Evaluate claims against Musa based on decisions of courts, ICAC, says Umno leader

Evaluate claims against Musa based on decisions of courts, ICAC, says Umno leader

PETALING JAYA: An Umno leader has urged critics to evaluate the accusations levelled against Musa Aman over his appointment as the Sabah governor based on the decisions of the courts and the authorities.

Umno Supreme Council member Abdul Rahman Dahlan said the courts, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, and the attorney-general had all freed the former chief minister of corruption charges.

“I am certain Musa being freed by (the courts, MACC, and the AG) was the main basis of the vetting process by Istana Negara before his appointment as governor was announced,” Rahman said in a Facebook post today.

He also said those who claimed the existence of hidden hands in the decision made by the courts, MACC, and the AG should refer to the decision of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in Hong Kong, over a complaint lodged with it by an opposition MP at the time against Musa.

“It made a detailed investigation into the MP’s accusations, and found in the end that there was no case against Musa,” he said.

DISYORKAN UNTUK ANDA :

RCI Pulau Batu Puteh: Jangan Kelam Kabut Ayam Sangat

Rahman, who is also the Sabah Umno deputy chairman, said that according to Transparency International, ICAC’s reputation and professionalism had become the gold standard for anti-bribery agencies worldwide.

“No one would accuse the ICAC of being influenced by hidden hands, as its credibility is hard to dispute,” he said.

He also reminded critics that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor had nothing to do with the decision to free Musa.

“The three of them were not even holding their current positions at the time,” he said.

Rahman said the right of every Malaysian to give their views is protected under the law, so long as they do not contain defamatory elements or are seditious, especially against the royal institution.

DISYORKAN UNTUK ANDA :

Jangan Di Canaikan Sistem Pendidikan Negara

“The question now is who we refer to in judging whether these heavy accusations are correct or not.

“Obviously, we mainly refer to the decisions made by the courts, MACC, and the AG,” he said.

Musa, 73, will take up his appointment as Sabah’s 11th governor from Jan 1. His term will last until Dec 31, 2028.

The former five-term chief minister succeeds Juhar Mahiruddin, who retires on Dec 31.

In June 2020, the High Court freed Musa of 46 charges of corruption and money laundering in relation to timber concessions in Sabah.

Takiyuddin Hassan, a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department at the time, told the Dewan Rakyat the case against Musa was dropped after the Attorney-General’s Chambers received representations filed the previous month.

He said the ICAC had also confirmed in a letter dated Dec 22, 2011 that its investigation into Musa was complete and would not continue, based on the facts known.