Minister’s name being used by con artist
KOTA KINABALU: Minister of Infrastructure Development Datuk Peter Anthony, warned people of a con artist claiming to be the minister and calling up pretending to make enquiries on projects.
The warning follows a police report made by a staff of the Public Works Department in Ranau that was lodged yesterday morning.
Mac Glen Frederick Lojuman went to the Ranau police station and stated that he had received a call from the handphone number 016-4691739 by a person claiming to be Datuk Peter Anthony, Minister of Infrastructure Development.
The caller directed him to list out development projects in Ranau that have not been implemented and to provide the list by 2pm.
Mac Glen sent the list of names of projects as requested at 12.30pm, without putting down his name and signature.
At 4pm, the caller contacted and asked for another list of urgent work for upgrading existing roads in villages, to be sent immediately.
He claimed the work needed to be implemented by this year to repair damaged roads and then asked for recommended names of experienced contractors to carry out the work.
The PWD staff explained to the caller that it was beyond his job scope to provide and recommend the names of contractors. However, when the caller asked for the names of local contractors in Ranau, it was given to him.
Later, when a call was placed to the number 016-4691739 by someone who knew Peter, it was found that the voice was not that of the minister.
Peter has stressed that he has neither given any directive to anyone to ask for the list of projects or made any call to request the list.