Shamsul quits as PM's aide, vows to defend himself

Shamsul Iskandar Akin has resigned as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s political aide.

In a post on X, Shamsul said he was made to understand that there is an attempt to attack him with an issue that could ruin the government’s image.

“Therefore, I have decided to defend myself against this attack,” he added.

The 5.20pm post came in the wake of Malaysiakini contacting him this afternoon for comment over allegations that he received money from businessperson Albert Tei in relation to the mining scandal.

However, Shamsul said he had tendered his resignation to Anwar this morning.

“I would like to thank the honourable prime minister for the trust he has placed in me,” he added.

Tei’s allegation comes a week after Anwar told the Dewan Rakyat that he had reprimanded his political secretary, as government regulations did not permit the issuance of support letters for contractors involved in a hospital project.

Earlier today, PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari uploaded a photograph of Tei meeting former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad over the mining scandal in which more than a dozen Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) politicians were implicated.

Citing "trusted sources", Fadhli said he was informed that the businessperson had complained to Mahathir about a group that had allegedly asked him to record the incriminating videos against the Sabah politicians.

Tei later confirmed with Malaysiakini that he passed a set of all the evidence to Mahathir, which is 340 pages and showed him a video as well.

‘Says one thing, but does another’

Responding to the issue, Mahathir said an individual had approached him with evidence linking the corruption case with government aides and that he could only advise them to contact the media.

“It is being said that those engaging in corruption are government officers and the government itself.

“Meanwhile, the government claims it is supposedly fighting to eradicate corruption. It appears, as usual, that the government says one thing but does another,” the former premier said in a Facebook post.

Since last November, Tei has revealed a slew of videos, documents, and WhatsApp screenshots accusing Sabah politicians of accepting bribes in exchange for mineral exploration licences.

Tei and two assemblypersons were subsequently charged.

GRS chairperson and Sabah caretaker chief minister Hajiji Noor has accused Tei of being part of a cartel aiming to monopolise mining in the state.

Tei has been on a warpath to take down politicians he gave money to for mineral exploration licences, which he did not end up getting.

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