Cops call up Warisan leaders over gathering, candlelight vigil
Almost all Warisan leaders summoned by police to give statement over gathering in support of detained youth wing leader Aziz Jamman.
KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) says that almost all its top leaders were called to give statements at the city police headquarters here over a recent gathering.
This was made known this morning through the state opposition party’s WhatsApp group in which the media are also included.
The statements were related to a gathering at the court compound here on Oct 10 and a candlelight vigil elsewhere in the city the day before.
Oct 10 was the day when Warisan Youth chief Azis Jamman was remanded in relation to a corruption investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
A big crowd of Warisan leaders and supporters gathered at the court compound to give moral support to Azis. The candlelight vigil was also a mark of support for Azis.
Those called to give police their statements were Warisan deputy president Darell Leiking, vice-president Junz Wong, secretary-general Loretto Padua Jr, treasurer Terrence Siambun and information chief Honorsius Bosuin.
Also summoned by the police were Warisan Women’s chief Johair Marlani, Wirawati chief Munirah Majilis and her deputy Jo-Anna Henley Rampas, deputy Youth chief Nicholas Chak, Youth legal adviser Norazmi Alimat and Sepanggar division chief coordinator Mentoh Aru.
According to Leiking, the police wanted to know if the two gatherings were organised in any way.
“Our statements were recorded in connection with the presence of supporters at the court compound and the candlelight vigil, and also on whether both events had been organised.
“Everyone came on their own. It was not organised. It was of public interest and that’s why people came.”
Apart from Azis, deputy president Peter Anthony had also been remanded in the same corruption investigation but was released on bail.
The MACC is investigating the alleged misappropriation of RM1.5 billion from a RM7.5 billion allocation for 70 rural development projects in the state between 2009 and 2015.
Warisan president Shafie Apdal was the rural and regional development minister during the said period.
Certain quarters reportedly labelled the investigation as politically motivated to mar the image of Warisan in light of the upcoming general election but Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and MACC denied this, saying the agency operates independently.
Another arrested in RM1.5b graft probe in Sabah
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