KUALA LUMPUR – The whistleblower scandal allegedly involving several Sabah assemblymen from the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition, including Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, has elicited varied opinions among political analysts about its potential effect on the coalition’s reputation as state elections loom.
Associate Professor Lee Kuok Tiung of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) believes that GRS and the state government have emerged relatively unscathed from the controversy. He emphasised that such issues are “attributed to the individuals or parties reporting them”.
“The validity of such claims must be thoroughly verified, especially in this digital age, where audio and visual content can easily be fabricated,” Lee told Scoop.
Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Azmi Hassan, however, argued that the scandal has already impacted GRS’ image, regardless of the involvement of its assemblymen or the authenticity of the allegations.
Speaking to Scoop, Azmi noted that the controversy casts a shadow over the coalition at a crucial time as it prepares for elections expected next year, when the state legislature’s term ends.
Professor James Chin of the University of Tasmania added that although the situation is still unfolding, the scandal has likely stalled any immediate plans for early state elections.
“There is no way they can go into the elections with the news on the bribery allegations,” Chin said.
On Tuesday, Hajiji acknowledged that his name was mentioned in video recordings showing assemblymen discussing bribes, but he maintained he had nothing to conceal.
According to Berita Harian, Hajiji said that he was aware of the recordings and affirmed the state government’s readiness to cooperate with any investigation, particularly with the MACC.
The chief minister also called for scrutiny of the alleged bribe giver, asserting that the person had malicious intent in seeking benefits from the government.
Lee questioned whether the term “whistleblower” was appropriate for this scandal from a legal standpoint. He explained that the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 (Act 711) ensures the safety of those reporting misconduct, provided they comply with Section 29(4) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 (Act 694).
Reports to the MACC must remain confidential until charges are officially filed in court.
“This ensures that investigations remain secure and are not compromised by premature disclosures.”
By choosing to disclose information to the media instead of through proper reporting channels, the individual would not meet the requirements for whistleblower protection and could face legal consequences,” Lee added.
BN, Warisan expected to leverage scandal to sway voters
Both Azmi and Chin noted that Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) and Warisan are likely to seize upon the issue to undermine the Hajiji-led coalition.
Azmi suggested that the scandal could help both parties draw support away from GRS, especially among voters who are uneasy with the controversy.
However, he pointed out that hardcore GRS supporters would likely remain loyal, while those who previously backed the coalition due to their aversion to Warisan and BN might reconsider.
“They (supporters) might be thinking that it is better to vote BN and Warisan instead of GRS because of this particular scandal,” he said.
Chin mentioned that while BN and Warisan would capitalise on the issue, they would be cautious not to overplay their hand due to the widespread nature of money politics in Sabah.
“They will make a lot of noise about transparency and corruption, but they won’t overdo it,” he noted.
Lee, without identifying specific parties, said that “GRS’ opponents” are using the scandal to damage the coalition’s image.
“By right, they should have filed a report with MACC and let it conduct a transparent investigation,” he said.
Chin believes that the scandal will not deter Pakatan Harapan (PH) from collaborating with GRS, noting that PH relies on GRS to be part of any state government.
He highlighted that PH would not be part of the current state administration had Hajiji not expelled Sabah BN during the 2023 political crisis.
“Therefore, it has every reason to stay in government and work with GRS. Plus, GRS was already making ground and becoming stronger on the ground before the scandal,” Chin said.
Lee echoed Chin’s assessment, noting that PH is not in a difficult position as the controversy does not directly impact the state government.
However, Azmi suggested that the scandal might create a dilemma for PH as it considers partnering with GRS in the upcoming elections, even though GRS has recently expressed a preference for working with PH over BN.
Attention is now on PH as it decides whether to maintain its partnership with the Hajiji-led coalition for the coming elections or align with BN, its partner in Putrajaya. – November 15, 2024