BUSINESSMAN Datuk Albert Tei has questioned why only “small fry” like him were being charged—while the “sharks” remained untouched.
“So, I want to ask—when small fries like us are caught and charged, what about the sharks still out there?” he said, shortly after he posted bail at the Kota Kinabalu court today.
Tei, a whistleblower in a Sabah mining-linked graft case, claimed the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had failed to act on more serious names.
Among those he named: the Sabah Chief Minister and seven other elected representatives.
“Only two people were charged. What about the other seven? Especially the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor,” said Tei.
He said he had submitted all the evidence to MACC—including documents implicating ministers and the State Assembly Speaker.
“And that evidence is even stronger than what they have on these two individuals,” he said.
“So why were only these two picked? Is it because their connections aren’t strong?”
Tei also raised suspicion over the way his case was handled.
He claimed he was notified two weeks in advance that he would be charged.
“In other MACC cases, they are arrested today, charged tomorrow. Why give me two weeks’ notice? What are the two weeks for?”
“Is there something being negotiated behind closed doors?” he asked.
Tei said he has gone to MACC three times since October last year, submitted letters, and received official acknowledgment.
But to date, only two people have been charged alongside him— Sindumin rep Datuk Yusof Yacob and Tanjung Batu rep Datuk Andi Suryady Bandy.
Tei also warned that more people will be dragged into court.
“Yes, charge two people today, I guarantee you—tomorrow, they’ll charge one or two more.
“I will fight for justice. Don’t think this is the way to pressure me,” said Tei, adding that he was prepared to return to court “again and again.”
Tei said the government and the MACC have sent a toxic message as now even whistleblowers could be burdened and dragged to court.
He also made a chilling remark to the press.
“If anything happens to me—if I’m killed, kidnapped, go missing—suddenly—look for those ten people. Because I have no enemies, except for those ten,” he said. - June 30, 2025
