PUTATAN: Two Sabah assemblymen facing graft charges over mineral exploration licenses are innocent until proven guilty in court, said Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) Deputy President, Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
He stressed that legal proceedings must be respected and that both lawmakers deserve the opportunity to clear their names.
"Charges do not mean guilt. Let the court decide. They must be given a fair chance to defend themselves," he said after officiating the Gagasan Rakyat Petagas Division Conference.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});The two government-aligned assemblymen, both serving as Assistant Ministers, were previously detained by the MACC and are scheduled to be charged on June 30, along with a whistleblower identified as Albert Tei.
When asked about the potential political fallout for GRS ahead of the state election (PRN17), Masidi downplayed the impact, stating that the priority is to uphold the rule of law above politics.