This follows a get-together with PKR president Anwar Ibrahim last month, attended by all the Murut native chiefs, in Penampang near here.
The event was organised by Pertubuhan Kebajikan dan Kebudayaan Murut Malaysia (PKKMM), led by its president Raymond Ahuar, who is also the political secretary to Deputy Chief Minister Christina Liew.
During the event, in addition to discussing issues affecting the Muruts such as child marriages, the native chiefs signed a declaration to support Anwar as the next prime minister.
However, a few days later, Infrastructure Development Minister Peter Anthony demanded that all the native chiefs who attended the get-together send show cause letters to his office, explaining their involvement in the event.
Anthony, who is also a Warisan vice-president and the party’s Tenom chief, asked whether they had received prior consent from their Warisan branches or divisions before going.
Subsequently, two police reports were lodged against Ahuar by Tenom and Sook native chiefs who claimed they were not aware the event was political and that they were only there as native chiefs.
Both men also pledged their loyalty to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Chief Minister Shafie Apdal and to Anthony.
Today, Ahuar lodged a police report in Keningau to clear his name
“I have examined the reports and also the edited photos and noticed that they deviated from the real situation and were even slanderous in nature.
“My lawyer advised me to lodge a report to explain the situation and to ensure that action can be taken against the individuals who made the false accusations,” he said.
Ahuar, who is also the Sabah PKR youth chief, said the three-day programme held at the Native Court Training Institute (ILMAN) last month had been initiated by him to uplift the Murut’s self-respect.
This was because, he said, the community was lagging behind in almost all areas, including development, education and economy.
He said the participants drew up a declaration to demand that the customs of the Muruts be respected and recognised by the government, to create an economic policy for the Muruts, and to ensure that the community was involved in both the state and federal governments.
Ahuar said the declaration of support for Anwar was made as it was felt it would be good for him to listen for himself what the Murut people wanted.
“I have no other intention other than to see my race grow and progress together with other races in this country,” he said.
Ahuar was accompanied by about 700 supporters at the Keningau police station, who displayed banners warning that “traitors to the race” should be fined a “sogit” (traditional fine) and urging the police to arrest these traitors.
According to Sabah PKR sources, only two of the native chiefs who were called in by Anthony’s office lodged the police reports while the rest remained firm in their stand.