Tei had previously released nine recordings, implicating assemblypersons and the state legislative assembly speaker, alleging bribes in exchange for mineral exploration licences.
Businessperson Albert Tei has released a new recording alleging that Sabah Deputy Chief Minister I and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) president Jeffrey Kitingan received RM1.78 million in payments linked to the state’s mining licences, escalating the Sabah mining scandal.
The video, recorded at a Kuala Lumpur seafood restaurant on 13 October 2024, captures a conversation in which Tei says he paid Kitingan the largest sum of all.
Tei told Malaysiakini he had misspoken in the clip when he referred to “PRN” (state election) instead of “PRU” (general election), and stressed that the transactions occurred during and after the 2022 general election.
Tei also alleges payments to other Star figures: “I gave him close to RM550,000 because he is your deputy (in the party)… He got one (mineral exploration licence), I gave him (the money). I gave Robert Tawik RM300,000… His licence has been cancelled,” Tei is heard saying, referring to deputy and Sook assemblyperson Ellron Alfred Angin and Bingkor assemblyperson Robert Tawik.
On Kitingan, Tei told the paper he had handed over two payments of RM150,000 and another of RM100,000 before the polls, plus further amounts during the general election, totalling what Tei said was RM1.6 million in earlier remarks and RM1.78 million in his later clarification.
In the clip Kitingan replies at one point: “Ya la (Yes).” He also says, “Hmmm, ini mau ada timing juga (There needs to be a timing for this),” before the recording ends.
Kitingan, Ellron and Tawik have been contacted for comment; the three Star leaders previously denied any involvement. Star information chief Anuar Ghani Gilong earlier described similar allegations as “completely unfounded” and a bid to “destabilise, demonise and demolish” the Sabah government, stressing that “Kitingan emphasises that he has never, ever, received any funds related to the mining applications or any alleged scandal.”
Tei says his partner company had invested RM7.7 million in exploration work by 3 May 2023 before the licences were cancelled. “That RM1.6 million I gave in cash (to you), that is no problem. But what about the RM7 million? That is the big one,” he tells Kitingan in the recording. “Who is going to bear the RM7 million? If my partner sues me, I am dead. I have no money now because of this,” Tei adds.
The release is the latest in a series by Tei. He previously published nine recordings implicating assemblypersons and the state legislative assembly speaker, Kadzim Yahya, alleging bribes in exchange for mineral exploration licences awarded amid the political manoeuvring known as the Kinabalu Move. Malaysiakini reported in June that six more Sabah politicians were implicated after screenshots from similar videos surfaced.
Tei himself has been charged in the case and, along with two assemblypersons, faces court proceedings. Critics have accused authorities of a cover-up over the handling of the wider allegations. Tei says he was barred from entering Sabah yesterday and accused Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor of protecting “corrupt YBs”.
He called the travel ban an attempt to silence him and to prevent him from seeking justice, and said he would seek court permission to enter Sabah again to prepare his defence. His lawyer, Edward Paul, told the corruption court that Tei needs to be able to travel to Sabah frequently to meet counsel and prepare for trial.
Hajiji defended the ban, saying the state has the absolute right to decide who may enter. Meanwhile, Tei has denied claims that a Singaporean tycoon bankrolls him; he acknowledged joint ventures with a tycoon but insisted he had never received money from the individual.
Tei has also accused the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) of leaking his confidential testimony to Hajiji, saying the leak showed the commission was “compromised and acting in favour of the chief minister”.
He said he was stunned when Hajiji publicly referred to the contents of his MACC statement during a Christmas luncheon at the Hyatt Regency in Kota Kinabalu last December.
“He openly said I was called by MACC, but I did not admit I did it. Imagine, I was already called by MACC but did not admit. This, he said publicly in front of many people. So how did Hajiji know my statement? Who informed him? This means there are rats inside MACC. Very clear. What I am saying now is a fact. There are rats in MACC,” Tei told reporters outside the Kota Kinabalu courthouse.