Search This Blog

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Update on Sabah's Musagate

Already reeling from a spate of scandals, the revelation that foreign authorities have been scrutinising the bank accounts of some well-connected Malaysians adds a new twist to the power struggle in the country.

KUALA LUMPUR:  The spotlight on large sums of unaccountable money linked to Chief Minister Musa Aman going in and out of bank accounts overseas is threatening to crack open the Barisan Nasional’s “fixed deposit” state of Sabah.

Allegations and investigations of shady timber deals and money laundering may be the proverbial ‘last straw’ to shatter the ruling coalition’s hopes of hanging on to power.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has announced that investigations into the alleged money laundering by Sabah timber tycoon Michael Chia has been completed and handed to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

“The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has conducted investigations into the Michael Chia case which is linked to the Sabah chief minister.

“It has been completed and presented to the AGC for study and a decision,” Najib said in a written reply in parliament this week, adding that the anti-graft body received full co-operation from its Hong Kong counterparts, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), which triggered the investigation in 2008.

But Sabahans are not holding their breath on whether action will be taken by AG Abdul Gani Patail.
When Swiss global financial services giant, UBS Ag confirmed that large sums of money were channeled into the bank accounts of family members of Musa and his cronies, Sabah Umno members and their BN coalition colleagues began to squirm.

Already reeling from a spate of other scandals, a stagnating economy as well as being under fire for cracking down harshly on rallies demanding free and fair elections, the revelation that foreign authorities have been scrutinising the bank accounts of some well-connected Malaysians adds a new twist to the power struggle taking shape in the country.

Scandal not new

The ‘funny money’ allegedly comes from kickbacks from the illegal flow of timber out of Sabah.
That, not all of the state’s enormous wealth is accounted for has long been suspected.
That some of it is being siphoned out to line certain pockets has enraged many especially after a World Bank report showed that the state remains the poorest in the country.

The money-laundering scandal is not new. It has simmered since late 2008 after Chia, was arrested in Hong Kong as he was about to board a flight with a bagful of cash said to total SG$16 million.

Chia was immediately linked to Musa but the Chief Minister denied knowing the man, denied any wrongdoing and, it appeared after a period of silence, the trail of shady deals and international money-laundering at the highest levels was buried.

That is until about two months ago.

It resurfaced with a vengeance with the release of new documents by online news portal Sarawak Report again fingering Musa and again forcing him to deny any involvement in the controversy.
He branded the reports a fabrication and implied the supporting documents and receipts uploaded by the news portal were forgeries.
The news portal earlier this month revealed documents which were tendered by UBS Ag in submissions during a current court case in Singapore relating to the series of deals.
These documents, it said, supported their earlier report of questionable timber deals originating out of Sabah.

No prosecutions so far

The documents included a sworn statement by the bank that money was indeed paid to Musa’s sons from a series of accounts that had received huge sums from logging concerns for “logging concessions”.
Named were accounts and payments that were leaked in Sarawak Report’s earlier exposé which the portal said proved its documents were not forgeries but “genuine bank statements” which needed to be clarified by Musa as they were compelling enough for further investigation by Malaysian authorities.

Gani has already been heavily criticised for refusing to act on the case.

MACC took full statements from Chia, Sabah lawyer Richard Christopher Barnes and many others, when they originally investigated the case after Chia’s arrest in Hong Kong.

The commission worked closely with the Hong Kong authorities and their investigations are believed to have resulted in a recommendation that no less than 40 criminal charges be pressed against Musa.

However, no prosecutions have been made thus far by Malaysian authorities.

The fact that Gani is related to the Aman family and that both Musa and his brother, Anifah, the Foreign Minister, are high-profile figures in government, troubles many within the Umno who fear unanswered accusations against them may damage the party.

Musa made a show this week of being confident that Sabah will remain a BN stronghold.

He said the people were aware that development in Sabah could only be attributed to the BN government.

“Godwilling, Sabah will continue to be a BN stronghold in the upcoming election. The Sabah people are more mature in evaluating the BN government’s track record,” he told reporters  after the last of his meet-the-community-leaders session involving Tuaran, Kota Belud and Ranau districts.

In the last general election in 2008, Sabah BN almost made a clean sweep of the 25 parliamentary seats and 60 state seats, conceding only the Kota Kinabalu parliamentary seat and Sri Tanjung state seat to DAP.

But many are beginning to wonder that with the weight of evidence of possible improper state management now sitting squarely in the public arena a change of government in Sabah may not be so far fetched.

FMT Staff 


more.....


63 comments:

  1. Didnt anyone in Parliment raised the issue 'Conflict of Interest' since AG is related to MUSA ?????

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good Point! But this is the Malaysian Justice System. Doesn't matter anyways, exposing Musa will implicate, Patil, Anifah and a handfull more of them. Perhaps even Najib? Everyone is an opportunist at some point in life even me I must admit. Desperate time calls for desperate measures. I can just hear and see it. PLUNDER! STEAL! PILLAGE! RAPE! We in the BN don't care for anyone but ourselves. We only give you a trickle to hopefully keep you silent. You are all gullible and easily manipulated. After Sabah and Sarawak is stripped bear of their resources, we will be happily sipping Malibu in our private island resort. Yes, the island that we bought using money that was never ours. Who gives a damn. Well! I do and there are many out there too. Guess what, we are taking action and everyone who gives a damn is doing their part no matter how small. We've had enough, enough! Whether we take Sabah back is yet to be seen, but BN and all the guilty parties involved will feel the wrath that is coming.

    www.ipetitions.com/petition/independence-for-sabah

    It is within your reach. Spread the words!

    ReplyDelete
  3. The Sabah people are more mature in evaluating the BN government’s track record over corruption issue..and know how to punish them...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AG will say lack of evidence thus case closed.

      Delete
    2. who are AG compare to people power...

      Delete
    3. What people power? Do you think we really have the power?

      Delete
    4. BN contribute good development but all need to continue too.

      Delete
  4. check out update on sarawark report.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't rely so much on a bias portal.

      Delete
  5. YTL bagi lesen pembalakan seluas 300 000 hectar kepada 256 kroni, tidak ada pula yang bising.. tidak cukup itu, dia mahu bagi lagi tempoh pajakan 999 tahun kepada kroni2 dia..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sekarang ni, ini isu yang pembangkang mau kasih panas untuk menjatuhkan KM.

      Delete
    2. Sarawak report media berat sebelah.

      Delete
  6. Lagi artikel untuk menjatuhkan Musa. Ini kalilah karau dorang ni mahu pastikan rakyat terus beri sokongan:p hehehe

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Makin terdesak ba pihak mahu jatuhkan Musa ni.

      Delete
    2. Biasa lah, ini saja pembangkang boleh buat untuk meraih undi rakyat.

      Delete
    3. mmg ramai nak jatuhkan Musa kerana cemburu dgn kejayaan Musa dalam arena politk.

      Delete
  7. Secara positif, bagi saya hal ini mungkin mampu menggugat kedudukan para pemimpin tertingg umnobn. Namun bayangkanlah kalau PRU nanti dorang juga yang menang, confirm sah umnobn disukai ramai:P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Guess the supporters are more than the haters?

      Delete
  8. Recycled issue. media saja yang suka gembar gemburkan isu ni.maklumlah PRU sudah hampir.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Biasa lah mau PRU sudah, macam2 crita, khabar angin yang keluar. Harap rakyat tidak akan terpedaya.

      Delete
    2. The present BN-Umno administration under Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman, has shown tremendous economic developments for the State too, and its forest policy is also considered as one of the best in the region if not in the world.There is no reason for us to disturb the present political stability in the State.It is in our interest to continue to support this administration for our own good and that of our future generation.

      Delete
    3. pru13 sudah makin hampir...sekarang perang siber...biasalah kalau sudah terdesak bah..

      Delete
  9. Sekarang ni pembangkang berusaha habis-habisan memburukan nama Musa. Nampak gaya rancak lah PRU kali ni.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. taktik pembangkang bah tu...yg menentukan ialah rakyat...tunggu dan lihat lah.

      Delete
    2. Jika pembangkang menjadi kerajaan, sama juga ada pihak berusaha memburukan pembangkang.

      Delete
    3. masing-masing memburukan antara satu sama lain. inilah mainan politik.

      Delete
  10. Tapi pandai-pandailah kita sebagai pengundi membuat pilihan nanti.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Balik-balik pun isu sama yang diutarakan. Sudah-sudah lah tu dan fokuslah utk maju hadapan dan capai kejayaan.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Isu ini balik2 di mainkan oleh pembangkang, jelas sekali ada udang di sebalik batu.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    2. I'm getting bored with this never ending issue. Guilty until proven.

      Delete
  13. Banyak perkara lain lagi KM mau urus, daripada isu yang di buat2 ini.

    ReplyDelete
  14. This is all opposition's play, don't get fooled.

    ReplyDelete
  15. opposition is hungry for glory, trying to tell the voters that they have the sacred and pure hearts to care for the people of Sabah. They even try to outwit eacher other and hope that voter can be fooled.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Judging Musa by 'street laws' will not even make his position shaky.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 'street laws' tidak boleh pakai lah..biar mahkamah yang tentukan sama ada dia bersalah atau tidak...setakat ini tiada dakwaan pun dibuat..

      Delete
    2. Kalau MACC tidak mempunyai bukti yang mencukupi, tiada apapa mereka boleh buat terhadap Datuk Musa Aman.

      Delete
  17. isu lama dimainkan semula...biasalah dekat2 pru kan..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cerita-cerita ini hanya isu kitar semula, tiada perkembangan baru langsung.

      Delete
  18. sabah membangun dengan pesat di bawah pentadbiran musa aman selaku KM sabah.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ekonomi Sabah pun semakin kukuh. Kerajaan Sabah telah melancarkan pelbagai program untuk meningkatkan ekonomi dan juga mengurangkan kadar kemiskinan.

      Delete
    2. SDC is a good prove.

      Delete
    3. Musa harus membaiki lagi kelemahan jika ada supaya rakyat lebih berkeyakinan dengannya.

      Delete
    4. tingkatkan lagi usaha untuk tingkatkan pencapaian ekonomi Sabah.

      Delete
  19. dan tidak hairan lah jika ada pihak2 yang iri hati dan mahu menjatuhkan musa aman..pihak2 ini kelihatannya sudah terdesak berikutan pru13 yang makin hampir..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Datuk Musa's leadership is getting the affirmation from many people especially in his efforts in environmental conservation, economic stability and foreign investments. Maybe those who wants to bring him down is getting desperate.

      Delete
    2. memang biasa bila pru sudah hampir, macam-macam isu yang akan dimainkan.

      Delete
  20. Not guilty unless proven. Just wait and see if the MACC have enough evidence to prove him wrong.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pihak berkuasa harus membuat siasatan terperinci agar mereka yang terlibat harus dikenakan tindakan undang-undang.

      Delete
  21. I don't even know this story but i think CM doing well in developing Sabah.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Whatever the story came up we still need to consider what has he done for sabah.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Rakyat harus pandai menilai siapakah paling sesuai untuk memimpin.

    ReplyDelete
  24. If we intelligent and thinking for this issues. I thought nothing evidence and truth fact that corruption. So why need we believing it if we don't see with our self the fact. If media picture fact I guess is still not the strong fact because can edit the picture. So please think carefully.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Datuk Musa linked to corruption. I'm not sure why, but for my own opinion this is probably the only certain strategy to topple Datuk Musa Aman. Because we know Datuk Musa is clean with all the personal problems. That is why corruption is linked with Datuk. Because this issue is easily created by their selfishness. But it will not undermine the people's support to him. Previously been linked to corruption issues. But until now the people of Sabah themselves do give support to him. This means that the issue of corruption associated with him has no effect and undermine the support of the population.

    ReplyDelete
  26. It’s not wrong to say that all the Chief Ministers before Musa Aman were spending the state funds as though there was no tomorrow.The most startling was during Datuk Harris Salleh’s tenure. He was good at building multi-billion-ringgit grandiose projects that brought the state to the brink of bankruptcy. So much so that Sabah did not have the money to even administer Labuan island and he Datuk Harris happily gave away Labuan to the Federal Government without asking for any compensation for the cession.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Sabah adalah antara negeri yang pesat membangun di Malaysia pada masa sekarang. Maka kita dapat lihat sendiri apa yang berlaku kepada Sabah iaitu satu perubahan kemajuan dan ekonomi negeri itu sendiri dibawah pentadbiran Datuk Musa Aman dan Kerajaan BN yang lain. Ini memberikan petanda yang positif kepada penduduk Sabah. Sebab itulah keluarnya pelbagai isu khabar angin, dan fitnah yang bukan-bukan mengenai beliau.

    Ini kerana ada pihak yang kurang senang akan usaha dan kejayaan yang dilakukan oleh Datuk Musa Aman itu. Kita boleh nampak sendiri kaitan dalam hal ini bukan.

    Isu ini berkaitan sebenarnya untuk memastikan apa kejayaan yang diperolehi oleh Datuk Musa ditutup dengan pelbagai fitnah yang direka-reka.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Mogakan MACC berjaya mentedahkan lebih banyak bukti.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Serahkan kes Musa kepada mahkamah, biarkan mahkamah yang menentukannya.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Selagi Musa tidak dijatuhkan hukuman, beliau masih tidak bersalah dan harus juga membuat fitnah untuk menjatuhkan imejnya.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Not sure Sarawak report will show more report or evidence?

    ReplyDelete
  32. isu ini menjadi hangat apabila ia sengaja dimainkan..namun, tiada apa pun yang terbukti.

    ReplyDelete
  33. lebih baik tunggu dan lihat saja..tidak perlu mensensasikan isu yang tidak terbukti kesahihannya.

    ReplyDelete
  34. isu ini hanya dimainkan oleh pihak tertentu..tapi tiada bukti pun..

    ReplyDelete