Latest news with #miningScandal
Free Malaysia Today
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Kitingan decries ‘fabricated' RM1.78mil claim linked to mining scandal
Sabah deputy chief minister Jeffrey Kitingan said he reserves the right to sue over the report, which he described as 'irresponsible and damaging'. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president Jeffrey Kitingan has denied a news report alleging he received RM1.78 million in connection with the alleged mining scandal in Sabah. The Sabah deputy chief minister said the report by Malaysiakini was unfounded and politically-motivated with the goal of destabilising and demonising the current state government. Kitingan, a key leader of the ruling state coalition Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), said he reserves the right to take legal action over the 'irresponsible and damaging' report. In a statement today, he said: 'I have never, ever, received any funds related to mining applications or any alleged scandal. The accusations are a deliberate fabrication orchestrated by desperate political actors seeking to exert undue influence on Sabah politics, a tactic historically employed since the 1960s. 'STAR categorically denies any involvement in mining activities. We have never applied for any mining licenses. As proponents of the Nature Conservation Agreement, mining is inherently incompatible with our conservation principles.' Kitingan also said he and other STAR members had given full cooperation to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's investigation into the alleged scandal. He claimed that he was being subject to these allegedly false accusations because he championed Sabah's rights, and expected more of such claims to emerge in the days leading to the Sabah state assembly elections expected later this year. 'It is not surprising that certain groups and parties will exploit this, hoping that this fake news will alter the dynamics and political landscape in Sabah,' he said. Two assemblymen and a businessman are expected to be charged at the Kota Kinabalu court tomorrow in relation to the alleged mining scandal. The alleged scandal was reported last year after a series of videos linking several Sabah assemblymen to it were leaked. The videos allegedly depicted discussions involving bribery and misconduct related to mineral exploration projects in the state. In February, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said the initial batch of videos lacked credibility as they had been heavily edited.
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Hajiji's aide files police report over ‘malicious' claims by businessman
Mazlan Joehari Manan (left), who is Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor's special officer, lodged the report at the Tanjung Aru police station today. (Mazlan Joehari Manan pic) PETALING JAYA : An aide to Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor has lodged a police report against a businessman for appearing to implicate the state leader in an alleged mining scandal. Mazlan Joehari Manan, who is Hajiji's special officer, lodged the report at the Tanjung Aru police station over statements made in a press conference given by Albert Tei outside the Kota Kinabalu court complex yesterday. In his report, Mazlan claimed that Tei's allegedly defamatory and baseless claims were later published on the Facebook page 'INFO X'. Tei was reported to have questioned why only a few people were charged in connection with the alleged mining scandal when the case implicated several 'big sharks'. Mazlan claimed Tei also implied that there was special treatment in the judicial process and questioned the delay in charges against other elected representatives. At the same press conference, Tei claimed he feared for his life, suggesting that there were efforts to silence him. 'These are serious accusations and amount to a grave and malicious attack on the chief minister,' Mazlan said. He said Tei made these remarks despite facing ongoing court proceedings, accusing him of attempting to influence public perception and create a 'trial by media'. Mazlan urged police to take action under Sections 500 and 504 of the Penal Code, Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act, and Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act. Yesterday, Tei was charged with two counts of giving bribes totalling RM350,000 related to mineral prospecting licence applications in the state. Sindumin assemblyman Dr Yusuf Yacob and Tanjung Batu assemblyman Andi Suryady Bandy, meanwhile, were charged with receiving RM200,000 and RM150,000, respectively. All three pleaded not guilty before judge Jason Juga at the special corruption court in Kota Kinabalu.
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Jeffrey Kitingan blames ‘hidden hands' for Sabah mining scandal fallout
KOTA KINABALU, July 1 — Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan, one of the latest figures linked to an alleged mining scandal, has claimed that videos implicating him are the work of 'hidden hands' seeking to weaken and destabilise the local ruling coalition. The Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku president denied any wrongdoing and questioned the timing and motives behind the scandal, which has led to charges against two state assemblymen over corruption involving mining licences. 'We see that there is a hidden hand moving around and planning all this behind the scenes,' he said. When asked whether he knew who was behind the videos or who had taken them, Kitingan said he did not know. 'Your guess is as good as mine. Those who have interest in destroying the government and taking over. This is not new. It has been happening for 10 years. The same game is being played. I am no longer surprised,' he said. The Keningau MP and Tambunan assemblyman described the scandal as a form of targeted political entrapment, noting that the videos have been released in waves, possibly as punishment 'when we don't bow to them or whatever'. 'I have no idea who took the footage, but it all looks pre-planned to take us down. It's like an entrapment,' he said. He said the party would lodge a police report and consider its next steps. Asked whether he knew Albert Tei, the businessman at the centre of the scandal who was charged in court yesterday for offering bribes to two assemblymen, Kitingan admitted to meeting Tei around the time the video was taken. 'We have met before. That's how we came to know him — when he was going around meeting businessmen. Based on the date of the meeting, I think it coincided with a parliamentary pre-council in Kuala Lumpur,' he said. Kitingan said he had previously met with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) during the initial round of investigations, but has not heard from them since new videos surfaced late last Saturday. 'We went to the MACC office and gave an explanation already. After that, we never heard from them. So we assumed it had nothing to do with us — until suddenly this came out. We were shocked,' he said. On Sunday, Kitingan denied claims that he received RM1.78 million linked to the Sabah mining scandal, adding that his party had never applied for any mining licence nor been involved in mining activities. He said the allegations — published by a news portal quoting an unnamed source — were baseless and politically motivated by his critics. The video series has so far implicated some 15 state assemblymen, including high-level Cabinet ministers and a State Assembly speaker. He maintained that his party would not be pressured into making political decisions based on public speculation. 'If anything, it has strengthened our political strategy,' he said.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sabah assistant minister summoned by MACC as RM200,000 mining probe closes in on charges
KOTA KINABALU, June 23 — Another politician in the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah state administration has been summoned to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office here today, the latest development in the mining scandal that began last year. According to news portal Info X, Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Assistant Minister Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy arrived at the MACC Sabah office at around 9am today, accompanied by two lawyers, to give his statement. In December last year, a video of Andi was published by Malaysiakini showing him in discussion with a businessman over the procurement of a mining licence. Andi, who is from Barisan Nasional, is the Kalabakan MP and Tanjung Batu state assemblyman. Last week, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said that three individuals, including two state assemblymen, are expected to be charged later this month as officers begin the process of arrest. Aside from Andi, two other men have been named in media reports as those who may be charged. Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Yusof Yacob — who heads the state's investment arm Qhazanah Sabah Berhad — was questioned by MACC Sabah for nearly four hours last Wednesday. The third individual expected to face charges is businessman Albert Teh, who had brought forward the series of videos that sparked the prospecting licence scandal. The alleged corrupt activities are believed to have taken place between 2023 and 2024, involving bribes totalling around RM200,000 in exchange for assistance in processing mineral exploration licence applications.
Malay Mail
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Sabah assistant minister summoned by MACC as RM200,000 mining probe closes in on charges
KOTA KINABALU, June 23 — Another politician in the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah state administration has been summoned to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office here today, the latest development in the mining scandal that began last year. According to news portal Info X, Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Assistant Minister Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy arrived at the MACC Sabah office at around 9am today, accompanied by two lawyers, to give his statement. In December last year, a video of Andi was published by Malaysiakini showing him in discussion with a businessman over the procurement of a mining licence. Andi, who is from Barisan Nasional, is the Kalabakan MP and Tanjung Batu state assemblyman. Last week, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said that three individuals, including two state assemblymen, are expected to be charged later this month as officers begin the process of arrest. Aside from Andi, two other men have been named in media reports as those who may be charged. Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Yusof Yacob — who heads the state's investment arm Qhazanah Sabah Berhad — was questioned by MACC Sabah for nearly four hours last Wednesday. The third individual expected to face charges is businessman Albert Teh, who had brought forward the series of videos that sparked the prospecting licence scandal. The alleged corrupt activities are believed to have taken place between 2023 and 2024, involving bribes totalling around RM200,000 in exchange for assistance in processing mineral exploration licence applications.
