KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun denies that ministers are involved in decisions regarding project approvals.

"Approval for all project procurements will be decided by the Sabah Tender Committee.

"The committee is chaired by the permanent secretary of a ministry.

"The minister is not involved in making decisions about it," he said in response to a recent video posted by Malaysiakini.

The clip shows a discussion between the whistleblower and Tempasuk assemblyman, Mohd Arsad Bistari, about projects purportedly "blocked" by Sabah's Chief Minister, Hajiji Noor.

Mohd Arsad, who is also the chairman of Softwoods Sabah Bhd, mentions projects worth RM70 million and criticises members of the "old team," including state Finance Minister Masidi Manjun, for altering project approvals.

In the video, Mohd Arsad expresses frustration over alleged obstacles to his projects and implies involvement in questionable financial dealings.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/11/1134557/masidi-refutes-claims-ministers-involvement-project-approvals