Kota Kinabalu: A businessman who admits blowing the whistle in an alleged mining scandal in which he implicated several Sabah politicians questioned why the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) only charged two individuals, despite him submitting “stronger evidence implicating several others”.
“Today I have been charged. ‘Ikan Bilis’ (anchovies) have been caught, what about the ‘Ikan Jerung’ (sharks) that are still out there? What about the other seven?”
“All the evidence was given to MACC. The evidence I submitted is even stronger than for these two individuals. So why were these two selected? Is it because their connections aren’t strong enough?” asked Albert Tei.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');}); He also questioned the unusual timeline surrounding the charges against him.
“I was informed of the charges two weeks in advance. Look at other MACC cases, arrested today, charged tomorrow. Who am I? I’m just an ‘Ikan Bilis’. Why the special two-week delay? What was that time for? Were they discussing something inside?
“Maybe they think they can silence me this way. I’m not afraid of the charges in court. I will fight for justice in court. Don’t think they can pressure me this way.
“Yes, I posted bail today. Tomorrow, charge one or two more, I’ll post bail again. I will keep coming to court to be bailed, bailed, and bailed again. Let the people see their actions.
“When it involves political agendas, politicians, I as the complainant, the exposer, the informant, the whistleblower in this case end up being the one charged.
“Since early October last year, my lawyers had submitted to MACC multiple times. We sent letters twice. We have official confirmation. We made a report to MACC once. I personally went to MACC three times to file a complaint.
“Why until now, end of June only two people have been charged? What has MACC been doing these past eight or nine months? I want to ask. Is it really that hard to investigate the YBs (elected representatives)?
“Letters were sent to MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Bakri, to the Prime Minister and to the Agong regarding this matter,” Tei told the media after posting bail on Monday.
“I know they are always trying to make things difficult for me, to burden me, so that investigations cannot proceed. I know what they are thinking.
On a chilling note, he said: “If anything happens to him after this, if I’m killed, kidnapped, or suddenly disappear, look for those 10 people. I have no enemies except those 10,” he said, without naming them.