The Sabah deputy chief minister said the report by Malaysiakini was unfounded and politically-motivated with the goal of destabilising and demonising the current state government.

Kitingan, a key leader of the ruling state coalition Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), said he reserves the right to take legal action over the “irresponsible and damaging” report.

In a statement today, he said: “I have never, ever, received any funds related to mining applications or any alleged scandal. The accusations are a deliberate fabrication orchestrated by desperate political actors seeking to exert undue influence on Sabah politics, a tactic historically employed since the 1960s.

“STAR categorically denies any involvement in mining activities. We have never applied for any mining licenses. As proponents of the Nature Conservation Agreement, mining is inherently incompatible with our conservation principles.”

Kitingan also said he and other STAR members had given full cooperation to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s investigation into the alleged scandal.

He claimed that he was being subject to these allegedly false accusations because he championed Sabah’s rights, and expected more of such claims to emerge in the days leading to the Sabah state assembly elections expected later this year.

“It is not surprising that certain groups and parties will exploit this, hoping that this fake news will alter the dynamics and political landscape in Sabah,” he said.

Two assemblymen and a businessman are expected to be charged at the Kota Kinabalu court tomorrow in relation to the alleged mining scandal.

The alleged scandal was reported last year after a series of videos linking several Sabah assemblymen to it were leaked. The videos allegedly depicted discussions involving bribery and misconduct related to mineral exploration projects in the state.

In February, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said the initial batch of videos lacked credibility as they had been heavily edited.