IPOH: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the decision to acquit Tun Musa Aman of all corruption and money laundering charges was made in 2020, during the tenure of then-Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
“What is the issue? Why complain as if it is a big problem? Was there a case brought forward?
“No, the case was closed.
“Secondly, under the Constitution, state matters are indeed under the jurisdiction of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“Does the Prime Minister not know this? Of course, the Prime Minister knows. It has been referred to, but the Prime Minister also knows the Constitution and its limits.
“Now, after the Agong has given his consent, what is my stance? I welcome the Agong’s decision and pray that Tun Musa Aman will be a good Yang di-Pertua Negeri for Sabah,” he said.
The Tambun Member of Parliament was speaking after launching “Lim Kit Siang: Malaysia First”, a book authored by Kee Thuan Chye, at a restaurant, here, Friday.
Also present were Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran, Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, DAP Chairman Lim Guan Eng, and DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang.
It was reported on June 9, 2020, that Musa Aman was acquitted and discharged of all 46 criminal charges linked to timber concession contracts in the state.
This followed deputy public prosecutor Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid’s announcement in court that the prosecution was withdrawing all corruption and money-laundering charges.
Musa was first brought to court on Nov 5, 2018, to face corruption charges. Later, on March 5, 2019, he was charged with 16 counts of money laundering.
However, it later became apparent that these charges were found to be flawed by Hong Kong authorities and were dropped but resurrected briefly.
On Tuesday, it was reported that Musa, 73, had been appointed as the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sabah under Article 1 of the Sabah Constitution for a four-year term, effective Jan 1, 2025, until Dec 31, 2028.
He replaces former Parliament Deputy Speaker Tun Juhar Mahiruddin whose term expires on Dec 31 after serving since Jan. 1, 2011.
