Shafie Apdal arrives at MACC office

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal arrived at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office here over a probe into the alleged skimming of RM1.5bil meant for rural development projects.

Shafie, who was escorted by his lawyers Martin Tommy and Loretto Padua Jr, arrived at 5.15pm Thursday (Oct 19).

Also present were Shafie's wife Datin Seri Shuryani Shuaib and Parti Warisan vice-president Datuk Peter Anthony, the first person to be arrested in MACC's probe into the projects under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry.

The projects were implemented between 2009 and 2015 when Shafie headed the ministry.

Earlier, Shafie arrived at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) from Kuala Lumpur at about 3.30pm.

He was welcomed by supporters as he headed home to pray before going to the MACC office to give his statement.

When met at his house in Luyang near here, Shafie said he was ready to cooperate in the MACC investigations.

He said he was asked on Wednesday night (Oct 18) by the MACC to give his statement.

"That's why I flew all the way back from Kuala Lumpur," he said.

Shafie also said he was saddened by the fact that his two other siblings Hamid and Yusof were detained.

He, however, said he understood that they were merely assisting in the probe and that the MACC was doing its job.