KOTA KINABALU: The case involving a whistleblower who claimed corruption among several Sabah assemblymen took a twist, with the state government lodging a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) against a senior officer of a state-owned mining company.
A Sabah MACC source confirmed yesterday that a state officer had lodged a report alleging abuse of power on Tuesday afternoon, but declined to give details.
The state report comes after former Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM) chief executive officer Jontih Enggihon, in a report with a news portal, accused Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor of abusing his power.
The news report followed a businessman’s claim that he has eight secret video recordings of bribery involving senior Gabungan Rakyat Sabah state government leaders.
Jontih, whose contract ended on Aug 31, claimed that certain decisions made had elements of abuse of power and were “politically driven”.
The state report is believed to be linked to the alleged relationship between the former officer and the businessman, who is now seeking whistleblower protection status.
On Tuesday, Hajiji said he has nothing to hide in response to the allegations raised by the unnamed businessman.
However, he asked the MACC to investigate the businessman whom he accused of having malicious intent.
The crux of the case revolves around the state government’s approval of prospecting and mining licences to the company linked to the businessman.
Despite that, the state government subsequently withdrew the licences, triggering a conflict between the businessman and the state.
The businessman, who has yet to formally lodge an MACC report, allegedly took secret videos demanding his money back from certain leaders or their alleged proxies, according to sources in the know.
It was unclear how much of the money was allegedly paid, but the news portal has reported that it ranged from RM100,000 to RM4mil.
In Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Aman said it will investigate the death threat towards the whistleblower, who revealed a corruption scandal involving a state.
The death threat was received via a WhatsApp call on Monday.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said the 36-year-old man, a contractor, had received the death threat when he was at a restaurant in Kuala Lumpur at about 11pm.
“A man, who claimed to be from a group of hitmen, told the victim in a 16-second call that he had received an order to take care of the victim within 24 hours if he didn’t stop talking about the corruption scandal,” Razarudin said yesterday.
The caller also sent a photo showing a pistol and bullets along with another image of someone being gunned down, he said.
The victim lodged a report at the Sentul police station, he added.
Previously, a 17-second audio clip allegedly capturing a conversation involving a Sabah assemblyman and a contractor regarding corrupt activities reportedly surfaced. The assemblyman’s voice is alleged to be Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob, who has since urged the MACC to investigate the allegations.
