Despite losing control of Bahvest (now AuMas Resources Bhd) in 2023, political financier Datuk Lo Fui Ming and key Warisan figures are alleged to have continued disrupting mining operations in Bukit Mantri. What's really going on?
Datuk Lo Fui Ming, during his tenure as Managing Director of Bahvest Resources Bhd, was involved in serious misconduct, including gold theft, for which he was charged in court. The company has since undergone a transformation—Bahvest is now known as AuMas Resources Bhd, under a completely new management. As of 31 May 2023, Lo Fui Ming no longer holds any stake in the company. The restructured entity has obtained Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval and holds a valid Operating Mining Scheme (OMS) license.
A year after the leadership change and rebranding, AuMas Resources continues to face ongoing attacks from individuals affiliated with the former leadership. These attacks have taken the form of media campaigns, political statements, operational disruptions, and even sabotage of critical mining infrastructure at the Bukit Mantri gold site in Tawau.
It is widely known that Datuk Lo Fui Ming, former MD and shareholder of Bahvest, was a key financier of Shafie Apdal and the Warisan party. Although the original mining lease was approved during the Musa Aman administration, the actual mining license was granted during Shafie Apdal’s term as Chief Minister.
This political connection may explain why Shafie and other Warisan leaders continue to harbor hostility toward AuMas’ new management. False accusations and politically charged narratives have been pushed through party-affiliated media, including Sabah News Today, operated by Zakaria Damit—a bankrupt former Warisan Sepanggar leader turned “journalist.”
For example, Merotai State Assemblyman Sarifuddin Hata has accused the company of illegal operations, environmental damage, and lacking EIA compliance. These claims are baseless. In truth, AuMas Resources has secured all necessary approvals from the Department of Environment (DOE), the Department of Minerals and Geoscience (JMG), and holds a valid OMS license.
Shafie Apdal, now the State Assemblyman for Senallang, recently accused the state government of allowing private companies to profit from public resources—conveniently forgetting that he himself had issued the original gold mining license to Bahvest Resources (via subsidiaries Wullersdorf Resources Sdn Bhd and Southsea Gold Sdn Bhd) under the Mineral Development Act 1994 and Section 18(d) of the Sabah Mining Ordinance 1960.
Why was there no uproar when Datuk Lo Fui Ming controlled Bahvest, Wullersdorf, and Southsea? Because they were allies. Only after he and his sons were removed did the attacks begin—now targeting AuMas Resources Bhd, the rightful successor company.
The public deserves to know: All past wrongdoings—gold smuggling, false income declarations, unpaid royalties, abuse of power, and corruption—were committed under the previous management led by Datuk Lo Fui Ming.
Lo built a mining operation spanning multiple entities:
Southsea Gold Sdn Bhd (land lessee)
Wullersdorf Resources Sdn Bhd (subsidiary operator)
MAB Ventures Sdn Bhd (major shareholder of Bahvest)
This structure allegedly enabled the commission of various violations:
Company Act 2016 (Sections 210 & 213) – SSM
Abuse of position as director for personal gain
Capital Markets and Services Act 2007 (CMSA) – SC
Sections 177, 179: Stock manipulation via false information
Section 188: Insider trading (purchasing shares using non-public information)
Conflict of interest: Suing a company in which he held dual roles to claim millions in compensation
MACC Act 2009 (Section 23) – MACC
Misusing official position to benefit his own companies
Bahvest was a listed entity, subject to public and regulatory scrutiny
LEASE DISPUTE: WULLERSDORF VS SOUTHSEA
Southsea Gold Sdn Bhd, owned by Lo, was granted a 35-year mining lease on 1,000 hectares by the Land and Survey Department (JTU) (01.01.2014–31.12.2048). Southsea later sub-leased 317.7 hectares to Wullersdorf Resources (01.10.2015–30.09.2048).
All leases and environmental approvals (including from the DOE in March 2017) were lawfully obtained. The OMS license has also been renewed every six months by JMG. The key difference today is that Wullersdorf is no longer under Lo’s control, though Southsea still is.
So why is Datuk Lo Fui Ming, with support from certain media actors, targeting AuMas Resources over EIA, pollution, and OMS licensing issues?
Among Southsea’s board members is Datuk Osman Jamal, a former Warisan state assemblyman and ex-director of Sabah’s Land and Survey Department. The political motivations are obvious. During Warisan’s rule, Lo and his entities allegedly funneled millions to the party.
Datuk Osman Jamal joined the Warisan Party
Warisan Vice President Jaujan Sambakong, together with Datuk Lo Fui Ming, informed the Warisan government about the gold production
Close Associate and Financier of Warisan: Datuk Lo Fui Ming with Warisan Vice President Junz Wong
DATUK LO FUI MING ABUSED HIS POWER
In May 2023, Datuk Lo, as Director of Southsea, filed a RM20.4 million lawsuit against Wullersdorf (where he was also CEO), accusing them of unlawful occupation of Southsea’s mining land. He demanded their eviction.
This came after five shareholders, including Innosabah Capital Holdings Sdn Bhd, called for an EGM to remove Lo, his son Lo Teck Yong, and others for abuse of power and fraud.
Before the EGM took place, MACC raids began—targeting Bahvest’s offices and mine. Key executives were arrested, including:
Datuk Lo Fui Ming (Managing Director)
Lo Teck Yong (Executive Director)
Chong Khing Chung (CFO)
Shahrol Azuan (COO)
Brando Pang (Assistant GM)
On 31 May 2023, Lo and his son resigned from all positions. New leadership took over. Bahvest, now rebranded as AuMas, is under fresh and untainted management.
WHY BLAME DATUK FREDDY LIM AND INNOSABAH CAPITAL HOLDINGS?
Datuk Freddy Lim, via Innosabah, bought Bahvest shares on the open market starting in Nov 2022 (15.17 million shares) and 2023 (31.68 million shares), totaling 46.85 million units. All MACC probes and wrongdoing occurred under Lo’s management—not Freddy’s.
Datuk Freddy Lim is merely an open market share purchaser
Share ownership fluctuates over time
Lo and his son were charged in the Special Sessions Court on 25 Oct 2023 over illegal gold sales causing over RM1.3 million in losses to the state.
Bahvest is now AuMas Resources Bhd under new management
Yet authorities—allegedly aligned with Lo—have targeted Freddy Lim and even invoked the tax authorities against him, despite his non-involvement in past misdeeds. These facts are verifiable in court.
The latest shareholder status of AuMas Resources Bhd – Innosabah Capital Holdings Sdn Bhd is controlled by Datuk Freddy Lim Nyuk Sang (of Kretam Holdings Berhad – KHB)
The following is the chronology of Bahvest Resources Bhd since 2005, its takeover in May 2023, and its rebranding as AuMas Resources Bhd. The separation between the era of Datuk Lo Fui Ming and the new management of AuMas is clearly defined. Authorities aligned with Datuk Lo Fui Ming must examine the investigative facts before making any accusations against the current management.
APPENDIX 1:
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS: AUMAS RESOURCES BHD (FORMERLY BAHVEST RESOURCES BHD) TAKEN OVER BY NEW MANAGEMENT FROM THE GROUP LED BY DATUK LO FUI MING, A FINANCIER OF THE WARISAN PARTY
The chronology proves the transition of Bahvest Resources Bhd to new ownership under AuMas Resources Bhd. Various wrongdoings were committed by Datuk Lo Fui Ming
One of the key events in the chronology occurred on 25 October 2023, when Datuk Lo Fui Ming and his son, Lo Teck Yong, were brought before the Special Sessions Court before Judge Jason Juga. They were charged with involvement in the illegal sale of gold bullion, resulting in losses exceeding RM1.3 million to the state government from transactions between 2019 and 2023.
All charges were directed at Datuk Lo Fui Ming and his son — not the new management!
What About the Use of Warisan-Affiliated Media — Sabah News Today?
Datuk Lo Fui Ming has been using Sabah News Today, a portal owned by Zakaria Damit, the former Warisan Sepanggar Information Chief, to attack the new management of AuMas Resources Bhd. Perhaps because Zakaria Damit is a bankrupt individual, he is unbothered by the prospect of legal action being taken against him.
A large number of false reports have been spread by Sabah News Today. AuMas Resources should rightfully pursue legal action and file a lawsuit against Zakaria Damit and Sabah News Today.
Similarly, in the past, false news circulated by Zakaria of SNT led to legal action being taken against the media outlet Overseas Chinese Daily News. All of those media reports had cited false information provided by Sabah News Today.
This portal has published numerous defamatory reports. AuMas has addressed all the details in its official announcement to Bursa Malaysia regarding the EIA report, approval from the Sabah Department of Environment, and the Operating Mining Scheme (OMS) license of Wullersdorf Resources Sdn Bhd
The evidence that Sabah News Today and Zakaria Damit were paid by Datuk Lo Fui Ming is clear — Zakaria Damit and Nordin Ening, a former key associate of Shafie Apdal, were present in court during Datuk Lo Fui Ming’s case to coordinate media coverage. Who doesn’t know Nordin Ening — a well-known scammer during the Warisan government who has since jumped to PKR Sabah?
How much did Datuk Lo Fui Ming pay Nordin Ening and Zakaria Damit to spread false news?
Nordin Ening was once a close associate of Shafie Apdal, known for extorting Chinese businessmen. He has now jumped to PKR Sabah but continues to protect the interests of tycoon Datuk Lo Fui Ming
During Warisan’s time in power, Shafie Apdal awarded him numerous projects, including the monopoly over Sabah’s barter trade system and rice supply projects
RECENT DAMAGE AND SABOTAGE BY DATUK LO FUI MING AGAINST AUMAS RESOURCES BHD
The latest complaint involving sabotage by Datuk Lo Fui Ming and Southsea Gold concerns their intrusion into the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) of the AuMas mining site.
On 17 May 2025, Datuk Lo Fui Ming (DLFM) and Southsea, along with their machinery, caused damage that blocked the perimeter drainage system critical to the operation of the TSF.
They not only obstructed the perimeter drainage, but also redirected surface water into the TSF by constructing a new canal.
DLFM and Southsea carried out this act by backfilling the perimeter drains with soil at two separate locations, directly affecting the water flow. Additionally, a new canal was built to divert all surface runoff—which should have been directed away from the TSF—into the facility itself.
The TSF is vital for Wullersdorf’s mining operations. It functions as a retention basin for storing processing waste (i.e., semi-dry solids and effluent). The TSF was part of the approved EIA and has been a critical component of Wullersdorf’s mining operations from the beginning.
Wullersdorf, a subsidiary of AuMas, discovered the incident after DLFM openly contacted the company’s workers and admitted he had instructed the earthworks. Subsequent investigation confirmed that the earthworks were in fact an act of blockage and redirection of water flow.
As a result of DLFM and Southsea’s obstruction and diversion on 17 May 2025—compounded by heavy rainfall the following day—a large volume of water, which should have been diverted away from the TSF via the now-blocked perimeter drains, ended up in the TSF reservoir. This led to the collapse of part of the TSF’s bund wall on 19 May 2025 due to the water accumulation.
Nonetheless, Wullersdorf successfully repaired the TSF wall. On 29 May, the Sabah and Sarawak High Court in Tawau granted a second injunction to AuMas Resources Bhd to prevent any interference with the TSF repair works managed by its subsidiary, Wullersdorf Resources Sdn Bhd.
Wullersdorf also attempted to repair the perimeter drainage twice on 19 May 2025, but these repair efforts were again sabotaged by DLFM and Southsea using heavy machinery. Without the restoration of the drainage system, any repairs to the TSF wall would only be temporary.
Why Does Datuk Lo Fui Ming Continue to Harass the New Owners? Two Injunctions Granted, Yet He Persists
The ongoing interference by Datuk Lo Fui Ming has significantly disrupted Wullersdorf’s efforts. This includes an incident where police officers escorting DLFM told Wullersdorf workers to cease repair work and refer to the court—despite the fact that the work was being carried out under the directive of the Department of Minerals and Geoscience.
The second injunction granted on 29 May by the Sabah and Sarawak High Court in Tawau reaffirms AuMas Resources Bhd’s legal right to proceed with its TSF restoration works without obstruction.
Proposed Solution: Transfer the Mining Lease Directly to Wullersdorf
The conflict between Wullersdorf Resources Sdn Bhd and Southsea Gold Sdn Bhd will not be resolved as long as Datuk Lo Fui Ming continues to disrupt AuMas Resources Bhd. Since the Sabah State Government stands to gain tax revenue from the gold mine, it must intervene decisively through the following measures:
The Sabah State Government, via the Department of Lands and Surveys (JTU), should re-evaluate Southsea Gold Sdn Bhd’s primary lease and, if any breaches are found, terminate the lease in accordance with land laws.
A direct lease over the 317.7-hectare site should be granted to Wullersdorf Resources Sdn Bhd, which is now under legitimate management and has no legacy liabilities or corporate disputes.
Wullersdorf is prepared to pay mining royalties and lease payments directly to the state government without problematic intermediaries.
Benefits to the Sabah State Government and Its People:
Ends corporate conflict that threatens the stability of Sabah’s gold industry
Ensures a consistent revenue stream and tax collection directly to the state
Supports a new management team that is legitimate and committed to integrity
Protects approved EIA and OMS licenses from being exploited for personal agendas
The Sabah State Governmentshould seriously consider terminating Southsea’s lease and transferring it directly to Wullersdorf, in line with the state's interest, industry stability, and to put an end to corporate manipulation by individuals lawfully rejected by the company’s shareholders.
AuMas Resources Bhd (AUMAS) is the only Sabah-owned gold mining company listed on Bursa Malaysia. The Sabah government must give this proposal the attention it deserves.
1 ![[VIDEO] Bukit Mantri Gold: Why are Datuk Lo Fui Ming and Warisan still sabotaging AuMas Resources Bhd?](https://sabahkini2.co/public/data/files/FAIL_2025/MEI_2025/Lo_Fui_ming_dan_warisan_sabotaj_aumas.jpg)
