Kota Kinabalu: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan denied businessman Albert Tei’s accusation that he received RM1.78million in bribes in connection with mineral exploration licences in the state.
The Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) President said he could not exactly recall having a conversation with Tei over a sum of money as alleged in a clip that has gone viral.
He said any such conversation must have been about political donations “years ago before the election” and nothing to do with the mining scandal that implicated several Sabah assemblymen recently.
“I can’t really recall this conversation. I am shocked that such a private conversation was also secretly recorded and now publicly displayed as if it has something to do with the mining scandal.
“The video is about political donations years ago before the election, without any hint of receipt, unlike the earlier mining scandal and (this conversation has) nothing about the earlier mining scandal.
“It is a set-up to link us with the mining scandal, which has nothing to do with me or my Star YBs (elected representatives),” he said.
Declaring that he is a conservationist, Jeffrey also said Star leaders never applied for mining licences either personally or under the party’s name.
Jeffrey also gave his statement to MACC Thursday. He is also expected to file a police report over the matter.
On Thursday, Tei released a video recording of a conversation with Jeffrey, who he alleged received “the largest payout of all in the Sabah mining scandal”.
Tei said that the sum purportedly given to the Keningau MP was RM1.78m or higher than the RM1.6m mentioned in the clip.
The alleged meeting was at a seafood restaurant in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 13, 2024, and revolved around the cancellation of mining exploration licences by the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) State Government by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
The Chief Minister was furious that Sabah Mining Corporation had abused its powers by allowing firms linked to Albert Tei to proceed with mining for minerals when the permission was only for prospecting.
SMC later lodged a police report alleging that minutes of its Board meeting were allegedly doctored by certain top officials who have since been removed.
But for unknown reasons the suspects have yet to be given the go-ahead to be charged in court by the Attorney General.
Meanwhile, former Sabah Bersatu deputy state chief Aksyah Nasrah said Albert appears to be contradicting himself in his latest accusation.
“In the first court hearing, he pleaded not guilty to charges of giving any bribes,” Aksyah said in a statement.
“If he did not, then the money he referred to is political donation, not corruption. How can it be corruption if there is a so-called ‘receiver’ but no ‘giver’ “.
According to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, Aksyah said an offence is deemed as corruption when there is both a giver and a receiver.
“All those accused by Albert also never held any positions in Sabah Mining Corporation (SMM) that issued the prospective licences,” he said.
“What’s more, every time he appears in the media, he drags in the name of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji. This clearly shows his grudge against Hajiji, who blocked his attempt to plunder Sabah’s resources,” Aksyah said.