THE Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism is stunned by the political developments in the state of Sabah. The political manoeuvring has resulted in the state assembly being dissolved.

This is an unexpected development, while necessary to determine majority support once and for all, it isn’t very welcome especially when the country is facing an health pandemic and a serious economic crisis.

Millions have lost their job and income, yet our political leaders choose to play dangerous politics in times such as this.

C4 Center is disturbed by several Sabah elected representatives claiming harassment, being offered millions of ringgit to shift their alliance from current Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal to his rival Musa Aman.

This is certainly a matter of serious enough to warrant an immediate investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Over the last few weeks and since mid-June, many elected representatives have been exposing the plots by unidentified agents luring them to shift alliances.

One of such cases is of Lahad Datu representative, Dumi Pg Masdal where he claimed that he had received an offer of RM5 million from one person and RM20 million from another person, including a ministerial position to jump over.

Besides Dumi, all DAP elected representatives in Sabah had also come forward and exposed to the media that they too are being harassed and offered money and position to abandon Shafie’s government.

Sabah Youth and Sports Minister Ginger Phoong exposed that he was called by a young Chinese man and was offered the deputy chief minister’s post and told that he would be linked up directly with Prime Minister Muhyddin Yasin.

Another representative, Jannie Lasimbang, said that three men came to her house in Penampang and asked her to shift alliance. She has since lodged a police report.

The allegations being made by these state representatives are very serious and should be immediately investigated.

The trend of offering elected representatives money and positions to buy over their loyalty is a threat to our country’s democratic principles. It is unhealthy and disgusting.

Was it yet another mere coincidence in politics, or was the withdrawal of the corruption charges (46 in total) of Musa a few weeks back a pre-planned exercise by the government engineered for him to lead the takeover of Sabah?

How could the Attorney General’s Chambers change its position in regards to the case, in less than two years? From a dismissal not amounting to an acquittal to an unconditional acquittal.

Only our institutions can save the situation now.

MACC must act fearlessly to uncover the truth and go after the corrupted offenders without fear or favour. – July 31, 2020.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.