A new video has emerged in connection with the Sabah scandal, revealing a discussion involving state legislative assembly speaker Kadzim Yahya.
The businessperson who released the video - the ninth since last October - alleged that he bribed several Sabah assemblypersons in exchange for mineral exploration licences.
The whistleblower also accused Kadzim of using his position to request projects from Chief Minister Hajiji Noor.
However, the speaker denied this, describing the allegations as “falsehoods”.
“I categorically deny these baseless allegations. They are outright falsehoods intended to tarnish my reputation. I have never used my position to request or receive any projects.
“I strongly caution against the spread of defamatory and false statements. Should any party publish or disseminate such allegations without factual basis, I will not hesitate to take legal action to protect my integrity,” he told Malaysiakini in a text message.
The video, recorded on Oct 16 last year in Kota Kinabalu, captures a conversation about the alleged exchange of funds for two projects and the involvement of his son in one of the firms.
At one point, Kadzim offered to return the sum of RM350,000, but the businessperson - whose voice was altered and face not visible - declined.
“No, no, I am not asking for the money to be returned. Don’t misunderstand… I just want to verify, that is all,” he responded.
In a statement to Malaysiakini, the businessperson claimed to have handed RM350,000 in cash to Kadzim in three separate installments.
First payment: RM200,000 was allegedly paid on March 22, 2023, at approximately 4pm at the Sutera Harbour Marina & Country Club in Kota Kinabalu.
Second payment: RM100,000 was purportedly exchanged on May 27, 2023, around 9pm at the Chynna Restaurant, Hilton KL Sentral in Kuala Lumpur.
Third payment: RM50,000 was reportedly given at 10.30am on May 31, 2024, at the Dome Restaurant in Bangsar Shopping Centre, Kuala Lumpur.
“RM300,000 was given for the purpose of the land lease application for silica sand mining over 1,550ha at Pulau Balambangan, Kudat district, and the RM50,000 was for the purpose of the application for a licence to prospect for mineral coal, gold, and copper over 13,000ha at Apua, Sungai Pinangah Forest Reserve, Tongod district,” the businessperson alleged.
‘Demanded RM3 million, 50 percent shares’
He also claimed that Kadzim had “demanded” RM3 million and a “free 50 percent share” in the company that submitted the application for the silica sand mining project.
“Initially, I did not agree to the demands, however, Kadzim insisted that without his influence and support, I should not even dream that this project would be approved for my company. To secure this project, I had no choice but to comply with his demand, and I requested that the free share be reduced to 49 percent.
“From March 2023 until May 2024, I had no option but to pay 10 percent of the RM3 million - that is RM300,000 to Kadzim for the application to be processed further,” he alleged.
The businessperson claimed that Kadzim told him that the two projects mentioned above are a “repayment” to him because he had, on several occasions, “saved the chief minister’s position for Hajiji” during the sessions of the Sabah legislative assembly.
The businessperson alleged that the speaker presented an application letter from the company dated Nov 14, 2022, to the chief minister.
He alleged this was accompanied by a note (minutes) titled “check and brief” addressed to the secretary of the Sabah Natural Resources Office.
“A cover letter from the office of the Sabah chief minister with reference no. JKM(S).100-24/31 dated Dec 2, 2022, was also provided to the secretary of the office, as attached,” the businessperson claimed.
The businessperson alleged that Kadzim received 49 percent of the shares in the company free of charge for the silica sand mining project and named his son as the director and shareholder.
The businessperson told Malaysiakini that he had all the documents to prove his allegations against the speaker.
Mining exploration licence cancelled
According to the businessperson, the silica sand area that was applied for was eventually approved for another company.
“Kadzim proposed that the RM300,000 taken in relation to this project be replaced with another project.
“Following the failure of the silica sand mining project, I submitted a new application for a mining licence to prospect for coal, gold, and copper in the Tongod district.
“I informed Kadzim that the mining licence was intended solely for the purpose of conducting a study on the presence of minerals in the area and that I could not pay him the remaining RM2.7 million for this project.
“After negotiations, he requested RM1 million, and I agreed that RM1 million should be offset by the RM300,000 he had already taken, leaving a balance of only RM700,000,” he alleged.
Following this, the businessperson claimed the speaker presented an application letter from another company dated April 29, 2024, to the chief minister.
“This was accompanied by a note (minutes) stating ‘please scrutinise, no obstacles if orderly’ addressed to the CEO of Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM),” he alleged.
The businessperson claimed that the approval for the exploration licence issued in June 2024 was later cancelled without any justification on Sept 25.
Responding to queries from Malaysiakini, Hajiji’s office said the chief minister would not comment and cautioned the news portal about an ad-interim injunction related to a civil suit filed by SMM.
The chief minister has claimed that the whistleblower is collaborating with parties with vested interests to undermine his administration by releasing the videos.
It was also suggested that the businessperson is part of a cartel seeking to monopolise mining in the state and employed fraudulent means to achieve the objective.
The businessperson previously challenged the chief minister and assemblypersons to sue him for defamation or file a police report on the videos. - Mkini
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