COMMENT | The resignation of Shamsul Iskandar Akin as the senior political secretary to the prime minister has added another ripple to a political climate already strained by accusations, counter-narratives and the high stakes of the Sabah state election.

What began as a dispute over a cancelled mineral exploration licence has evolved into a public spectacle, fuelled by businessperson Albert Tei’s dramatic claims and carefully curated disclosures.

The timing alone invites scrutiny. His revelations appear designed to intrude on the election campaign and cast doubt on the credibility of the prime minister.

Tei now alleges that Shamsul was directly involved in the mining controversy. He claims to have handed over RM629,000 after being convinced that the funds would help recover money he had channelled to political actors in Sabah. He insists that he has compiled more than three hundred pages of documents, complete with WhatsApp screenshots and receipts.

He even recounts thousands spent on premium cigars and tailored suits for Shamsul. Most striking are his claims of cash transactions that stretch across Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur and Puchong. At face value, the list appears detailed. Yet detail is not the same as proof.

The pattern becomes clearer when one...