State Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun has voluntarily provided a statement to graft investigators following the release of a video showing him in conversation with a businessman about the issuance of Sabah minerals prospecting licences.
In a statement late on Tuesday (Dec 3), Masidi said he went to the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) state headquarters at 8pm to give a statement after the emergence of a secretly filmed video with a businessman.
"As I have said before, I will give my full cooperation to the authorities to investigate the matter. My visit to the MACC is to assist MACC in their investigations and show my support for MACC in fighting corruption in the state," said Masidi
Masidi is also the deputy president of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) and secretary general of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
Masidi described the video as a character assassination.
A businessman, who sought whistleblower status from MACC on Oct 30, has so far uploaded secretly recorded videos of conversations with eight Sabah assemblymen, attempting to insinuate payoffs over mineral prospecting licences.
MACC has explained that whistleblower status cannot be given to those involved in committing offences.
Apart from Masidi, videos have surfaced of Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Shahelmey Yahya, state Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Arifin Mohd Arif, assistant minister Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy, and assemblymen Datuk Rubin Balang (Kemabong), Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob (Sindumin), Datuk Masiung Banah (Kuamut), and Datuk Arsat Bestari (Tempasuk).
Since the videos were made public in early November, MACC has recorded statements from Shahelmey, Andi Muhammad, Rubin, and Dr Yusof, and is expected to record statements from the assemblymen whose videos were posted on Tuesday.
The MACC has also recorded the statement of Jontih Enggihon, the former chief executive officer of state-owned Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM).
He had accused Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor of politically motivated decisions in issuing prospecting licences.
Hajiji, who said that the videos were politically motivated to weaken the GRS government, denied all claims by Jontih and asked the authorities to investigate him.
The state government and SMM have lodged reports with the MACC over the allegations, with Jontih following up by lodging a police report against SMM.
MACC has also questioned Jontih over his claims.
