KUALA LUMPUR: The Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Centre) said it is stunned by ongoing political developments in Sabah, which saw the State Legislative Assembly being dissolved on Thursday.
It said the move was a totally unexpected development – and while necessary to determine majority support, it isn't very welcome, especially when the country is facing a health pandemic and serious economic crisis.
"C4 Centre is disturbed by several Sabah elected representatives claiming harassment, being offered millions of ringgit to shift their alliance from current Chief Minister (Datuk Seri Mohd) Shafie Apdal to his rival (Tan Sri) Musa Aman.
"This is certainly a matter serious enough to warrant an immediate investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)," it said in a statement.
C4 Centre said that over the last few weeks, many elected representatives in Sabah have exposed the deeds of unidentified agents attempting to lure them to shift alliances.
One such case is Lahad Datu representative, Dumi Pg Masdal, who claimed he received an offer of RM5 million from one individual, and RM20 million from another in a ministerial position, to jump over to their side.
C4 Centre said that besides Dumi, all DAP elected representatives in Sabah have also come forward and exposed to the media that they are being harassed and offered money and positions to abandon Shafie's government.
Sabah Youth and Sports Minister Ginger Phoong exposed that he received a call by a man who offered him the Deputy Chief Minister's post, the C4 Centre said.
It added that another representative, Jannie Lasimbang, said that three men visited her at her house in Penampang and asked her to shift alliances. She has since lodged a police report.
"The allegations being made by these state representatives are very serious and should be immediately investigated.
"The trend of offering elected representatives money and positions to buy over their loyalty is a threat to our country's democratic principles. It is unhealthy and disgusting," C4 Center said.
It called for the MACC to uncover the truth and go after the corrupt offenders without fear or favour.
On Thursday, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal dissolved the State Assembly.
This came after several elected representatives from the Parti Warisan Sabah-PH-Upko pact crossed over to support former Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman as the new state chief executive.
The move was to topple the Shafie-led state government, with Musa claiming he had obtained a simple majority to take over the state administration.
It is learnt that Musa's group had tried to seek an audience with the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin shortly after Shafie held a meeting with the head of state, but failed.
At a press conference, Musa said he had obtained 33 statutory declarations which were handed over to Istana Negeri through his lawyers.
Musa had urged Juhar to reconsider his decision to allow the dissolution of the State Assembly to pave the way for a snap election, noting that it is "not necessary" as they already have the majority support, while also expressing concern over the Covid-19 pandemic.
Following the dissolution of the unicameral chamber, the 16th state election must be held in the next 60 days.