Mining Scandal Sue If Allegations False Warisan Tells Star And Pbs Leaders

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A Warisan assemblyperson has challenged six Star and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) leaders implicated in the explosive Sabah mining scandal to sue over the allegation linking them alongside nine other politicians from the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition.
“If they are truly victims of defamation and the contents reported by Malaysiakini are fabricated, I urge them to file a police report immediately,” said Elopura assemblyperson Calvin Chong.
“Taking legal action against Malaysiakini would be the best platform to prove that they were not involved in the alleged corruption activities, and would also serve to clear their names and reputations,” he added in a statement today.
He was referring to a Malaysiakini report in June in which six prominent individuals were named as being allegedly involved.
These were: Star president and Deputy Chief Minister I, Jeffrey Kitingan, his two deputies, Ellron Alfred Angin (who is also Sabah youth and sports minister) and Robert Tawik (who also serves as state assistant works minister), acting PBS president and Deputy Chief Minister II, Joachim Gunsalam, his predecessor Maximus Ongkili; and the party’s deputy president, Jahid Jahim, who is also Sabah’s rural development minister.
A source had claimed that the total amount of bribes allegedly involved “for the six individuals” is said to be close to RM4 million.
Sabah Deputy Chief Minister I Jeffrey KitinganThe source had furnished Malaysiakini with screenshots purportedly taken from video recordings involving the implicated leaders. Malaysiakini was also shown brief excerpts of the recordings, but was not allowed to reproduce them.
Following the report, Kitingan had denied receiving RM1.78 million in bribes and described the allegation as a “politically motivated attack designed to destabilise, demonise and demolish” the Sabah government.
The Star president had also warned legal action against what was termed “irresponsible and damaging reporting”.
Similarly, Gunsalam and his deputy also denied the allegation.
No reports yet
In his statement, Chong also noted that the six have not filed police reports regarding the allegations.
“If the corruption allegations against these six individuals are false or defamatory, why has not a single one of them lodged a police report?
“These allegations are extremely serious. If they have never engaged in or accepted any bribes, they should immediately report the matter to the police,” he said.
“However, it is rather strange that, to this day, none of the six individuals have dared to make a police report,” he added.
Sabah businessperson Albert TeiSince Malaysiakini exposed the scandal last November, following a slew of videos and WhatsApp messages provided by businessperson Albert Tei, only one of the assemblypersons implicated - Ariifin Arif - had filed a police report over an article claiming that he had purportedly brokered a settlement.
However, less than 24 hours later, Tei filed a counter report accusing Arifin, who is a state minister and the son-in-law of Sabah governor Musa Aman, of making a false police report.
Yesterday, Tei’s lawyer wrote to Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail seeking updates on his police report against Arifin lodged on Feb 6. - Mkini

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