Two Politicians Charged; GRS Leadership Assured Legal Process Will Take its Course

The GRS State Government is committed to integrity and good governance in the administration and management of the government. In the aftermath of the action by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on two of GRS assemblymen on 30 June 2025, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor asked the public to remain calm and to let justice takes its course.

The MACC charged Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob, Sindumin Assemblyman; and Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandi, Tanjung Batu Assemblyman, with corruption at the Sessions Court, Kota Kinabalu. "We respect the law, and we will let the legal process take its course. The GRS State Government will not interfere in the any investigation and legal action on any of its government leaders,” Hajiji said. “The two assemblymen also have their legal rights to defend. We must respect and honour the legal process.”

The corruption charges for Andi, who is Assistant Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship; and Dr Yusof, who is Chairman of Qhazanah Sabah Berhad, are accepting and receiving bribes from Dato Tei Jeinn Cheing, a businessman from Malaya, as an inducement to assist in securing a license for mineral exploration in Sabah for two companies owned by Tei and his business group.

Tei was also charged in the same court for giving bribes. Many people suspect that “hidden hands” have concocted the scandal as a political ploy to unsettle the GRS Government and that the scandal was timed to make it public prior to the looming state election, expected to be in September 2025.