KUALA LUMPUR – The move to charge businessman Albert Tei with bribery has raised serious concerns about Malaysia’s commitment to tackling high-level corruption, with his lawyer arguing that prosecuting an informant could deter others from coming forward.
Tei, 37, was charged in the Sessions Court today with four counts of giving bribes totalling RM176,829.03 to former Senior Political Secretary to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, in connection with a mineral exploration licence in Sabah.
He pleaded not guilty before Judge Suzana Hussin.
His lawyer, Latheefa Koya, who previously served as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner, said the authorities should instead prioritise investigating those in positions of power who were named in Tei’s disclosures.
“What I don't understand is in which situation you would be able to go for corruption if you go and charge the whistleblower or the so-called giver, who, in this case, in comparison to those who he has been exposing, who are holding high offices, he's a small fish.
“Go after the big fish, you are actually reacting to the small fish. That is not how we fight corruption,” she told reporters when met at the Sessions Court today.
She said past corruption cases in Malaysia had seen key witnesses, including those who admitted to giving bribes, granted immunity in order to pursue more senior figures.
Latheefa criticised what she said was an early indication from the government that Tei would not receive whistleblower protection.
“From day one, the Prime Minister said no protection would be given. How can we fight corruption if this is the approach? Repeating commitments to fight corruption means little when someone who comes forward is the one charged,” she added.
Latheefa said Tei had been providing information to authorities for more than a year regarding alleged systemic corruption involving one of the highest offices in Sabah.
“As a former MACC chief commissioner, I find this very shocking. This may be the first time a whistleblower is charged for exposing corruption of this scale. It is mind-boggling. This does not happen in other parts of the world,” she said.
According to the charge sheet, Tei is accused of making four payments between 2022 and 2023 to Shamsul, who was then senior political secretary to the Prime Minister, to facilitate approval of a mining-related licence in Sabah.
Shamsul has denied any wrongdoing and said he welcomes investigations to clear his name.