Sabah minister slams ‘malicious’ news report linking him to mining scandal

 

Science, technology and innovation minister Arifin Arif said the news portal that ran a story linking him to the scandal did not contact him for comments. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

A Sabah minister has slammed a news report linking him to the mining scandal in the state, saying it is both malicious and inaccurate.

Arifin Arif, the state’s science, technology and innovation minister, now plans to drag those who slandered him to court, Sabah Media, a Kota Kinabalu-based portal reported.

According to Arifin, the news report contained baseless claims and was slanderous in nature.

Speaking to reporters after lodging a police report, he claimed that the said portal, which was not identified, did not contact him to get his comments.

“So I will take legal action against this group which slandered (me) and which is in cahoots with the cartel in an attempt to monopolise the mining licence in Sabah.”

In December, a series of videos linking several Sabah assemblymen to an alleged mining scandal were leaked by a purported whistleblower.

Sources later told FMT that these were part of a plot to topple the state’s ruling coalition, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah.

Last month, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Azam Baki said the anti-graft agency had completed its probe into the purported whistleblower and a former CEO of a company linked to the alleged scandal. - FMT