The Chief Executive Officer of the Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS), Datuk Ir. Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid, has categorically denied allegations published by the controversial news portal Sabahkini2, calling them false, baseless and defamatory.
In a statement issued following the publication of an article titled “Sabah Government Urged to Sack ECoS CEO, Approves Libaran IPP Owned by Muhyiddin’s In-Law Without Cabinet Consent”, Abdul Nasser said he has lodged a police report and is prepared to take both criminal and civil legal action.
The article, published on 17 April, alleged that Abdul Nasser had personally approved an Independent Power Producer (IPP) project in Libaran linked to the in-law of former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin—without obtaining clearance from the Sabah state cabinet.
“These are serious and unfounded accusations that attempt to damage my personal and professional reputation as well as the integrity of ECoS,” Abdul Nasser said in the statement on Sunday.
He maintained that all decisions made by his office were in line with state laws, energy policies, and the official mandate given by the Sabah Cabinet through the Sabah Energy Council.
“All actions taken by ECoS were fully compliant with established laws, policies and procedures. No project was approved outside the scope of proper governance,” he said.
Abdul Nasser believes the article was published with malicious intent and warned that such misinformation could mislead the public and erode investor confidence in Sabah’s energy sector.
He confirmed that the police report seeks three key outcomes: a thorough investigation into the article’s author and the Sabahkini2 portal operators; prosecution under Sections 500 and 504 of the Penal Code and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998; and potential civil action for reputational damage.
“I believe in the rule of law and trust that the truth will prevail to protect the dignity of individuals and the institutions they serve,” he said, pledging full cooperation with the authorities.
Members of the public were advised to rely only on official sources of information to avoid confusion and the spread of false claims.
ECoS, the regulatory body overseeing Sabah’s energy sector, reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, rule-based governance, and public accountability in all energy-related matters in the state. – April 20, 2025
