KOTA KINABALU, Sept 23 — Defending the move to block businessman Datuk Albert Tei from entering Sabah, chief minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said that the state has the absolute right to decide who can enter the state.
Tei, a businessman who is the key complainant in an ongoing graft case involving two assemblymen, claimed that his entry ban was politically motivated and linked directly to Hajiji’s office.
“The state government has the absolute power to determine who can or cannot enter Sabah,” Hajiji told reporters after launching the Kedai Jujur 2025 programme at SK Mutiara here.
“But action is only taken after we receive full reports and information from the security authorities,” he added.
Tei, who had a court hearing today told reporters that he was shocked by the ban, and accused Hajiji of trying to prevent him from seeking justice in court.
Tei was accused of giving bribes to two assemblymen amounting to RM350,000 in March of 2023.
He was the businessman behind nine videos leaked implicating senior Sabah leaders.
Meanwhile, Tei has denied allegations that a Singaporean tycoon has been bankrolling him, “funding a corruption scandal” several Sabah Umno leaders.
Tei said that he might have links with the tycoon due to joint ventures, insisted that he has never received a single sen from the individual.
“I deny it completely. The tycoon has never given me a single cent. I challenge anyone to prove otherwise,” he said.
He stressed that his businesses were joint ventures conducted transparently.
“There is no hidden financier. My ventures are according to agreements, nothing more.”
Tei said the allegations were more rumours made to discredit him, having only surfaced after he was charged on June 30 with offering bribes to two Sabah assemblymen.
“I deny it. If I had paid any YBs (Yang Berhormat) or Umno, show proof. Investigate me. Until today, three months on, there is still no evidence. I have nothing to lose. If you want to charge me, go ahead. But at the same time, charge the six other YBs whose video I exposed, and the Speaker,” he said.
Tei explained that his business ventures were joint partnerships and not financed by external parties.
“It is just a joint venture. JV means I handle one part, my partner handles another. We have agreements. We are partners, not financiers. Do not trust the outside media claims … the allegation of financing is false,” he stressed.
Tei had sparked a controversy by asking for whistleblower protecting after leaking videos allegedly implicating senior Sabahan leaders including the finance minister, deputy chief minister and others.
