PAS has lodged a police report over claims that controversial businessman Albert Tei paid multiple bribes to PKR‘s Shamsul Iskandar Akin.
PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said the report, filed at the Tawau police station, demanded a thorough investigation.
“Although he has resigned as the prime minister’s political secretary, that does not absolve him of responsibility to be investigated and to ensure that the investigation is conducted fairly,” he told a press conference in Sabah this morning.
Fadhli also said that PAS was coordinating similar police reports nationwide, with several already filed in Terengganu and Negeri Sembilan.
“NGOs are also expected to file reports to demand thorough and fair investigations by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC),” he added.
PAS Youth information chief Khairul Nadzir Helmi Azhar, who was also present, described the allegations as a major blow to anti-corruption efforts.
“When a senior political aide is implicated, it reflects back on the prime minister. This undermines anti-corruption and reform initiatives and smears the prime minister’s image,” he said.
MACC said yesterday that it would investigate Tei’s claims against Shamsul. It also summoned Tei and a woman named Sofia Rini Buyong to its Putrajaya headquarters on Dec 1 to assist in investigations.
Tei, who is facing trial on two counts of giving bribes, is at the centre of the alleged Sabah mining scandal.
In a video, he is seen speaking to a woman alleged to be Sofia, who purportedly claims to act as a proxy for Shamsul.
The woman also claims that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim authorised Tei to record discussions with several Sabah politicians, including state ministers and assemblymen, concerning mineral exploration licences in the state.
Sofia has denied being Shamsul’s proxy, describing the allegations as “false and malicious”.
According to Malaysiakini, Tei claimed he had spent RM629,000 on Shamsul, including renovations for properties linked to him, as well as premium cigars and custom-made suits, allegedly under the assurance that he could recover the funds channelled to Sabah politicians.
He also shared screenshots of WhatsApp conversations in which Shamsul purportedly requested foreign currency from him before travelling overseas.
Tei’s allegations surfaced shortly after Shamsul resigned as Anwar‘s political secretary, citing attempts to use the controversy to tarnish his reputation and that of the government.
