Sabah Scandal Macc Quizzes Dato A And Dato R Over Settlement Offer

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MACC has questioned two former high-ranking civil servants, both serving as chairpersons of separate firms within a mining consortium linked to the whistleblower behind the Sabah corruption scandal.
Malaysiakini has learned that the duo, previously identified by the whistleblower only as “Dato A” and “Dato R”, had their statements recorded at Sabah MACC headquarters in Kota Kinabalu on Thursday.
“Dato A” and “Dato R” were called in after the whistleblower, in a Malaysiakini article on Monday, claimed that Membakut assemblyperson Arifin Arif had offered a settlement.
The “settlement” allegedly involved reinstating revoked mineral exploration licenses in exchange for the whistleblower retracting his allegations and reclassifying the alleged bribes as political donations.
Arifin, who is the son-in-law of Sabah Governor Musa Aman, has denied the allegations and filed a police report against the Malaysiakini article.
He had also blamed the allegations on a “cartel plotting to monopolise mining” in the state.
Membakut assemblyperson Arifin ArifIn the article, the whistleblower - who claimed to have bribed Arifin and other assemblypersons - alleged that the “negotiations” took place through “Dato A” and “Dato R”.
He also alleged that Arifin brought “Dato A” and “Dato R” as witnesses to Chief Minister Hajiji Noor’s residence in Likas.
Screenshots of conversation
The businessperson also provided Malaysiakini with over 50 screenshots of WhatsApp conversations, which he claimed served as evidence for his allegations.
The whistleblower’s statement was also recorded on Thursday at the Serdang district police headquarters in Selangor over his police report against Arifin.
The businessperson lodged the report less than 24 hours after the assemblyperson filed his report.
ADSThe whistleblower accused Arifin, who is also a state minister, of making a false police report.
In his report, the whistleblower stated that he is willing to be arrested and charged if investigations prove his allegations false.
Conversely, the businessperson demanded that Arifin be brought to court if it was determined that he filed a false police report.
The chief minister has dismissed the allegations as an attempt to taint his administration, suggesting that the whistleblower is colluding with others to topple the state government. - Mkini

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