KUALA LUMPUR: Eight companies registered in different countries were allegedly been used by Mara Inc in its controversial purchase of four properties in Melbourne, Australia.
National Oversight and Whistleblowers Association (NOW) executive director Rafizi Ramli claimed Mara (Majlis Amanah Rakyat) had used an offshore company, a management company and six other companies registered in Labuan, Singapore and Australia.
He claimed that:
> Dudley International House and 746 Swanston Street were bought through Thrushcross Land Holdings – an offshore company registered in the British Virgin Islands.
> 333 Exhibition Street is owned by Peters Equity Pty Ltd (registered in Australia) – a company of Carlton Garden Pte Ltd (registered in Singapore), which is in turn owned by Powerwell Holdings Ltd (registered in Labuan).
> 51 Queen Street is owned by Queville Pty Ltd (registered in Australia) – a company of Marinn Property Pte Ltd (registered in Singapore), which in turn is owned by Vortex Holdings Ltd (registered in Labuan).
Rafizi, who is also PKR secretary-general, lashed out at Mara chairman Tan Sri Annuar Musa for denying he had detailed knowledge of the way the purchases were structured.
"I obtained an internal document by Mara on the property purchase, which was used in a briefing for Mara delegates during a working visit to Melbourne on May 20 last year," he said at a press conference Monday.
"Annuar was also in attendance, so should he not be aware of the details of the purchase, and if he suspected something amiss, why did he not order an investigation back then, instead of only doing it two months ago?"
Rafizi also questioned Mara's using of the eight companies to buy the properties, as it was more costly to maintain the separate companies.
"Also, registering one of the companies with the British Virgin Islands meant that the company's finances, operations and most other vital information were protected and not subject to public scrutiny," he added.
Annuar could not be reached for comment.
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