PETALING JAYA, July 23 — Linked to an alleged scheme to hand out citizenship in return for votes, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman (picture) today told the royal commission investigating Sabah’s illegal immigrant issue that he was not involved in the so-called “Project IC”.
“I have been instructed to inform (the RCI) that he denies any involvement in the alleged Project IC,” lawyer Roderic Fernandez, who appeared on behalf of the chief minister, was quoted as telling the commission by news portal Malaysiakini today.
Last week, PBS supreme council member and former senator Dr Chong Eng Long testified before the commission that Musa had headed the project during its inception in 1991.
“When Umno first entered Sabah, this task force was formed, and the chief was none other but Musa Aman himself,” Chong was reported as testifying then.
Today, Fernandez said Musa will study a report on Chong’s allegations before deciding on his participation in the inquiry.
Commission chairman Tan Sri Steve Shim Lip Kiong then directed for Musa to be furnished with a parts of Chong’s testimony in which the claim was made.
The RCI was set up on August 11 to investigate claims that illegal aliens in Sabah were awarded citizenship and placed on the country’s electoral roll in an illicit bid to keep the ruling government in power.
When announcing its formation, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had also made known the commission’s eight terms of reference, including investigating Sabah’s abnormal spike in population.
Aside from Shim, the other members of the panel are Universiti Malaysia Sabah vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Seri Dr Kamaruzaman Ampon; former Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Henry Chin Poy Wu; former Sabah state secretary Datuk Kee Mustafa; and former Sabah Deputy Chief Minister and former Sabah Attorney-General Tan Sri Herman J. Luping.
The RCI was initially scheduled to conclude on March 21 but was interrupted by the Sulu invasion of Lahad Datu in Sabah. It subsequently gained royal assent for an extension and will now terminate on September 21.
