago to set up Parti Warisan Sabah, said a leader who has “sacrificed” so much for his country should not have been treated the way he was when the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) detained him to assist in a probe over the misappropriation of funds for rural development projects in Sabah during his time in Cabinet.

“I realise how painful it was when my brother was hauled in, how my wife felt, how my children felt.

“I am a national leader who has sacrificed much for this country. A leader who helped Najib in the political arena in Malaysia. Sabahans didn’t know Najib. I helped him to make his politics a success in Sabah,” he told some 2,000 supporters at his home near the coastal town of Semporna today.

Shafie’s younger brothers Yusof and Hamid were arrested by the MACC earlier this month over allegations of the embezzlement of RM1.5 billion meant for some 70 projects involving roads, electricity and water supply for rural areas in Sabah.

Shafie was released yesterday after being remanded for eight days.

However, Shafie said he was unfazed by what he claimed to be intimidation and attacks since he left Umno, adding that his involvement in politics was not to enrich himself.

“I realise what this political arena is like, since I entered it long ago to help the people, because I wanted to become the people’s representative.

“I didn’t enter to help myself. I also didn’t enter politics to help my pockets.”

Shafie said he “could have stayed quiet and remained in Umno” if he had wanted to advance his political career.

“But I am fighting for the poor. If I wanted to have a good life, I would have just stayed (in Umno),” he said.

Shafie was dropped from the Cabinet lineup in August 2015 after his criticism of Najib over allegations of embezzlement in connection to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.

Shafie announced on July 24, 2016 that he was quitting Umno. He later formed Warisan in October 2016. – October 28, 2017.