A deal allegedly inked in just one day, about a month before the general election last year.
A former top official of Tourism Malaysia and a chief executive officer of a private firm were brought to the magistrate’s court today by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to be remanded.
Ancom Berhad executive chairman and former Tourism Malaysia chairman Datuk Siew Ka Wei and the chief of a private firm, Elizabeth Ken Tze Ying, were remanded for four days over an RM100million tourism contract, The Malaysian Insight reported.
Siew, 64, and Ken, 32, were arrested on Tuesday over allegations of involvement in a questionable RM99.7 million project.
Their detention was under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009, which relates to using one’s office for gratification.
It provides imprisonment for up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the gratification, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
MACC officials brought the two in separate cars to the Putrajaya court complex at 9am Wednesday (Jan 9).
The two were clad in the orange MACC lock-up garb and both covered their faces from the press.
Magistrate Irza Zulaika Rohanuddin allowed the duo to be held under remand until Jan 12.
MACC sources said Siew, who is the group managing director of Nylex (M) Bhd and Redberry Group CEO, was detained at about 5.30pm yesterday after being called in to give a statement at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya at about 11am.
Siew, who is a reportedly a close associate of former prime minister Najib Razak, was appointed Tourism Malaysia chairman on Sept 21, 2016.
Last June, former Tourism Malaysia chairman Wee Choo Keong revealed on his blog of a deal said to be done against Tourism Malaysia’s procurement regulations and conducted hastily without due diligence.
A contract valued at RM99.7 million between Tourism Malaysia and Ken’s company was “evaluated, negotiated and sealed in one day” on April 4, 2018.
The company was allegedly paid RM11.9 million on April 23, five days before nomination day for the 14th general election and 18 days after the 13th Parliament was dissolved.
The company in question, which was only five months old when it was awarded the contract, is based in a two-and-a-half-storey terrace house in Petaling Jaya.
The contract was for the firm to act as a go-between for Tourism Malaysia and a China-based firm to promote Malaysia on social media.