Sabah videos Part 1: 'RM300k in bag' and 'RM500k in installments'

EXCLUSIVE | VIDEOS INSIDE | The whistleblower has released seven full recordings of his discussions with different assemblypersons.

He alleged that the sums involved were bribes given to the politicians to support his application for a mineral exploration licence.

In this first part, there are two videos.

Malaysiakini has contacted those implicated and the Chief Minister’s Office for comment.

Video 1

‘Money in bag’, ‘CM being hammered’

This is a discussion between the whistleblower and state finance minister Masidi Manjun, who is also Gabungan Rakyat Sabah secretary-general.

Based on the video, the recording purportedly took place at the finance minister’s office on Jan 11 this year.

During the conversation, Masidi agreed with the whistleblower that the licence issue should be placed on the back burner because mining projects had become controversial.

“The opposition is making noise. You lay low first, jangan kelam-kabut (don’t complicate matters). The CM is being ‘bantai’ (hammered) left and right,” he said.

When the whistleblower asked if the “funds” should be “KIV” (kept in view) as well, the minister replied: “Yes, yes, yes, KIV first. Don’t take the risk.”

The whistleblower then told the minister that he had “serah” (handed over) the “first RM300,000”.

“My boss said it is a small matter, KIV…” he added, to which Masidi replied: “Yes.”

Asked if this was “ngam” (good), the 73-year-old Karanaan assemblyperson agreed: “That is ngam.”

In the same video, the businessperson met the minister’s aide, who confirmed that RM300,000 had been given.

“I promised to give RM3 million (to the minister) for this exploration licence. I have delivered the first payment of RM300,000… So the balance is RM2.7 million.

“You were in the (minister’s) office when I brought the bag (with the cash)… which I passed to the minister?” he asked, to which the aide answered in the affirmative.

Following this, the aide told the businessperson to “reserve an additional RM1 million”.

Video 2

‘RM500k in instalments’, ‘CM knew I got something‘

This recording is of Sindumin assemblyperson Yusof Yacob, who previously blamed artificial intelligence (AI) when responding to questions over the 17-second audio clip, which the whistleblower submitted to MACC, resembling his voice.

According to the video, the recording purportedly took place at the Sutera Golf and Country Club in Kota Kinabalu on Jan 3 this year.

The whistleblower reminded the assemblyperson, who is also the chairperson of the state-owned investment arm Qazanah Sabah Berhad, about having said that he would return RM500,000 in stages.

“Yes, how can I return it (in a single payment), you gave me in instalments as well. RM200,000, RM200,000 and RM150,000,” Yusof replied.

The whistleblower then corrected the assemblyperson, stating that it was “only RM500,000”.

“RM200,000, RM200,000 and RM100,000,” he clarified.

Yusof then said that he had used the sum for a division meeting, which he had organised in a “grand” manner.

During their conversation, the whistleblower had suggested that Chief Minister Hajiji Noor could be upset that assemblypersons did not “declare” (which is believed to be referring to kickbacks) to him.

“I heard gossip out there, they say… Hajiji is angry because the YBs (assemblypersons) did not declare to him,” he said, asking Yusof if he had declared.

“I did tell (Hajiji), ‘tolong bahagian’ (assist division). That is all... I did not tell him how much,” added the former Umno leader, who is now part of Gagasan Rakyat Sabah.

Following which, the whistleblower said: “Don’t tell me he doesn’t know that you got something.”

“He knows, knows,” replied the 69-year-old assemblyperson.

Support for Hajiji

The whistleblower then told Yusof that someone named “Fong” - whom the video claimed was Yusof’s proxy - informed him that the assemblyperson was the first leader to support Hajiji during the political crisis last year dubbed as the “Kinabalu Move”.

“After that, he (Hajiji) promised to give you that ‘barang (thing)’ more or less like a hadiah (gift),” he said, to which the politician could be seen nodding.

According to the whistleblower, the “hadiah” purportedly referred to a mineral exploration licence.

In the recording, Yusof also mentioned that Hajiji had “signed (off)” on the “deal” between the whistleblower and him (Yusof).

“I saw the CM, signed, okay. Enter SMM (Sabah Mineral Management). After that, for approval I met him (Hajiji) again. When we met him, I told him I have shares there.

“I WhatsApp him, you saw that,” he added.

The recording also featured a discussion between the whistleblower and Fong in Chinese, in which the latter acknowledged that Yusof had purportedly received RM500,000, RM200,000 of it was allegedly through Fong.

It is believed this recording took place before the whistleblower met Yusof.

Although Fong said it would be “gentlemanly” for the money to be returned, he, however, advised the whistleblower not to ask for the sum back.

“If I was you, I wouldn’t ask for the money because I want to continue dealing with him (in the future),” he added.

The whistleblower then recounted that Fong was given the RM200,000 in cash on April 28, 2023, and the latter nodded.

“First time, he took RM200,000 from me on March 6, 2023, the second (payment) was passed to you on April 28… and then, RM100,000 was passed to him on July 12,” the whistleblower added.

He then quizzed Fong if he had surrendered the RM200,000 in total, to which the latter said he did not touch a single sen.

Donation offer

In an immediate response, Masidi said he did not recall the conversation, stating instead he remembered the whistleblower had offered to “donate to the party” and he responded there was no need to do so.

“There is no amount of RM300,000 handed over through my special officer,” he told Malaysiakini.

Malaysiakini has also contacted Yusof for comment.

• Masidi denies 'RM300k in bag' allegation, says he doesn't recall conversation

• Sabah videos Part 3: 'RM400k in cash ma', 'RM360k small amount'

• Sabah videos Part 2: 'RM450k used to settle debts', 'I can return RM500k'

• Sabah videos Part 1: 'RM300k in bag' and 'RM500k in installments'

• 'Money talks': Whistleblower releases full videos on Sabah scandal

Our quality, investigative journalism needs your support. Contact us at +60 17-323 0707 to be our lifetime subscriber, or renew your package now. You can also gift a subscription to a friend. Alternatively, donate here.

'Money talks': Whistleblower releases full videos on Sabah scandal

SMM: Ex-CEO files report against successor over 'private jet' trip, 'abuse of power'

Sabah 'scandal': Enter Shafee, veteran lawyer to represent whistleblower

Ex-judge: Immunity a 'gimmick' if whistleblowers admit to crime