Investigations are ongoing over the multi-million ringgit losses suffered by Tourism Ministry subsidary company, Pempena Sdn Bhd, which were highlighted in previous audit reports.According to the Auditor General 2010 report, the cases involving Malaysian food restaurants in several destinations abroad, an e-portal and other tourism products are still under probe, although some took place as far back as 2005.
Only three cases have been brought to court, with one of them involving a civil suit against Pempena.
The cases which are still "under investigation" include the Little Penang restaurant in Hyderabad, India where renovation costs were deemed too high with suspicions of cheating involved.
"Pempena admitted to suspicious elements in the investment in Awana Hyderabad and reported the matter to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the police in March 2009.
"The restaurant was sold without approval, knowledge or profit to Pempena. The matter is under probe," the report noted.
An investigation is also underway for the Little Penang restaurant in Beijing, for which Pempena paid RM545,864 to a partner without "signing (a contract) to protect its interests".
"The restaurant has been demolished and the investigation is underway," the report said.
Pempena's venture of opening a Malaysian restaurant in London also brought dismal results, raking in only GBP13,000 in 2007, falling far behind of its annual target of RM520,692.
"Pempena has yet to get any returns for its investments worth RM3.73 million," it lamented.
"To date, the Coca Restaurant has offered to buy over the restaurant for GBP52,000, but the offer was rejected by Pempena as it was too low."
Restaurant demolished before doors open
Pempena's attempt at the food and beverage business also flopped locally through the Sri Kebaya Restaurant, which along with a partner was paid RM720,271 to own a restaurant in Doha.
"To date, the partner has yet to transfer the equity holdings for the restaurant in Doha, Qatar to Sri Kebaya and for seven months, the restaurant operated at a loss amounting of RM316,785," it said.
A demand letter was sent by Pempena to the partner in September 2008 to regain RM520,271 paid to the person, but to no avail. The year 2007 proved to be an especially bad year for Pempena, having again paid a significant amount for a restaurant in Melbourne, but it never opened its doors.
"Pempena paid RM114,000 to a partner to buy 30 percent of Airnett to open a restaurant in Melbourne, Australia," it said.
The company also paid RM500,000 to LinkState Catering Pty Ltd in 2008, but the restaurant failed to take off.
The matter was reported to MACC and the police's Commercial Crimes Department on the same day as the other cases, and all are under probe.
Joining the list of failed ventures which are "still under probe" is the e-Tourism portal for which Pempena parted RM2.5 million, or half of the total bill, to a company, Virtual Malaysia Sdn Bhd.
"Virtual Malaysia could not complete the portal as Pempena failed to make the rest of the payment," the report added.
The case is still being investigated despite the case of the remainder RM2.5 million being settled out of court.
Likewise, under probe is the 2007 case where Pempena paid RM1.95 million to the company Nathena LiFZ (M) Sdn Bhd (Langkawi International Fashion Zone) for a 30 percent stake in the company.
"Pempena also paid RM1.55 million to Nathena as advance payment for imported and branded goods.
"As the partner, Nathco Index Sdn Bhd could not provide the 70 percent capital, Pempena's equity was reduced to RM30,000 while the remainder RM1.92 million was turned into advance capital," it said.
Nathena, which offered 100 Italian brands of clothes and accessories for sale, has not reimbursed part of the advance capital demanded by Pempena amounting to RM1.74 million, but its business premises was seized by the Langkawi Development Council and sold for RM300,000.
Question marks are abound over what had happened to the RM150,000 paid by the subsidiary company for a 40 percent stake in Corporate Treasures' Malaysia Pass golf programme in 2005.
Pempena has also not accepted an offer by Malaysia Tourism Executive Sdn Bhd to buy its shares worth RM478,000 in the latter company for a mere RM10 following losses amounting to more than RM400,000.
The two cases which saw the charging of Pempena personnel was the Amir Diab Concert in the Middle East, where the subsidiary company paid the company of controversial figure Umi Hafilda Ali RM 169,770 for a concert that never happened.
Charged for the case is Tourism Malaysia director-general Mirza Mohammad Taiyab Beg Mirza Hadi Hassan Beg (second from left).
In 2008, Malaysiakini reported a series of dubious deals carried out by Pempena, which resulted in the investigations.
source:malaysiakini
Comments...
Mirror thyself - Firstly, Minister Ng Yen Yen will deny any knowledge on these losses. As usual, she will say that she will leave no stones unturned investigating. No result as investigations still always in progress.............no light at the end of the tunnel Secondly, MACC/PDRM will open files and these files will be sidelined for dust collecting.
kheng - Truth be known! Now we know why Umi Hafilda Ali has been actively discrediting Anwar and PR at recent by-elections!!
2CTS WORTH - This massive loss added to the others is colosal There is no reversible solution in sight There has to be a complete overhaul, a change in the management viz the gomen
kheng - MCA & Gerakan is so happy to shout and cry over every little spending that relates to the PR state government, especially in Penang. BUT, why are they so silent on the AG report?; are they blind to the wanton abuse of taxpayers money that costs us billions! PCs left to rot in their original packaging for 3 years until termite infested, buying electric sewing machines in Kapit where the place has no electricity supply, the losses incurred by Pempena, overspent by the Tourism ministry, baggage handling installation for KL Sentral/KLIA, etc.
cheers.
YIP KUM FOOK (MCA GOMBAK) WAJARKAH GELARAN DATUK DIGUGUR?
ReplyDeleteWAJARKAH GELARAN DATUK DIGUGUR? Justeru itu adalah amat wajar gelaran datuk yang disandang oleh Yip Kum Fook digugurkan atau patus ditarik balik. Perbuatan Yip Kum Fook merupakan satu penghinaan keatas gelaran datuk! .
Amat memalukan seorang yang bergelar datuk membuat kerja kotor sebegini!!. Ia satu kesalahan jenayah (sombong, tipu, fitnah). Mana mungkin seorang bergelar datuk terlibat dengan jenayah!! Rakyat Buddhisme supaya tidak mudah diperbodoh-bodoh dengan lakonan politik kotor dalam Kuil Buddha untuk mengaibkan individu tertentu. "Kita dijadikan 'penonton bodoh' yang seakan-akan merelakan apa sahaja watak yang mereka lakonkan".
"Politik kita memerlukan nafas baru dan dibersihkan dari golongan yang jijik dan kotor ini! Kita perlukan politik idea, bagaimana dan cara membangunkan umat dan rakyat agar hidup berdisiplin, bermaruah dan bertamadun. "Buddhisme melarang didedahkan aib peribadi yang tidak membabitkan kezaliman terhadap orang lain seperti zina, minum arak, berjudi dan seumpamanya(Five precepts) hendaklah ditutup semampu mungkin. "Tiada keperluan menubuhkan suruhanjaya khas bagi kes-kes maksiat peribadi. Ini hanya akan membazirkan harta rakyat," katanya.
Saudara-saudara dan Saudari-saudari Yang Di Hormati
ReplyDeleteBahawa MCA Gombak pegurusi YIP KUM FOOK dan anaknya Yip Jiun Hann (Permuda MCA Gombak) bukan sahaja menggunakan kuasanya menghisap wang KUIL BUDDHA SAMNAK SAMBODHI(Thai) No: 19 Jalan 38 Taman Desa Jaya, Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tetapi lebih dahsyat, ialah menipu wanita-wanita dan merosakan keluarga orang lain. Mereka sebenar-benarnya orang yang jahat dan tak bermoral
Saya mengemukakan kesal yang benar ini, tujuan ialah harap orang ramai, khasnya wanita dapat mengambil perhatian supaya jangan terjerat oleh manis-manis mulutnya akhir akan meninpa kerugian dan kesakitan yang besar
马华公会鹅唛區会主席叶金福律师与马华公会鹅唛區会叶君瀚青年圑長, 不但无耻的利用KUIL BUDDHA SAMNAK SAMBODHI(Thai) No: 19 Jalan 38 Taman Desa Jaya, Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.宗教之名捞取权和私利之外, 叧一大罪悪是, 他们仗着权势, 甜言蜜語, 誘骗良家少女, 骗财骗色, 三妻四妾, 破坏别人的家庭. 父子两人, 无悪不做, 实是大色狼, 大老千,缺德的败娄.
今天我把实事公告大家, 是希望公众, 特别是良家少女, 要多多小心, 提防这一娄假面具的佛教徒, 以免一失足成千古恨.
Brother And Sister Of the respectfully
That YIP KUM FOOK, MCA Gombak chairman and his son Yip Jiun Hann (Youth MCA Gombak) they are not only used of power to suck Temple’s money of SAMNAK SAMBODHI BUDDHIST TEMPLE(Thai) No: 19 Jalan 38 Taman Desa Jaya, Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. But far worse, they are cheating women and make people family broken. They truly wicked and immoral
Bring forward. I regret that this is true, the purpose is to hope for public, and especially women take care not to be trapped by the end of sweet mouth will override of great loss and pain