KOTA KINABALU: Secretly filmed videos of Sabah assemblymen in conversation with a businessman over alleged "payments" are a conspiracy by opponents to topple the state government, says Datuk Masiung Banah.
The Kuamut assemblyman said that he believed that the video recording had been edited to put him and others in a bad light for the political gains of their opponents.
"The video footage clearly does not reflect the true story, as it was edited as if the story favoured the individual who made the footage," Masiung, who is among eight Sabah assemblymen highlighted in videos in which they were seen talking to a businessman about alleged kickbacks linked to mineral prospecting licences.
Three of the videos were uploaded in November while five others were uploaded by a news portal on Tuesday (Dec 3).
Masiung, who gave his statement to investigating officers at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) state headquarters here Tuesday, said that he hopes that MACC would call the businessman who made the recording in for questioning.
"I hope MACC will call the person who made the recording for a detailed investigation and hand over the actual video recording of the conversation to the investigators," he said.
"They deliberately set a trap for several GRS leaders as a plot to topple the state government led by the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor," said Masiung, who is Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) vice-president.
He said the Opposition was threatened by the growing strength of the GRS coalition that has proven to be an effective government as reflected in the RM7.421bil Sabah Budget 2025 that had never been achieved by any previous state government.
"I am ready to be called back by MACC at any time without giving the excuse of being sick or busy with work commitments," he said.
"I hope MACC will call the person who made the recording for a detailed investigation and that he will hand over the actual video recording of the conversation," Masiung added.
Masiung, who is Sabah Housing and Town Development Board (LPPB) chairman, spent slightly over three hours from 9am at state MACC headquarters to give his statement in connection with the viral video.
"My presence at the MACC office is a commitment to cooperate fully to allow the authorities to carry out a detailed investigation regarding the video recording," he said after leaving the MACC office at 12.30pm.
"The MACC officer took 2 hours and 30 minutes to record my statement this morning and I have given all my cooperation," he said, adding that the MACC officers were professional in their investigations.
