Anthony (summoned to court) says he’s not afraid
Published on: Thursday, June 11, 2020
By: Larry Ralon dan Stefyanie Myla Micheal
Kota Kinabalu: State Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Peter Anthony has been summoned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to appear in court today (Thursday) to face charges under the Anti Money Laundering Act (AMLA).It is in connection with the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority’s (Risda) RM115 million oil palm plantation land deal in Tongod in 2013-2014. He was arrested twice for the same case previously but was released on bail. ADVERTISEMENT
“I will be charged tomorrow. I received the warrant to appear (in court) at 8am tomorrow. One charge, the Risda case,” he told reporters after another three-hour session with officials at the MACC Sabah office, here, Wednesday. It was the second day that he was being questioned.
Anthony said he does not care how many charges would be brought against him because “the important thing is we did not do anything wrong so why should we be afraid of them.
“They are in the government, they can do anything they like. To us, what are we afraid of. I don’t even fear death.”ADVERTISEMENT
On whether he may be remanded, Anthony said he does not care whether they (MACC) will detain him or not because “I am just fine with it, as I had been detained before. We have no fear because we believe in God. We don’t believe in PN.”
He went with his lawyer Cedric Choo into the MACC Sabah office at 2.50pm and came out at 5.45pm. On Tuesday, Anthony who is also Melalap Assemblyman, spent seven hours from 10.20am assisting in investigations into a RM1.5 billion road maintenance contract awarded directly to five companies.
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“To me there is no problem (Risda case), because the public knows the matter had already been settled. They are using it to try and make me, my position, look bad, considering that I am a senior leader of the party and a senior minister in the State Government.
“Also I am the President of KDM Malaysia...but I believe the people of Sabah are not stupid, the people of Sabah are not easily bullied,” said Anthony, 49, who is also Parti Warisan Sabah Vice President.
Again claiming it to be politically motivated, he said they actually already knew and expected it, since they are not together with the Perikatan Nasional (PN) federal government coalition.
“This is politics, they try to weaken our spirit at the State Government-level, so that we join them. But I believe in the spirit and strength of our dignity in Sabah, and that the people of Sabah are not stupid.
“This is Sabah, the people of Sabah also have dignity. Malaysia belongs to us, together. Malaysia is not only owned by PAS and Umno-BN, but also owned by Sabah.
“Sabah also has rights over Malaysia, not only Umno and PAS. As a Malaysian citizen, as a Sabahan, although I am a Christian of Dusun descent, I am also a Malaysian who has rights in Sabah,” he said.
Anthony said the Risda case is not new and does not involve the Ministry or the State Government.
“This is an old case. They are using this to weaken our spirit, but the Sabahans, the Yang Berhormats (YBs) either state assemblymen or members of parliament will remain standing behind the Chief Minister.
“We still remember previously when we were bullied in such a way, it raised our spirits. We will not want to be bullied again. We will claim Sabah rights and we will defend the present Sabah State Government.”
Pressed on what the Risda case was about, he said people already knew that the lawyer involved in the land deal had last week admitted that a settlement had been made between them (the lawyer as the trustee in the deal and Risda).
“So what has that got to do with me? If the trustee had admitted and made a statement in the newspaper, you should go and refer to them, because this has nothing to do with me,” he said, referring to lawyer Michael Persius Ubu.
[A lawyer claiming to represent Michael’s children, but with the children not present, called for a press conference to say their father had not been arrested as rumoured in social media and that the case had already been settled with Risda having been paid the amount involved with interest. However, certain quarters representing individuals connected to the case later called up the media the same day requesting not to publish the statement].Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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