Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman said allegations of graft levelled against him by whistleblower website Sarawak Report were “recycled allegations” and “frivilous”.

“I deny all these allegation. I wish to put it on record once again that I have no business association whatsoever with an individual named Michael Chia,” he said in a statement today.

Over the past week, London-based Sarawak Report has made two allegations against Musa.

The first involves the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) purported probe into allegations that Musa had issued timber licences to his politician brother, Anifah.

Sarawak Report claimed that it has MACC documents - leaked from investigations into Chia, a timber tycoon often claimed to be an associate of Musa - to back its claim.

The second allegation involves Musa’s sons - Mohammed Hayssam and Hazem - who allegedly received kickbacks from Chia.

The website claimed that it was in possession of secret documents from the MACC and its Hong Kong counterparts to back its claim.

Sarawak Report claimed that the Attorney-General Chambers had refused to pursue the matter.

Will work with authorities

In his six-paragraph press release today, Musa said the allegations made by Sarawak Report was an “act of defamation and conspiracy” aimed at toppling the BN in Sabah.

He said that the allegations were trumped up by his opponents and desperate individuals, in view of impending elections.

“It is unfortunate that there are people out there who will keep using recycled allegations to get to the top when the election is near.

“The people of Sabah can decide for themselves based on my track record (and) not faceless and nameless people who use blogs to serve their political interest,” he said.

Musa said he would cooperate with the authorities if need be.

He added that he had no interest in entertaining these “frivolous” allegations as his priority was to serve the people of Sabah.

Anifah, who is the foreign affairs minister, has pleaded ignorance over Sarawak Report’s claims.