The Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) Sabah  said he is healthy and is in Kuala Lumpur after attending court proceedings last Friday.

“To all my friends and political enemies, don’t worry. I remain calm and am still healthy under God’s protection,” he said.

The Kinabatangan MP added that he would be in Kota Belud on Saturday to launch Barisan Nasional’s Kota Belud and Tuaran election machinery.

When contacted, his press secretary said he had been receiving calls and WhatsApp messages from various parties enquiring about the 64-year-old Bung’s health.

Jaafar Abdul Wahid said the photo of Bung lying in bed while being visited by BN secretary-general Ahmad Maslan and Sabah tourism, culture and environment minister Jafry Arifin was “an old photo from around 2015 or 2016” when Bung returned from undergoing kidney treatment in China.

“(The photo) is deliberately being spread with the aim of affecting Bung’s reputation,” said Jaafar. “Stop spreading fake news.”

Bung and his wife, Zizie Izette Samad, were ordered to enter their defence on charges of corruption and abetment over a RM150 million Felcra investment on Friday.

Sessions court judge Rozina Ayob said the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the former Felcra chairman and his wife.

Bung was charged with two counts of receiving bribes amounting to RM2.2 million and RM262,500 as gratification to obtain Felcra’s approval to make a RM150 million investment in Public Mutual unit trust.

Zizie, 44, faces three charges of abetting her husband in the matter.

The defence will begin its case on Sept 23.