November 27, 2025
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has been drawn into Sabah’s long-simmering mining scandal, just days before the state heads to the polls, after a whistle-blower at the centre of the affair alleged that the Premier masterminded the scheme.
Several prominent Sabah assemblymen have been progressively exposed on hidden camera since November 2024, allegedly discussing bribes worth hundreds of thousands of ringgit with whistle-blower Albert Tei in exchange for a licence to mine.
The mining scandal has emerged as a key issue ahead of the Sabah state election polling day on Nov 29, which is expected to signal public support for Datuk Seri Anwar halfway through his first term in office.
The latest blow came hours after Mr Anwar’s senior political secretary Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin resigned on Nov 25. This followed fresh claims by Tei, a businessman from Sabah, that he had spent almost RM630,000 (S$198,000) in cash, home renovations, furnishings, premium cigars and tailored suits for Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar over several months, in exchange for support in the mining project.
A video dated Nov 21 surfaced soon after Mr Shamsul Iskandar’s resignation, purportedly showing his “proxy” – a young woman – telling Tei that the idea to covertly record the dealings involving the Sabah politicians originated from the Prime Minister’s Office and had Mr Anwar’s explicit blessing.
All the videos that have been made public were recorded by Tei using a pen with a hidden camera, as he sat down with the Sabah politicians in different settings and offered them the alleged bribes.
At least 14 Sabah politicians were recorded without their knowledge, with all dismissing the corruption allegations hurled by Tei.
In the Nov 21 video, the “proxy” is seen telling Tei: “Whatever he (Shamsul Iskandar) said is true. Anwar said to do it. It is true.”
Her face is blurred out as she speaks from a sofa to Tei, who remains off camera.
Her identity was disclosed as that of Ms Sofia Rini Buyong by a text caption at the start of the video, but has not been independently confirmed.
In the clip lasting six minutes and 19 seconds, Tei – who was charged alongside two Sabah lawmakers in June for allegedly offering and soliciting bribes – voiced frustration at being a “chess piece” in a political game.
“I never betrayed him, I never mentioned the name of Shamsul Iskandar or the instruction from Anwar Ibrahim,” Tei said, which the alleged proxy acknowledged.
His expose on Mr Shamsul Iskandar, published by Malaysiakini, showed text messages by the senior political aide allegedly openly soliciting cash in pounds sterling for a December 2023 trip to London, and US$10,000 (S$13,000) for an October 2024 trip to Baku, Azerbaijan, via WhatsApp.
Mr Shamsul Iskandar was previously embroiled in a separate controversy involving a letter he issued to his counterpart in the Health Ministry recommending six construction firms for consideration in a tender to build a hospital in Muar, Johor.
Addressing his senior aide’s resignation, Mr Anwar said his government “remains steadfast in its principles of transparency and integrity”.
“Regarding the allegations that have arisen, I emphasise that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is free to conduct an immediate investigation without any external interference,” he said in a statement on Nov 26.
Mr Anwar, however, did not address the latest allegations levelled directly at him.
Speaking to The Straits Times, political analyst Tunku Mohar Mokhtar from the International Islamic University Malaysia said Mr Anwar could not simply brush off the claims, as they taint the country’s highest office.
“The manner in which his middleman – the senior political secretary – handled this matter seriously questioned the integrity of the PM’s office,” Dr Tunku Mohar said.
He added that the allegations went beyond the Sabah election and undermined Mr Anwar’s vocal stance in condemning corruption.
“If it is true, then the PM’s image is badly tarnished.”
Mr Anwar, who became prime minister in late 2022, built his platform on a promise to reform Malaysia and was among the country’s fiercest critics of corruption, having called out the scandal involving state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad as early as 2010, just a year after the scheme was launched.
Since coming to power, he has taken aim at political rivals as well as the “uber rich”, including the late former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, alleging that their wealth was ill-gotten.
Academic-turned-government critic James Chin said the public had expected a crackdown on corruption under Mr Anwar’s watch.
“But now, we have corruption that is directly linked to Anwar because this person is his right-hand man,” he told ST.
The MACC said it would launch an immediate probe into Tei’s latest claims against Mr Shamsul Iskandar, adding that both individuals would be summoned for investigation.
The commission chief, Tan Sri Azam Baki, said others would also be called to assist the probe.
“In this regard, the public is advised not to engage in any speculation about this matter and to allow MACC the space to conduct its investigation and collect statements and evidence related to these allegations,” he said.
Despite the allegations, members of Mr Anwar’s government and coalition parties closed ranks and cast doubt on the claims, calling them an election season smear attack and a “cheap political gimmick”.
Speaking to ST on the sidelines of campaigning in Kota Kinabalu, Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities Chan Foong Hin said they would not let any “last-minute development, allegation or scandal” cause distractions for their campaign.
“With just two days left before polling, let’s stay focused on the campaign,” said Mr Chan, who added that the issue blew up while he was on stage rallying voters in Tanjung Aru.
“Don’t be swayed by these accusations because I personally believe they are very likely politically motivated.”
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