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Anwar Ibrahim sets firm rules on corruption ahead of Sabah election

No witch hunts, just facts. Anwar Ibrahim’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption hinges on one rule: proof over perception. Will Sabah’s election test his resolve?

In this image in the center there might be a snake and at the bottom there is sand, and at the...
In this image in the center there might be a snake and at the bottom there is sand, and at the bottom of the image there is text.

Anwar Ibrahim sets firm rules on corruption ahead of Sabah election

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has drawn a clear line on corruption, stating that action will only be taken against Sabah leaders in senior government positions and mining licence holders when there is substantial evidence or formal charges. He is currently in Sabah to campaign for the 17th state election.

Anwar's stance comes amidst a scandal involving mining licences in Sabah, which implicated about a dozen Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) assemblymen. They were alleged to have received money to fast-track approvals. The businessman involved, Datuk Albert Tei, was also charged. However, several other political figures and business individuals linked to the scandal have not yet faced formal charges.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigated the matter and found videos of conversations between leaders and the businessman soliciting licences to be not credible proof. Anwar took the issue seriously and investigations returned no conclusive findings on the other implicated leaders. Two assemblymen, Datuk Yusof Yacob and Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy, were charged in court for receiving bribes and were dropped from the candidate line-up for the election.

Anwar has clarified that public perceptions of corruption do not automatically translate into wrongdoing. He is committed to transparency and ensuring that no one, including himself or his allies, enriches themselves through such means. Action will only be taken when there is substantial evidence or formal charges.

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