Federal minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali’s position as an MP has come under the spotlight again on Thursday

This time Sabah Bersatu Youth revealed the Papar MP still retains directorship in a state government-linked company. 

Questions have been raised before the Hari Raya holidays over whether he should be disqualified as MP for holding board positions in Government linked companies.

Sabah Bersatu Youth (Armada) chief Hisyam Hazaril Azman claimed that a recent check revealed that Armizan was still a director of Common Tower Technology Sdn Bhd, with the appointment being on February 1, 2023.

This comes after Armizan had previously admitted to being on the board of Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM) while holding the post of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions) — a situation that already raised red flags.

“This raises serious concerns of conflict of interest, and we are wondering whether Datuk Armizan is not bound by the Code of Ethics for Members of the Administration and MPs issued by the Prime Minister’s Department,” Hisyam was quoted as saying MalaysiaKini.

The code clearly prohibits cabinet members from engaging in business activities due to the risk of conflicting interests, Hisyam said, adding that Armizan’s current roles may also breach Article 48(1)(c) of the Federal Constitution.

That article states that any MP who holds an “office of profit” is disqualified from serving in Parliament.

Sabah-based NGO Sabah Entitlement and Equity Now (Seen) had last week called for an official investigation into the matter, urging immediate resignation if Armizan is found to have violated constitutional provisions.

Seen president Duncan Cheng questioned what provision allows a federal minister to sit on the board of a state GLC.

“People in Sabah know something is not right. If there’s nothing wrong, then tell us — are there other Madani Cabinet ministers also sitting on GLC boards?” Cheng said.

He was referring to Armizan’s own confirmation that he had attended a meeting on May 16, 2023 in his capacity as board member of a group representing Sabah’s Sabah Mineral Management in Indonesia. 

At the time, Armizan was also serving as a federal minister and remains secretary-general of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS). – April 3, 2025