KUALA LUMPUR – Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor admitted that his name was mentioned in video recordings showing several assemblymen discussing bribes, but stressed that he has nothing to hide.
According to Berita Harian, Hajiji said that he is aware of the recordings that allegedly implicated elected representatives from the Borneo state and that the state government is ready to cooperate with any parties, especially the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Hajiji, who is also the Sulaman assemblyman, said that he has no intention of evading the issue.
The Chief Minister has instructed the state government to ask relevant authorities to investigate the matter.
“I have nothing to hide. The state government is in good condition and is functioning well.
“Those recordings are merely an accusation. Report to the MACC. We have nothing to hide,” he was quoted as saying.
Hajiji noted that while the state government would cooperate with the investigation, he also wants the alleged bribe giver to be investigated as well.
“The bribe giver has a malicious intention to seek something from the government.
“When they don’t get it, recordings get released. So for me, to be fair, arrest and investigate them as well,” added Hajiji.
Earlier today, it was reported that the whistleblower in possession of those video recordings has filed a police report over a death threat received.
According to Malaysiakini, the individual lodged the report last night over a WhatsApp call he received from an unidentified foreign number.
The death threat was delivered in Chinese by a man who spoke during the 16-second phone call, the news portal reported.
The whistleblower has been seeking protection from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission before coming forward with more information on the assemblymen, whose names and the state they are from have not been revealed.
However, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki has said that the individual must first lodge a full report before qualifying to receive protection under the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010.
Malaysiakini also reported that the whistleblower had sent an official letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim requesting protection before lodging a report with MACC.
Yesterday, Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng urged the whistleblower to contact him, and the Pakatan Harapan (PH) lawmaker would reveal the assemblymen’s names and other information in Parliament for the authorities to take action.
Another PH lawmaker, Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh, urged MACC to use its discretion and grant protection to the whistleblower given the video evidence available. – November 12, 2024
