We’re brothers but I’m loyal to Umno, says Yusof Apdal

KOTA KINABALU: They may be from the same roots but politically, he and his brother are on different paths, says Datuk Yusof Apdal.

In breaking his silence, the Lahad Datu assemblyman said he would remain loyal to Umno as opposed to Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

“Yes, we are brothers. But we don’t agree politically,” said Yusof at the Jesselton Medical Centre here where he sought treatment yesterday.

He was released after his six-day remand to assist in the probe over the alleged skimming of RM1.5bil from federal rural pro- jects expired on Monday.

Shafie, a former Umno vice-president and Cabinet minister, is still under remand to assist in the investigation.

He quit Umno and formed Parti Warisan Sabah, an opposition party, to take on Barisan Nasional in the coming general election.

The two siblings were among 13 people arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over the “missing” funds allocated for some 350 projects in Sabah between 2009 and 2015 through the Rural and Regional Development Ministry.

Yusof said the Opposition claimed the ongoing probe by the MACC was “politically motivated” and that they were trying to convince his supporters that he was a political victim.

“I want my supporters not to be influenced by such claims.

“Actually, the MACC wants to get to the bottom of certain matters and the investigation has got nothing to do with politics,” he said.

Yusof, who is also Silam Umno division chief, said he made his stand very clear when his elder brother left Umno to form his own party.

“I am loyal to Umno, party president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, his deputy Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Sabah Umno chief Tan Sri Musa Aman.

“I will remain with the party to ensure we win the next elections,” he said, adding that his division – the largest in terms of branches and members – was intact and fully behind the Umno leadership.

Yusof said he was prepared to give a briefing to the Umno leadership on issues pertaining to the MACC probe if the need arose.

On his health condition, he said he had a serious haemorrhoid problem that might need surgery and about a week to recuperate.

Meanwhile, after being held for six days, water engineer Armajit Singh has been released.

The 47-year-old division secretary of Warisan was released on a RM50,000 bail with RM15,000 deposited in two sureties.

He is also required to report to the MACC office once a month.

Armajit is under probe for his alleged involvement in a water treatment plant in Semporna, which was among the projects being investigated by the MACC.