Shafie arrives in Parliament for first time after release from MACC remand

KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal has claimed that the corruption allegations levelled against him and his party colleagues were "politically motivated".

Shafie, who arrived in Parliament for the first time since his release from an eight-day remand under the detention of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission last Friday (Oct 27), said this when asked if the probe targeted Warisan leaders.

"Well, it's all very political anyway," he said when met by reporters at Parliament compound on Tuesday (Oct 31).

The Semporna MP was earlier greeted by other Warisan leaders who had waited for him at the Parliament entrance including Warisan deputy president and Penampang MP Darrell Leiking, where they exchanged hugs.

He, however, said he was not complaining about action taken by the anti-graft investigators.

"They are just doing their jobs. I won't complain. But the investigation must be done justly. What's important is that I don't pass judgement earlier," he said.

Shafie also said he would not comment much on what happened during his detention.

"I can't be saying things about matters that are still under investigation. They claimed it happened two years ago," he said.

Shafie was the 10th person held in connection with a graft probe into the alleged skimming of up to RM1.5bil in federal project allocations in Sabah through the Rural and Regional Development Ministry.

The money was allegedly siphoned from RM7.5bil worth of project funds.

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