KOTA KINABALU — Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan has denied receiving RM1.78 million in connection with a mining scandal, calling the allegation baseless and politically motivated.

He said neither he nor his party, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR), has ever been involved in mining activities or applied for a mining licence. Kitingan reaffirmed STAR’s stance on environmental conservation and support for the Nature Conservation Agreement (NCA).

He described the claims as attempts by political opponents to destabilise Sabah’s government and said previous whistleblower statements had cleared STAR and Parti Bersatu Sabah of any wrongdoing.

Kitingan confirmed full cooperation with the MACC and said he would pursue legal action against the news portal responsible for the report, adding that more slanderous claims may follow as part of political games.