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PETALING JAYA: An activist has urged Kinabatangan MP Bung Moktar Radin to step down as Sabah Umno chief temporarily following the Court of Appeal’s order for him and his wife to enter their defence on charges of corruption and abetment over a RM150 million Felcra investment.
Sabah rights activist James Ligunjang said it is crucial for political leaders accused of wrongdoing to take a temporary leave of absence until their names are cleared.
He said that in cases involving serious charges such as corruption, it is morally and ethically inappropriate for the accused to continue holding political or public office until the case is concluded.
“Allowing an individual facing serious allegations to retain their position risks undermining public confidence in government institutions and the political system.
“For instance, if Bung were to temporarily step down from his role as Sabah Umno chief, it could help mitigate perceived conflicts of interest and uphold the fairness of the judicial process,” he said in a statement.
This would ensure their personal legal battles do not interfere with their official duties and responsibilities, Ligunjang, who is a former Petagas assemblyman, added.
Bung, the former non-executive chairman of Felcra, was charged on May 3, 2019 with two counts of receiving bribes of RM2.2 million and RM262,500 as an inducement to obtain Felcra’s approval to invest RM150 million in Public Mutual unit trusts.
He is alleged to have accepted bribes from a Public Mutual investment agent, Norhaili Madhi, through his wife, Zizie Izette Abdul Samad, at the Taman Melawati Public Bank branch between 12.30pm and 5pm on June 12, 2015.
He was also charged with receiving a bribe of RM337,500 from Norhaili under Zizie’s name at the same location on June 19, 2015.
Zizie faces three charges of abetting Bung in the commission of the alleged offences.
On Sept 2, 2022, the sessions court ordered the couple to enter their defence after it ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against them.
However, on Sept 7 last year, the High Court acquitted them following a revision application made under Section 323 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The Court of Appeal today said the finding of the High Court that the sessions court was wrong in its decision to call the couple to enter their defence was premature.