Is Musa Aman the right choice for Sabah Governor? Civil groups disagree

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Musa received the instrument of appointment as Sabah Governor from His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, on Tuesday (Dec 17).

Rasuah Busters and TI-M voice concerns over Musa Aman’s governorship.

SHAH ALAM – Leading civil society organisations, including Rasuah Busters, Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M), Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) and Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) have raised serious concerns over the recent appointment of former Sabah chief minister Tun Musa Aman as the Sabah Governor.

In a joint statement, the groups questioned whether Musa, whose political career has been shadowed by allegations of corruption, was the most suitable candidate for the prestigious role.

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"We are disconcerted by the recent appointment of scandal-ridden Musa as the Sabah Governor and wonder whether there truly were no better candidates available to act as the Head of State," the statement read.

The organisations stressed that the YDP is not just a symbolic figurehead but also a representation of the state’s integrity and spirit.

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They argued that the position demands impeccable moral character, particularly in Sabah, where corruption has allegedly long eroded public trust.

"As the spirit of the nation, any candidate for the position should ideally be someone of upstanding moral character.

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"There should be a greater standard of integrity expected of candidates, given that the YDP should represent the best of the state – the first citizen,” they added.

Sabah unlike other Malaysian states with hereditary rulers, has the unique opportunity to select its YDP.

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However, the civil society groups argue that this system has not ensured individuals with unblemished records are appointed to such a vital position.

While Musa has not been convicted of corruption, his tenure as chief minister was riddled with controversies.

Charges under the Anti-Corruption Act 1997 and the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 were dropped in 2020 due to insufficient evidence.

The Sabah Foundation filed a civil suit in 2020 to recover RM872 million allegedly misappropriated during Musa’s tenure.

However, the current status of the case remains unclear.

"The present status of this suit is unclear; hence, it cannot be conclusively stated whether the Sabah Foundation’s claims are warranted,” the statement said.

The civil society groups also called for improved transparency and accountability in the selection of state leaders.

They proposed introducing clear criteria for appointing candidates to such positions to prevent unsuitable figures from being elevated.

"Discussions could be initiated on introducing criteria for candidates to head of state positions, so unsuitable figures are not elevated to such a prestigious position,” the group suggested.

They also urged political leaders to address broader governance issues, particularly corruption and financial mismanagement.

"How do you intend to stem the continuing pilfering of state coffers to the detriment of your public?

"With Musa as the ceremonial figurehead of the state, we fear that the political will for such reform might be stifled,” the groups warned.

Musa, 73, will replace Tun Juhar Mahiruddin after the latter’s term as the 10th Sabah Governor ends on Dec 31.

The longest-serving chief minister from 2003 to 2018 received the instrument of appointment as Sabah Governor from His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, on Tuesday (Dec 17).