Kota Kinabalu: Former State Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe denied allegations against him by businessman Albert Tei during a live programme, calling the claims completely baseless.
The Sabah DAP Chairman said he consulted his lawyers and was preparing to initiate proceedings against the malicious act to defend his reputation.
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“I must state unequivocally that I never initiated any meeting with him, nor did I ever make remarks such as ‘who doesn’t love money’ or anything of that nature,” Phoong said in a statement.
Phoong said he met Tei only once, on March 22, 2023, at noon, for about 15 minutes.
He said the meeting was not pre-arranged and happened after Tei insisted on seeing him despite having no prior appointment.
He said as a minister and elected representative at the time, his office was routinely open to members of the public as part of his official duties.
After consulting with his political secretary, Chan Loong Wei, he agreed to the brief meeting.
During the encounter, Phoong said Tei raised matters related to mining exploration and attempted to persuade him to approve the establishment of a concessionary company to exclusively manage Sabah’s scrap metal exports.
“After the meeting, we unanimously agreed that Tei’s proposals could not be accepted and there was no follow-up whatsoever,” he said.
He said neither he nor the DAP participated in any process related to Sabah mining matters or agreed to establish any company intended to monopolise the State’s scrap metal exports.
“The truth is, as Tei himself has clearly stated, I have never taken any money from him,” Phoong said.
Addressing Tei’s commentary on his electoral defeat, Phoong said he accepted the voters’ verdict in the Sabah election and remains committed to working at the grassroots level to regain public trust.
