Sabah newspaper The Daily Express reported him as taking issue with online news portal Malaysiakini for releasing “questionable video recordings done secretly, as if to undermine the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)”.

Suhaili said the news portal had yet to provide the state government’s side of what had happened.

“I strongly believe the allegations are politically motivated as the state election is due next year and there is no other way to shake the GRS-PH coalition government.

“Malaysiakini also risks being sued if the state government has been denied the opportunity to explain its part, especially if there is evidence of wrongdoing committed by the accusers such as offering bribes,” he said.

Suhaili accused Malaysiakini of “colluding” with the whistleblower in the case, saying there seemed to be an understanding between the two parties in the staggered release of the videos.

“We want MACC to be allowed room to do its job instead of conducting a trial by social media,” he added.

MACC was reported yesterday as confirming its receipt of a report on a businessman suspected of being involved in corruption related to a mineral mining project in Sabah.

It said preliminary investigations led to the discovery of information linking several assemblymen from the state to the businessman, and that five assemblymen had been summoned to provide their statements.

Former Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM) CEO Jontih Enggihon has denied allegations of collusion with a purported whistleblower behind the videos alleging corruption.

Malaysiakini quoted him as saying the allegation that he acted as a “middle person” between the whistleblower and the assemblymen was a “total lie”.

Jontih also said he had evidence to back his claim that Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor had “abused his power”, including text messages from Hajiji, briefing notes to the chief minister, as well as meeting minutes from SMM’s board of directors.