Summary

Former Sabah Water Department deputy director Lim Lam Beng has denied claims that he attempted to bribe former minister Raymond Tan, as part of ongoing proceedings in Sabah’s Special Corruption Court. The denial comes amid renewed scrutiny of the department’s historic corruption scandals and allegations of widespread kickback schemes.

Main Article

Lim Lam Beng, the former Deputy Director of Sabah’s Water Department, countered allegations in the Special Corruption Court on 23 October 2025 that he had attempted to bribe ex-minister Raymond Tan. Lim stated unequivocally in his testimony that he never sought to offer any inducement to Tan, in relation to his position or departmental affairs.​

The proceedings form part of a broader investigation into corruption, bribery, and mismanagement within the Sabah Water Department. Lim’s denial follows earlier testimonies and financial inquiries into large sums allegedly paid to senior officials as part of a ‘contribution scheme’ by contractors, stretching back to at least 1989. The court heard witnesses describe how such schemes operated, with payments often routed through intermediaries and concealed as departmental expenses.​

Lim Lam Beng—alongside former director Ag Tahir Ag Talib and other department officers—remains on trial for a series of charges related to money laundering, with authorities investigating millions of ringgit in allegedly illicit transactions from department funds. The accused have maintained their innocence, arguing that funds and assets in question stemmed from business activities rather than bribery.​

The case underscores the persistent spotlight on Sabah Water Department, which has faced headline-making probes since the record-breaking RM114.5 million seizure in 2016. MACC continues to pursue money trails and leads both in Malaysia and overseas linked to alleged abuses of water supply allocations intended for public infrastructure.​

Background / Related Cases

The Sabah Water Department has been at the centre of major national corruption probes, notably the 2015–2016 scandal where two senior officers and multiple associates were arrested and RM114.5 million was confiscated by MACC—the largest seizure in the commission’s history at the time. Investigations revealed siphoning of government funds, luxury asset purchases, and land acquisitions over several years, with the department accused of diverting up to 60% of allocated water supply funds.​

Former Director Ag Tahir and Lim Lam Beng, along with others, were charged with dozens of counts for money laundering and criminal breach of trust. Witnesses testified about routine kickback schemes where contractors paid up to RM1 million annually for project approvals, bypassing open tenders. The long-running proceedings have highlighted systemic weaknesses in procurement and financial controls, with ongoing efforts to recover public losses and address water supply challenges in Sabah.​

Sources / Reference

• Main Article: https://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news/269095/former-water-department-no-2-denies-bid-to-bribe-raymond/​

• Additional references: NST report on denials, FMT and Borneo Post coverage of Sabah Water Department scandal trials, Wikipedia background on probe and MACC statements.​

• Past cases: “Sabah Water Department corruption probe” (Wikipedia), MACC press releases and parliamentary discussions.​