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PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has explained that six Sabah state assemblymen will not face corruption charges over the issuance of mineral prospecting licences as the allegations against them were based on hearsay.
Speaking during Prime Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today, Anwar said that only two assemblymen—Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy (Tanjung Batu) and Datuk Dr Yusof @ Josree Yacob (Sindumin)—have been charged following investigations by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
“Eight assemblymen were linked to the video, but according to the MACC, a case must be strong enough before it can be prosecuted,” Anwar stated.
“They said only cases that are substantive in facts and law will be referred to the prosecution. If it is not substantive and relies only on a video, it cannot proceed,” he added.
The Prime Minister’s remarks follow public scrutiny of the MACC’s decision to charge only two individuals despite a wider number of elected representatives being implicated in video recordings relating to the alleged corruption.
The MACC had previously confirmed that only those against whom sufficient legal and evidentiary grounds exist would be referred for prosecution.
Anwar said that from his own experience, recordings and videos alone are not sufficient without supporting facts and legal grounds.
According to the MACC, those who are charged have sufficient basis and evidence, while the claims against the others are hearsay based on voices in the video.
Anwar was responding to a question from Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran).
On June 30, the two assemblymen pleaded not guilty to corruption charges related to mineral prospecting licences in the state.
Authorities began their probe after a series of edited videos were published by news portal Malaysiakini in November last year. - August 19, 2025