Musa: I'm not a fugitive
KOTA KINABALU: After being away from Sabah for more than three months, Tan Sri Musa Aman has finally returned home and officially sworn in as Sungai Sibuga assemblyman.
Musa took his oath before State Assembly Speaker Syed Abbas Syed Ali at 3.33pm yesterday.
Musa, his entourage and his supporters arrived at the State Assembly building at 1.25pm. He waited in the car for about an hour before heading to the State Assembly Speaker's chamber at 2.20pm.
Musa who now sports a beard, walked with the aid of a cane and was escorted by his lawyer Datuk Seri Rakhbir Singh.
Speaking to reporters shortly after the swearing-in ceremony, Musa said he had been away for medical reasons and is not a fugitive.
He stressed that he would fulfil his obligations despite his medical condition and against the advice of his team of physicians.
"I have extended my full cooperation to the authorities in Kuala Lumpur and will continue to do so. I also wish to point out in no uncertain terms that I did not run away and was never a fugitive.
"I have been away due to a grave medical condition as confirmed by medical reports from my team of physicians. I am a son of Sabah and have been serving my constituency and the state and will continue to do so to the best of my abilities," he stressed.
He expressed his gratitude to the Speaker for understanding the circumstances and granting him an audience so he could fulfil his duties as a member of the State Legislative assembly.
Earlier, the former Sabah Barisan Nasional chairman arrived at the old Kota Kinabalu International Airport 2 (KKIA 2) at 12.20pm, after boarding a private jet from Subang Jaya at 10am.
He was reported to be on board a Hong Kong chartered flight, Bombardier Global 5000, that is said to be owned by TGA Aviation Asia, with registration number T7-TAA.
Upon his arrival, close to 2,000 of his strong supporters greeted him, calling and chanting his name as he slowly made his way, with the aid of a cane, into a black Toyota Vellfire to head to the State Assembly to take his oath as the Sungai Sibuga Assemblyman.
One of his supporters, Haji Watah Hamid Sah, hopes that Musa will once again lead Sabah.
"We were here since 10am and have stayed until now. There are those who are here even earlier," he said.
Watah added he appreciated the contribution of the former Chief Minister.
"We were also shocked to learn of him being sick and hope that he would regain his health and again rule Sabah," said Watah who led 80 people from Kawang, Papar to come to the airport to welcome Musa.
"We still need his leadership," he said.
Musa was last seen publicly leaving Sabah for Kuala Lumpur on May 14, and was reported to have flown to London on May 17 for medical treatment.
The former chief minister was wanted by the police for an alleged criminal intimidation against the Head of State Tun Haji Juhar Mahiruddin over the May 10 swearing in of Musa as chief minister at the Istana Negeri.
Musa is also wanted for an ongoing investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) into alleged buying of assemblymen's support after the May 9 general election.
Upon his return to Malaysia on August 22, he was detained by police at a location in Kuala Lumpur the following day (August 23), but was released on police bail after they failed to obtain a remand order.
Former Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Ramli Din had on September 3 stated that police had recorded Musa's statement, including statements of more than 10 people in their investigations into the case of Musa allegedly intimidating Head of State.
The case is being investigated under Section 506 of the Penal Code.