Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM) has firmly denied allegations of misconduct involving its Chief Executive Officer, Natasha Sim, and Company Secretary, Emily Chong, following the circulation of a photo showing both women beside a private aircraft during an official visit abroad.
The image, which has recently resurfaced online, was reportedly taken during an August 2024 working visit to Indonesia as part of an ongoing foreign direct investment (FDI) engagement.
In a statement, SMM described the public and media speculation surrounding the image as “false, misleading and defamatory.”
The company clarified that the visit was part of a formal engagement process with a prospective foreign investor, initiated in March 2023 by then-CEO Jonih Enggihon.
According to SMM, Enggihon had recommended collaboration with the Indonesian mining conglomerate after a due diligence visit and Board approval was granted in February 2024.
Following the approval, Sim who was serving as Chief Strategy Officer at the time was appointed by the Board to lead discussions on the potential partnership.
“The August 2024 trip, during which the photo in question was taken, was one of several working visits related to the FDI process.
“Both Sim and Chong had voluntarily cooperated with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in December 2024, submitting detailed statements and documentation about the trip.
“An independent internal inquiry concluded in February 2025 found no evidence of wrongdoing, conflict of interest, or personal gain by any SMM officer involved.
“SMM is not a licensing authority, and our CEO has no power to approve or grant licenses,” the company noted.
The company further alleged that the renewed attention may be politically motivated.
It pointed to an ongoing legal suit filed by SMM against Enggihon and businessman Datuk Albert Tei, accusing them of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, tampering with official documents, and conspiracy to injure the company.
“These allegations appear to recycle matters already under judicial scrutiny and could be part of a broader campaign to discredit SMM and its leadership,” the statement read.
SMM urged the public, media, and political figures to verify facts before echoing unfounded claims.
It also issued a warning that it would pursue legal action against any party disseminating defamatory or malicious falsehoods.
“We will not hesitate to take legal steps against individuals, media outlets, or public figures who continue to spread baseless accusations,” the company said.
