KOTA KINABALU, October 11, 2016: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President
Datuk Yong Teck Lee said the reported scale of corruption at the water
department has shocked people and people are now eager for answers on so
many issues as the probe continues to unfold by the day.
"There is a wise saying that "The sun, the moon and the truths shall not
be hidden long". Eventually, the truths will surface. And as the truths
and facts emerge, it is to be expected that people will be dismayed and
feel angry. Corruption, like the economy and security, will become a major
election issue," Yong added.
"But it is still too early at the current stage of the investigation to
assign political responsibility for the crisis at the Sabah Water
Department. Therefore, DAP's call for the resignation of the Sabah
Infrastructure Minister is premature. Indeed, people may also ask DAP
about the calls for the resignation of the Penang Chief Minister who is
currently facing corruption charges.
"BN government ministers who have been proudly boasting of close
co-operation between Sabah state and the federal governments under Barisan
Nasional are now sheepishly trying to wash their hands off the RM3.3
billion rural water projects funded by the federal government. Ministers
have claimed credit for bringing development projects to Sabah but when
something goes wrong like now, ministers want to distance themselves from
the controversy.
"One thing is for sure. It takes more than a departmental director and his
deputy to process, approve and implement a whopping RM3.3 billion in
development funds. State and federal ministries, the Economic Planning
Unit, Audit Department, among others, have some answering to do," he said.
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