The mining scandal in Sabah has taken a dramatic turn, leaving many to wonder: Who’s really pulling the strings? While businessman Albert Tei claims he’s a victim of political scheming, a top official from Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS) is pointing the finger squarely at him. But here's where it gets controversial: Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan, the party’s information chief, insists Tei isn’t just a player—he’s the mastermind behind the entire debacle.
In a bold statement, Nizam revealed that Tei allegedly used a web of 20 companies to apply for prospecting licenses covering nearly one million acres of land. “That’s not just ambitious,” Nizam told FMT, “it’s suspicious. People are bound to ask questions.” He suggests Tei may have taken “shortcuts,” including falsifying documents, to secure approvals. Nizam even described Tei’s actions as a covert attempt to seize control of Sabah’s natural resources.
And this is the part most people miss: An internal audit reportedly linked Tei to document falsification and abuse of power within Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM), a state agency. This led to the dismissal of SMM’s CEO, Jontih Enggihon, who was suspected of aiding Tei in his license applications. “The scandal was Tei’s doing, not the state government’s,” Nizam asserted.
Tei, however, paints a different picture. In a recent podcast, he claimed the mining controversy was orchestrated by Sabah politicians and that licenses were awarded based on political connections, not merit. He’s even tried to position himself as a whistleblower, but the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) rejected his bid, citing his involvement in wrongdoing.
Here’s the twist: Nizam argues Tei is spinning the narrative to portray himself as a victim. “He’s the main culprit who abused the mining license system,” Nizam said. Tei is currently facing charges of bribing two assemblymen—Andi Suryady Bandy and Dr. Yusof Yacob—with a total of RM350,000 in connection with license applications. Both assemblymen have also claimed trial to accepting the bribes.
Despite the allegations against Tei, caretaker Chief Minister Hajiji Nor has been cleared of any wrongdoing. Nizam pointed to leaked videos implicating several assemblymen, which he says prove Hajiji and his government acted without abuse of authority.
So, who’s telling the truth? Is Tei a cunning manipulator or a scapegoat for deeper political corruption? Nizam urges the public not to be swayed by Tei’s narrative, calling it a desperate cover-up. But the question remains: Are we seeing the full picture, or is there more to uncover?
What do you think? Is Tei the mastermind, or is there a bigger conspiracy at play? Let us know in the comments below!
