Ex-CEO raises funds through sale of grapes for legal fees to battle CM

Former Sabah Mineral Management (SMM) chief executive officer Jontih Enggihon decided to punch above his weight when he rained accusations on Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, which landed him in the crosshairs of the state government.

He has since been accused of wrongdoing and colluding with a businessperson. In addition to an MACC report lodged against him, he is also facing a legal suit from the new SMM management.

For the past three days, Jontih (above) has been making trips to the Sabah MACC headquarters in Kota Kinabalu to be questioned. These sessions are scheduled to continue next week.

Jonith is now raising funds through the sale of the produce from his JonGrapevines & Figs Garden in Tamparuli.

In a post on JonGrapevines & Figs Garden’s Facebook page, the former CEO said the “grapes have ripened”.

“This is to top up the lawyer’s fees.

“Thank you for all the concern and moral support I have received through WhatsApp and social media. May God bless you all,” he said, adding that there is a “50 percent discount for all grape and fig saplings”.

Pioneer in fig growing

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Jontih described himself as a “pioneer” in growing figs in Sabah. He is also the president of the Sabah Grapes and Figs Association.

“I was the first to introduce grapes and figs for agrotourism in Sabah. I have conducted more than 25 courses in grape and figs growing which were attended by participants from all over Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore,” he added.

The report against Jontih was lodged on the same day Malaysiakini published a video of the former chief executive officer accusing Hajiji, who is the chairperson of SMM, of meddling with the issuance of licences and favouring certain individuals.

It stated that after a “deeply disappointed” Hajiji did not renew Jontih’s contract, an internal investigation purportedly revealed violations of good governance and abuse of power.

The businessperson he was accused of colluding with is the whistleblower with eight incriminating videos of state assemblypersons, which Malaysiakini has sighted.

READ MORE: Sabah reps' alleged corruption videos: What has happened so far

The whistleblower claimed that the videos contain discussions about the alleged bribes he offered to the assemblypersons in exchange for their support of his application for a mineral exploration licence.

The commission has also recorded statements from four state assemblypersons in connection with the allegations.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim vowed that there would be no cover-up in response to speculation that both the government and opposition consider Hajiji’s Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) a valuable political asset.

Separately, Sabah opposition leader Mohd Shafie Apdal and his Warisan assemblypersons have been demanding that the state government release the names of those who obtained the licences related to the mining of minerals.

Warisan bores into 'mineral scandal', demands names of licensees

PM denies cover-up in Sabah bribery scandal

Ex-Sabah Mineral CEO gets grilled again, but is unfazed

GRS veep in whistleblower video rues tedious, costly mining approval

Ex-CEO grilled for almost 7 hours, files MACC report against Sabah CM