Calls out whistleblower as someone involved in ‘labour exploitation, human trafficking, and threats against journalists’.
Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan) Youth chief, Fairuz Renddan, has criticised former MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya for defending a businessperson previously accused of exploiting foreign workers.
The businessperson, identified by Latheefa as “Albert,” later alleged that Fairuz had also received money from him in the past. To support his claim, Albert shared a screenshot of a RM5,000 “donation” purportedly transferred to a Public Bank account.
When contacted, Fairuz stated that he did not know Albert and could not recall meeting him. He also downplayed the allegation, saying that receiving donations was not unusual.
“Contributions sometimes come from friends. I don’t remember all that. But he (Albert) has been attacking the Sabah government non-stop. When he targets my president (Hajiji Noor), I have to respond,” Fairuz said.
Latheefa, however, declined to engage with Fairuz’s accusations. In a text message to Malaysiakini, she stated:
“I do not wish to respond to any attempts to sidetrack the issue. This is about ensuring the federal government does not look away from clear, prima facie evidence of corruption. That it involves elected representatives or the state government is incidental. The videos speak for themselves; let it be investigated fairly, independently, and without favour or bias toward any party.”
Fairuz, in an earlier statement, questioned Latheefa’s decision to defend Albert, who has released nine damning videos and WhatsApp messages since November.
Describing the 36-year-old businessman as someone involved in “labour exploitation, human trafficking, and threats against journalists,” Fairuz referenced past reports from Malaysiakini and Indonesia’s Tempo in 2017.
“Thousands of Indonesian citizens were victimised—lured with promises of high wages but ultimately treated like slaves. They were confined, forced to work under inhumane conditions, and paid far less than what was promised. The situation was so severe that the Indonesian government had to intervene to bring its citizens home,” he said.
Albert was charged under the Immigration Act but not for human trafficking. In 2019, he was granted a DNAA (discharge not amounting to an acquittal).
Fairuz questioned this decision, asking whether legal factors or an “extraordinary force” had influenced the outcome.
“If Latheefa truly seeks justice, why isn’t she demanding an investigation into how he obtained his DNAA?” he asked.
He also defended Chief Minister Hajiji Noor’s decision to reject the “21 mining (exploration) licences” allegedly linked to Albert, whom he accused of being part of a cartel.
“This is no small decision. It is a bold move to prioritise the interests of the people of Sabah. We will not bow to individuals who seek to use their wealth and influence to pressure this state.
“We will also not remain silent while certain external parties attempt to defend an individual whose record is already tainted. Sabah is not a place for dirty business and greedy cartels aiming to monopolise the state’s resources.
“If anyone tries to turn Sabah into a safe haven for those with a dark history, they are gravely mistaken,” he warned.
Fairuz further accused Latheefa of attempting to destabilise Sabah, claiming that this was not about human rights but about enabling a cartel to continue operating.
“The people of Sabah will not remain silent, and we will not allow this state to be taken advantage of by outsiders. If anyone tries to manipulate Sabah, the people of this state will rise to defend it,” he declared.