KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 — Parti Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal today alleged that there have been attempts by rival political parties to ‘buy’ three of his party’s assemblymen.
He said Kunak assemblywoman Norazlinah Arif was among the three who were approached.
“I’ll furnish the video to you, Tawau (Tawau MP Lo Su Fui) later.
“Kunak assemblywoman called (me), not what I said, Kunak was the one who said that she was contacted, don’t ask me.
“There are three projects given, is there three projects given?” Shafie asked during his speech for the debate on the Royal address today.
Shafie was asked by Lo to furnish evidence to prove his allegations and urged him to bring the matter to court if it was true.
“I’m not the kind to drag it here and there (to court). There are enforcement officers, they can investigate, that is not my responsibility,” he added.
Shafie had in his speech raised two matters, one on upholding laws enacted especially for Sabah and the other on ‘buying’ of assemblymen.
He raised these matters in line with his request for the government to expedite the anti-party hopping law for the Sabah chapter to prevent any further party hopping by politicians, especially with the Sabah State election that is approaching next year.
“This matter we need to clarify... as my friends and I have been called power hungry.
“We are not power hungry, the one who bought my assemblyman is Datuk Hajiji (Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor)
“I just returned from umrah, while I was there, already three (assemblymen) has been bought,” he said.
During former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s time, Shafie said from 23 assemblymen, he is now left with 16 and added that he has received information that there will be more that could be bought.
“That is why I urge the government to implement the anti-party hopping law in Sabah as soon as possible so that the political landscape in the country will not face uncertainties,” he said.
He further alleged that Hajiji managed to form the Sabah state government by ‘buying’ assemblymen.
“There was lack of six (assemblymen)... but Hajiji bought people to say that he has 44 assemblyman to form majority — but 10 was from Warisan and five from Umno.
“I hope, Speaker, that agencies such as MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) will investigate.
“This is right in front of our eyes, there is proof, there is money offered, it’s not that we are trying to mistreat people, it’s just not our practice,” Shafie said.
