Cops nab another 'Tan Sri' over MBI Ponzi scheme

Police have arrested another individual with the title “Tan Sri” suspected of involvement in the MBI International Group Ponzi scheme investment fraud, marking the latest development in the ongoing investigation.

Bukit Aman's Commercial Crime Investigation Department acting director Hasbullah Ali confirmed the 53-year-old Penang property company chairperson was detained on Thursday and remanded for five days to assist investigations.

"The suspect's office, residence, and relevant documents have been searched for evidence," he told Bernama, adding that further arrests haven't been ruled out as investigations continue, with a press conference to be held soon to provide updates.

The suspect is believed to have acted as a proxy or partner in laundering illicit funds for the syndicate.

This follows the April 18 to 21 “Op Northern Star” that saw five individuals, including another “Tan Sri” and “Datuk Seri”, arrested across the Klang Valley and northern Malaysia.

Authorities have also seized RM223.62 million worth of durian orchards (344ha in Raub, Pahang; 5.26ha in Jawi, Penang; and 13.76ha in Tasek, Kedah), frozen 299 bank accounts (RM123.61 million), and confiscated 12 luxury vehicles, a high-end watch, five mobile phones, and crucial documents.

Additional seizures include a palm oil processing plant in Selama, Kedah, a hotel, and a Penang property development company, bringing total confiscations from both operations to RM3.51 billion.

 

Source : Bernama

MACC urged to investigate new KL Tower concession

Hulu Langat Bersatu information chief Shafiq Halim and several NGOs have urged the MACC to investigate the concession related to the company now overseeing the KL Tower.

During a press conference this afternoon outside the national icon, they held up pictures of LSH Service Master Sdn Bhd (LSHSM) non-executive chairperson Lim Ken Cheng with key government leaders.

Shafiq claimed that the photos were taken before the deal was signed for LSHSM to take over KL Tower.

“We want to ask MACC to investigate the award (of this concession), and we also ask for the minister (in charge) to reveal the five other companies that entered the bid for KL Tower,” he said.

The photos depicted Lim with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, as well as DAP veterans Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng.

The NGOs present today include Negarawati Tanahair, Secretariat for the Empowerment of Bumiputera Strategic Ownership (Sepatra), Sekretariat Gabungan NGO Ikhlas Malaysia, Himpunan Aman Satu Juta Rakyat Malaysia, and the Muslim Consumers’ Association of Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Abdul Hamid Shaikh Abdul Razak Shaikh, the managing director of Hydroshoppe Sdn Bhd - the previous KL Tower operator - told Malaysiakini that his company had nothing to do with the press conference and does not condone it.

Hydroshoppe and its subsidiary, Menara Kuala Lumpur Sdn Bhd (MKLSB), are suing the government for RM1 billion over the alleged wrongful termination of their concession.

‘What’s the link to PKR polls?’

Speaking further on the matter, Shafiq asked why the concession award coincided with PKR’s party polls.

“The concession was signed during the PKR election. So we want to know, why was this done so close to the election? Were there sources of funding and so on?

“So the MACC must investigate and ensure that (if) anyone has committed corruption, they must take the appropriate action,” he said.

He stressed that it was not a matter of race but of integrity.

Pejuang lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali, who was also present, said the new concession deal contradicts Pakatan Harapan’s reform promises before it became part of the government.

“But finally, we have come to the point where we see that those with corporate connections have found their place.

“(This is) despite the government saying before that they will ensure the people are taken care of... but there is still political patronage like this happening in this country,” he added.

‘Wrongful contract termination’

Hydroshoppe and MKLSB are claiming damages from Putrajaya over the alleged wrongful termination of their agreement in November 2022, which included an extension of the company’s concession from 15 years to 30 years.

This followed the government’s decision in May last year to award the tower management concession to LSHSM, a joint-venture vehicle between LSH Best Builders Sdn Bhd and Service Master (M) Sdn Bhd.

MKLSB, previously fully owned by Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM), had designed and constructed the KL Tower, which was opened to the public in 1996.

It had been the sole operator of KL Tower since under concession contracts from the government, which were renewed every 15 years.

 

Source :  https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/742193

M'sia-China to boost cooperation in science, space, vaccine, agriculture

Malaysia and China have pledged to deepen cooperation in science, technology and innovation, including key areas such as space, vaccine development and agriculture.

A joint statement issued in conjunction with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Malaysia, which concluded today, noted that both countries expressed their commitment to fully leveraging the intergovernmental Joint Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation.

Through the implementation of the China-Malaysia Joint Research Project and the Science and Technology People-to-People Exchange Programme, both sides aimed to establish joint research and development (R&D) platforms, including a laboratory, enhance collaboration in science parks and technology transfer and foster cooperation in emerging technologies.

Guided by the principles of equality and mutual benefit, both countries also expressed their readiness to advance space capabilities, foster the development of the new space economy, drive technological advancements, and contribute to national security.

“Both sides recognised the significant potential to strengthen partnerships under the agreement between the Chinese and Malaysian governments on Space Cooperation and the Peaceful Use of Outer Space cooperation framework,” the statement read.

PRESS STATEMENT BY TAN SRI DATUK ROBERT PHANG

 

“Constant sniping at unity gov’t by opposition politicians can destroy Malaysia economically”

POLITICIANS today seem to be only self-serving for if they see an issue which can benefit them but hurt the nation, it makes no difference to them.

Those in the opposition need to understand every statement they make has an impact. They seem to harp on an issue which has a local impact but does not hold water.

In this day and age, the social media is a powerful tool. Everything a politician says can go viral instantaneously with adverse national and international impact if such is their ultimate intention.

Politicians tend to capitalise on sensitive issues to show that they are on the ball without realising that their action can chase away investors be they local or international.

For example, opposition politicians have been hitting out on concerts performed by international stars on religious grounds but oblivious of their mutti-fold economic benefits. A case in point is that the recent Taylor Swift concert in Singapore brought the island nation enormous economic benefits.

Singapore saw visitors spent somewhere in the region of S$500 mil (RM1.6 bil) with hotels, tours, airline tickets and eateries over-run by concert goers.

Since the end of pandemic curbs, a number of top artists have performed in Singapore, including Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, Blackpink and Harry Styles. According to economists, this has contributed about 0.25% to the island nation’s economic growth in 1Q 2024 alone.

Malaysia has simply missed out on this golden opportunity because our politicians have done their very best to scare away international acts with their over-zealous comments.

Even food had become a hot topic especially the inclusion of bak kut teh in the national heritage cuisine list.

Politicians simply took an issue to this without examining the issues in depth because they felt by criticising the decision, they could stretch their political mileage. This is despite Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing had justified why bak kut teh is included in the list of National Heritage cuisines.

Politicians should stop attacking the government just for the sake of wanting to be recognised for championing certain causes.

They must also stop making sweeping statements just to be known for being vocal on issues that favour them. Put the nation first, not personal or party interest. – March 14, 2024

Prominent social activist and philanthropist Tan Sri Robert Phang Miow Sin is the founder and chairman of the Social Care Foundation. He was also a former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) advisory member.

Source : https://focusmalaysia.my/constant-sniping-at-unity-govt-by-opposition-politicians-can-destroy-malaysia-economically/

Robert Phang: Don’t blindly run down the unity gov’t for foreign investors are watching us closely

THE opposition needs to heed the call by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (YDPA) Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar to focus their energy on the betterment of their constituents.

Instead of focusing on attempts to oust the unity government, they should provide meaningful debates on government policy and issues of the day, according to prominent social activist and philanthropist Tan Sri Robert Phang Miow Sin (main pic, right).

“The people are now facing hard times with the cost of living continuing to go up. As this is as much a global phenomenon, lawmakers on both sides of the divide should come up with innovative ways to help the rakyst overcome their hardship,” he told FocusM.

“Instead of channelling their efforts to orchestrate the recent Dubai Move conspiracy, for examples, key leaders of the opposition should have taken time to discuss how to help ease financial burden among B40 Malaysians.”

The founder and chairman of the Social Care Foundation was commenting on Sultan Ibrahim’s royal address on Monday (Feb 26) whereby the latter advised lawmakers to cease plans to oust the national unity government outside of elections.

This came about as the Johor ruler graced the first parliamentary meeting of the year which also happens to be his first parliamentary duty since ascending the throne as the 17^th YDPA on Jan 31.

The former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) advisory member further cautioned the opposition that they risk “scaring away foreign investors” by incessantly attacking Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the unity government.

He went on to justify that only with the help of investors will there be job creation which will enable to oil the national economy, thus ensuring long-term employment and for prosperity to be passed down to all Malaysians.

For this reason, Phang wants key leaders of the opposition to ask themselves who will benefit from scaring away investors or if their action is tantamount of leaving the country in doldrums.

The 84-year-old Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation exco member therefore urged opposition MPs to stop putting their own interest first in current times of difficulty but instead find ways to promote ideas to lift the national economy and well-being of Malaysians.

“They have to realise that it is the public who elected them as their representatives in the Parliament but that does not mean that the opposition can simply promote their own agenda at the expense of the rakyat who elected them.”

In this regard, Phang hailed Sultan Ibrahim’s call which made it very clear that the Agong would not brook any attempts to trigger a premature change of government that could de-stabilise the country.

He contended that the opposition should heed such advice by playing their role of doling out constructive criticism instead of merely dishing out irresponsible statements that could hurt the country.

Like it or not, the crime fighter who is also sits on the board of a few public listed entities wants the opposition to understand that investors pay close attention to what is happening in the country before deciding whether to invest.

He added that scaring them away at this juncture is wasteful for it is akin to shooting oneself on one’s own foot.

“Politicians have to think about the future of the nation and that that of the future generation of Malaysians first instead of their own short-term interest,” added Phang. – March 1, 2024

 

Source :  https://focusmalaysia.my/robert-phang-dont-blindly-run-down-the-unity-govt-for-foreign-investors-are-watching-us-closely/

Robert Phang: Onus on Spanco shareholders to lay to rest alleged fleet management scandal

THERE are many unanswered questions regarding how the government had awarded a contract to Spanco Sdn Bhd which prides itself as the provider of professional fleet management services to the federal government, ministries and agencies nationwide with a fleet size of over 13,000 units of concession vehicles.

As such, it imperative for the unity government to find out how the tender for the government vehicle supply, repair and maintenance project (fleet Project) was awarded to Spanco, according to prominent social activist, crime fighter and philanthropist Tan Sri Robert Phang Miow Sin (main pic, inset).

The former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) advisory member said the main priority should be for those responsible in awarding the contract to explain to the public what was their rational in extending the contract to Spanco.

“The public has the right to know and the issue cannot be swept under the carpet. It is the taxpayers’ money that is being used,” he told FocusM.

“Those responsible cannot simply shrug their shoulders and ignore their responsibility. No matter who was in-charge of awarding the contract to Spanco he must stand up and take responsibility.”

Pointing out that Spanco had been managing the government fleet project for 25 years, the 84-year-old Phang further questioned as to why only Spanco was given the project.

On Jan 20, MACC conducted a raid at the residence of a businessman holding the title Tan Sri as part of an investigation into corruption allegations related to the procurement and management of the government’s fleet of vehicles valued at RM4.5 bil.

The concession for the supply and management of government vehicles has been held by Spanco since 1993. However, an open tender was initiated after the contract expired in 2019.

Berjaya Group and Naza Sdn Bhd later formed a consortium and secured the contract through a letter of intent (LOI) in the same year.

In July last year however, Berjaya Group founder Tan Sri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun filed a lawsuit against the Finance Ministry and Spanco regarding the terminated LOI, claiming that the contract was awarded to Spanco despite their higher bid.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had recently recalled that he had consistently voiced concerns about this issue during his tenure as finance minister under the administration of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said he had recognised irregularities in that contract which proved detrimental to the country and disadvantaged civil servants.

Phang who is also Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation exco member went on to question as to why during the administration of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin the LOI was cancelled and Spanco was awarded the fleet management contract.

As such, he argued that it is also imperative for Spanco shareholders to explain to the public how they manage to secure the contract after they had initially failed to get it.

“Spanco shareholders have to realise that remaining silent about the matter is not an option given the money they are being paid for the government fleet management is public money,” added the chairman of NGO Social Care Foundation. – Feb 20, 2024

Source :  https://focusmalaysia.my/robert-phang-onus-on-spanco-shareholders-to-lay-to-rest-alleged-fleet-management-scandal/