Singapore firm under scrutiny as Malaysia’s mining bribery scandal widens

‘I’m just an anchovy. What about the sharks?’ whistle-blower Albert Tei asks after he is charged

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Sabah-based businessman Albert Tei. Photo: Facebook/Albert Tei

Published: 11:20am, 3 Jul 2025Updated: 3:37pm, 3 Jul 2025

Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency is now targeting a Singapore-registered mining company as part of its investigation into a bribery scandal in Sabah that has already seen two state lawmakers and a businessman charged in court on Monday.

The case captured public attention after the businessman, Albert Tei Jiann Cheing, released covert videos showing state lawmakers engaged in bribe negotiations with him, implicating several prominent figures in Malaysia’s second-largest state.

Despite claiming to be a whistle-blower, Tei was charged on Monday alongside state assemblymen Yusof Yacob and Andi Suryady Bandy with bribery in exchange for helping to facilitate the approval of a mineral prospecting licence.

This latest development came from an exposé by Malay-language news website Malaysia Corporate on Wednesday, claiming that Tei was backed and funded by a tycoon who manages a Singapore-listed company.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Azam Baki. Photo: Hadi Azmi

In response, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Azam Baki said the agency was scrutinising the allegations and would be summoning witnesses to assist in the investigation.

“We will be recording statements from relevant individuals soon,” Azam said.

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