MCA urges MACC probe on Shafie

KOTA KINABALU: MCA Luyang assemblyman Hiew King Cheu has called on the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) to probe and determine whether former Minister of Regional and Rural Development Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal was involved in the graft scandal of the Sabah Water Department.

Hiew said Shafie stated in his recent debate speech in Parliament that he was not involved in the scandal as he had no such power and jurisdiction in giving out any award or contract.

His (Shafie) words raised much confusion among the people who were very concerned about what had actually happened with that huge amount of money linked to the projects under his ministry over the past years, said Hiew in a statement yesterday.

“This is not only important, for as far as the public is concerned, they have the right to know what has transpired.

“This is a high profile case, and is known internationally, and it should not be swept under the carpet, and be forgotten. There should be no stone unturned,” Hiew said.

Hiew contended that the denial by Shafie in Parliament caught the Malaysian people by surprise.

“The point is, how can a full minister in charge of an important ministry come up and say he didn’t know, and if he didn’t know, then who else? Shafie has even pointed his finger towards the Sabah Infrastructure Development Ministry and the Chief Minister on many occasions. If someone who understands the operation and administrative function of the ministry and government, they can easily visualize that there is something highly irregular in Shafie’s speech,” he said.