Shafee tells Azalina to review PM's remarks, says client has more videos

Shafee tells Azalina to review PM's remarks, says client has more videos

RK Anand
Published: Feb 5, 2025 6:46 PM
Updated: 9:57 PM


Summary

• Lawyer Shafee Abdullah urges minister Azalina Othman Said to look at the prime minister’s past statements on enforcement agencies to understand the trust deficit facing authorities.

• He points out that Anwar Ibrahim and other Pakatan Harapan leaders had often accused the MACC and law enforcement agencies of being political tools for the government to use against rivals and critics.

• He adds that the whistleblower in the Sabah corruption scandal has more videos and the government must decide if fighting corruption or telling his client to come forward is more important.

Senior lawyer Shafee Abdullah has urged Azalina Othman Said to review Anwar Ibrahim’s past remarks on enforcement agencies, emphasising the prime minister’s role in the trust deficit.

“In particular, examine his and other Pakatan Harapan leaders’ statements about the current stand of MACC.

“You don’t need to look too far back - just refer to the comments made by MACC before the last general election.

“Then, you will better understand why my client opted to turn to the media instead of enforcement agencies,” he told Malaysiakini.

Shafee (above, left), who is representing the whistleblower on an ex gratia basis in the alleged Sabah corruption scandal, was responding to the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (law and institutional reform) stating that whistleblowers must turn to the enforcement agencies instead of the media.

When in the opposition, Anwar and Harapan leaders often accused enforcement agencies of being political tools of the government - used to target rivals and critics while shielding the transgressions of ruling politicians.

During a political ceramah in 2022, PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli also said if Harapan won the general election, it would go after certain individuals in MACC.

‘My client has more’

Shafee also revealed that his client, a businessperson who claimed to have bribed several Sabah state assemblypersons to obtain mineral exploration licences, possesses more than half a dozen unreleased videos.

So far, the businessperson has released a total of eight videos through Malaysiakini, which are now the subject of an MACC investigation. He has also shared screenshots of WhatsApp conversations between himself and the assemblypersons.

“In addition to the explosive videos, my client has more WhatsApp screenshots,” Shafee said.

“So, the government must decide what matters more: urging whistleblowers to trust agencies they themselves have deemed untrustworthy in the past or taking real action to eradicate corruption,” he added.

On Monday, the whistleblower alleged that he was offered a settlement in which the licences would be reinstated if he withdrew his accusations.

‘Whistleblowers fear being silenced’

Earlier today, PSM also criticised Azalina over her statement, saying that whistleblowers turn to the media because they fear being silenced while seeking protection.

“Why should going to the media or social platforms to reveal the truth be viewed negatively? Isn’t the media supposed to be the fourth estate, a pillar of democracy?

“Azalina claims whistleblowers will not be protected if they go to the media first. But in reality, many whistleblowers turn to the media because they fear being silenced while seeking protection.

“Where is the contradiction if the ultimate goal is to uncover the truth and address the allegations?” said its deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan.