Latest news with #QhazanahSabahBerhad
Borneo Post
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Assemblymen, businessman vow to clear their names
Albert Tei KOTA KINABALU (June 30): Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof @ Josree Yacob, Tanjung Batu assemblyman Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy and businessman Datuk Tei Jiann Cheing have vowed to fight all out to clear their names after pleading not guilty in the Sessions Court here on Monday to corruption charges involving mineral mining licences in the state in 2023. Yusof told reporters outside the courthouse that he is confident they have done nothing wrong and will clear their names through the court. The Qhazanah Sabah Berhad chairman said that despite being humiliated in the media, they remain confident in the country's legal and judicial processes. Yusof also stressed that they do not want the case to affect their duties as elected representatives and will continue to serve the rakyat in their constituencies. 'We are still innocent until proven guilty,' he said. Yusof, 69, was charged with one count of receiving a RM200,000 bribe from Tei as an inducement to facilitate a prospecting licence application for mineral exploration in Sabah. The alleged offence took place at a hotel here at 2pm on March 6, 2023. Andi also maintained his innocence and said he will fully cooperate with court procedures. He stated that he holds the country's justice system in high regard and is confident the case will proceed fairly and transparently. Andi echoed Yusof's stance that he will continue to fulfill his duties as a people's representative, which remains his top priority. 'We will clear our names, InshaAllah,' he said. Andi, who is also the Sabah Assistant Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship and the Member of Parliament for Kalabakan, was charged with receiving a RM150,000 bribe from Tei to facilitate a similar prospecting licence application. The alleged offence occurred at Andi's residence here at 11pm on May 12, 2023. When asked if he would take a leave of absence, Andi said he would leave the matter to the Sabah government to decide. Tei, 36, from Selangor, was charged with two counts of giving bribes to Yusof and Andi at the respective locations, dates, and times. Yusof (left) and Andi at the court. – Bernama photo Yusof and Andi were charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, while Tei was charged under Section 16(b)(A) of the same law. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000 — whichever is higher. Meanwhile, Tei questioned why only two assemblymen were charged in the eight months since the MACC began investigating a series of released videos. He claimed to have provided the commission with stronger evidence implicating seven others than what was used against Yusof and Andi. 'Only two people were charged. Was their 'cable' not strong enough? 'What about the other seven, especially Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor? 'They caught the anchovies, but the sharks are still roaming around,' he told reporters outside the courthouse. Tei also expressed disappointment that he, as the whistleblower, was being charged, calling it a 'poisonous message' being sent by the MACC to the rakyat. He said his prosecution shows that those who expose wrongdoing involving powerful or influential figures risk being punished instead of protected — but vowed to press on as a youth fighting corruption. 'I know these people are always thinking of ways to make things difficult for me so that the investigation cannot continue. 'So, I am calling on the rakyat of Malaysia to be a witness today. 'If anything unfortunate happens to me after this — such as being killed, kidnapped, or suddenly going missing — find those ten people, because I have no other enemies besides them,' he said. Despite facing prosecution, Tei said he remained undeterred and would fight the charges in court. 'I am not afraid. I'll continue to speak out,' he said. Deputy public prosecutors Nurul Izzati Sapifee and Rustam Sanip appeared for the prosecution. Yusof and Andi were represented by lawyers Datuk Ram Singh, Shahlan Jufri and Ridzwandean Borhan, while Tei was represented by Edward Paul. Yusof and Andi were each granted bail of RM50,000 in one surety, while Tei was allowed bail of RM60,000 in one surety. The court also set August 5 for case mention and ordered all the accused to surrender their passports and report to the nearest MACC office every two months.
Malaysian Reserve
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Malaysian Reserve
Two Sabah reps, businessman plead not guilty to bribery over mining licences
KOTA KINABALU — Two Sabah assemblymen and a businessman pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to corruption charges involving mineral mining licensing in the state in 2023. The accused — Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof @ Josree Yacob, Tanjung Batu assemblyman Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy, and businessman Datuk Tei Jiann Cheing — made their pleas after separate charges were read before Judge Jason Juga. Yusof, 69, who is the chairman of Qhazanah Sabah Berhad, was charged with one count of receiving a RM200,000 bribe from Tei as an inducement to facilitate a prospecting licence application for mineral exploration in Sabah. The alleged offence took place at a hotel here at 2 pm on March 6, 2023. Andi Muhammad Suryady, 44, who is also Sabah Assistant Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship and the Member of Parliament for Kalabakan, was charged with receiving a RM150,000 bribe from Tei as an inducement to facilitate a prospecting licence application for mineral exploration in Sabah. The alleged offence occurred at the assemblyman's residence here at 11 pm on May 12, 2023. Meanwhile, Tei, 36, was charged with two counts of giving bribes to Yusof and Andi Muhammad Suryady, respectively, at the same locations, dates, and times. The two assemblymen were charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, while Tei was charged under Section 16(b)(A) of the same law. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in jail and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher. Deputy public prosecutors Nurul Izzati Sapifee and Rustam Sanip appeared for the prosecution. Yusof and Andi Muhammad Suryady were represented by lawyers Datuk Ram Singh, Shahlan Jufri and Ridzwandean Borhan, while Tei was represented by Edward Paul. Yusof and Andi Muhammad Suryady were each granted bail of RM50,000 in one surety, while Tei was allowed RM60,000 bail in one surety. The court also set Aug 5 for mention and ordered all the accused to surrender their passports and report to the nearest MACC office every two months. — BERNAMA
Barnama
30-06-2025
- Barnama
Two Sabah Reps, Businessman Plead Not Guilty To Bribery Over Mining Licences
KOTA KINABALU, June 30 (Bernama) -- Two Sabah assemblymen and a businessman pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to corruption charges involving mineral mining licensing in the state in 2023. The accused - Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof @ Josree Yacob, Tanjung Batu assemblyman Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy, and businessman Datuk Tei Jiann Cheing - made their pleas after separate charges were read before Judge Jason Juga. Yusof, 69, who is the chairman of Qhazanah Sabah Berhad, was charged with one count of receiving a RM200,000 bribe from Tei as an inducement to facilitate a prospecting licence application for mineral exploration in Sabah. The alleged offence took place at a hotel here at 2 pm on March 6, 2023.
Borneo Post
21-06-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Sabah's halal promise: A second chance at a multi-trillion dollar future
Sabah, our Land Below the Wind, has always brimmed with potential. We've talked about it for years, a whispered promise of what could be. Yet, that promise, particularly in the expanding global halal economy, often felt like a distant dream — ambitious, yes, but perpetually just out of reach, until now. The recent announcement from Qhazanah Sabah Berhad (QSB), the state government under the leadership of Datuk Seri Panglima Hj Hajiji Haji Noor's strategic investment arm, changes the narrative entirely. Their plan for a new SME Halal Industrial Park on 8.09 hectares within the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) isn't just about laying bricks and mortar. This is a comprehensive ecosystem designed to empower our small and medium enterprises (SMEs), providing crucial support facilities, integrating technology, offering digital platforms, guiding businesses through halal certification, and assisting with product marketing. Historically, Sabah's industrial focus has been rather narrow, concentrating on resource-based sectors like timber, palm oil and fisheries. Despite a strong local Muslim population and our enviable proximity to major halal markets, Sabah's participation in the global halal economy has remained surprisingly underdeveloped. Truth be told, our journey to this point has been paved with missed opportunities. Early on, Sabah and even our neighbor Labuan were touted as natural halal gateways, strategically located along vital shipping routes. Plans were drawn, land earmarked, and significant funding committed. Remember the much-publicized Labuan Halal Distribution Hub, launched in 2009 with RM86 million? It became a textbook case of a 'mega investment flop,' failing to export a single product. What a shame. Similar ventures in Brunei Bay and by KKIP itself also faded into obscurity. The root cause was not merely bureaucratic red tape — it stemmed from a deeper, more fundamental misunderstanding of what 'halal' truly means in the context of a modern supply chain. Too often, we reduce halal to ritual slaughter or a certification stamp, overlooking the fact that a 'NO PORK SERVED' sign is not synonymous with halal. Halal is a comprehensive system of ethical and spiritual assurance that governs every stage of a product's lifecycle — from careful sourcing and processing to secure packaging, transportation, storage, and retail handling. It embodies a fusion of faith-based values and rigorous logistical standards. Genuine halal integrity necessitates that products are not only certified but also scrupulously protected from any form of contamination — physical, chemical, or religious — at every single touchpoint. This demands dedicated halal logistics, segregated storage and robust traceability. Past initiatives stumbled precisely because they overlooked these practical requirements, constructing facilities without the crucial supporting ecosystem of trained logistics providers or real-time visibility technologies. The consequence? Halal products often lose their integrity the moment they leave the factory gates. Against this sobering backdrop, the news of the SME Halal Industrial Park is both welcome and, frankly, critically overdue. This time, Sabah or QSB must transcend the mere provision of physical infrastructure. A comprehensive halal ecosystem is urgently needed, firmly anchored by three essential pillars: Logistics Integrity, Digital Visibility, and robust Supply Chain Governance. Logistics Integrity is non-negotiable. Halal and non-halal goods must be kept strictly separate during storage, handling and transport, especially in environments where mixed cargo is common, like ports and distribution centers. Dedicated halal transport fleets and warehouses, backed by certifications from respected bodies like JAKIM, are no longer optional amenities but fundamental necessities. Digital Visibility will form the very backbone of Halal Trust. Technologies like RFID, GPS and blockchain offer powerful tools to meticulously track the movement of goods, verify their chain-of-custody, and provide real-time assurance to both regulatory bodies and discerning consumers. While the initial investment in such technologies may seem significant, they present Sabah with a unique opportunity to leapfrog older, less efficient models and establish itself as a truly smart halal hub. Finally, effective Supply Chain Governance mandates seamless collaboration among state agencies, halal certifiers, logistics providers and the SMEs themselves. Without coordinated training initiatives, transparent information sharing, and stringent quality control, even the most thoughtfully designed industrial park risks becoming another white elephant. The Halal Development Corporation (HDC), working in close tandem with JAKIM and local universities, should be empowered to establish a Halal Excellence Centre in Sabah, serving as both a vigilant watchdog and a dynamic think tank. Malaysia's JAKIM halal certification remains a globally trusted benchmark, recognized by 85-88 international bodies across 47-49 countries. This provides Sabah's halal industry with a significant export advantage. We've seen notable growth in certified companies, rising from 249 in 2014 to approximately 350 today, reflecting sector expansion. This growth underscores the critical need for continued, comprehensive SME capacity-building and inclusive onboarding programs. This is essential to ensure our Bumiputera businesses fully participate in and benefit from Sabah's expanding halal economy. This is a profound opportunity to uplift micro-enterprises, particularly those in rural areas that remain uncertified due to a lack of awareness, technical support, or capital. With proper incubation and targeted training, the halal sector can transform into a powerful vehicle for economic justice, alongside its potential for export growth. Moreover, the halal economy extends far beyond the food sector. It encompasses pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, personal care products, tourism, fashion, and even Islamic fintech. Sabah holds distinctive advantages that can be strategically leveraged across these diverse industries. Imagine our eco-tourism lodges offering tailored halal hospitality packages, catering to the rising number of Muslim travelers not only from within Malaysia but also from BIMP-EAGA, the Far East, the Middle East, and Europe. Or consider the potential of halal-certified herbal products, derived from Sabah's extraordinarily biodiverse forests, to secure a foothold in the expanding global halal wellness market. Sabah has, arguably, slumbered too long on its halal potential. But the era of mere dreaming is over. The Halal Industrial Park initiative by QSB must be seen not just as a development project, but as a strategic reset for the entire state. It presents a crucial second chance to position Sabah as a credible, indispensable node in the global halal supply chain. Success will not be measured by the scale of its infrastructure or the polish of its promotional materials. Instead, it will rest on an unwavering commitment to integrity, the precise execution of advanced systems, and strict adherence to international standards. Most importantly, it will depend on Sabah's ability to align vision with infrastructure and execution, elevating the halal economy from a symbolic label to a principled way of doing business. This weekend, as we reflect on Sabah's potential, let's look forward to a future where our halal promise is not just discussed but fully realized.
Daily Express
16-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Sabah's first integrated medical, lifestyle hub to rise in Luyang
Published on: Monday, June 16, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 16, 2025 By: Hayati Dzulkifli Text Size: Phoong witnesses the exchange of agreement documents between Yusof and Kenyo Chu as others look on. KOTA KINABALU: Qhazanah Sabah Berhad and Bina Indah Development Sdn Bhd have signed a joint agreement to develop The Hill @ Damai, Sabah's first integrated medical and lifestyle commercial hub in Luyang. The RM500 million project will include the proposed Sabah National Heart Centre, marking a major step towards enhancing the state's specialised healthcare capacity. Advertisement The development spans 13 acres and will feature over 500,000 square feet of commercial space, with more than 1,500 parking bays and infrastructure upgrades to ease congestion. Scheduled for completion in five years, it is expected to create over 1,000 jobs and promote economic activity while tapping into the medical tourism sector. The low-rise, eco-conscious complex will incorporate medical suites, wellness facilities, and a modern retail precinct, without high-rise residences to avoid market oversupply. Qhazanah Sabah Berhad was represented by Chairman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob and Deputy CEO Rudy Jaglul, while Bina Indah Development Sdn Bhd was represented by Executive Director Allison Tey and Director Kenyo Chu. The signing was witnessed by Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe. * 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
