Armizan to work with authorities over violating Constitution claim

Summary

• Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Armizan Ali says he is ready to work with authorities over claims that he is still a director in a state government-owned company.

• He tells Malaysiakini that this is if the claims have a legal basis.

Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Armizan Ali said he is ready to cooperate with the authorities over claims that he is still a director in a state government-owned company.

He told Malaysiakini that this relies on the allegations having a legal basis.

“I adhere to the principle that we should respect the existing process, rather than speculate and create negative perceptions based on political motives. Let the due process take its course,” he said.

Yesterday, Nilai district police chief Abdul Malik Hasim confirmed receiving a report over the claims.

The report was made by political activist Tandiko Dalusin, who called on the police to investigate whether Armizan had breached Article 48(1)(c) of the Federal Constitution.

According to Article 48(1)(c), a person is disqualified from being a member of any house of Parliament if they hold an office of profit.

In the report, Tandiko also stated that Armizan’s act of holding a position in the company is in conflict with the Code of Ethics for Members of the Administration and MPs.

This comes after Armizan confirmed he was involved in a May 16, 2023, meeting between state subsidiary Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM) and an Indonesian firm.

The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) deputy secretary-general said his presence at the meeting, alongside SMM’s entire management team, was in his capacity as a then-board manager.

At that time, Armizan also held the position of minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak affairs, and special duties).

Alleged conflict of interest

On April 3, Sabah Bersatu Youth chief Hisyam Hazaril Azman claimed his checks with Companies Commission records had shown that Armizan is a director of Common Tower Technology Sdn Bhd (Common Tech) - a position he has held since Feb 1, 2023.

Hisyam said this matter raises a conflict of interest while violating the Federal Constitution.

He added that it was “quite unusual” for an individual holding a ministerial position in the federal cabinet to also hold a position as an SMM board member.

On March 29, Warisan supreme council member Calvin Chong criticised Armizan for apparently deflecting attention from allegations linking the latter to the Sabah mining scandal.

Armizan had earlier called for him, Sabah Umno elections director Jeffery Nor Mohamed, and Warisan’s former Papar MP Ahmad Hassan to reveal the sources behind their accusations linking him to an alleged corruption scandal involving mineral exploration projects in Sabah.

On March 27, Chong told GRS to state its position on the corruption allegations faced by Armizan, asserting that politicians from the coalition cannot rely on the principle “innocent until proven guilty in court” as an excuse to remain silent or avoid responsibility.

Since November last year, eight Sabah assemblypersons, the state speaker, and Chief Minister Hajiji Noor were implicated in an alleged corruption scandal by a whistleblower.

The whistleblower had released a series of video clips showing several state leaders purportedly discussing bribes they received for supporting a mineral exploration licence.

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