Claims to have spent thousands of ringgit on premium cigars and to have tailored several suits for Shamsul.
Businessperson Albert Tei, who remains aggrieved with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) over the cancellation of his mineral exploration licences, has made new allegations just days before the state election. He now claims that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s senior political secretary, Shamsul Iskandar Akin, was involved in the mining scandal, alleging he spent RM629,000 on him after being assured he could recover funds channelled to Sabah politicians.
Tei says he has compiled a dossier of more than 300 pages, including WhatsApp screenshots and receipts, to support his claims against Shamsul. He alleges that he paid for renovations, appliances, and furnishings for two properties — one in Bangsar and an official residence in Putrajaya. Items listed include leather furniture, dining tables, home theatre systems, washing machines, a clothes dryer, and a massage chair.
He also provided before-and-after photographs of various rooms in the Putrajaya residence, showing upgraded furnishings, beds, lighting, and curtains. In addition, he claims to have spent thousands of ringgit on premium cigars and to have tailored several suits for Shamsul, supported by receipts and body measurements from the tailor.
Tei shared WhatsApp screenshots from December 2023 which purportedly show Shamsul requesting money while abroad. He further alleges that he has evidence of cash transactions: RM20,000 in Kota Kinabalu (8 Nov 2023), RM100,000 in Kuala Lumpur (24 Nov 2023), RM100,000 in Bukit Puchong (15 Dec 2023), RM50,000 in Kuala Lumpur (22 Jan 2024), RM50,000 in Kuala Lumpur (26 Apr 2024), and US$6,000 (RM25,000) in Kuala Lumpur (4 Apr 2024).
According to Tei, he was introduced to Shamsul by a woman whom he describes as the aide’s proxy. Their first meeting allegedly took place at about 10pm on 8 Nov 2023 at the Jesselton Cigaro in Kota Kinabalu. He claims to have evidence showing the woman acted on Shamsul’s behalf.
Tei has been aggressively exposing politicians, he says received money in exchange for mineral exploration licences that never materialised. Since November, he has released videos, documents, and WhatsApp screenshots implicating more than a dozen GRS politicians.
Tei and two assemblypersons have since been charged. GRS chairperson and caretaker chief minister Hajiji Noor has accused Tei of being part of a cartel seeking to monopolise mining in the state.