SARAWAK Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg has slammed Pending assemblyman Violet Yong for “malicious” remarks made on his son’s business dealings in the state assembly last week.

Abang Johari said it was regrettable that the DAP rep had resorted to tarnishing his character to gain political mileage.

Last Wednesday, Yong said oil and gas company Handal Resources Bhd bagged in June a seven-year, RM360 million contract from Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd by leveraging the “connections” of its joint-venture partner Borneo Sea Offshore Engineering Sdn Bhd.

Yong said the connection was the chief minister’s son, 40-year-old Abang Abdillah Izzarim who was an executive director of Borneo Sea Offshore.

Abang Johari said his son was requested by his lawyer friend and owner of Borneo Sea Offshore to be an independent director in his firm in February 2016 – months before he became deputy chief minister.

He said his son, who “owns no share and has no fiduciary interest in the company”, had retired as the independent director in June 2018.

“Indeed, it is malicious and vexatious on the part of the honourable member for Pending to have created a negative perception of Abdillah who is not here to defend himself.”

Abang Johari said his 38 year-old record as an assemblyman and 34 years in the state administration proved his and his family’s integrity. – November 13, 2019.