PBS acting chief denies claims of involvement in Sabah mining scandal
PETALING JAYA : Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) acting president Joachim Gunsalam has denied allegations implicating him in the mining scandal in the state.
This comes after Malaysiakini on Saturday reported a source as naming six elected representatives purportedly involved in the scandal, including top leaders of PBS and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR), both part of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah administration.
In a Facebook post, Joachim described the report as 'grossly irresponsible and ill-intentioned', saying it was aimed at tarnishing his reputation.
'I firmly deny the allegations implicating me in the purported bribery scandal involving Sabah mineral mining licences as reported in the Malaysiakini news portal,' he said.
He added that he would not be distracted by attempts to discredit him but would remain committed to carrying out his responsibilities as Kundasang assemblyman and state minister.
Joachim also urged PBS members and supporters to remain calm, united, and focused, saying he would face the situation with a clear conscience.
'Let us continue to work hard for the people. There is still much to do. We need to continue listening, finding what can be improved, and doing our best to bring development to our beloved state,' he said.
In the Malaysiakini report, the source claimed that Joachim had received a bribe of RM600,000.
The news portal later reported him as saying: 'Let the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission do its job.'
On Monday, PBS deputy president Jahid Jahim also denied allegations based on the same report that he had accepted a RM150,000 bribe in the mining scandal.
Meanwhile, STAR president Jeffrey Kitingan on Sunday denied allegations in the report that he had received RM1.78 million in connection with the scandal, saying these were unfounded and a political move aimed at tarnishing the state government.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
3 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Muhyiddin denies defending subsidies for foreigners
PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin said the coalition's fundamental policy on subsidies has always been that they should be for Malaysians, not foreigners. PETALING JAYA : Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin has denied defending the distribution of government subsidies to foreigners, urging Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to furnish proof he had ever made such a statement. In a video posted on Facebook, Muhyiddin said Anwar's claim that he had made such a remark was slanderous. 'I have never said such a thing. From the beginning, our fundamental policy on subsidies has been that they are meant for Malaysians, not foreigners. 'I want to ask where Anwar read or heard that (purported statement), because there's definitely none. 'What was the source, and was it genuine or fake?' asked the Bersatu president. Earlier today, Sinar Harian quoted Anwar as saying that Muhyiddin had questioned the government for burdening foreigners when they had also made significant contributions to the country. The prime minister said the government had decided on targeted subsidies for electricity and RON95 petrol so that they could continue helping Malaysians while reducing the nation's fiscal deficit.
Free Malaysia Today
5 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
4-year-old boy dies in fall from 8th floor condo
Klang Selatan deputy police chief Kamal Ariffin Aman Shah said the boy died of head injuries while being treated in hospital. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : A four-year-old boy died after falling from an eighth floor apartment in a condominium at Port Klang this morning. Police said the boy's father was at work while his mother had gone out to send another child to the babysitter's house. 'The boy is believed to have fallen out of the window of the family's apartment on the eighth floor,' Klang Selatan deputy police chief Kamal Ariffin Aman Shah said in a statement. The boy died of head injuries while receiving treatment at Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang. Anyone with information can inform the nearest police station or call Klang Selatan police at 03-3376 2222.
Free Malaysia Today
5 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Developer liable for defects to Subang Parkhomes' common property
The Court of Appeal has affirmed a High Court ruling entering liability judgment in favour of the Subang Parkhomes JMB and for damages to be assessed. (Facebook pic) PUTRAJAYA : The Court of Appeal has unanimously dismissed a developer's appeal, affirming its liability to the joint management body (JMB) of a Subang condominium for loss and damage arising from defects in the common property. A three-member bench chaired by Justice Che Ruzima Ghazali upheld a judgment entered by the High Court in the JMB's favour, saying the ruling was sound both in law and fact. 'We decline to disturb the finding of liability,' said Che Ruzima, who sat with Justices Zaini Mazlan and Shahnaz Sulaiman. Che Ruzima also said the High Court did not commit any error in ordering an assessment of the damages payable. The bench also ordered the developer, Zen Estate Sdn Bhd, to pay costs of RM20,000 to Subang Parkhomes' JMB. The JMB represents some 475 condominium purchasers who had bought their respective units at between RM800,000 and RM1 million. Vacant possession to the units was delivered in 2013 and 2014. Following its formation in 2016 under the Strata Management Act 2013 (SMA), the JMB sought out the developer to hand over all documents to facilitate the management and maintenance of the units and the common property. It subsequently took out an application for discovery and, in 2020, filed a negligence suit against the developer over defects to the common property. The complaints included leaks to the roofs of its penthouses and at the complex's basement carparks, as well as damage to the tiles of its jacuzzi and swimming pools. The JMB also claimed the developer had failed to ensure that all electrical installations complied with the Electricity Regulations 1994. In its defence, Zen Estate contended that the complaint pertained to maintenance and that the 24-month defect liability period had lapsed. Accordingly, it argued that the suit was unsustainable. In the High Court last year, Justice Wong Kian Kheong ruled in the JMB's favour, holding that the loss and damage suffered were reasonably foreseeable. Wong, now a Court of Appeal judge, said the developer was aware that the JMB would eventually be constituted to assume responsibility for maintaining and managing the common property. He said Parliament had via the SMA expressly conferred statutory duties and powers on the JMB to carry out these functions. Wong held that the developer's obligations arose by operation of law and the absence of a contractual relationship with the JMB did not affect its claim. 'This is because the tort of negligence in itself is a cause of action which is independent of any contract between the plaintiff (JMB) and the defendant (Zen Estate),' he said. He also found that loss and damage suffered was reasonably foreseeable. Wong said the defects were attributable to the developer and ordered that damages — including for rectification work already carried out by the JMB — be assessed and paid. He also ordered the developer to compensate the JMB for loss of use and enjoyment of the common property in a sum to be assessed. Lawyers CK Lim, Julian Chan, David Yii and S Hemashantini represented the JMB while Cheryl Tay and Carmen Liao acted for the developer.
