Nizam said several videos shared by Tei show him openly speaking about making “political contributions” and channelling funds to certain political figures in the state.
He said the videos suggested Tei had attempted to exploit Sabah’s resource wealth for personal gain, but was thwarted when chief minister Hajiji Noor’s administration revoked his mining licences.
“Is it right for anyone to treat Sabah’s resources as his personal piggy bank? These (resources) belong to the people of Sabah,” he told FMT.
“Think carefully. Who is Albert Tei, really? He is malicious and only out to destroy Sabah.”
Earlier this month, Malaysiakini published screenshots of an alleged WhatsApp conversation between Tei and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president Jeffrey Kitingan, alleging that the latter had received RM1.78 million from the businessman.
In the published messages, Tei appeared to be urging Kitingan to ensure that Hajiji does not interfere with his company’s silica sand mining operations, referring to the project as their “piggy bank”.
In a video circulated on Oct 18, Tei claimed to have given a “small amount” of RM550,000 to Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) acting president Dr Joachim Gunsalam.
Joachim, the representative for Kundasang in the now dissolved state assembly, confirmed to Malaysiakini that the money was a political donation.
In another one-minute clip shared on the same platform, Tei was seen reminding PBS deputy president Jahid Jahim of a pledge of funds Tei had previously made to him.
Twisting the narrative
Nizam said Tei’s dissemination of the videos and private messages was a calculated effort to tarnish the Sabah government’s image following the exposure of his mining scandal.
“He’s trying to spin the narrative that the government is victimising him, when in fact he was the main culprit who abused the mining licence system,” he said.
Nizam dismissed claims of government misconduct, pointing out that the individuals who appeared in the recordings with Tei had no authority to approve mineral licences.
“It’s clear Tei’s actions aren’t about truth or transparency. They are acts of revenge meant to distract from his own wrongdoing,” he added.
Mastermind, not whistleblower
Nizam also stressed that Tei was not the whistleblower he had claimed to be, but rather the mastermind behind the mining scandal.
“The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) itself does not recognise him as a whistleblower.
“The law doesn’t protect those who pay bribes. He’s not a victim. He’s the main perpetrator,” Nizam said, criticising Tei for politicising the issue and painting himself as a victim of injustice.
“He wants the public to believe he’s fighting for transparency, but the truth is he wants to use Sabah’s wealth as a personal fund for his own ambitions.”
On June 30, Tei claimed trial to two charges of giving a total of RM350,000 in bribes to two assemblymen in connection with mineral prospecting licence applications in Sabah.
He is accused of giving RM150,000 and RM200,000 in bribes to assistant state industrial development and entrepreneurship minister Andi Suryady Bandy and Sindumin assemblyman Dr Yusof Yacob, respectively.
The assemblymen also claimed trial to accepting the bribes.
In the lead up to the court cases, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki confirmed that the state government had extended its full cooperation without interfering in the investigations, which eventually cleared Hajiji of any wrongdoing.