Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Armizan Mohd Ali lashed out at critics from Sabah Umno and Warisan linking him to the state’s mining scandal, urging them to reveal the sources behind their accusations.
Armizan, who is also the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) deputy secretary-general, particularly took aim at Warisan supreme council member Calvin Chong, Sabah Umno elections director Jeffery Nor Mohamed and Warisan’s former Papar MP Ahmad Hassan.
Accusing the trio of acting as mouthpieces to spread slander against him, circulated via an anonymous message on “fake” social media accounts, Armizan dared them to reveal the source of the allegations.
“Please bring forth the ‘investigative journalist’ and ‘Datuk Z’ from the spiritual realm and reveal all the evidence they have, if these individuals truly exist.
“If they (Chong, Jeffery and Ahmad) fail to do so, I challenge them to make a follow-up statement accusing me of corruption - say it out loud without using vague insinuations,” Armizan said in a statement today.
The minister added he had instructed his lawyers to issue letters to the trio in an attempt to seek their cooperation and clarification.
“Once the source is identified, I can initiate a defamation/libel lawsuit, (during which) they will have to present any evidence - if such evidence even exists - to back their accusations.
“Don’t throw stones and then hide your hands. Be brave enough to show yourselves, take responsibility for your allegations, and let’s meet in court,” he added.
‘Don’t keep mum’
Yesterday, Chong told GRS to state its position on the corruption allegations faced by Armizan, asserting that politicians from the coalition cannot rely on the principle “innocent until proven guilty in court” as an excuse to remain silent or avoid responsibility.
On March 26, Jeffery called on Armizan to come clean about two viral photographs allegedly showing the latter meeting an Indonesian mining corporation in 2023, claiming many Sabahans were wondering about the images.
Their calls came after Armizan, on March 25, denied claims that he was involved in corruption, following viral messages on social media linking him to an alleged corruption scandal involving mineral exploration projects in Sabah.
At that time, Armizan claimed that the person responsible for spreading the claims was a former elected representative who he did not name.
A search on Facebook found several postings citing a “Datuk Z” claiming Armizan was involved in negotiations between an Indonesian firm and Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM) - a state subsidiary - over mineral exploration licences in the state.
The postings included photos of an alleged visit by SMM and Armizan to the Indonesian company’s office in Jakarta in May 2023.
Meeting with Indonesian firm
Commenting on the images, Armizan confirmed today that the photographs were from his participation in a May 16, 2023, meeting between SMM’s management and representatives from Indonesia’s public-listed firm, PT Bayan Resources.
Armizan said the meeting was a mission to review “genuine and high-impact” investment proposals similar to PT Bayan’s successful projects in Indonesia, which have also employed many skilled Malaysian professionals.
Armizan added that he was puzzled as to why his involvement in the meeting in his role as a then-SMM board member, alongside its entire management team, was being used as ammunition for slander.
“I take responsibility for my actions based on the trust given to me, and I expect all parties to adhere to the same principle.
“Sabah cannot be led by those who are bankrupt of ideas and direction and are only trying to gain public support through sentiment and perceptions based on slander and insults,” he said.
Since November last year, eight Sabah assemblypersons, the state speaker and Chief Minister Hajiji Noor were implicated in an alleged corruption scandal by a whistleblower.
The whistleblower had released a series of video clips showing several state leaders purportedly discussing bribes they received for supporting a mineral exploration licence. - Mkini
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