We have nothing 'to hide'

Ruben Sario
The Star

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Umno is of the view that everything is in the clear for its new RM35mil, 11-storey headquarters now under construction in the city.

“As far as Sabah Umno is concerned, I can assure you that everything is above board,” state Umno information chief Datuk Rahim Ismail said,
when contacted over a letter that appeared in the website of a local newspaper on Dec 3.

A similar letter was posted on an online newspaper on Wednesday. The letter insinuated that something was amiss in the deal for the construction of the Sabah Umno building on a 0.48ha site in Karamunsing.

Among the questions raised were why Umno did not use its own 2ha land in Sembulan to construct its headquarters and who was overseeing the construction.

The letter purportedly written by someone known as Haniffa, raised various questions on who was the real owner of the new building and if there was any relationship be-tween Sabah Umno and the company developing it.

Rahim, who is a member of the building committee, declined to say anything else other than stressing that everything about the project was above board.

It is learnt that Sabah Umno would let the matter rest although the party discussed it at a meeting a few days ago.

The explanation given was that the building, for which the groundbreaking ceremony was held on May 16 last year, had the blessing of the Umno headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Umno officials said yesterday that the land was donated by a private company, with the full knowledge of the party leadership.

They said they decided not to construct their building on their own 2ha land at Sembulan because the party wanted to keep it as a prime city property.

“There is nothing secret about this deal,” said a senior Sabah Umno official.
The new Sabah Umno headquarters, which is expected to be completed next year, would not only house the party’s offices but also banks, shops and a hall with a seating capacity for 2,000 people.