GRS information chief Joniston Bangkuai said he respected DAP’s right to hold internal deliberations and take the appropriate decisions.
“I am of the view that it is critical for all parties within the state government, including DAP, to prioritise and safeguard the prevailing political stability, especially during this challenging period.
“As investigations into the corruption allegations are still ongoing, it is imperative that we focus on implementing the initiatives outlined in the recently approved 2025 state budget.
“While the principles of good governance and a clean administration must remain a priority, ensuring political stability is equally vital to the state’s progress,” the state assistant minister told FMT.
Separately, chief minister Hajiji Noor’s political secretary Abdul Rahman Yakub urged Sabah DAP not to leave the state government, especially since no wrongdoing has been identified as yet.
“Drastic actions such as leaving the state government before investigations are completed would be hasty and inconsistent with legal principles, namely the presumption of innocence until proven guilty,” he said.
Rahman nonetheless expressed confidence that DAP and PKR would stick by the chief minister pending investigations into the allegations.
Joniston pointed out that the RM6.45 billion state budget, Sabah’s biggest yet, was the collective work of every party in Hajiji’s administration, including Pakatan Harapan and Sabah DAP.
The Parti Bersatu Sabah information chief also expressed his belief that Hajiji appreciates PH’s support for him, especially during a failed attempt by Sabah Umno and Warisan to unseat him as chief minister in January 2023.
“The chief minister is also very comfortable working with PH, helmed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and values the existing strong and reliable state-federal ties.”
On Wednesday, DAP gave its Sabah chapter the mandate to review its position in the Sabah government in the light of the alleged scandal which appears to have implicated several assemblymen.
DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook said it would be entirely up to Sabah DAP to decide on the next course of action.
Sabah PKR said it was also of the view that anyone involved in corruption should be probed and punished, if convicted.
However, its information chief Razeef Rakimin noted that Hajiji did not appear to be involved in the purported scandal.
Razeef previously said the state government should be allowed to function as usual while the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission probed the allegations.
“In fact, the chief minister’s actions of barring this problematic individual (the apparent whistleblower) from plundering Sabah’s resources should be appreciated.
“Let us give MACC enough room to conduct its investigations without being disturbed by anyone,” he told FMT.
Last Saturday, FMT reported that a series of videos linking several Sabah assemblymen to an alleged mining scandal was viewed as part of an Umno-led plot against the GRS government.
The videos, leaked by a purported whistleblower, has led to Sabah Umno demanding Hajiji’s resignation as chief minister.
Sabah Umno has denied masterminding the exposé while GRS components have defended their coalition chairman in the face of calls for his resignation.
MACC has said it is investigating the purported whistleblower who allegedly has information related to corrupt practices involving several Sabah assemblymen regarding prospecting licence approvals.
The anti-graft body’s chief, Azam Baki, said the purported whistleblower had provided a statement to the anti-graft agency but declined to submit evidence he claimed was in his possession.