No More Room To Manoeuvre Zaid Tells Macc On Sabah Graft Probe

---

MACC is left with no more excuses to avoid pursuing a probe into the Sabah corruption scandal as it is set to receive the full videos today, said Zaid Ibrahim.
The former law minister said this after ex-MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya announced that Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) will be handing over all unedited videos received from the whistleblower to the graftbusters.
“Latheefa has given the MACC no room to manoeuvre.
“The whistleblower delivered the unedited videos, which means MACC has to get cracking on the corruption scandal in Sabah,” he posted on X.
Earlier, Latheefa said LFL executive director Zaid Malek would head to the MACC’s headquarters in Putrajaya at around 2pm to hand over a USB drive and the original device used by the whistleblower to record the videos implicating Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, eight assemblypersons, and the Sabah assembly speaker.
Ex-MACC chief Latheefa Koya at a press conference with LFL this morningThe whistleblower was previously identified as a businessperson, but Latheefa this morning referred to him using his first name - Albert.
‘Any other option will compromise MACC’
Commenting further, Zaid Ibrahim said, “Latheefa is not a politician but a former chief commissioner of MACC. Indeed, her relentless pursuit of the case was borne out of conviction and not partisan politics.
“(MACC chief) Azam Baki must now issue a public statement that a full investigation will commence unhindered by any superior power.
“Any other option will compromise MACC beyond repair,” he stressed.
In February, over two months since Albert first exposed the videos, Azam reportedly said the biggest challenge in investigating the Sabah corruption claims was the lack of sufficient information.
At the time, Azam said the whistleblower was still unwilling to share the videos, and what had been published by Malaysiakini was “too little”.
Since November, Malaysiakini has published more than eight videos and a flood of WhatsApp screenshots related to the case.
The whistleblower claimed that the videos captured discussions about bribes he offered to various assemblypersons in exchange for mineral exploration licences.
During the discussions, the assemblypersons, including those with senior portfolios, also implicated Hajiji in allegedly distributing licences as “gifts” in exchange for their support during the state’s 2022 political crisis.
Hajiji has dismissed the allegations as an attempt to tarnish his administration, suggesting that the whistleblower is collaborating with parties with vested interests. - Mkini

---