Cash And Grs Politics Albert Reveals Clip Of Kitingan S Aide

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Businessperson Albert Tei has released a new video tied to the Sabah mining scandal, this time featuring Rizal Johari, an aide to state Deputy Chief Minister and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) president Jeffrey Kitingan.
Beyond discussions about large sums of cash changing hands, the recording dated Jan 18, 2024, at a restaurant in Kota Kinabalu, explored the political dynamics within the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition.
In a statement, Tei claimed the recording showed licences were cancelled as part of a “power struggle” between Sabah Chief Minister and GRS chairperson Hajiji Noor, Kitingan and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Maximus Ongkili.
Kitingan and Ongkili are GRS deputy chairpersons I and II, respectively.
ADSIn the recording, Tei reminded Rizal about an alleged RM300,000 that he had handed over to Rizal in three RM100,000 instalments, a payment the aide received on behalf of Kitingan.
“Yes, I remember,” replied the Star president’s private secretary, who then asked about an additional RM500,000. Tei said he had passed that RM500,000 to Kitingan.
When Rizal asked about election-related payments, Tei said he had given “RM700,000, RM800,000”.
“This does not include the sponsorship - Singapore (trip) sponsorship, (Pesta) Kaamatan (harvest festival) sponsorship. Cash, more than RM1.6 million,” the businessperson added.
The conversation then turned to the 2023 political crisis in Sabah, with Tei noting that Star and PBS had backed Hajiji.
Speaking about a “project”, Tei claimed he had brought Kitingan and Ongkili into it.
Rizal then hinted that someone had “joined the puzzle” - with the subtitles suggesting he was referring to Hajiji, who subsequently “quickly cancelled the licences” after realising the two parties planned to merge.
“... So that they (the parties’ plan) die,” he added.
Tei, who has implicated more than a dozen GRS politicians in the scandal, was also heard in the clip alleging that Hajiji knew Kitingan and Ongkili had taken money from him.
Rizal: “Of course, he knows, right?”
Tei: “So how to create trouble for the two of them (Kitingan and Ongkili)?”
Rizal: “Cancel everything.”
From left: Sabah CM Hajiji Noor, businessperson Albert Tei and Star president Jeffrey KitinganAide claims ‘no recollection’
Contacted for comments, Rizal told Malaysiakini he has “no recollection” of the alleged conversation.
“I don’t have any recollection of what transpired in our conversation between me and an individual by the name of Albert Tei,” he said yesterday.
Malaysiakini has also contacted Ongkili and Hajiji’s office for comment.
Last week, Tei released a recording of his conversation with Kitingan, whom he claimed took RM1.78 million from him.
When the Keningau MP denied that he was involved in the mining scandal and branded himself a “conservationist”, the businessperson released two documents to back his allegation. - Mkini

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