April 7, 2025
National
National
KOTA KINABALU, April 6 — Those responsible for the brutal killing of Borneo pygmy elephants in Sabah will face the full force of the law, warns Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew.
PAPAR, March 29 — Member of Parliament Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali is considering legal action against those behind the anonymous "mesej layang" accusing him of involvement in a mineral corruption scandal, as well as those spreading the allegations.
Armizan, who also serves as the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister, dismissed the claims as baseless, stating that the messages lacked credible sources and appeared to involve fictitious figures, including an alleged investigative journalist and a so-called “Datuk Z.”
“These unverified claims have been widely circulated through unofficial channels, including fake social media accounts,” he said during the Papar Parliamentary Level 2025 Ihya Ramadhan event at Dewan Datuk Salleh Sulong yesterday.
“I urge those responsible to step forward. If they truly stand by their accusations, they should reveal their identities. Who is ‘Datuk Z’? I would like to meet him, along with the so-called investigative journalist,” he added.
Armizan strongly denied the allegations, calling them defamatory, and challenged those making the claims to present concrete evidence. “If I have done anything wrong, provide proof and let me face the consequences. But I refuse to be judged by anonymous slander,” he said.
He further stated that legal action would be taken against those who spread the claims, including former Papar MP Ahmad Hassan (Warisan), Umno Sabah’s Jeffery Nor Mohamed, and Warisan assemblyman Calvin Chong.
“They have become the mouthpieces for baseless allegations from an anonymous source. I challenge them to explicitly accuse me of corruption if they truly believe the claims,” said Armizan.
He revealed that his lawyer had been instructed to send official letters to the individuals involved, seeking clarification on their role in disseminating the allegations.
“As leaders, they must take responsibility for their words instead of manipulating slander for political gain. True integrity means standing by what you say,” he asserted.
Addressing claims about his presence at PT Bayan Resources headquarters in Jakarta on May 16, 2023, Armizan clarified that it was an official meeting between Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM), a Sabah state government subsidiary, and PT Bayan, a reputable, publicly listed Indonesian company.
“The meeting was a formal discussion on a potential high-impact investment, not a secret gathering of mineral cartel companies. Photos clearly show both management teams, leaving no room for speculation about covert dealings,” he explained.
He emphasized that Sabah’s progress must be built on genuine efforts, not political slander. “Sabah cannot be developed through lies and baseless accusations but through strong ideas and commitment to progress,” he said.
Police reports have been filed with IPD Papar and IPD Kota Kinabalu by the Papar parliamentary office and the PGRS Youth. Armizan vowed to pursue justice if no action is taken, saying, “If authorities do not act, I will personally initiate legal proceedings for defamation.”
As for identifying the source of the claims, Armizan called on Ahmad, Jeffery, Calvin, and the relevant authorities to assist in tracking those responsible. “With today’s technology, tracing the culprits is possible. If they do not come forward, I will continue to pursue them because the best place to resolve this is in court,” he stated.
When asked if he had any suspects in mind, Armizan responded, “I have some ideas.” — The Borneo Post
