KOTA KINABALU: Umno Sabah has denied accusations that it is behind recent viral allegations of a corruption scandal involving state government leaders.
The allegations have circulated widely on social media over the past few days.
Umno Beaufort division chief Datuk Awang Aslee Lakat said it is unfair to associate the party with the issue, especially by labelling it as the orchestrator.
According to him, the rumours began when an online portal based in Kuala Lumpur published allegations of corruption involving specific leaders but did not mention any particular state.
"Even if Umno members shared the report on social media, it was just a typical post without targeting anyone," he said in a statement here.
The statement followed several social media posts claiming that Umno was involved in propagating the scandal.
Awang Aslee stressed that the matter should be handed over to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for investigation if a report is lodged.
He emphasised the need for Sabah to be free from corruption, aligning with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's commitment to eradicating corruption in government.
He also reminded accusers, especially cyber troops, to stop linking Umno as the mastermind in these allegations.
"Let MACC decide. If there's no issue, so be it. But if they find grounds, they should act accordingly. Let's not create perceptions while the investigation is ongoing," he added.
Yesterday, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor expressed the state government's willingness to cooperate with MACC should any corruption allegations arise.