Jahid denies news portal's allegations linking him to mining bribery scandal, claims report seeks to destabilise Sabah govt

KOTA KINABALU (June 30): Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) deputy president Datuk Seri Panglima Jahid Jahim has categorically denied allegations linking him to a bribery scandal involving mining activities in Sabah, calling the claims baseless and irresponsible.

The allegations were published by Malaysiakini in an article dated June 28, 2025, titled ‘Lagi Kejutan Sabah: Skandal pelombongan selubungi STAR, pemimpin tertinggi PBS’ by RK Anand and Alyaa Alhajri.

The report claimed that Jahid had received an RM150,000 bribe connected to a mining scandal currently under public scrutiny.

In response, the Sabah Rural Development Minister stated he has never been involved in any mining-related scandal and has never received any funds linked to the approval or issuance of mining licences.

He clarified that the ministry under his purview has no role in processing such licences.

“As the state assemblyman for Tamparuli, I wish to state unequivocally that no prospecting licence or any other licence related to mining has been approved or issued in my constituency,” he stressed.

Jahid further criticised what he alleged to be an alarming trend of certain parties abusing media platforms to fabricate false narratives of corruption, often before any official investigation has taken place.

“This attempt by Malaysiakini to manufacture a false narrative is an outright violation of the law. It invites the public to pass judgment before the due process has run its course,” he claimed.

He echoed the sentiments of Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, who recently dismissed similar allegations.

Both leaders claimed such reports are part of a broader tactic to destabilise the state government ahead of the upcoming state election, a strategy Jahid described as part of Sabah’s historical “regime change playbook” dating back to the 1960s.

Jahid confirmed that he is currently seeking legal advice and reserves the right to pursue legal action against Malaysiakini and the two authors involved in the publication of the report.