MACC to probe into claims Sabah reps offered money to defect

Updated 3 years ago · Published on 31 Jul 2020 7:41PM · 2 Comments

THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission will investigate allegations that several Sabah state assemblymen were offered money and positions to switch parties. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, July 31, 2020.

THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will investigate allegations that several Sabah assemblymen were offered money and positions to switch parties.

Sabah MACC director S. Karunanithy said his officers have contacted the assemblymen involved.

“As a result of this interaction, the assemblymen refused to make an official report to the MACC on the grounds that there were no corrupt transactions at the time.

“However, Sabah MACC will continue to conduct investigations and is ready to receive complaints or related information from anyone involved,” he said in a statement today.

Media reports have said that several Sabah representatives were induced by money and lucrative positions to switch party allegiance. – Bernama, July 31, 2020.  

Sign up or sign in here to comment.

Comments

  • Dear Mr Karunanithy, MACC Chief Sabah,
    Several Sabah politicians had made public statements about being offered bribes of up to RM30 million to defect to the opposition so a new (statutory declaration) government could be formed.
    These statements were widely publicised in the print and electronic media. As such, there is actually no need for anyone to make a "formal" report about these bribe offers for an investigation to be started. You can open investigations based on the media reports which are First Information Reports (FIR).
    Anyway, it is reported that several police reports have been made on the matter.
    That the assemblymen "were reluctant to make an official report, claiming no transactions had been made" is not a valid reason not to investigate the offers of the bribes.
    You have the power to call up the assemblymen to take their statements. If they refuse to attend, you have power to get them arrested and brought to the MACC. Why? Can't assemblymen be arrested for defying the MACC's call to attend statement taking session?
    It is your duty to investigate the bribe offers which are public knowledge. Not doing so could be taken by the public as dereliction of duty.
    If the claims are true, then action should be taken against those offering the bribes.
    If the claims are not true, then action should be taken against the assemblymen who made false statements, for whatever reason. We can't have assemblymen telling lies about bribe offers.
    Either way, action needs to be taken against one or the other party.
    So please do your duty dutifully, proactively, without giving excuses that no reports have been made to the MACC or that the assemblymen are reluctant to make reports as "no transactions had been made".
    The mere offer of a bribe is an offence, even when no transaction has taken place. Correct me if I am wrong.
    The public needs to know whether the assemblymen were telling the truth or were they making up stories about the bribe offers.
    Thank you.

    Posted 3 years ago by Ravinder Singh · Reply

    • Well said. Lets see whether the Sabah MACC Chief has the gumption to proceed with the investigation independently without firstly having refer to his big boss in Putrajaya for the green light.

      Posted 3 years ago by Anwar Ismail · Reply