Albert Doubles Down Challenges Pbs Duo To Prove Him Wrong With Probes

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Albert Tei, the businessperson who has implicated several high-ranking Sabah politicians in a mining licence scandal, has reiterated his challenge for the leaders to prove his claims wrong. 
In particular, Tei singled out Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) acting president Dr Joachim Gunsalam and the party’s deputy president Jahid Jahim, inviting them to disprove his allegations through formal investigations.
“Once again, I challenge them to lodge a police report if these allegations are slanderous or false. 
“I have all the documents and evidence to prove this matter,” Tei said in a statement last night. 
On Oct 9, Tei claimed to have played a role in Gunsalam’s alleged bid to monopolise the state’s scrap metal industry when the politician was serving as deputy chief minister and industrial development minister.
To support his claim, Tei produced two purported official letters from 2022 - one allegedly signed by Gunsalam and another by Jahid, who also serves as rural development minister - which were part of his alleged role to set up proxy companies on their behalf.
‘Political contributions, not bribes’
However, Gunsalam had downplayed the allegation, claiming that while a recording of his conversation with Tei indeed exists, the recording was taken out of context.
PBS acting president Dr Joachim GunsalamGunsalam insisted that the wider controversy should be seen as an attempt by Tei to dominate Sabah’s mining sector through a network of proxy firms.
According to Gunsalam, who also serves as rural development minister, any contribution Tei made was a voluntary political donation to PBS, not a bribe.
The recording has not been released publicly. However, a source had in June furnished Malaysiakini with screenshots purportedly taken from video recordings involving six politicians, including Gunsalam.
The source claimed that Gunsalam had taken RM600,000 from Tei in exchange for supporting the businessperson’s bid for a mining exploration licence.
‘A lie and insult to public’s intelligence’
Commenting on Gunsalam’s insistence on his own innocence, Tei accused the politician of distorting facts to deny his alleged misdeeds.
“However, based on the evidence and elements revealed, his misconduct has been clearly and definitively shown. 
“Their greed at that time has led to the consequences they face today, and they must bear the appropriate legal repercussions,” Tei stressed.
He also said, according to a 2022 letter allegedly signed by Gunsalam, the latter’s ministry had, in principle, agreed to the implementation of the exclusive rights.
“(Gunsalam) is attempting to manipulate the facts by claiming he only gave support, but it is proven that a principal agreement was issued in black and white by him.
“It is rather amusing that as a highly educated medical doctor, (Gunsalam) failed to distinguish between support and agreement. 
“Clearly, what he said is a lie and an insult to the public’s intelligence,” Tei added. 
The whistleblower also questioned whether senior officers in the Industrial Development Ministry at the time had a hand in recommending the implementation of exclusive rights for the scrap metal industry.
“I would like to ask who exactly is the minister who has the authority and power to grant approval for such a monopolistic activity?
“The most laughable question is: why did (Gunsalam) sign the letter of agreement if he truly rejected the monopoly activity as he claimed?” Tei pressed.
Gunsalam and Jahid had also earlier been linked to the mining licence scandal. - Mkini

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