Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied — Why Has No Action Been Taken Against a False Report in the SMM Corruption Case?

By Daniel John Jambun, 15-6-2025

WE refer to the Malaysiakini report titled:

“Whistleblowers turn to AG over sluggish action on Musa’s son-in-law’s false police report.”

This report highlights a growing concern among the public: the apparent failure of law enforcement and prosecutorial authorities to act decisively in a clear case involving a false police report allegedly lodged by Ariffin Arif, a GRS political figure, against Albert Tei, a whistleblower who exposed corruption in Sabah Mineral Mining (SMM).

This is not just a political scandal. It is a matter of public justice.

Filing a False Police Report Is a Criminal Offence

Under Section 182 of the Penal Code, making a false police report is a punishable offence — with jail time of up to six months, a fine, or both.

> So why, after months of delay, has there been no prosecution?

Why must a whistleblower beg for justice while those in power remain untouched?

This failure to act erodes public confidence not only in the Sabah state government, but in the entire justice system.

Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied

Albert Tei did the right thing. He reported suspected corruption in the awarding of SMM-linked contracts. He named names. He took risks.

Yet instead of being protected, he was punished — with a police report filed against him in apparent retaliation.

Even worse, enforcement authorities appear paralysed. No action. No prosecution. No explanation.

This case is a textbook example of why many Malaysians no longer trust the system to protect the truth or the people who speak it.

When whistleblowers are left exposed, when false reports are left unpunished, corruption becomes the rule — and justice becomes theatre.

The Institutions Must Act — Or They Become Complicit

We therefore issue this urgent call to:

The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC):

Stop sitting on the file. A false report is a crime. You are duty-bound to act.

The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM):

Investigate the motive and intent behind the report lodged by Ariffin Arif. Uphold the law, not political convenience.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC):

Launch an immediate probe into the procurement and allocation of SMM-linked projects exposed by the whistleblower.

Failure to act on this matter will be interpreted not as bureaucratic backlog — but as institutional complicity in shielding political elites.

This Is Bigger Than One Whistleblower

This case is not just about Albert Tei. It is about every Sabahan who dares to speak up against corruption and political interference in state-linked enterprises.

If the authorities refuse to act simply because the person named is politically connected, we are no longer living under a democracy governed by law — we are living under selective justice governed by fear.

Sabah Deserves Better

We demand immediate and public answers:

Will the AGC prosecute the alleged false report under Section 182?

Will the police disclose the status of the investigation?

Will MACC probe the original allegations raised on SMM?

Justice delayed is justice denied.

And in Sabah, the people are still waiting.

Daniel John Jambun is currently President of

Borneo’s Plight In Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo)

&

Change Advocate Movement Sabah (CAMOS).~Borneo Herald™