KOTA KINABALU: Deputy chief minister Jeffrey Kitingan has criticised a “distorted and irresponsible” Al Jazeera article on the Sabah carbon credit agreement which he said was written based entirely on what a “whistleblower” told the news network.
Kitingan said the network should have double-checked the facts with the government, which has already endorsed the nature conservation agreement (NCA).
He added that Al Jazeera should have done this rather than relying on false allegations made by an “individual who is hell-bent on discrediting the deal and who has even set up his own group to take over the deal”.
Likewise, he said the same whistleblower had also misled and exploited former DAP senator Adrian Lasimbang.
“Clearly, both Al Jazeera and Lasimbang formed their opinions on the topic based on lies and falsehood fed to them by this individual whose motive is to gain political mileage and instigate the indigenous communities by defaming me,” he said in a statement here today.
Kitingan said Al Jazeera also took pleasure in defaming him based on the information provided by the “whistleblower” without bothering to investigate the truth.
“I am considering legal action against Al Jazeera and Lasimbang and others who are actively disseminating false information to the public, particularly those that are defaming my name,” he said.
Al Jazeera also quoted an unnamed whistleblower “with firsthand knowledge of the deal” as saying the person was left disgusted by the NCA.
The article also recounted previous corruption and sedition charges against Kitingan.
Kitingan, in his defence, said he made Sabahans heads of departments when he was the foundation’s director. He said these positions were previously monopolised by “Malayans”.
“Perhaps, because of this, then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad became enraged with me and concocted lies to smear my name and delegitimise me and the then ruling Parti Bersatu Sabah government,” he said. - FMT
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