Parti Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal has been detained by the MACC after presenting himself at the commission’s office at 5.15pm.
Shafie arrived in Kota Kinabalu from Kuala Lumpur to a rousing welcome from supporters at the airport amidst fears of his arrest by anti-graft investigators.
Supporters arrived as early as 2pm, crowding the arrival hall awaiting the Semporna MP’s flight which was due to land at 3.30pm, and cries of “Sabah Ubah” were quickly muffled as leaders told them to quiet down.
Shafie, who arrived at about 3.45pm was surrounded as he exited the hall and had to be forcefully ushered to his car by bodyguards as the 300-strong supporters did not give way and came closer to show their support by shaking hands and hugging him.
Before getting into his vehicle, he told reporters that he will be heading to the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) at 5pm to give his statement.
“They (MACC) are only doing their job and I will give my full cooperation to ensure a smooth process for them in their investigation.
“I’m not afraid and am ready to answer their questions as best of my knowledge but I ask to be treated fairly,” Shafie said.
When asked on the detention of his siblings Hamid and Yusof by the MACC, he said he was saddened with the outcome.
“Of course as a brother, I’m sad that my siblings were dragged (in). They have gone overboard with the arrests of my family members,” he said, adding that it is a form of harassment.
“It is all a big show and nothing more; I have always maintained my right from the beginning that I am willing to cooperate with the MACC,” he said.
When asked if the whole incident is politically motivated, Shafie believed so, saying “well, it’s near election.”
Shafie, a former Umno vice president was sacked from the federal Cabinet in 2015 following his criticism of the beleaguered 1Malaysia Development Berhad investment firm.
Soon after, he started Parti Warisan in Sabah with the aim of toppling the state government.
Shafie’s statement to the MACC is over the alleged skimming of funds involving RM1.5bil worth of federal projects for the poor in Sabah through the Rural and Regional Development Ministry.
The projects were implemented between 2009 and 2015, a period when Shafie headed the ministry.
In earlier interviews, Shafie had already anticipated that he would be called in by the MACC.
Meanwhile, Hamid Apdal, Shafie’s youngest brother, was released on bail this morning.
Magistrate Stephanie Sherron Abbie arrived at the KPJ specialist centre in Damai, where the 52-year-old had been held since Oct 15, at about 9.50am to issue the release order, one day earlier than the maximum five-day remand extension he was given.
Hamid’s lawyer Martin Tommy said that his client was released on a RM50,00 bail with RM25,000 deposited with two local sureties. He was discharged from the hospital at about 10.30am.
Hamid was arrested by MACC on Oct 11.
Manzur Hussein Awal Khan, Hamid’s 37-year-old son-in-law, who was also under MACC detention but warded at the Gleneagles private hospital in Kota Kinabalu, was released on a RM30,000 bail with two local sureties.
The businessman was arrested on Oct 14.
Earlier reports:
Oct 18, Yusof Apdal Remanded in RM1.5B Probe
Oct 11, Shafie Apdal’s Brother Arrested over Sabah Rural Projects Graft Probe
Oct 11, 1 Warisan, 2 Umno Youth Leaders Remanded in Probe of Rural Project Funds
Oct 11, Remand Extended for Female Suspect in Rural Project Funds Probe
Oct 6, Peter Anthony Remanded for Five Days