Yusof Yacob, who was charged with corruption involving alleged bribes linked to mineral prospecting licences in Sabah, has been appointed as the new Sabah Development Bhd (SDB) chairperson.
According to the Daily Express, the former Sindumin assemblyperson began his duties at the SDB office in Menara Kinabalu yesterday.
He was reportedly given a briefing on SDB’s operations and strategic direction, with the session also attended by board members and senior management of the government-linked company (GLC).
During the briefing, Yusof reportedly expressed appreciation to Chief Minister Hajiji Noor for the trust placed in him.
SDB is a GLC under the Chief Minister’s Department and the Sabah Finance Ministry.
On June 30 last year, Yusof, formerly chairperson of state government investment arm Qhazanah Sabah Bhd, was charged with receiving RM200,000 in cash from businessperson Albert Tei.
The bribe, which was allegedly meant to help process a prospecting licence for Syarikat Nusa Kini Sdn Bhd, was allegedly received at the Hilton Hotel’s rooftop bar in Kota Kinabalu on March 6, 2023.
Also charged then was former state assistant minister Andi Suryady Bandy, who was accused of receiving RM150,000 in cash from Tei to allegedly facilitate a prospecting licence application for Syarikat Sinaran Hayat Sdn Bhd.
The alleged offence took place on May 12, 2023, at the then-assemblyperson’s residence along Jalan Pantai Sembulan, Kota Kinabalu.
Tei, a whistleblower in the case, was charged with two counts of offering bribes to the assemblypersons under the same legal provision, Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the bribe amount or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Credibility of reform agenda
On Jan 6, Tei challenged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to demonstrate his commitment to combating corruption by taking action on other politicians implicated in the Sabah mining scandal.
He questioned the credibility of Anwar’s reform agenda, pointing out that despite many exposés, only two out of 15 politicians implicated have been charged in court so far.
Others implicated in the scandal were Hajiji, Deputy Chief Minister I Joachim Gunsalam, Deputy Chief Minister II Masidi Manjun; Rural Development Minister Rubin Balang; and Local Government and Housing Minister Arifin Arif - who is also the son-in-law of Sabah Governor Musa Aman.
Also implicated in the scandal were former deputy chief minister III Shahelmey Yahya; Tempasuk assemblyperson Arsad Bistari; Kuamut assemblyperson Masiung Banah; and state legislative assembly speaker Kadzim Yahya.
Several leaders of Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) were also named by Tei - including its president Jeffrey Kitingan and his deputies, Ellron Alfred Angin and Robert Tawik, as well as the party’s former president Maximus Ongkili and former deputy president Jahid Jahim. - Mkini
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