Malaysia's Sabah state has been roiled by allegations of corruption involving eight lawmakers, including its Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, casting doubt on the ruling party's chances in state polls that must be held before the end of 2025.
The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition, led by Datuk Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's federal government. GRS rules the petroleum- and timber-rich state with Datuk Seri Anwar's Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition and his Barisan Nasional (BN) ally.
Over several days from Nov 9, news site Malaysiakini published reports and videos showing several Sabah assemblymen allegedly discussing bribes in the range of hundreds of thousands of ringgit with a whistle-blower - who remains anonymous - in exchange for their support for a mining project.
In one of the videos, former Sabah Mineral Management chief executive Iontih Enggihon accuses the Chief Minister of abusing his powers.
Five lawmakers, three of whom are from GRS, have been summoned for questioning by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission so far.
The Anwar administration needs to urgently disavow the endemic corruption perceived within its ranks without alienating his allies in the state, analysts say.
Bu hikaye The Straits Times dergisinin November 21, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Straits Times dergisinin November 21, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
K-DRAMA FOR MENTAL HEALTH
If you have ever binge-watched an entire season of a K-drama like Squid Game (2021) or Crash Landing On You (2019 to 2020), one Korean-American expert has good news: It has likely improved your mental health.
Pop Mart to take action against unauthorized use of Labubu in food
Food retailers riding on the hype over Labubu to sell edible products fashioned after the monster character with serrated teeth may have bitten off more than they can chew.
Hawker food with less sodium – can you tell the difference?
Some hawkers have cut down on salt in their food and customers are not complaining
A taste of the Middle East
From Yemeni rice dishes to Syrian shawarma, Middle Eastern fare is adding spice to the food scene here
Environmental activist loves scoring deals at second-hand bookstores
Who: Woo Qiyun, 27, is better known as the environmental activist behind the Instagram account @theweirdandwild.
The Light Between Us dimmed by poor execution and editing
It does not bode well that on the first page of the story proper, there is an error.
A love letter to the bilingual book
My love affair with the bilingual book began with a volume of poems by Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, which I bought as a teenager from Carousell.
Community ties and characters anchor The Long Water
A teenage boy, Daniel, goes missing.
New novel a shadow of Haruki Murakami's older, better works
The prose in The City And Its Uncertain Walls is so repetitive, it robs the phrases of any enchantment they might once have had
Gourmet finds in Macau
This cultural melting pot has more to offer than gambling and Portuguese egg tarts
