Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor called on the regulators to investigate the matter after it was claimed that there had been a corruption scandal involving many local elected assemblymen.  ,
According to political analysts who spoke to CNA on Wednesday ( Nov 13 ), the saga could have an impact on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration, which views Sabah as a political ally, and the prime minister’s commitment to combating corruption.  ,
A whistleblower’s allegations that a group of Sabah state assemblymen reportedly negotiated hundreds of thousands of rupiah in bribes in exchange for funding a state project were first brought to attention over the weekend.
Malaysiakini reported on Saturday that it had” sighted” the clips- each featuring a unique assembly. Since the state project’s license was revoked, one of the alleged legislators, whose face was not apparent in the videos, may be audibly heard discussing conditions for the payment of the allegedly bribes.  ,
A voice recording and a video that were not included in the first eight were then allegedly sent to Malaysiakini, implicating a” leading leader” of the state.  ,
According to a report released on Tuesday, former Sabah Mineral Management ( SMM) CEO Jontih Enggihon accused Mr. Hajiji of abusing his authority.  ,
SMM is a government-linked firm, chaired by Mr Hajiji.  ,
Additionally, it was shown documents relating to the canceled venture and online banking information about the alleged bribes, according to Malaysiakini. However, the journalist has urged Malaysiakini to refrain from publicly exposing the legislators who were the subjects of the first eight videos.
On Tuesday, Mr. Hajiji revealed to the local press that he was aware of the allegations.  ,
” We urge the government to investigate, we will cooperate but do check to the pay creator, he has a malicious intent to get something from the state and when he could not get it,  , ( the audio recording ) comes out so for me, to be fair, arrest him first”, Mr Hajiji told investigators.  ,
” The Sabah state is operating smoothly and in good shape. The ( audio clip ) is just an accusation. He claimed that Free Malaysia Now that he had nothing to hide.
On November 8, according to local media reports, senior officers from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission ( MACC ) met with a lawyer who represented the alleged whistleblower.  ,
A prosecutor allegedly recorded a 17-second sound recording in which several people, including a man allegedly working as a politician, were reportedly audible in a money talk.
According to Malaysiakini, it involved an assembly discussing returning some” RM500, 000″- or about US$ 112, 000- he had received in trade for supporting a state job.