PARTI Warisan Sabah leader Shafie Apdal was today questioned for two hours by Sabah police over his alleged “belittling” of the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) during a Bicara Presiden talk in Tuaran about two weeks ago.

A 24-second video depicting Shafie saying that Rela volunteers do not know how to handle guns and bombs had outraged members of the corps, who have demanded a public apology from Shafie. Several police reports have also been lodged over the alleged insult.

Shafie today maintained that he had said nothing wrong and that he believed the video had been doctored to make it appear as though he was questioning the competence of Rela volunteers.

“My comments about Rela were (prompted by) my concern for their welfare and safety. Some of my relatives are in Rela and they told me they had been assigned to the islands in Semporna and Lahad Datu on the east coast of Sabah, where a dusk-to-dawn curfew is in effect.

“They have been given only a uniform and a wooden baton. (In such a state) How are they expected to go up against armed gunmen like Abu Sayaff militants and cross border criminals?” he told reporters at his house in Taman Golfview in Penampang today.

The opposition party leader had recently said he was the target of political persecution, after the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission detained him in November over embezzlement of RM1.5 billion of federal funds earmarked for Sabah, which allegedly occurred when he was the rural and regional development minister.

He was held for nearly a week. Upon his release, he said that he expected to be picked up again.

“Even if I am arrested by the MACC, I will make sure that whatever the party has planned will be executed.  

“I have my deputy Darell Leiking to continue if something happens to me. He is a capable man.

“I have all planned out and I am prepared for anything.” – January 22, 2018.