The entrepreneur who had revealed the so-called settlement offer from Membakut assemblyman Datuk Arifin Mohd Arif has lodged a counter report, Malaysiakini reported on Thursday.

He claimed an offer was made to resolve the issue and insisted he was willing to face charges if his allegations proved false.

The businessman, in his report filed in Serdang, Selangor also urged police to investigate whether Arifin had lodged a false report.

“All my witnesses are ready to cooperate, and I will surrender all evidence,” he said, adding that he should be arrested if found guilty.

According to the news portal, the entrepreneur also submitted over 50 WhatsApp screenshots to support his claims, stating he was prepared to provide them to authorities.

His report came less than a day after Arifin, the son-in-law of Sabah Governor Musa Aman, lodged his own complaint in Kota Kinabalu, calling the Malaysiakini article defamatory.

Arifin, who was accused of taking bribes for a mineral exploration licence, denied the allegations and alleged a cartel was trying to monopolise mining permits.

“I will take legal action against those who defame me and those conspiring with this group,” he told reporters after lodging a police report in Kota Kinabalu Wednesday evening.

He also claimed Malaysiakini had not sought his response before publishing the article.

However, records show the portal contacted him, a senior aide to Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, and others before publishing the report, but received no response.

The article alleged Arifin had claimed a mandate to negotiate a deal, with the whistleblower stating his cancelled licence would be reinstated if he declared funds involved were political donations, not bribes.

The businessman also alleged he was handed a pre-written statement—shared with Malaysiakini—stating he had given similar funds to lawmakers from Umno, Star, and PBS.

Hajiji, also linked to the scandal, has dismissed the allegations, saying the whistleblower was working with those seeking to topple his government. – February 6, 2025