Bersih says govt has no reason to delay political financing law
BERSIH chairperson Faisal Aziz has called on the government to urgently enact a Political Financing Act, pointing out that it holds a two-thirds majority in Parliament and therefore has no excuse for delay.
His remarks come in response to the latest exposé on further involvement of Sabah politicians in a mining licence corruption scandal.
While the revelations have sparked outrage among the public, Faisal noted that political leaders appear largely unaffected.
'Politicians love to talk about studying the Political Financing Act to appease the public, but where's the action on implementing it?' he asked in a series of posts on X.
Faisal added that there is no need to overcomplicate the process, stressing that the key demand is simple: transparency in political funding to curb corruption and misconduct.
Yesterday, a local news portal reported that six prominent Sabah politicians, including top leaders from Star and PBS, key components of the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah coalition, are implicated in a mining scandal involving nearly RM4mil. —June 29, 2025
Main image: Wikipedia
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
10 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Jeffrey denies report claiming he received RM1.78mil in mining corruption scandal
KOTA KINABALU: STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan has denied allegations published by a news portal claiming he received RM1.78 million in connection with a mining licence corruption scandal. In a statement issued by the party's information chief, Mohd Anuar Ghani Gilong, Jeffrey, who is also Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, stressed that he has never received any funds related to mining applications or the alleged scandal. "The accusations are a deliberate fabrication orchestrated by desperate political actors seeking to exert undue influence on Sabah politics, a tactic that has been employed since the 1960s," the statement read. Jeffrey also said the party denied any involvement in mining activities, clarifying that it had never applied for any mining licences. "As proponents of the Nature Conservation Agreement (NCA), the party maintains that mining is inherently incompatible with its conservation principles." He added that he and other party members had fully cooperated with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), including by providing detailed statements. "This is the price one pays for fighting for Sabah's rights," he said. Jeffrey further stated that previous statements made by the whistleblower had cleared both STAR and Parti Bersatu Sabah of any wrongdoing or receipt of illicit funds. Given the severity of the false and malicious allegations, Jeffrey said he reserves the right to pursue all available legal avenues, including legal action against the news portal responsible for what he described as irresponsible and damaging reporting. "It is anticipated that many more libellous and false accusations will surface leading up to the election.
Malaysiakini
11 hours ago
- Malaysiakini
Kitingan denies RM1.78m mining scandal link, says claim 'unfounded'
Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) president Jeffrey Kitingan has denied allegations that he received RM1.78 million in connection with the mining licence corruption scandal. In a statement today, Star information chief Anuar Ghani Gilong said Kitingan described the accusations as completely unfounded and represents a politically motivated attack designed to destabilise, demonise and demolish the Sabah government.
Borneo Post
12 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Jeffrey denies mining scandal allegations, vows legal action
Jeffrey KOTA KINABALU (June 29): STAR President Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey Gapari Kitingan vehemently denies allegations published by Malaysiakini accusing him of receiving RM1.78 million in connection with a purported mining scandal. He asserts that these accusations are completely unfounded and represents a politically motivated attack designed to destabilize, demonise and demolish the current Sabah government. Jeffrey emphasizes that he has never, ever, received any funds related to the mining applications or any alleged scandal. The accusations are a deliberate fabrication orchestrated by desperate political actors seeking to exert undue influence on Sabah politics, a tactic historically employed since the 1960s. The STAR party categorically denies any involvement in mining activities, clarifying that it has never applied for any mining licenses. As proponents of the Nature Conservation Agreement (NCA), the party maintains that mining is inherently incompatible with its conservation principles, he said in a statement issued by STAR information chief Mohd Anuar Tan Sri Ghani Gilong on Sunday. Jeffrey further states that both he and other members of his party have cooperated fully with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (SPRM) in their investigation, providing detailed statements. He condemns the media's attempt to try the case through public opinion instead of following proper legal channels. This is the price you pay for fighting for Sabah rights. He also notes that previous statements made by the whistleblower have exonerated both STAR and PBS of any wrongdoing or receipt of corrupt funds. Given the severity of these false and malicious accusations, Jeffrey reserves the right to pursue all available legal avenues, including legal action against Malaysiakini for its irresponsible and damaging reporting. 'We expect more false and slanderous allegations to come out of the mouth of Malaysiakini and other political manipulators,' he said. It is anticipated that many more libellous and false accusations will surface leading up to the election. It is not surprising that certain groups and parties will exploit on this, hoping that this fake news will alter the dynamics and political landscape in Sabah. Jeffrey, who is Deputy Chief Minister I, is one of the six more politicians in Sabah accused of involvement in the mining licence scandal by the news portal. The portal claimed that a source who spoke on condition of anonymity has provided them with screenshots allegedly taken from a video recording involving the political leaders, with the total amount of alleged bribery involving RM3.96 million between the six individuals. In addition to the video evidence, the source claimed that WhatsApp messages and other documents exist to support the transactions. With the latest development, 15 politicians have been implicated in corrupt activities between 2023 and 2024, allegedly in exchange for assistance in processing mineral exploration licence applications.
