Mulls legal action against news outlet, saying anonymous whistleblower is an old tactic in the book to frame politicians.
KOTA KINABALU : – Sabah Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan has denied allegations that he received RM1.78 million linked to a purported mining scandal, dismissing the claim as baseless and politically motivated.
The allegation, first reported by Malaysiakini on June 27, was based on information provided by an unnamed whistleblower who claimed that Dr Jeffrey — along with several other state leaders — was part of a larger network of political figures alleged to have received funds from companies seeking mining approvals.
In a statement issued Sunday, Dr Jeffrey, who is also Sabah STAR president and the state agriculture and fisheries minister, rejected the accusation outright.
“I have never received any funds related to any mining application or scandal.
“This is a complete fabrication — an orchestrated attempt by desperate political actors to destabilise Sabah’s government,” he said.
He said the tactic of using anonymous accusations and leaked materials to sway public opinion was “nothing new” in Sabah politics, calling it a strategy that dates back to the 1960s.
STAR, a component party of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government, also denied having any links to mining activities, saying it has never applied for any mining licence.
The party cited its support for the Nature Conservation Agreement (NCA) as evidence of its anti-extractive stance.
Dr Jeffrey said both he and party members had cooperated fully with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), including by giving detailed statements to investigators.
He criticised what he described as trial by media, adding: “This is the price we pay for defending Sabah’s rights. But let us be clear — earlier statements by the same whistleblower have already cleared both STAR and PBS of any wrongdoing or receipt of corrupt funds.”
He warned that more politically driven accusations may surface in the lead-up to the state election, and said he is considering legal action against Malaysiakini for what he called “irresponsible and damaging reporting.”
The Malaysiakini reported to have named six political figures allegedly involved in the mining scandal, including Dr Jeffrey, STAR deputy presidents Ellron Alfred Angin and Robert Tawik, PBS acting president Dr Joachim Gunsalam, and former PBS president Dr Maximus Ongkili.
The whistleblower claimed to have supporting screenshots, partial video recordings, and chat messages, which have since been submitted to MACC alongside a 300-page dossier.
