Water Department probe, the truth will prevail - Yong

KOTA KINABALU - Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President Datuk Yong Teck Lee said the reported scale of corruption at the water department has shocked people and people are now eager for answers on so many issues as the probe continues to unfold by the day.

"There is a wise saying that "The sun, the moon and the truths shall not be hidden long". Eventually, the truths will surface. And as the truths and facts emerge, it is to be expected that people will be dismayed and feel angry. Corruption, like the economy and security, will become a major election issue," Yong added.

"But it is still too early at the current stage of the investigation to assign political responsibility for the crisis at the Sabah Water Department. Therefore, DAP's call for the resignation of the Sabah Infrastructure Minister is premature. Indeed, people may also ask DAP about the calls for the resignation of the Penang Chief Minister who is currently facing corruption charges.

"BN government ministers who have been proudly boasting of close co-operation between Sabah state and the federal governments under Barisan Nasional are now sheepishly trying to wash their hands off the RM3.3 billion rural water projects funded by the federal government. Ministers have claimed credit for bringing development projects to Sabah but when something goes wrong like now, ministers want to distance themselves from the controversy.

"One thing is for sure. It takes more than a departmental director and his deputy to process, approve and implement a whopping RM3.3 billion in development funds. State and federal ministries, the Economic Planning Unit, Audit Department, among others, have some answering to do," he said.