Two file suit against Sabah govt, Hajiji for wrongdoing, CM's office denies claim

Summary

• The Sabah government denies abuse of power charges levelled in a lawsuit filed by two plaintiffs.

• This comes after Sabah Forest Industries and Narendrakumar Chunilal Rugnath claimed Chief Minister Hajiji Noor had committed abuse of power and misappropriation, which led to the cancellation of a logging licence contract.

• Sabah attorney-general Brenndon Keith Soh vows to defend the state against the suit.

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The Sabah government has denied allegations raised by a lawsuit filed against it recently, claiming that Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor and the state administration had abused their powers over a logging licence issue.

This comes after two parties filed a suit against Hajiji (above) and the state government on March 12 at the Kota Kinabalu High Court over allegations of misfeasance in public office.

Sabah attorney-general Brenndon Keith Soh said the claims were baseless given the ongoing legal proceedings between the parties.

He assured that the government would present a comprehensive defence.

“The chief minister and the state government unequivocally deny all allegations of misfeasance in public office.

“We will vigorously resist these claims and will not allow these unfounded allegations to proceed unchallenged,” BorneoVox reported him as saying today.

Soh also confirmed that the government had received the writ of summons on March 17 from the law firm Chin Jingulam & Associates, representing the plaintiffs.

‘Misappropriation’

According to the plaintiffs’ lawyer Chin Teck Ming, the suit was filed on behalf of Sabah Forest Industries Sdn Bhd and Narendrakumar Chunilal Rugnath - in their respective capacities as receiver and manager.

“The writ of summons and statement of claim has been served on both defendants by way of substituted service on March 17, at the office of the chief minister and the attorney-general of Sabah,” said Chin in a statement today.

“The main allegation raised in this case is that the chief minister had committed abuse of power and misappropriation, which led to the cancellation of the first plaintiff’s logging licence contract and the allocation of the logging area, which rightfully belonged to the first plaintiff, to three other companies, as stated in the statement of claim.

“The other allegations are as stated in the statement of claim that has been filed and served,” he added.

The claims submitted, among others, request the court to issue:

1. A declaration regarding the misappropriation committed by the Sabah chief minister in his capacity as a public officer,

2. A declaration that the chief minister abused public office for personal benefit and/or gain,

3. A declaration that the Sabah government is vicariously liable for the misappropriation committed by the chief minister and should pay all losses and damages ordered, jointly and severally,

4. Compensation for the expected returns from the Sale and Purchase Agreement of Pelangi Prestasi Sdn Bhd,

5. Salaries of employees and financial obligations incurred due to the misconduct of the Sabah chief minister and the state government, jointly and severally,

6. Costs of the legal action undertaken,

7. Loss of interest, revenue, or profit amounting to five percent from Sept 18, 2021, to Dec 27, 2024, for item 4 above, estimated at RM1,413,821,980.50,

8. General damages,

9. Additional and/or punitive damages for malicious conduct, abuse of power, and intentional interference in the business operations of SFI by the Sabah chief minister, which resulted in reputational damage, undue hardship, and financial difficulties for the first plaintiff,

10. Interest of five percent on the estimated amount of RM1,413,821,980.50 or as ordered by the court,

11. Costs; and any other relief as ordered by the court.

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