KOTA KINABALU: Sabah DAP chairman Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe has rejected allegations made against him by Albert Tei during a live programme, describing them as false and defamatory, and said he is preparing legal action to defend his reputation.
In a statement, Phoong said he was “deeply disgusted and outraged” by what he called a distortion of facts amounting to character assassination.
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“I have consulted my lawyers and am preparing to initiate legal action. I will not compromise on this matter,” he said.
He stressed that he never initiated any meeting with Tei and denied making remarks attributed to him, including claims related to money or Sabah mining matters.
Phoong said their only meeting took place on March 22, 2023, after Tei insisted on a brief meeting despite having no prior appointment.
According to Phoong, the meeting lasted about 15 minutes and included proposals related to mining exploration and a suggested company to manage Sabah’s scrap metal exports, all of which were rejected with no follow-up.
“The facts clearly demonstrate that I was never involved in any actions related to the Sabah mining matters he has alleged,” he said.
Phoong added that neither he nor DAP had taken any money or participated in any process linked to Sabah mining or monopoly arrangements.
He also said he accepted the outcome of the Sabah election and remains committed to rebuilding trust at the grassroots level.
