Hajiji denies abuse of power claims over Kudat land deal

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has denied allegations of abuse of power in the approval of a land deal in Kudat.

Referring to the allegations on social media that there were elements of impropriety in the approval of six land applications involving 968.4 hectares in Kudat, Hajiji said such accusations are merely intended to smear his reputation.

He said his office will give its full cooperation to any investigation on the allegation.

"All the applications have gone through necessary procedures through the Land Utilisation Committee (LUC) meeting and processed at the office.

"The application for the Yayasan Sabah land has been referred to the Innoprise Corporation Sdn Bhd board of directors, and everything was done according to the law," said Hajiji in a statement today

Regarding the Yayasan Sabah land application, he said it has been referred to Innoprise Corporation Sdn Bhd's board of directors, and that all actions were carried out in compliance with the law.

The chief minister also addressed the unauthorised release of confidential documents used for the allegations.

"Investigations will be conducted and action will be taken against the officer(s) responsible," said Hajiji.

He said the authorities have been alerted to a Facebook account spreading the allegations.

"I will consult my lawyers to initiate possible legal action against these false allegations," he said.

Meanwhile, Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS) information chief, Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan said it has lodged a police report against the allegations.

He said the accusations are intended to damage the chief minister's reputation.

He also noted that all land applications were processed in accordance with existing procedures and laws, with no land titles issued for the applications, as mentioned in the Facebook post.

Additionally, he said the post insinuated a relationship between a businessman and Hajiji in the land's deal.

However, he said the businessman had also been seen in meetings with Parti Warisan Sabah president and former chief minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

"PGRS believes that these allegations are attempts to tarnish the Chief Minister's image," he said.

In a separate development, Warisan's youth wing has filed a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on the alleged misuse of power by the chief minister.

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