Has Hajiji been quizzed on leaked videos, Warisan Youth asks MACC
In particular, it called on the anti-graft agency to clarify whether Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor had been questioned about the issue.
“Using state resources or provisional land licences to secure political support constitutes...
Summary
Warisan Youth chief Terence Au urges MACC to reveal whether it has questioned Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor about the state corruption scandal.
Leaked videos of assemblypersons discussing bribes appear to suggest Hajiji had allocated mineral exploration licences as “gifts” for their support in the 2023 political crisis in the state, he says.
Au claims based on the videos, Hajiji seems to have been aware of or involved in the kickbacks.
Warisan Youth has again urged the MACC to investigate those implicated in the Sabah corruption scandal, this time on the allegation that prospecting licences had been “gifted” in exchange for support during the state’s 2023 political crisis.
In particular, it called on the anti-graft agency to clarify whether Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor had been questioned about the issue.
“Using state resources or provisional land licences to secure political support constitutes corruption and abuse of power, as highlighted by the content in the leaked videos.
“The people of Sabah and Malaysia deserve transparency and accountability. We urge the MACC to investigate all individuals implicated in this scandal without fear or favour, including the chief minister, to uphold the integrity of governance and the law.
“This matter cannot be swept under the rug as it strikes at the very core of public trust in our institutions,” said Warisan Youth chief Terence Au in a statement last night.
Last month, the whistleblower in the Sabah corruption scandal released full versions of video clips purportedly featuring several assemblypersons discussing alleged bribes given to them in exchange for their support in securing mining exploration licences.
READ MORE: 'Money talks': Whistleblower releases full videos on Sabah scandal
In the videos, it was mentioned that Hajiji had supposedly “gifted” the licences to the assemblypersons as a reward for supporting him during the 2023 Sabah corruption crisis.
In the clip featuring Deputy Chief Minister II Shahelmey Yahya, when asked if he had “declared” his portion to the chief minister, he replied: “We say… ‘Others have asked, I have not asked, I have not received’... It’s like that. So he (chief minister) signs, and says ‘remember, you check, if this is still there’.
“Meaning he knows, this is your portion, that is your portion,” he added.
In the same video, Shahelmey was told that he was given “RM400,000” in cash.
CM knows?
In another clip featuring Sindumin assemblyperson Yusof Yacob, he was asked a similar question and replied that the chief minister purportedly “knows” that he “got something in return”.
Yusof had also acknowledged that he purportedly received a “gift” from the chief minister for supporting him.
Au said these videos appear to suggest that Hajiji may have been aware of or was involved in the alleged kickbacks.
“Given the gravity of these allegations, the MACC must clarify whether the chief minister has been called up for questioning,” he stressed.
Hajiji had previously dismissed the videos as “edited” and said the allegations of corruption were unfounded.
He later suggested that the discussions may have pertained to political donations rather than bribes.
