Why did the assemblyman claim his corruption remarks were made in jest?

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Tempasuk Assemblyman Claims Remarks Were Jests Due to Misleading Video Editing and Unclear Intentions of Interlocutor

Tempasuk Assemblyman Datuk Mohd Arsad Bistari has asserted that his statements in a video, which appeared to allege corruption, were made in jest and not in a serious context. He contends that the video was edited with malicious intent to mislead viewers, and his conversation was taken out of its original context. Arsad believes the individual who engaged him in conversation had unclear intentions, prompting him to respond sarcastically and informally.
Clarification on Sarcastic and Informal Tone

Arsad explained that his conversational approach was adopted due to his suspicion regarding the intentions of the person he was speaking with. He stated that this assumption led him to converse in a sarcastic and informal manner, making it unreasonable to interpret the exchange as a confession or an admission of wrongdoing. The one-minute-26-second video, posted on a national news portal, had claimed to expose corrupt practices among Sabah politicians.
Denial of Corruption Allegations and Commission Claims

The assemblyman vehemently denied accusations of receiving commissions in projects, as suggested by the video, labelling them as baseless attempts to tarnish his reputation. He specifically refuted claims of blaming State Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun or Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, or stating that his project was "blocked." Furthermore, he denied any involvement of State Assembly members for Kawang, Pantai Dalit, Tanjung Batu, and Labuk in the conversation.
Explanation of Project Implementation Challenges

Arsad clarified that his remarks concerning difficulties in implementing large-scale projects in Sabah were related to the complex approval processes. These processes, he explained, involve numerous parties and high-level procedures, rather than indicating any personal wrongdoing or obstruction by state leadership.
Cooperation with Authorities and Legal Recourse

Mohd Arsad Bistari has expressed his readiness to cooperate fully with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and any other relevant authorities should an investigation be launched. He also indicated that his legal team is evaluating potential legal actions against those who continue to circulate misinformation, and a police report has already been lodged.

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Why did the assemblyman claim his corruption remarks were made in jest?

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