Kalakau…Voicing this for I believe such is the views of majority of the the people of Sabah. In a situation like this, the rule of law must prevail.
KOTA KINABALU : – United Sabah Dusun Sabah Association (USDA) deputy president Datuk Kalakau Untol today said the call by Sabah UMNO leaders for Chief Minister Datuk Seri Haji Hajiji Haji Noor to resign is an unfair political game.
He said the call was inappropriate in because there were no charges or court cases facing the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman.
“Resigning is not a solution to the alleged scandal,” Kalakau, a former member of Parliament for Tuaran, said in a statement Monday.
He was commenting on the
allegations of a corruption scandal in Sabah after several video recordings were leaked by an informant and reported by Malaysiakini.
“I think it is unfair and inappropriate to ask the Chief Minister to resign because he was not charged, he did not go to court.”
“They are only based on a video which I think has become their game and is intended to tarnish the image of our leaders,” he added.
Kalakau, a former Federal Deputy Minister, praised Hajiji for not bowing to the political threat from those who had been trying to forced a change in the ruling government through undemocratic means.
Responding to the allegations, Hajiji had stressed that he has “nothing to hide” as evidence emerged suggesting that individuals within his political alliance may be implicated in alleged graft activities.
“Bribe givers often have ulterior motives — they want something in return from the government. When they don’t get it, these issues emerge,” Hajiji pointed out.
Kalakau further said that authorities should investigate not only the recipients of any illicit funds but also the givers, as well as the motivations behind these allegations.
Reports indicate that the funds given to these politicians ranged from hundreds of thousands to RM4 million, allegedly in exchange for government contracts.
The videos released directly implicated Hajiji in this alleged “bribery scandal.
Kalakau also pointed out that prominent individuals implicated in high profile corruption cases at federal level did not resign from their government posts.
“Hajiji’s vigilance and dedication to protecting the state’s interests have thwarted these dangerous schemes,” Kalakau said.
He said the Chief Minister’s commitment to the welfare of Sabahans deserves recognition and support.
Kalakau also explained that his supporting Hajiji for safeguarding the ruling coalition against political threat was not because he condoned corruption.
“Should the Chief Minister succumbed to political pressure, it will bring about big impacts to the people of Sabah, especially the younger generation. What Hajiji did was a strong message to his political rivals that he would not follow according to their whim and fancy,” he said.
Kalakau said he is not a member of any of the GRS ruling coalition.
“I am voicing this for I believe such is the views of majority of the the people of Sabah. In a situation like this, the rule of law must prevail,” he added.
