PARTI Bersatu Sabah (PBS) deputy president Datuk Seri Jahid Jahim has strongly denied allegations implicating him in a Sabah mining scandal, calling the report in a news portal “baseless and defamatory.”
Jahid said the report falsely accused him of receiving a RM150,000 bribe linked to the controversial issuance of mining licences in Sabah.
“I categorically deny these allegations. I was never involved in any mining-related scandal and have never received any money tied to the approval or issuance of any mining licence,” he said in a statement.
Jahid, who is the Tamparuli assemblyman, added that no prospecting or mining licence has been issued in his constituency and noted that his ministry is not involved in the licensing process.
He accused certain quarters of abusing media platforms to promote what he described as a “manufactured corruption narrative” without the basis of a proper investigation.
“This approach is deeply irresponsible. The news portal is inviting the public to pass judgment before due legal process has taken place. This undermines the rule of law,” he said.
Jahid also echoed the remarks of STAR president Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan, who earlier dismissed similar allegations against him, linking them to attempts to destabilise the state government ahead of the next state election.
“This is not new in Sabah. We have seen this same regime change playbook since the 1960s,” Jahid added.
He said he is currently seeking legal advice and reserves the right to initiate legal action against the news portal and journalists involved. - June 30, 2025
