Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency, MACC, has obtained a four-day remand order against the former Tourism Malaysia chairman Siew Ka Wei and the chief of a private firm, Elizabeth Ken Tze Ying over a tourism contract worth RM99 million awarded just in the run-up to the 14th general election.
Ka Wei, a well-known businessman is Ancom Bhd executive chairman where Ahmad Johari Abdul Razak, Najib Razak’s brother, is also an executive director.
Ancom owns Redberry Sdn Bhd or Redberry, the company that published the now-defunct Malay Mail print version.
The online version of Malay Mail is owned by another company which is also under Ancom. Ka Wei is listed as the publisher of Malay Mail.
The MACC said it sought the remand of the chairman to facilitate investigations into allegations of abuse of power involving government contracts worth RM99.693 million.
The 32-year-old chief executive officer of the Sdn Bhd company was also arrested to assist investigations into the Tourism Malaysia deal.
They were questioned at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in Putrajaya on Tuesday (Jan 8).
“The former chairperson of the government agency is suspected to have used his position as chairperson to recommend a company via direct tender to conduct a digital advertising campaign for the China market from 2018 to 2020 that would cost an estimated RM99 million from the agency’s budget,” an MACC source said to the local media in Kuala Lumpur.
However, the local social media circles were not kind to the MACC.
Many were unhappy that Mr Ka Wei and Ms Ken were made to wear the infamous orange MACC lockup uniforms this morning when they were brought to the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court at about 9am today.
Netizens are blasting the anti-corruption agency for what they believe is unfair treatment to a company boss while ex-PM Najib Razak and his wife – ex FLOM – Rosmah Mansor did not have to wear the orange lockup uniforms.
Ka Wei, a Datuk indeed, could be seen covering his head with the orange shirt as he was being led away to a vehicle, in handcuffs.
It appears that Najib and Rosmah were given better treatment, even though the couple lambasted the Pakatan Harapan government and the MACC for not giving them the ‘respect’ due to ex-leaders of the country.
An obvious case of big fish attending court in jacket and suits why small fry have to wear orange shirt.in orange MACC lockup uniforms, and were led away at about 10.20am.
Malaysiakini said MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Azam Baki confirmed the arrests and said that investigations were conducted under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 that deals with abuse of power.
The offence is punishable under Section 24 of the same act, which provides for up to 20 years of imprisonment upon conviction, and a fine at is at least five times the value of the gratification involved or RM10,000; whichever fine is higher.