Nizam: File report to MACC if there is evidence assemblymen were 'bought'

KOTA KINABALU - Parti Warisan (Warisan) president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal has to file a report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) with evidence on allegations that the party's state assembly members had been 'bought'.

Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) information chief Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan said Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie should blame himself and the party when three assemblymen left Warisan.

"They left the party because Warisan is no longer a suitable platform to fight and defend the people's rights because the main leaders of the party much prefer to create polemics and political instability that will only inconvenience the people and interfere with the government's effort to develop the state.

"Shafie's allegations stating that the assemblymen who left Warisan were actually bought is not only a slanderous story, but also a cheap political trick to paint a negative image on Sabah's government under Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor," he said in a statement today.

Nizam added Mohd Shafie's recent speech in the Parliament accusing Warisan representatives of being bought by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) to leave the party had confirmed his own attitude.

"He should report to MACC if he has evidence for his claims, instead of making rhetorical claims due to his own weakness, then resort to blaming others.

"Shafie should reflect on himself. His leadership was not only rejected by the assemblyman from his own party, but results from the 15th General Election (GE15) last November also show that Warisan was rejected by the people as the party failed to defend the five parliamentary constituencies it held after GE14, including the party's deputy president and information chief's severe defeat," he said.

During the parliamentary session last Wednesday, Mohd Shafie had claimed three Warisan assemblymen were 'bought' and he asked MACC to investigate the matter.