KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan is giving his statement to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) following the release of a new video linking him to the Sabah mining licensing scandal.
Sabah STAR information chief Anuar Ghani said that Kitingan had gone to the Sabah MACC office here on Thursday (Sept 25) afternoon to assist in the investigation.
Anuar also said that a few other leaders implicated in a video were also giving their statements to MACC.
"Kitingan did not, in any form or shape, state any knowledge or acceptance of the alleged funds mentioned in the 'leaked' video," he said.
He said Kitingan is expected to lodge a police report over the matter.
He said they believed that the video allegedly taken by a businessman with spy cameras was part of a deep conspiracy to discredit and destroy Kitingan.
"First, the video, as disseminated, has been tampered with and could easily have been manipulated using artificial intelligence.
"A previous video involving Albert Tei absolved and exonerated Kitingan and Sabah STAR from any involvement in the mining scandal.
"This demonstrates the fear held by the Opposition and other concerned parties regarding Kitingan's political stance and Sabah's fluid political landscape.
"So much so that they are willing to stoop to any level to implicate and associate him with any alleged wrongdoing — all of which is strongly denied," Anuar added.
Kitingan has previously given his statement to MACC following an earlier video.
Anuar said that they would leave it to the MACC to carry out its job,.
"If the MACC decides to press any charges, the president of Sabah STAR and the other officers will defend to their utmost their innocence and non-culpability in a court of law.
"Let the law take its course. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty," Anuar added in the statement.
The latest video was released by a businessman through a news portal on Wednesday (Sept 24).
Since videos implicating bribery involving some Gabungan Rakyat Sabah cabinet ministers and assemblymen were released by the businessman since November last year, two assemblymen have been charged as well as the businessman.
