SHAH ALAM: Businessman Datuk Albert Tei has dismissed viral speculation over his meeting with former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, insisting he met the statesman only to seek advice after becoming fearful for his safety.
Tei said the now-viral photograph of the meeting had fuelled baseless theories linking him to political conspiracies.
“That photo - that was the first time in my 37 years that I had ever met him. I don’t know why it created so much unfounded speculation.
“Last night after I got home, I showered and checked my wife’s phone to watch some YouTube and scroll social media.
“I was shocked. Some even claimed I had a conspiracy with Tun M. I didn’t expect I could have that kind of ‘influence’. I just kept laughing,” he said during a press conference at the Shah Alam court here on Friday (Dec 5).
Tei stressed that Dr Mahathir, whom he described as a respected statesman, should not be dragged into false allegations.
“Please, don’t slander him. I swear that was my first time meeting him.
“I never imagined in my life that I would have the chance to meet him, tell him what I’m going through and ask for his advice,” he said.
Tei said Dr Mahathir listened to him intently for about an hour.
“I have to praise Tun. Even at nearly 100 years old, he’s very sharp. He never once said, ‘What?’ He understood everything.
“After I explained my situation, he gave me some advice on what I should do.”
Tei said he decided to meet Dr Mahathir after a friend urged him to seek counsel from someone with experience.
“I was feeling very lost. So I asked a friend for help. He advised me to meet someone experienced.
“But the real reason I agreed was because my friend told me, ‘If you don’t meet Tun M, no big names will know about your case. Later you might end up inside a concrete barrel.’
“When I heard that, I panicked. I got scared. That’s why I followed him to meet Tun M,” he added.
He emphasised that he was “just a small person,” dismissing social media claims that Dr Mahathir regarded him like an adopted son.
“I even read people saying I’m like his adopted child. I also hoped that was true - in my dreams. But no, I’m not worthy of that,” he said.
Asked what he had told Dr Mahathir, Tei said he spoke about his ongoing corruption case.
“I didn’t know who else I could turn to. Since school, I always saw Wawasan 2020 - he’s someone ingrained in my mind.
“Among the younger generation, he’s the only one recognised as a statesman. That’s why I went to him,” he said.
Tei said Dr Mahathir did not recommend he meet any political figures and did not discuss politics.
“There was no political element, none at all,” he said.
Tei added that he had lodged two earlier police reports and claimed he had previously received death threats linked to his disclosures involving what he alleged were corruption issues in Sabah.
“The first time I exposed the Sabah corruption scandal involving 15 leaders there, I received death threats,” he claimed.
Tei said the meeting with Dr Mahathir took place last week at Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya.
