Don't interfere in ongoing MACC investigations - Shafie

No party should interfere or be seen to be interfering with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)'s ongoing investigation into the awarding of basic infrastructure projects worth RM3.3 billion in Sabah.

In a statement on Saturday, former rural and regional development minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said parties should not make public statements or plea of innocence so that the integrity of the MACC investigation was not compromised.

On a statement by Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan over the awarding of the basic infrastructure projects, he said:

"It is quite perplexing and amusing that the state authority is in a haste to plead innocence publicly, and divert the blame to the rural and regional development ministry when the MACC investigation is still ongoing.

"It has caused me to respond towards the statement by Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan concerning the award of projects amounting to RM3.3 billion, in relation to the recent arrests of two state senior government officers.

"It was indicated that the project was awarded in 2010 during my tenure as the minister in charge of the rural and regional development ministry. It was also indicated that the projects were not handled by his ministry," said the Semporna MP.