Latest news with #Kalabakan
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
SMM sues MalaysiaNow for defamation, denies issuing mining licence to politically-linked firm
KOTA KINABALU, July 25 — Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM) has initiated legal proceedings against news portal MalaysiaNow over allegedly false and defamatory reports concerning the politically-linked company Bumi Suria Sdn Bhd. In a statement, SMM accused MalaysiaNow of publishing 'numerous allegations which are false, misleading, and defamatory' regarding the purported awarding of a prospecting licence (PL) to Bumi Suria, a company linked to prominent businessman and former political aide Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak. 'At no point in time did MalaysiaNow seek SMM's clarification prior to the publication. The publications were biased, one-sided, and represent a calculated attempt by MalaysiaNow to defame SMM, its directors, and officers,' SMM stated, adding that it would pursue legal action against any other media outlet that republishes the claims. The lawsuit comes after a series of articles and videos by MalaysiaNow suggesting that SMM had improperly awarded a prospecting licence to Bumi Suria for a 70,000-hectare forest reserve area in Kalabakan and Gunung Rara. SMM rebutted this, reiterating that it has no legal power to issue prospecting or mining licences. It stressed that this authority lies solely with the Sabah Department of Lands and Surveys (JTU) under the Sabah Mining Ordinance 1960. JTU director Datuk Bernard Liew noted this yesterday when saying that no mineral-related licence had ever been issued to Bumi Suria. Instead, SMM clarified that it had only issued a 'Conditional Letter of Permission to Apply for a Prospecting Licence' to Bumi Suria following internal board deliberations, stressing that this document was not an approval or the issuance of any licence. 'However, Bumi Suria did not proceed to formally submit any of the required documents for an application. Consequently, on March 24, 2025, SMM issued an official letter of cancellation of permission to apply to Bumi Suria Sdn Bhd. 'These facts were maliciously omitted by MalaysiaNow,' SMM said. SMM also took issue with the use of a photo of its chief executive officer, Natasha Sim, and her name in connection with an audio recording that they claim does not feature her voice and is not associated with her. 'This deliberate act of misrepresentation is unacceptable and unethical,' it said. The issue has drawn public scrutiny, particularly as SMM has been embroiled in controversy since a series of leaked videos and audio recordings emerged, alleging corrupt practices in the awarding of licences and implicating several Sabahan politicians. Two state assemblymen, Datuk Yusof Yaacob (Sindumin) and Datuk Andy Suryady Bandy (Tanjung Batu), are currently facing corruption charges over the scandal. Farhash, a former aide to PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has denied allegations that he owned Bumi Suria and that the company had been awarded a mineral prospecting or exploration licence. While confirming he is a director and shareholder, his lawyers have demanded the articles be removed.
Free Malaysia Today
21-07-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
SMM denies report on mining licence for Bumi Suria
Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd said it does not have the jurisdiction to award or issue licences. (Sabah Mineral Management pic) PETALING JAYA : Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM) has denied a news report claiming that it awarded an exploration licence to a company owned by businessman Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak. In a statement to FMT, SMM CEO Natasha Sim said the state government agency was not a licence-awarding body. 'Nor do we have jurisdiction to award or issue licences,' she said. Earlier today, MalaysiaNow reported that SMM had awarded Bumi Suria Sdn Bhd an exploration licence for coal mining. According to the portal, Bumi Suria is jointly owned by Farhash and Aminuddin Mustapha. The report said it had been granted exclusive rights to explore and search for minerals on 70,000 hectares in the Kalabakan and Gunung Rara forest reserves near the Kalimantan border. However, Sim said that Bumi Suria had never been issued or awarded any prospecting licence by the state government.
Daily Express
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
We will clear our names: Yusof, Andi
Published on: Tuesday, July 01, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 01, 2025 Text Size: Dr Yusof (left) and Andi. Kota Kinabalu: The two Sabah assemblymen charged with corruption on Monday said they will cooperate fully with the legal process to clear their names. In a joint statement, they stand by the principle that a person is innocent until proven guilty. Sindumin Assemblyman Dr Yusof, who is Qhazanah Sabah Chairman, said he would fight the charge in court. 'I want to make it clear that we are not guilty of this corruption case. We may have been humiliated by the media, but through this process we will clear our names in court. 'We have full confidence in the country's justice system,' he said. Tanjung Batu Assemblyman Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy said he will leave it to the Sabah Government to decide his future in office. Andi, also Kalabakan Member of Parliament, was responding to questions on whether he would take a leave of absence following the charge of receiving a RM150,000 bribe. 'We believe we can clear our names through the court process. 'I want to stress that I am not guilty. I will go through all court procedures while upholding the rule of law. 'I am confident the process will be transparent and fair. Together with Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob, we will prove our innocence. God willing, all will go smoothly,' he said. Andi said he would continue to serve his constituents as usual. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
New Straits Times
30-06-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Sabah assemblyman defers to state on next move after graft charge
KOTA KINABALU: Tanjung Batu assemblyman Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy, who was charged with corruption this morning, says he will leave it to the Sabah government to decide his future in office. Andi, who is also the Kalabakan member of Parliament, was responding to questions from the media on whether he would take a leave of absence. He was charged earlier with accepting a RM150,000 bribe and pleaded not guilty. When asked if he would wait for instructions on his position, he replied briefly: "Yes."
Malay Mail
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
RM6b school upgrades in Sabah ongoing as new Kalabakan project aims to expand rural education access
KOTA KINABALU, June 29 — The Ministry of Education (MoE) in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence (Mindef), will build a school in Kampung Serudung Laut, Kalabakan under the Jiwa Murni programme to expand access to education for children in remote areas. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the process of establishing the school is currently underway and has received strong support from various parties, including the local community. 'We will ensure that this project proceeds smoothly. I have visited the area during a recent trip and found that the site has very good access, so we will expedite the process,' she told reporters after attending Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka's (DBP) 69th anniversary celebration, here yesterday. The event was officiated by the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Sabah, Tun Musa Aman. Fadhlina added that while waiting for the school to be completed, the ministry has implemented a special programme involving reading classes for students in the area. 'Teachers have been coming in rotation, provided by the Sabah Education Department. So far, about 30 students have joined the classes and we are confident the number will continue to grow over time,' she said. Commenting on dilapidated schools in Sabah, Fadhlina said there are currently 390 projects to upgrade such schools in the state, of which 230 have been completed. 'Another 67 projects are under construction, and 93 are in the pre-construction phase. The total cost for all these projects is RM6.078 billion,' she said. — Bernama
