Shafie: Other agencies also involved in channelling funds for water projects

KOTA KINABALU: The RM3.3bil in federal funds for water supply projects in the centre of a massive corruption, power abuse and money laundering probe was channelled to Sabah through various federal agencies, former Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said.

He said apart from the ministry that he had headed, other agencies included the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry as well as the Prime Minister’s Department.

Describing claims that the funds came solely from the Rural and Regional Development Ministry as politically motivated and with malicious intent, Shafie said he was surprised by the allegations of his “friend” Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

He said the National Audit Department had found that the Rural Development Ministry had a 95% achievement as stated in its 2015 report.

“If there was any wrongdoing, I am certain the Auditor-General would have asked the ministry to explain,” he told the media Sunday.

Pairin had said on Friday that the Sabah government had nothing to do with the RM3.3bil federal allocation because it was directly channelled to the state water department from the ministry.

“I have known Pairin for several decades now and regard him as a friend with a long tenure of administrative experience, and I am surprised that he specifically made some malicious inference when he mentioned that the projects allegedly connected to the corruption scandals were awarded in 2010 during my tenure at the ministry,” he said.

“What is even more surprising is that he qualified his statement on the projects by specifically throwing malicious inferences that the projects were not handled by his state ministry,” Shafie added.

“Do not accuse me without proof. But let the investigation run its course, and investigate it properly. I am categorically denying any allegation and inference of my involvement and or my former ministry’s involvement in the shocking alleged corrupt acts,” he said.

Asked what he thought could be the motive for the allegations, Shafie said he believes they are due to politics.

Stating that he did not know department director Ag Tahir Ag Talib and his deputy Teo Chee Kong, he said it is best to “let the evidence prevail.”

Graft busters arrested Ag Tahir and Teo on Oct 4 and found more than RM114mil in cash, jewellery and other assets in their houses and offices.

In a related development, MACC investigators have questioned another five individuals in what has been reported to be biggest corruption probe in the country so far.

MACC sources said investigators had so far questioned 28 people, including the owners of companies involved in contracts with the Sabah Water Department.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Azam Baki confirmed the details of the probe so far but declined to elaborate.