After five hours with MACC, Kitingan says time to focus on people, polls

Jeffrey Kitingan said his attention is now on the public and the upcoming state election, after spending more than five hours giving a statement to anti-corruption investigators.

The Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) president and Sabah deputy chief minister I arrived at the MACC office in Kota Kinabalu at about 5.30pm and came out around 11pm yesterday.

He confirmed he had completed his statement but declined to comment on details, citing it could be the subject of an investigation.

“I have given my statement. Let us now focus on the people and the election,” the Keningau MP told Malaysiakini.

His personal secretary, Rizal Johari Utto, was also called in and questioned separately for around three hours.

Kitingan’s appearance before MACC came a day after businessperson Albert Tei released a video via Malaysiakini.

He alleged he had paid RM1.78 million to the deputy chief minister in connection with a cancelled mining exploration licence.

Tei claimed the sum was the largest payment made to any politician linked to the scandal, and said the money was handed over during a meeting at a seafood restaurant in Kuala Lumpur in October 2024.

The allegation prompted investigators to summon Kitingan, with aides stressing that he fully cooperated.

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