Sabah Rep Cites British Couple S Video In Headache Poser For Azam

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Warisan assemblyperson Justin Wong believes he has a question that is bound to give MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki a headache regarding the Sabah corruption scandal.
He recounted the incident involving a British couple who revealed how a traffic police officer in Malaysia solicited and accepted a RM100 bribe from them.
“This incident caused a major uproar at the time, leading me to this question. Why were only the three involved traffic police officers investigated and remanded, while the British tourists, who were the bribe givers, faced no action? Instead, they were labelled as victims, with many praising them for recording the video.
“I believe Azam will have a headache answering my question because this situation mirrors the corruption scandal in Sabah, which also has eight recorded video clips,” said the Sri Tanjong assemblyperson in a statement.
On Jan 30 last year, it was reported that the couple, Chris and Marianne Fisher, aided the authorities in an investigation after their video of the incident, posted on YouTube, went viral.
Still picture from Chris and Marianne Fisher’s videoIn the video, the traffic police personnel claimed the Fishers had driven over the 60kph speed limit and told them they had two options: either pay RM300 to settle the summons at a police station or pay RM100 on the spot.
The police personnel tells them that he will issue them a summons and they have to pay it at the police station, to which Marianne agreed.
However, the cop then made them an offer.
"I'll issue a summons and you pay at the police station. If you pay at the police station (it's) RM300. Pay here it's RM100. Can ah?,” he said.
When Marianne asked which he preferred, the police personnel replied "here”. She then hands him the money.
Wong raised this matter after Azam reiterated that the whistleblower, who claimed to have given bribes to several Sabah assemblypersons, would not be accorded protection.
Outlining different scenarios, Wong said the chief commissioner must decide who should be brought to justice.
ADS“(A) The bribe-giver is prosecuted, while the eight assemblypersons who (allegedly) accepted bribes are used as prosecution witnesses.
“(B) The eight are prosecuted, while the bribe giver is used as a prosecution witness.
“(C) No case, neither party is prosecuted,” he added.
Wong also explained the conundrum of charging both parties in corruption cases.
“For those who ask why not charge both the giver and receiver, corruption only involves two parties - the giver and the receiver. There is no third party in such transactions.
“If both are prosecuted, who will testify as a witness, and which party will admit to committing the offence? This is why the MACC has been unable to resolve this case, which has dragged on for four months,” he added.
Wong pointed out that those arrested or charged in corruption cases are almost always the recipients of bribes.
MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki“In any corrupt act, there must be both a giver and a receiver, yet we rarely see bribe givers being prosecuted.
“Why were bribe givers in previous cases granted protection and spared from prosecution? Azam, answer this question.
“If he lacks the capability to lead MACC, step down. Stop tarnishing the reputation and credibility of MACC in the eyes of all Malaysians,” Wong added.
Sabah embarassed
In a related development, Warisan vice-president Junz Wong, when speaking at a Chinese New Year event on Tuesday, said the scandal has caused embarrassment for Sabah.
He alleged that MACC has not made any arrests because those implicated are “YBs” or elected representatives.
“But what happens if they lose tomorrow (in the upcoming state election) and are no longer YBs? ‘Masuk jail’ (land in prison).
“Make sure they lose (in the election). When they are defeated, we will ensure that they (go to jail),” he added in a TikTok video.
Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor has dismissed the allegations as an attempt to tarnish his administration, suggesting that the whistleblower is collaborating with parties with vested interests.
The whistleblower has also been accused of being part of a cartel seeking to monopolise mining in the state and had resorted to fraud to achieve this objective. - Mkini

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