Another Sabah shockwave: Mining scandal engulfs Star, PBS top leaders

Another Sabah shockwave: Mining scandal engulfs Star, PBS top leaders

RK Anand & Alyaa Alhadjri
Published: Jun 28, 2025 2:32 PM
Updated: 4:47 PM



Summary

• Malaysiakini has obtained information about six more politicians allegedly involved in a mining scandal in Sabah, including top leaders of Star and PBS, both components of the ruling GRS state government.

• They include Star president Jeffrey Kitingan and his deputies, Ellron Alfred Angin and Robert Tawik, along with PBS acting president Joachim Gunsalam, his predecessor Maximus Ongkili, and deputy president Jahid Jahim.

• The source provided screenshots purportedly from video recordings and claimed WhatsApp messages and other documents exist to corroborate transactions close to RM4 million.

EXCLUSIVE | Less than 48 hours before a whistleblower and two state assemblypersons are set to be charged for corruption in Sabah, Malaysiakini has obtained the names of six more politicians purportedly involved in the mining scandal.

Those implicated include the top leaders of Star and PBS, both key components of the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) state government.

Among them are Star president Jeffrey Kitingan and his two deputies, Ellron Alfred Angin and Robert Tawik, PBS acting president Joachim Gunsalam, his predecessor Maximus Ongkili, and deputy president Jahid Jahim.

A source has furnished Malaysiakini with screenshots purportedly taken from video recordings involving the implicated leaders. Malaysiakini was also shown brief excerpts of the recordings but was not allowed to reproduce them.

“The total amount involved (for the six) is close to RM4 million - RM3.96 million to be exact,” the source claimed, speaking on condition of anonymity.

In addition to the video evidence, the source alleged that WhatsApp messages and other documents exist to corroborate the transactions.


‘Let the MACC do their job’

One screenshot linked to the allegation against Maximus, who was still PBS president at the time of the recording in January 2024, features a third, unidentified individual, whom the source said is linked to the politician.

The subtitles in the screenshot alluded to a conversation in which “RM600,000” had allegedly changed hands.

As for Jeffrey, who also serves as Sabah’s deputy chief minister I as well as state minister of agriculture and fisheries, the source claimed he received RM1.78 million, which is the highest.

Jeffrey Kitingan


PBS’ Joachim, like Jeffrey, holds the post of deputy chief minister II and is also the state minister of housing and local government. According to the source, he allegedly received RM600,000 as well.

Joachim was the only one among the six to respond to Malaysiakini’s repeated attempts for comment.

Joachim Gunsalam


“Let the MACC do their job,” he said in a text message when asked if he recalled the purported incident shown in the video screenshot.

Jeffrey’s deputies, Ellron and Robert, currently serve as the state youth and sports minister and the assistant works minister, respectively.

Ellron Alfred Angin


“Ellron was (allegedly) paid RM530,000 and Robert (allegedly) received RM300,000,” the source claimed.

Robert Tawik


The source claimed that PBS number two, Jahid, who is the state minister of rural development, “had received RM150,000”.

Jahid Jahim


Malaysiakini has not been able to verify whether the full recordings of the new videos will be released publicly or handed over to the MACC for further investigation.

Apart from the six, Malaysiakini also reached out to the Chief Minister’s Office via its communications and media director, Lucy Yong, who has yet to respond.


15 Sabah politicians involved

With this latest revelation, the number of GRS politicians implicated has risen to 15, including state legislative assembly speaker Kadzim Yahya.

Since November last year, a series of video recordings have been leaked involving state finance minister Masidi Manjun, deputy chief minister III and state works minister Shahelmey Yahya, state minister of science, technology and innovation Arifin Arif, who is also Sabah governor Musa Aman’s son-in-law.

Others also implicated were state assistant minister of industrial development and entrepreneurship Andi Suryandy, Sindumin assemblyperson and chairperson of Qhazanah Sabah Bhd Yusof Yacob, Kemabong assemblyperson and chairperson of Sabah Economic Development Corporation Rubin Balang, Tempasuk assemblyperson Arsad Bistari, and Kuamut assemblyperson Masiung Banah.

Masidi is the deputy president of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, whose president Hajiji Noor is the chief minister. Arifin, Rubin, and Masiung are the vice-presidents.

The whistleblower subsequently submitted the full recordings, a handphone, and 300 pages of documents to MACC.

Last week, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said only two assemblypersons would be charged for now, while the deputy public prosecutor would decide on the others later.