Albert Challenges Pbs Chief To Show Party Accounts Over Donation Claim

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Businessperson Albert Tei has challenged Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) acting president Dr Joachim Gunsalam to produce his party’s audited financial accounts to prove that the RM600,000 the latter received was indeed a political donation and not a bribe.
Tei said this was the third time he had called on the Sabah deputy chief minister II to produce documents such as correspondence, bank transactions, or receipts to back his claim that the money was a legitimate political contribution.
“I challenge Gunsalam to show the audited financial accounts of PBS to prove where my name is listed as a political donor,” Tei said in a statement.
He alleged that the RM600,000 channelled to Gunsalam was for the latter’s personal benefit, and not for party activities as claimed.
PBS acting chief Dr Joachim GunsalamADS“RM600,000 was given to Gunsalam in exchange for a mineral exploration licence. If the money was truly a sincere political donation as he claims, there should not have been any return in kind.
“Once a payment is met with something in return, it ceases to be a donation - it is corruption,” Tei said.
‘Is ‘political donation’ a shield?’
Tei went on to criticise what he described as the selective interpretation of the law, arguing that political leaders could now hide behind the “political donation” label to evade corruption charges.
“In our country, the law seems peculiar. Government political leaders caught on video receiving money can have it reclassified as a political contribution.
“In the future, the excuse of political donation will become a medal of immunity for politicians caught taking bribes.
“If the MACC endorses such an approach, it means the MACC Act 2009 is defective, promotes double standards, and fails to function against ruling politicians,” he said.
Tei claimed he had clearly separated funds meant for political donations and those for personal transactions since getting to know Gunsalam in 2022.
He questioned why Gunsalam had yet to present any documentation to support his version of events despite being challenged multiple times.
“Is he embarrassed because he has been challenged many times but still failed to show any documents until today?” Tei asked.
‘RM550k just small change’
Yesterday, a video clip surfaced on whistleblower Telegram channel Edisi Siasat showing Gunsalam allegedly discussing money with Tei.
ADSAccording to a caption at the beginning of the clip and its time stamp, the discussion allegedly occurred last year at Gunsalam’s office at the Sabah Local Government and Housing Ministry in Kota Kinabalu.
The full context of the conversation was not clearly stated, but it was understood to be over a cancelled mineral exploration project.
“I have already given you RM550,000 in total. I have checked the account before I came to see you. I have given you RM550,000. One time RM300,000, another time RM150,000, and then RM50,000, and another RM50,000 in KL (Kuala Lumpur).
“RM550,000 was passed to you, but what I have given so far is just a small change. But this is RM11 million, I would surely get sued, everyone would say that I cheated them,” Tei was overheard telling Gunsalam.
However, Gunsalam had maintained that all the money that Tei had channelled was a political donation for PBS.
The politician told Malaysiakini that he could not remember how much money he had received from Tei so far, but denied that it had reached RM600,000.
Gunsalam said PBS is also ready to extend its fullest cooperation to the authorities. - Mkini

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