RM80k seized from Jeffrey’s home

KOTA KINABALU: About RM80,000 in cash was seized by anti-graft busters from Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan’s home on Tuesday night.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) also called Jeffrey to be present at its headquarters to assist in their investigation in connection with the recently concluded 14th General Election (GE14).

Jeffrey, clad in blue shirt and a black blazer, walked out from the MACC headquarters at 6pm after giving his statement since 4pm.

“I’m just assisting them (MACC) in their investigation.

“I have nothing to hide,” he told reporters.

It was claimed that Jeffrey, whose party won two state seats and was inadvertently the “kingmaker” in deciding whether it was a Barisan Nasional or a Parti Warisan Sabah-Pakatan Harapan to form the government, was paid RM20 million and offered a deputy chief minister post in the BN state government.

Jeffrey ultimately decided to work with BN, giving them a 31-seat majority out of 60 seats.

Sabah BN chairman Tan Sri Musa Aman was then sworn in as chief minister on May 10, but two days later, six BN members defected from the party to join Warisan/PH, prompting Warisan president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal to be sworn in as the state chief minister. Jeffrey however believed the raid at his home at 4am on May 21 and him being present at MACC was a waste of time.

“It’s all an allegation and those who made those allegation should also be investigated,” he said.

Jeffrey declined to comment if the case was politically motivated. MACC officer, said Jeffrey, also took his iPad, bank card and a bag that contained about RM80,000. “I don’t know when they will give back my belongings ... maybe in two years’ time,” he joked.

Jeffrey also confirmed that the STAR’s office in Kota Kinabalu was raided by MACC around 9am on the same day.

He also said that his colleague and Bingkor assemblyman Robert Tawik’s home was also raided by MACC.