EMBATTLED former chief minister Musa Aman was sworn in as Sibuga assemblyman at 3.33pm today, six days before the deadline on September 11.

The ruling comes under the State Constitution’s Article Article 22(2), which allows an elected rep to be sworn in 90 days from the first assembly sitting.

The first sitting after the May 9 polls was on June 11.

But with Monday and Tuesday of next week being public holidays, Musa had to be sworn in over the next three days.

Looking rather unkempt, Musa was whisked to a vehicle heading straight to the state assembly upon arrival at Terminal Two of the Kota Kinabalu International Airport in Tanjung Aru.

Musa arrived in Kuala Lumpur from Singapore and was admitted to a private hospital over an ailment after being in the United Kingdom for close to five months.

Musa arrived at the state assembly at 1.25pm and waited for two hours for state assembly Speaker Syed Abbas Syed Ali to swear him in.

When met later after being sworn in, he denied being a “fugitive” and said he had not run away.  

“Alhamdulilah, I have returned to Sabah to fulfil my obligations, despite my medical condition and against the advice of my team of physicians.

“I would like to thank the speaker for understanding the circumstances and granting me an audience so I could fulfil my duties as a member of the state legislative assembly,” he said.

He said he had extended his full cooperation to the authorities in Kuala Lumpur and would continue to do so. 

“I also wish to point out in no uncertain terms that I did not run away and was never a fugitive.

“I was away due to a grave medical condition, as confirmed by medical reports from my team of physicians. 

“I am a son of Sabah and have been serving my constituency and the state, and will continue to do so to the best of my abilities,” he said.

Sources said Musa was expected to be called in by the police and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

On Monday, outgoing Sabah police chief Ramli Din said that Musa’s criminal intimidation case was ongoing and that police planned to take statements from several more people before wrapping up its probe.

He said initial investigation papers sent to the Attorney-General’s Chambers had been rejected, and police were requested to complete more tasks linked to the probe.

Ramli said police had recorded more than a dozen witness statements so far.

“Musa, who is on police bail, is being monitored and his movements watched. We don’t know when he plans to return to Sabah,” he had said.

Musa was also required to return to Sabah to facilitate police investigations.

On MACC investigations into alleged corrupt practices concerning the Sabah Forestry Department and several timber-related companies, a source said Musa’s cooperation was needed as he may hold the key to several outstanding matters.

“The MACC needs to have a talk with Musa because of the allegation that he attempted to ‘buy’ elected representatives when the 14th general election results did not seem to be going his way.” – September 5, 2018.