By The Straits Times | Created at 2024-11-19 21:23:18 | Updated at 2024-11-21 12:34:43
1 day ago
Updated
Nov 20, 2024, 05:00 AM
Published
Nov 20, 2024, 05:00 AM
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s Sabah state has been roiled by allegations of corruption involving eight lawmakers including its Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, casting doubt on the ruling party’s chances in state polls that must be held before the end of 2025.
The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition, led by Datuk Seri Hajiji, is a key political ally in Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s federal government. GRS rules the petroleum- and timber-rich state with Datuk Seri Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition and his Barisan Nasional (BN) ally.
Over several days from Nov 9, news site Malaysiakini published reports and videos showing several Sabah assemblymen allegedly discussing bribes in the range of hundreds of thousands of ringgit with a whistleblower – who remains anonymous – in exchange for their support for a mining project.
In one of the videos, former Sabah Mineral Management chief executive Jontih Enggihon accuses the chief minister of abusing his powers.
Five lawmakers, three of whom are from GRS, have been summoned for questioning by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission so far.
The Anwar administration needs to urgently disavow the endemic corruption perceived within its ranks, without alienating his allies in the state, analysts say.
“A failure to act decisively against those accused of bribery will reinforce perceptions of selective persecution that are already seen widely after Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s discharge not amounting to an acquittal, where his corruption charges were dismissed (in Sept 2023),” said analyst Bridget Welsh.
Days after the first revelations, Mr Anwar had told reporters: “If we are true, if we are serious and committed in eradicating corruption that has become systemic, then we will allow the enforcement agencies to carry out their work professionally.”
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, however, raised eyebrows when on Nov 18 he asked news and social media outlets to take down the videos, so as not to “undermine investigations”.
Dr Welsh, an honorary research associate at the University of Nottingham Asia Research Institute-Malaysia, told The Straits Times that the corruption scandal will also test the cohesiveness and strength of Mr Hajiji’s leadership.
The 68-year-old chief minister has dismissed the allegations and urged the authorities to also “investigate the one giving the bribe”.
“All the lies and slander being spread must not only be denied but also decisively countered, so that the people are not deceived or influenced by these immoral and unethical attempts to overthrow the government,” he said on Nov 17, according to Bernama news agency. “We have nothing to hide.”
Dr Oh Ei Sun, senior fellow at Singapore Institute of International Affairs, said: “The timing of the revelations would give rise to speculations that the allegations were politically motivated.
“It will have an adverse political impact, especially if the videos are being revealed on a daily basis.”
It was inevitable that any damaging allegations against politicians would be seen as a dirty move by their rivals, he added.
The loss of Sabah in the next state election could signal a shift in political sentiment and voter disillusionment with the federal leadership.
While it would not directly reduce the number of MPs in Parliament supporting the ruling coalition, it could foster instability in Mr Anwar’s fragile alliance.
Sabah, Malaysia’s second-biggest state by size after Sarawak, contributes the third-largest number of federal MPs – 25.
Political dynamics in Sabah have historically been volatile, as state politicians had a penchant for defecting to other parties or coalitions.
The term political “frog” was coined in Sabah in the 1990s to describe federal and state lawmakers who often switched sides after major elections.
While the anti-party hopping law passed in Sabah in May 2023 could curb party-hopping, the outcome of the state elections could still see alliances shift – which could have a ripple effect on the ruling federal coalition.
As it currently stands, not all BN lawmakers align with the 56-strong ruling coalition formed with GRS and PH in the 79-seat state assembly. Several – including Umno state chief Bung Moktar Radin – retracted support for the ruling GRS coalition in January 2023 and nine now sit with Parti Warisan Sabah on the opposite bench.
Datuk Seri Bung Moktar, the colourful 65-year-old politician, has been implicated in a separate corruption case.
He allegedly accepted bribes amounting to RM2.8 million in 2015 related to a RM150 million investment deal involving a federal agriculture agency.
His wife, former actress Zizie Izette, was charged for abetting him in this matter. They were both charged in 2019. Both were ordered by Malaysia’s Court of Appeal on Nov 18 to enter their defence.
