KOTA KINABALU: All three Sabah Umno wings have asked Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor to step aside and allow "a free and independent" investigation into mineral prospecting graft claims.
The leaders of the party's Youth, Wanita and Puteri wings issued separate statements Wednesday (Dec 4) on the deepening scandal involving state-owned Sabah Minerals Management Sdn Bhd's (SMM) issuance of prospecting licences.
ALSO READ: Masidi gives statement to MACC over video allegations
The call by Youth chief Sufian Abd Karim, Wanita chief Datuk Noraini Idris and Puteri head Ummi Nabila Jamal came as eight videos uploaded by a businessman in the so-called "whistleblower case" claim irregularities in the issuance of licences.
A businessman is seen in the videos having conversations with eight assemblymen, including three ministers, purportedly about mineral prospecting licences that reflected alleged previous payments.
Some of the assemblymen implicated have said that the videos were edited to put them in a bad light.
Sufian said a comprehensive independent investigation must be carried out on SSM and the people have the right to know the actual situation.
ALSO READ: MACC quizzes five Sabah reps over whistleblower case
Ummi Nabila said it was important to have transparency in policies and implementation when it comes to the state's natural resources.
"Any loss of our resources reflects a failure of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) state government in protecting Sabah's natural riches," she said, adding that a state commission of inquiry should also be set up.
Noraini echoed their views and called for protection of the state's natural resources.
In an immediate response, Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) Youth chief Datuk Fairuz Renddan dismissed the call for the Chief Minister to step aside as there was no regulation or law for it.
"It must be remembered that an assemblyman was holding the post of Sabah deputy chief minister when he was facing charges in court. More recently, he was asked to enter his defence," he said.
ALSO READ: As more 'whistleblower' videos surface, Masidi slams them as character assassination
Fairuz said none of the videos "said or showed" that the Chief Minister was involved or received money in the matter.
"What is clear is that the Chief Minister has cancelled the prospecting licences as there appeared to be a (mining) cartel," he said in a statement.
He said it was best left to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) as an independent body to fully investigate the matter raised by the businessman.
Fairzu said Hajiji had clearly said the state government has "nothing to hide".
