THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) investigation into Parti Warisan Sabah members over alleged embezzlement of RM1.5 billion of federal funds is clearly politically motivated, Sabah DAP said today.
Sabah DAP secretary Chan Foong Hin said the MACC was carrying out “selective persecution and prosecution” and was clearly working in favour of Umno and Barisan Nasional by eliminating opposition rivals.
“This leaves Sabah DAP with no choice but to conclude that these arrests are politically motivated, and are meant to silence dissent and to suppress the opposition movement,” he said today.
Warisan president Shafie Apdal was arrested last night after about three hours of questioning over alleged misappropriation of RM1.5 billion federal funds meant for Sabah rural projects from 2009 to 2015.
Prior to Shafie’s arrest, MACC had arrested three Warisan members, four Umno members, a businessman, and a former senior officer of the rural and regional development ministry.
Among those who were arrested were two of Shafie’s younger brother, Hamid Apdal and Lahad Datu assemblyman Yusof Apdal.
“It targets those who have the intention to leave Umno and rise up against the corrupted regime.
“The person in power has made MACC a weapon against these ‘rebellions’. All Umno leaders being arrested and remanded are either followers of Shafie or Warisan sympathisers,” Chan said.
He said DAP was disturbed by the way Warisan was being victimised and demanded that the MACC conducted a fair and transparent investigation.
“However, we also want MACC to stop actions such as going on a witch hunt and targeting opposition leaders in its investigation,” said Chan, adding that there were bigger scandal still needing closure, such as the 1Malaysia Development Board scandal.
He also cited alleged corruption practices of Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman in the logging and political donation scandal of 2008. – October 20, 2017.