KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM) has filed reports with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the police following the findings of misconduct involving its former chief executive officer, Jontih Enggihon.
The findings emerged after a comprehensive internal investigation, which uncovered significant breaches of fiduciary duties, alleged fraudulent activities, misrepresentation to the Board of Directors, and other misconduct.
“Our investigation revealed multiple instances where he (Jontih) acted beyond his authority, making decisions that benefitted entities with potential conflicts of interest, in collaboration with a third party representing a cartel of interests.
“These actions were carried out without the Board’s knowledge or approval, representing a serious violation of company policies and governance standards,” said SMM chief executive officer Natasha Sim in a statement on Monday (Nov 18).
She added that SMM would fully cooperate with the investigations and continue to provide any necessary assistance to ensure the matter is addressed in accordance with Malaysian law.
"In line with its commitment to transparency and legal compliance, SMM has engaged external legal counsel to explore civil action against him (Jontih), aiming to seek redress for any financial losses or reputational harm suffered by SMM," Sim said.
Sim stressed SMM's commitment to upholding the highest standards of corporate governance, transparency, and accountability.
“The Company is dedicated to safeguarding the interests of its stakeholders and the people of Sabah, and will not tolerate any misconduct that undermines the integrity of its operations,” she said.
She noted that SMM is committed to ensuring its stakeholders are fully informed of the company’s actions and its commitment to responsible management.
The statement comes amid a rising debate on mining during the Sabah state budget discussions.
Issues pertaining to mining licensing have turned into controversy since early this month after a businessman came out with videos of assemblymen allegedly discussing bribes.
MACC has begun an investigation into the controversy after the Sabah government lodged a police report on Nov 12 against Jontih, who has gone on record in a video to accuse Hajiji of politically driven abuse of power in the issuance of mining licences.
Jontih’s allegations were backed by the pre-recorded video interview, which was uploaded online, in a follow-up to a businessman's claim that he possesses eight secret video recordings of bribery involving senior Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government leaders.
