MACC: Around 10 witnesses summoned in probe into Kitingan clip

The MACC has summoned around 10 witnesses in its investigation into businessperson-turned-whistleblower Albert Tei's claim that he had paid RM1.7 million to Sabah Deputy Chief Minister I Jeffrey Kitingan in connection with a cancelled mining exploration licence.

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said investigations are ongoing following the latest video clip that Tei released earlier today.

"What was just reported about the politician, the investigation is still ongoing. If I'm not mistaken, around 10 witnesses, including Kitingan, have been called.

"The others (including) Tei, I'm not sure, maybe they haven't been (called) yet... we will continue with the other witnesses.

"There are new videos released on a portal and we will look at them," Azam (above) told reporters after the MACC's 58th anniversary celebration and the launch of the Keep Malaysia Clean campaign in Putrajaya today.

Azam was referring to the video clip Tei released this morning featuring Rizal Johari, an aide to Kitingan.

Tei claimed the recording showed licences were cancelled as part of a “power struggle” between Sabah Chief Minister and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairperson Hajiji Noor, Kitingan and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Maximus Ongkili.

Last week, Tei released a recording of his conversation with Kitingan, whom he claimed took RM1.78 million from him, calling it the largest sum the businessperson had paid to any politician linked to the scandal.

The day after, Kitingan spent more than five hours giving his statement at the MACC office in Kota Kinabalu.

Ismail Sabri case: Waiting on AG’s decision

When asked about the investigation into former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Azam said he was waiting for the attorney-general's (AG) decision on whether to press charges.

The AG will decide on the charges against the Bera MP, he added.

"I am just waiting for the AG to decide whether the case should be continued to charge or not. That is up to him (AG).

"But for asset recovery, we have carried out our duties and the assets were successfully recovered," he said.

Ismail Sabri and several others have been the subject of MACC’s investigation into the former prime minister’s Keluarga Malaysia initiative introduced during his tenure between August 2021 and November 2022.

On June 25, Azam said that the investigation, which began around February, had concluded. No individuals have been prosecuted yet.

Earlier today, the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court allowed the government’s application to forfeit RM169 million cash that was seized in a graft probe against Ismail Sabri and his former political aide, Anuar Yunus.

The money was the cash MACC seized from Ismail Sabri’s residence in March, which included foreign currencies such as the Singapore dollar, US dollar, Swiss franc, British pound, euro, yen, New Zealand dollar, Aussie dollar and Emirati dirham.

Apart from the cash, MACC also confiscated gold bars weighing 16kg, worth nearly RM7 million.

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