PRESS STATEMENT
I refer to the recent speeches of the caretaker Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie bin Apdal which were published on various news platforms and which have been shared on various social media platforms.
In the said speeches, Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie bin Apdal had, in reference to lands belonging to Yayasan Sabah, said that about 600 to 700 thousand of Yayasan Sabah lands are “gone” and in particular, have alleged to the effect that I have received 30,000 acres of land in Kalabakan from Yayasan Sabah.
Following the said statements by Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie bin Apdal, various third parties have now taken to social media accusing me of being a “thief” and “robber”. All these allegations have caused serious damage to my reputation as a reputable businessman.
I am therefore compelled to issue this statement, which is made in my personal capacity in so far as such allegations concern me personally, to refute the allegations made by Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie bin Apdal that I have received or have been gifted 30,000 acres of land belonging to Yayasan Sabah. Such allegations are false, baseless and malicious. The allegations were made with the intent of harming my reputation in the eyes of the public. They carried the meaning or insinuation that I have obtained an unlawful benefit at the expense of Yayasan Sabah in the form of 30,000 acres of land and/or that I have stole 30,000 acres of land from Yayasan Sabah.
I have never obtained 30,000 acres of land from Yayasan Sabah at any point in time. These allegations made by Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie bin Apdal are false, baseless and malicious.
As far as I am aware, concession land areas held by Yayasan Sabah are all under one licence and it is impossible for such areas to be “gone” or given to any third party. These areas will always remain under Yayasan Sabah.
I thereby challenge Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie bin Apdal, as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Yayasan Sabah, to carry out a proper and thorough investigation into this matter. A proper investigation will prove that I have never, at any point in time, been “gifted” with 30,000 acres of land as insinuated by him in his various speeches. I am ready and willing to assist in any such investigations to prove my innocence.
Throughout the duration of Tan Sri Haji Musa bin Aman’s tenure as Chief Minister of Sabah, I have not received any so-called land from Yayasan Sabah and have no such land registered in my personal name. As such, there is not a single shred of truth in the allegations made by Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie bin Apdal.
As such, Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie bin Apdal must immediately cease and/or refrain from further making such false, baseless and malicious allegations against me. I have sought advice from my lawyers and have been advice that such allegations are defamatory in nature and I reserve my rights in this matter.-
Datuk Mohemad Amin Bin Azizurahman
@ Amin Khan,
Kota Kinabalu,
August 28, 2020
