MACC to review 'full, unedited' Sabah corruption scandal videos: Azam

MACC to review 'full, unedited' Sabah corruption scandal videos: Azam

Published: Mar 11, 2025 10:33 PM
Updated: 1:33 AM


Summary

• MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki says the graft buster will review all videos submitted by Lawyers For Liberty in connection with the Sabah corruption scandal.

• Azam says the whistleblower had had his statement taken by the MACC before.

• He reiterates that the edited videos released by a whistleblower via Malaysiakini so far cannot be used as evidence and that the new videos will have to be analysed.

The MACC will review the “full and unedited version” of videos recorded by a whistleblower who had since last November exposed the Sabah corruption scandal.

The Star quoted MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki as saying that the review aims to verify the credibility and authenticity of the videos as part of the ongoing investigation.

“I stand by my previous statements, as I have said before. Since last year, and as recently as Dec 9, 2024, I have maintained that we require strong and genuine evidence.

“Today (March 11), former MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya issued a statement claiming that a whistleblower had shared video evidence with her, which she asserts is authentic,” he said in Kota Kinabalu.

Former MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya (left) and LFL executive director Zaid Malek


Earlier today, Latheefa said Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) executive director Zaid Malek would head to the MACC’s headquarters in Putrajaya at around 2pm to hand over a USB drive and the original device used by a whistleblower to record the videos implicating Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, eight assemblypersons, and the Sabah assembly speaker.

Latheefa said the whistleblower, a businessperson whom she referred to as Albert, had come to meet her and Zaid at their office in Petaling Jaya yesterday, where they also viewed all the videos.

No whistleblower protection

According to The Star, Azam clarified that Albert had previously been summoned and questioned by the MACC, but his identity had never been disclosed.

“Perhaps now his lawyer has allowed his identity to be revealed. For the record, Albert had already been questioned in another case by both the MACC and the police. Again, our role is to investigate,” he said.

Latheefa, who alleged that Albert was threatened by a “higher up” to discourage him from directly going to the MACC, also urged that he be given protection as a whistleblower.

Azam, in response, reportedly said, “At this stage, he is not protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010.”

He also assured the investigation would be conducted fairly and professionally, regardless of anyone’s background.

“We will proceed in accordance with the law,” he said.

Malaysiakini previously reported that Albert had admitted to offering the bribes, raising questions over whether he would also be liable for prosecution by MACC.

Last month, Azam said the biggest challenge in investigating the alleged Sabah corruption scandal is the lack of sufficient information, and that was has been published by Malaysiakini was too little to proceed with.

‘Edited videos cannot be used’

Reiterating his stand today, Azam maintained that edited videos cannot be used as evidence.

“We refer such matters to our legal officers at MACC and other qualified legal experts. Our investigations are guided by the law, not public perception.

“In addition, past court decisions, including those from the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Federal Court, guide our investigations. As for the videos previously released by Malaysiakini, all eight were edited.

“The courts and our forensic department, accredited by the Department of Standards Malaysia, have confirmed this. Edited videos cannot be considered valid evidence,” he said.

“If anyone has additional legal guidance, we are open to reviewing it. However, our investigations adhere to legal principles, standard practices, and SOPs (standard operating procedures).

“Any new video evidence must be verified for authenticity before being considered. Courts do not accept edited or altered recordings as admissible evidence,” he said.

On a related matter, Azam added that MACC is also investigating the latest video that implicated Sabah legislative speaker Kadzim Yahya, who was allegedly paid RM350,000 in connection with the same scandal.

“We will investigate the video, but it must be authentic. He has not come to the MACC office.

“We need to first analyse the evidence to determine its validity. If we find it credible, we will proceed with the investigation,” he said.

The whistleblower also accused Kadzim of using his position to request projects from Hajiji, a claim which he has denied as “outright falsehoods” intended to tarnish his position.