A Betrayal of Trust’: Ex-MP Reacts to Sabah MACC Arrests over Rumah Mesra SMJ Programme
SANDAKAN: Former Sandakan Member of Parliament (MP) Chong Hon Min has become the latest community figure to condemn the alleged power abuse surrounding the Rumah Mesra SMJ programme, decrying the alleged offences as a profound and heartbreaking betrayal of the people of Sabah.
The Sabah Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has intensified its investigation into the implementation of the Sabah government’s flagship housing initiative, with three arrests made since April 2025. The most recent, a civil servant in his 40s, was detained in Kota Kinabalu on Wednesday (Feb 25), following the arrest of another suspect in his 50s in Sandakan just two days prior.
Reacting to the developments, Chong Hon Min expressed deep disappointment, stating that the alleged offences cut to the heart of public service.
“This is not just a bureaucratic irregularity; it is a betrayal of trust on a fundamental level,” Chong said in a statement.
“The Rumah Mesra SMJ programme was created with a single, noble purpose: to help low-income families finally own a home. For civil servants, who are the custodians of this mission, to allegedly abuse that trust for personal gain is truly heartbreaking,” he added.
Chong emphasised that the impact of such alleged corruption extends far beyond financial loss. “When power is abused in a programme meant for the people, it means a family continues to live in inadequate housing. It means their dream is deferred, possibly indefinitely, because someone in a position of trust chose personal enrichment over duty. These civil servants were meant to be enablers of hope, not obstacles to it.”
He also weighed in on the seriousness of the alleged offences, calling for accountability without compromise.
“What makes this particularly serious is the vulnerability of the target group. The lower-income community relies entirely on the integrity of the system and the people running it. If that integrity is compromised, the entire purpose of the programme is defeated,” Chong explained. “I am deeply disappointed that individuals would exploit a pro-people initiative in this manner. It tarnishes the reputation of the many hardworking and honest civil servants and shakes public confidence in government programmes.”
Commending the MACC for its ongoing operation, Chong said investigation is crucial to restore faith in the Rumah Mesra SMJ programme. The message must be clear: no one is above the law, and any attempt to sabotage a programme for the rakyat will be met with the full force of it. I hope MACC will leave no stone unturned to ensure that those who have betrayed the public’s trust are held accountable.”
