THE arrest of Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) vice-president Peter Anthony was a clear indication of how Putrajaya uses “selective prosecution” to damage its political rivals, said the party’s president Shafie Apdal.

Speaking to a crowd of about 2,000 at a ceramah in Tenom today, two days after Anthony was picked up by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for investigation into the alleged embezzlement of RM1.5 billion, Shafie insisted that it was politically motivated.

“There is no level playing field here. Sabah is rich, but where have all its revenue gone to?

“If Peter’s arrest was not political, why have there been no action on the water and logging scandals,” he asked, in veiled reference to Chief Minister Musa Aman’s administration.

The former Umno vice-president then drew comparisons to the investigation against Musa who was implicated in a money laundering probe when former timber tycoon, Michael Chua, was caught with RM40 million while on his way back from Hong Kong to Malaysia in 2008.

Chia purportedly told the authorities the RM40 million was meant for Musa. The chief minister was cleared of corruption charges in 2012 as the money was said to be a “political donation” for Sabah Umno.

Shafie said the action against Anthony was nothing but to instil fear on Warisan members.

“The MACC probe now is to eliminate me, after they failed to pin the Sabah Water Department money laundering case on me” Shafie said.

Shafie also pointed out the excellent key performance indicator testimonial signed by Prime Minister Najib Razak when he was the former Rural and Regional Development Minister from 2009 to 2015.

“Leaders may change and elected representatives will retire, but Warisan will not stop the struggle. We are not afraid. We fear nothing, except God.

“And what matters most right now is the people of Sabah. We no longer want Barisan Nasional and Umno to teach Sabahans. Sabahans know what they want.

“Don’t tell us what we need. As until today, the promise to reinstate Sabah’s special rights have not been made,” Shafie told the cheering crowd.

Also present were Warisan deputy president Darrel Leiking and vice-president Junz Wong. – October 7, 2017.