KOTA KINABALU: The mining licence scandal in Sabah must be investigated thoroughly even though Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has been cleared by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), says Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.
The Warisan president said that while MACC had publicly said the Chief Minister was not involved, investigations should not stop there.
“Well, that may have been said, but we already know these things tend to resurface,” he told reporters.
“If there’s a tail, there must be a head too,” he said.
Shafie stressed that although issuing an approval does not automatically imply wrongdoing, authorities must follow every lead.
“It doesn’t mean the person who approved [the licence] is at fault. I admit that. But this matter must be looked into — the trail of documents, transactions, and money must all be examined to identify where any abuse may have happened.”
He said this approach aligns with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s stance on good governance.
“Corruption must be rooted out at all levels. We can’t just chant slogans — this policy must be carried out as effectively as possible,” he said.
Shafie said this when met by the press after launching the Warisan Open Badminton Championship 2025 at Olympia Badminton Arena here on Saturday (April 12).
On April 10, MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed that Hajiji had given his statement to investigators and was not a suspect in the case, which centres around allegations of bribes linked to mineral prospecting licences involving several assemblymen and state ministers.
Meanwhile, Shafie called on assemblymen to take an active role in the ongoing State Assembly sitting by raising issues that matter to the people.
He said the assembly should not serve merely as a venue to listen to government policies but as a space to propose solutions and address the concerns of the rakyat.
He said Sabahans expected more than criticism — they want leaders to help fix problems such as economic disparity, poor infrastructure, and lack of youth support.
“Our people are being left behind. The world economy is at a very challenging moment — I’ve been in politics for 36 years and I’ve never seen it this difficult.”
He added that Sabah, with its vast resources, needs leadership that understands both grassroots needs and global economic pressures.
The Sabah State Assembly sitting is scheduled to begin this Monday (April 15), and it could be the last sitting before the state election is called.
