Ex-chairman remanded 4 days over Tourism Malaysia issue
Nurul Azwa Aris
-January 9, 2019 11:31 AM
The former chairman of a government agency arrives for his remand hearing today.PUTRAJAYA: The Magistrate’s Court has issued a four-day remand order for the former chairman of a government agency, to facilitate investigations into an issue relating to Tourism Malaysia.
The remand order, from today until Jan 12, was issued by magistrate Irza Zulaikha Rohanuddin following an application by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
The former chairman was arrested by MACC last night.
A 32-year-old CEO of a private company was also remanded for four days today. According to sources, both individuals will be investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009, which concerns using one’s office to obtain gratification.
The two individuals arrived at the court at about 9am, dressed in orange lock-up attire.
MACC had visited the tourism and culture ministry last June over what was believed to be a contract signed between a company and Tourism Malaysia.
Former Wangsa Maju MP Wee Choo Keong had also urged authorities to look into a promotional contract between Tourism Malaysia and a local company, claiming it had been given under “dubious” circumstances.
Wee claimed that a meeting on the directly negotiated deal, said to be worth RM99 million, as well as the approval and signing of the agreement, had taken place within a single day.
However, Tourism Malaysia director-general Mirza Mohammad Taiyab refuted Wee’s allegations.
