After a lull in the wrong doings in Tourism Malaysia (TM), another bombshell is in the works.
The “Abang – Adik” Shows. . Left: YB Menteri Datuk Mohammadin Bin Hj Ketapi Right: Datuk Musa Yusuf, the DG of TM
The newly minted DG, Datuk Musa Yusuf, who was in the centre of the Speedy Gonzales scandal, is again implicated in another controversy related to the politics within MOTAC/TM.
When Datuk MusaYusuf was first appointed the DG of TM, his appointment could not be confirmed by the TM’s Board because at that material time he was didn’t have a letter of clearance from MACC. Quite rightly so! Yours truly has been informed that within a short span of two weeks or so after his non-confirmation, Datuk Musa managed to obtain a letter of good character or clearance from MACC! We can only hope that Puan Latheefa Koya, the new DG of MACC, will investigate how could Datuk Musa be given a clean bill of health when he was at least appeared to have been involved in the scandalous “Speedy Gonzales” RM99.693 million Geeko Deal.
Please read the next paragraph to learn about Datuk Musa’s involvement in the said scandalous deal.
For the benefits of new readers, in November 2017 Geeko Tech Sdn Bhd (Geeko) was incorporated with Koperasi Kakitanggan MOTAC (KOPEMA) as one of its shareholders. Datuk Musa Yusuf is the President of KOPEMA!
On 19 January 2018 Datuk Musa Yusuf had cleverly devised a scheme known as “Promosi Bersama Tencent/Geeko Tech Bagi Promosi Pemasaran Digital (Smart Tourism)” (“Promosi Bersama”), which was actually to appoint Geeko to do a so-called “study” to appoint Geeko for the so-called ‘Digital Marketing’. Datuk Musa’s clever scheme or the so-called “Promosi Bersama” cost TM a whopping RM1,167,900.00. Please read “Is Tourism Malaysian is Everyone ATM?“. Please also read: “Suspend Tourism Malaysia DG or Live In Shame!”.
The Players in the Scandalous Speedy Gonzales Deal
2nd left: Dato’ Dr Siew Ka Wei & 4th left: MsElizabeth Ken
You will note that on 9 January 2019 the corporate genius and the former Chairman of Tourism Malaysia, Dato’ Dr Siew Ka Wei, and Ms Elizabeth Ken, the media specialist of Redberry Media Group, were arrested and detained by MACC for four days in connection with the scandalous Speedy Gonzales Geeko. Six months have elapsed and there is no sign of both of them being charged. Despite Datuk Musa, was in the centre of the scandalous Speedy Gonzales deal, he has been awarded with a clean bill of health by MACC!
Picture of Dato’ Dr Siew Ka Wei when he was released from the custody of MACC. He was the chairman of TM.
Dato’ Dr Siew is the current Chairman of Ancom Bhd.
Despite the arrest and detention of Dato’ Siew and Ms Elizabeth Ken, the scandalous “Speedy Gonzales” RM99.693 millions has yet to be terminated. Why?
Puan Latheefa Koya should also investigate into this scandal!
Just now yours truly has received this comment from a reader:
… there is an anonymous letter circulating among the Civil Service claiming some interference involving the Motac M … members towards procurements in the Ministry. The letter also stated a pact between a group of officer aka Little Napoleons to out the current KSU incited by the … to an extent to try and put in place the ex-KSU who retired back into service. As the letter was dated 15 Jun 2019 and a visit by the Minister to KSN does suggests a certain degree of truth in the letter. …”
We can only hope that the above comment was not true. Yg Bhg Datuk KSN please take note of the above. We also hope that Datuk KSN will not confirm Datuk Musa Yusuf as the DG of TM.
Tahniah Yg Bhg Datuk Isham Ishak, Ketua Setiausaha MOTAC
CONGRATULATIONS to Yg Bhg Datuk Isham Ishak for his new appointment as the new KSU of Ministry of Tourism & Cultures (MOTAC). He was the KSU in the Ministry of International Trade & Industry (MITI). He was also the CEO of the Small and Medium, Enterprise Corporation/SME. He has a chequered career in MITI where he started as the Assistant Director in 1994 in MITI. He had served as the Minister Counsellor (MITI) at the Embassy of Malaysia in Washington DC. His leadership in MITI had brought great improvement in the foreign direct investment (FDI). For more details of Yg Bhg Datuk Isham Ishak, please read HERE.
Yours truly believes that with Yg Bhg Datuk Isham Isham’s leadership, MOTAC and TM will no longer be ‘business as usual’. What a refreshing news for all those who wanted change in MOTAC and Tourism Malaysia (TM)!
Yours truly would like to wish Yg Bhg Datuk Isham Ishak all the best for his new undertakings.
Datuk Rashidi Hasbullah
Left: Professor Economics Tourism Dr Wong Kong Yew Centre: Datuk Rashidi Hasbullah
Thanks God that at long last Datuk Rashidi Hasbullah (Rashidi) has officially retired as the KSU of MOTAC on 15 January 2019.
Rashidi’s retirement does not in anyway absolve him from the scandals in MOTAC and TM. He must be held accountable for facilitating the dubious ‘Speedy Gonzales’ Geeko deal costing the rakyat RM99.693 million and MOTAC/TM endorsement of MyBeauty which was led by Oriental Mace Group Berhad, HERE & HERE.
Under the ‘Surat Pekeliling’, civil servants are prohibited to hold post in non government organisation.
The Dubious ‘Speedy Gonzales’ Geeko Started With Datuk Musa Yusof
Datuk Musa Yusof, the former Director of International Promotion (Africa/China). He has just been appointed DG of Tourism Malaysia.
It all started on 19 January 2018 when Datuk Musa Yusof (the new DG of TM), who was the then Director of International Promotion (Africa/China), devised the “Promosi Bersama Tourism Malaysia Dan Tencent/Geekol Tech Bagi Pemasaran Digital (Smart Tourism)” (‘Joint Promotion’).
This so-called ‘Joint Promotion’ was not a joint promotion. It was a scheme to appoint Geeko Tech Sdn Bhd (Geeko) to to prepare a report which report cost TM RM1,167,900.00. Datuk Musa Yusuf’s so-called ‘Joint Promotion’ was, of course, approved by the then DG of TM, Datuk Seri Mirza bin Mohamed Taiyab. TM paid Geeko RM1,167,900.00 for the preparation of the report!
Then Geeko prepared this so-called report to thereafter appoint Geeko for the dubious ‘Speedy Gonzales’ deal worth RM99.693 million. As a result of this so-called report, TM valued, negotiated and signed the dubious ‘Speedy Gonzales’ in one day on 4 April 2018. On 4 April 2018 Geeko Tech Sdn Bhd was not even registered with Minister of Finance. For the the so-called ‘Joint Promotion’ by Datuk Musa Yusof please read HERE & HERE.
2nd left: Dato’ Dr Siew Ka Wei 4th left: Elizabeth Ken
On 9 January 2019 the former Chairman of TM, Datuk Dr Siew Ka Wei and Ms Elizabeth Ken were arrested and detained for the next four days by MACC to help in the investigations into the dubious ‘Speedy Gonzales’ deal. Datuk Dr Siew Ka Wei is the current executive chairman of Ancom Bhd and CEO of Nylex Bhd.
Datuk Musa Bin Yusof, the newly appointed DG of Tourism Malaysia. He is the author of the scandalous “Minit Kelulusan” below.
The promotion of the new Director-General of Tourism Malaysia (TM) Datuk Musa Yusof continues to raise eyebrows over his alleged involvement in the scandalous “Speedy Gonzales-Geeko” RM99.693 million IT deal. The meanderings over the rip-off can be interpreted as ridiculous mutterings meant to make the public dumb as a box of hammers.
For those who want to know in details about the “Speedy Gonzales – Geeko” RM99.693 million deal, please read HERE.
When the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), YB Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi was collared by a reporter yesterday on the questionable promotion, he said:
“It is likely that a senior Tourism Malaysia officer was promoted before he or she was suspected of being involved in a dubious deal.”
Isn’t it absurd that the Ministry is still in the dark over the identity of the “he or she”, who has had a hand in facilitating the payment of RM1,167,900.00 for the so-called report/”Kajian” and sealing of the “Speedy-Gonzales-Geeko” contract of RM99.693 million on 4 April, 2018.
Plainly, it is an obvious case of wilful blindness.
When Datuk Musa was asked about the glaring issue of conflict of interest, he played dumb, saying he was not aware about the matter and would instruct his officers to study it.
The MOTAC Minister was responding to the FMT report in HERE.
With plumes of smoke rising above him, Datuk Musa shouldn’t have stooped to such stupidity.
The giveaway is the “Minit Kelulusan” dated 19 January 2018 below, which was duly signed by him.
The “Minit Kelulusan”
“Minit Kelulusan” from Datuk Musa for his “Proposal Bersama” which was approved by Datuk Mirza, the then DG, in lighting speed.
Page 2 of the “Minit Keluilusan”
Page 3 of “Minit Kelulusan”Page 4 of “Minit Kelulusan” signed by Datuk Musa Bin Yusof, now the DG of TM.
On 19 January, 2018, when Datuk Musa was TM’s Director for International Division (Africa/China) he proposed a so-called “Promosi Bersama TM/Tencent/Geeko”.
Please examine the above “Minit Kelulusan” for the so-called “Joint Promotion” properly.
The Glaring Conflicts of Interest
Musa knowingly suppressed the blatant facts that KOPEMA is a shareholder of Geeko and that he is the president of KOPEMA in his said “Minit Kelulusan”.
Yours truly wonders if the omission of pertinent facts was to hide the conflict of interest on his part.
On the face of it, the said proposal would appear to be a normal “Joint Promotion”.
If one were to properly examine Musa’s proposal, it was not a normal “Joint Promotion” but a proposition crafted with hidden agenda.
It was a contentious proposal that saw infant IT firm, Geeko, submitting a plan to appoint itself to provide a digital platform – and got a whopping RM1,167,900.00 for the report/”Kajian”.
The Unholy Relationship
At all material time, Datuk Musa knew very well that KOPEMA (Koperasi Kakitanggan MOTAC) is a shareholder of Geeko and that he is the president of KOPEMA and Datuk Ammar G Gapar is his deputy. Datuk Musa knew that he and Datuk Ammar are members of the top management of TM. Please read the previous posting on “conflicts of interest”, HERE.
From the Minister of MOTAC’s statement yesterday, it is crystal clear that he is now aware of the dubious “Speedy Gonzales-Geeko” deal and Datuk Musa’s involvement.
By implication the Minister would not have appointed Datuk Musa if he was aware of the latter’s involvement in the dubious “Speedy Gonzales-Geeko” deal.
Now that the Minister is aware of Datuk Musa’s involvement through the above “Minit Kelulusan”, he has to act firmly. He is duty bound to protect the image of TM and at least suspend Datuk Musa forthwith until MACC has cleared him of his active role in the suspicious “Speedy Gonzales-Geeko” deal.
Datuk Musa Bin Yusof, the newly appointed DG of Tourism Malaysia. He is a genius by all counts.
Updates at 11 am on 29-01-2019:The Minister of MOTAC and Datuk Musa Bin Yusof, the newly appointed DG of TM will be launching a Joint Incentive Tourism Development Programs in KLIA at 2 pm today (29-1-2019). The press should ask Datuk Musa about his involvement in the Speedy Gonzales deal and whether the deal was planned well before the inception of Geeko Tech Sdn Bhd on 6-11-2017. Please see below for the publicity generated by the misleading “Promosi Bersama TM/Tencent/Geeko” scheme devised by Datuk Musa Yusof in HERE.
It is now clear that the shady “Speedy Gonzales”RM99.693 million deal involving Tourism Malaysia (TM) and an infant IT company, Geeko Tech Sdn Bhd (Geeko), was planned months ahead.
The new revelations which are part of yours truly’s continuing probe into the ambiguous “Speedy Gonzales” deal show an amateurish rip-off of TM funds.
Fundamentals in awarding contracts and making payments were neglected, suggesting that TM was an easy agency to milk, or rather an automated teller machine (ATM).
The Arrest & Remand of Dato’ Siew Ka Wei & Ms Elizabeth Ken
Both Dato’ Siew Ka Wei, former TM chairman and current chairman of Ancom Bhd, MD of Nylex Bhd and Ms Elizabeth Ken were in orange “uniform”.
The “Speedy Gonzales” Geeko deal exploded when Dato’ Siew Ka Wei and the CEO of Geeko, Ms Elizabeth Ken Tzu Ying were arrested and remanded for four days by MACC on 10 January, 2019.
The Little Napoloens In TM
The little napoleons in the top management of TM have had inkling of the dubious “Speedy Gonzales” RM99.693 million deal as early as in November 2017 when Geeko was incorporated.
Datuk Musa Bin Yusof , the then Director of Bahagian Promosi Antarabangsa (Asia/Afrika), was a known promoter of digital platform/Geeko deal in TM. Datuk Musa knew or ought to have known that in 2016/2017 TM had already paid RM40 million to Kraken Interactive Sdn Bhd (Kraken), which was represented by Raja Firdaus and Mr Ron Chow the director of Kraken, to provide TM with digital marketing platform. Why was Datuk Musa so active in promoting another digital platform through Geeko in 2017/ 2018?
In January 2018, a ‘foolproof’ scheme was devised to avoid seeking MAMPU’s approval to appoint Geeko to prepare a report /Kajian for TM to appoint Geeko!
The Relationship Between Datuk Musa & Geeko
Of course, Datuk Musa didn’t put in his “proposal” of his precarious position of conflict of interest: that he was on the TM top management; and president of KOPEMA (Koperasi Kakitanggan MOTAC).
KOPEMA is a shareholder of Geeko. What a brilliant “proposal” by Datuk Musa! From the said “proposal” below you will no doubt conclude that Datuk Musa is a genius!
No wonder he was promoted to be the DG of TM in a ‘Speedy Gonzales’ fashion.
The little napoleons in TM love quickies.
The evidence below clearly shows that Datuk Musa not only played an active part to promote the shady “Speedy Gonzales” but was also instrumental in securing the appointment of Geeko as the “go-between company” on the pretext of providing the digital platform for TM.
For the benefit of new readers, let yours truly reproduced some of the glaring facts.
Background
Pic of Dato’ Siew Ka Wei when he was released by MACC. He was the chairman of TM. He is the current chairman of Ancom Bhd and MD of Nylex Bhd.
Dato’ Siew Ka Wei
At the material time, Dato’ Siew Ka Wei was the high- flying chairman of TM. Currently he is the chairman of Ancom Bhd, MD for Nylex Bhd and CEO of Redberry Media Group (Redberry). The defunct print and online Malay Mail are part of his ‘empire’.
He is also a well-known corporate genius but not after May 9, 2018 though. He has many outfits like Titanium Compass Sdn Bhd (exclusive advertising contract with MRT), Meru Utama Sdn Bhd (exclusive advertising contract in Malaysia airports), Ancom Chemical Sdn Bhd (exclusive Methanol contract from Petronas), Puncak Berlian Sdn Bhd and many others.
Geeko, Titanium Compass Sdn Bhd and Berlin Puncak Sdn Bhd share the same registered office address and the same company secretary, Mr Stephen Geh Sim Whye. What a co-incidence?? Please read HERE.
Ms Elizabeth Ken, the media specialist of Redberry Media Group. She is also the CEO & shareholder of Geeko.
Ms Elizabeth Ken
Elizabeth Ken is one of the shareholders and CEO of Geeko. She is also the media specialist of Redberry whose CEO is, of course, Dato’ Siew Ka Wei.
Geeko Tech Sdn Bhd (Geeko)
On 6 November 2017, Geeko was incorporated. Elizabeth Ken and her company EN Vouge Sdn Bhd and KOPEMA (Kakitangan Koperasi MOTAC) are the shareholders. At that material time, Datuk Musa Yusof, was president of KOPEMA and director of Bahagian Pomosi Antarabangsa (Asia/Afrika). Datuk Ammar A Gapar is one of the director in TM and the deputy president of KOPEMA.
The little napoleons in TM have been playing deaf and dumb over the ‘Speedy Gonzales” Geeko deal. Then we witnessed the sudden crowning of ‘Musa the Great’ as the Director General (DG) of TM. It was a “Speedy Gonzales” promotion.
When yours truly first wrote about the shady “Speedy Gonzales” Geeko deal, Dato’ Siew Ka Wei defended Geeko deal to the hilt. The little napoleons in TM have gone into silent mode since then.
The Conflict of Interest
Clear case of Conflict of interest, read HERE & HERE.
The “PLAN”
On 19 January, 2018, about 73 days after the incorporation of Geeko, Datuk Musa and other little napoleons hatched a scheme called “PROMOSI BERSAMA TOURISM MALAYSAI DAN TENCENT/GEEKO TECH BAGI PROMOSI PASARAN DIGITAL (SMART TOURISM)” (“Promosi Bersama Geeko”) that cost TM a whooping RM1,167,900.00 for the so-called report/Kajian.
If TM were to directly appoint Geeko to prepare a report/Kajian for an IT Project it would have to submit the plan/proposal for approval to MAMPU. That would be time consuming and may not get approval.
Datuk Musa and the other little napoleons in TM must have mooted the scandalous Geeko/Digital Platform many weeks if not months before19 January, 2018.
From the said proposal for “Promosi Bersama”, it will not be too far fetched to suggest that Datuk Musa and gang must have planned the scandalous Geeko deal well before the incorporation of GEEKO on 6 November, 2017.
The Bomb Shell & so-called Proposal For “Promosi Bersama TM dan Geeko/Tencent”
Please see the said questionable proposal “Promosi Bersama” by Datuk Miusa Bin Yusof below.
Page 1 “Minit Kelulusan” from Datuk Musa for his “Proposal Bersama” To Be Approved by Datuk Mirza, the then DG.
Page 2 of the “Minit Kelulusan“Page 3 of “Minit Kelulusan“Page 4 of “Minit Kelulusan” was signed by Datuk Musa Bin Yusof, now the DG of TM.
In a nutshell it was just a simple proposal for a report/Kajian to be prepared by Geeko to appoint itself to be a “special purpose vehicle” for someone. What a brilliant proposal!
The Glaring Conflicts of Interest
Firstly, the important glaring conflict of interest was that Datuk Musa did not declare in the said proposal:
The possible conflict of interest on Musa’s part as the president of KOPEMA because KOPEMA is a shareholder of Geeko. He is also the director of Bahagian Antarabangsa (Afrika/China). At that material time, it seemed Datuk Mirza, who was previously charged twice for corruption, very innocently approved the said “Promosi Bersama” for RM1,167, 900.00.
The said astronomical sum was paid for producing a report/KAJIAN. Not bad for a five-month old company to be awarded and paid RM1,167,900.00 by a government agency for a simple job.
Secondly, on 19.1.2017 the appointment of Geeko was not only unprecedented but violated the regulations of Ministry of Finance (MOF) because Geeko was not registered with MOF.
Geeko was only registered with MOF on 6-4-2018. However, the “Speedy Gonzales” contract was signed on 4-4-2018, two days before the said registration. This is evident of the little napoleons in TM who did not give a damn about MOF rules. TM is just a cash cow for some.
Thirdly, there was no real promotional activities for the so-called “Promosi Bersama TM dan Tencent/Geeko”.
The Glaring Points In The Said “Promosi Bersama”
Page 2 of the said “Promosi Bersama”.
Para 2.2 Objektif Pelaksanaan Smart Tourism adalah:
Para 2.2.2 Membekalan laporan data industry pelancongan bagi membantu dalam process decision making.
Page 3 of the said “Promosi Bersama”
Para 3.1 Table
No. 5 in the table: Final Summary Reports
Deliverable: Project Summary report
Page 4 of the said “Promosi Bersama”
Para 4. JUSTIFIKASI BAHAGIAN(Glaring section)
4.1 Projek ini adalah wajar dilakukan bagi membantu dalam pembangunan SMART Tourism. Khidmat dari SyarikatTencent Technology yang digunakan oleh kajian ini juga adalah bersesuaian memandangkan syarikat ini adalah syarikat gergasi di China yang mempunyai pengalaman yang meluas dalam bidang teknologi.
The glaring questions are:
Why didn’t TM go direct to Tencent Technology?
Why TM had to appoint a five-month old company to do the “KAJIAN” to use Tencent Technology?
Why was there a need for a “KAJIAN” from a five-month old company to appoint a big company like Tencent Technology, which is equivalent to Google or Yahoo?
Isn’t it obvious that Geeko was a go-between for this “Speedy Gonzales” deal? (On 1-6-2018 Dato’ Siew Ka Wei had declared that Geeko is a “special purpose vehicle” for Tencent, which he subsequently did an about turn 7 days later.)
Para 5. IMPLIKASI KEWANGAN
Jumlah kos anggaran adalah sebanyak RM1,167,900.00menggunakan peruntukan sedia ada mengurus 2018 Bahagian Pegiklanan, Tourism Malaysia.
At the material time TM was (and is still) operating under deficit of more than RM130 million.
If this is the case, where is the so-called “PERUNTUKAN”?
Was the so-called “PERUNTUKKAN” a means to siphon off RM1,176,900.00 from TM?
The Salient Facts:
Datuk Mirza (ex-DG of TM) approved the said above proposal “Promosi Bersma” by Datuk Musa and Puan Azleen Mat Zip, TM Director of Finance, paid RM1,167,900.00 to Geeko Tech Sdn Bhd. Puan Azleen had a copy of the so-called Report/”KAJIAN” prepared by Geeko to appoint Geeko/Tencent.
Sources in TM also confirmed that there was no agreement for the so-called “PROMOSI BERSAMA GEEKO/TENCENT” to support the payment of RM1,167,900.00. The Head of Internal Audit, Puan Salinda binti Sany, picked up this glaring transaction during the audit exercise and questioned it. However, there was no further action. The issue just died down. WHY?
Puan Salinda did prepare an audit report on this matter. Where is the audit report now?
Now we know why Musa, the newly appointed DG of TM, was and is a genius in “planning” and more importantly drawing up the “fool proof” proposal.
There must be an in-depth investigation into this so-called proposal for “Promosi Bersama” and the “Kajian”, which cost TM RM1,167,900.00, by MACC.
KSN should examine what Datuk Musa had done or his role in the “Speedy Gonzales” deal when his DG post is up for confirmation.
Pic of Dato’ DrSiew Ka Wei when he was released after 4 days remand by MACC. He was the chairman of TM when the shady Speedy Gonzales RM 99.693 million Geeko deal was struck. He is the current chairman of Ancom Bhd and managing director of Nylex Bhd. He is also the CEO of Redberry Media Group which is the owner of the defunct Malay Mail.
Updates at 6:30 21-01-2019: Tomorrow and Wednesday MOTAC and TM are having a “Workshop On The Directions of Tourism & Cultures” in Dorset Hotel, Putrajaya. Is this another “Last Kopek” for Datuk Rashidi bin Hasbullah, KSU of MOTAC? It seems that as his retirement day is approaching, he is “working” extremely hard. He is on the overdrive mode now. KSN should make him the role model for all civil servants.
Updates at 9:00 pm on 19-01-2019: Today the Timbalan KSU (Pelacongan), Dato’ Haslina Binti Abdul Hamid (a known crony of Datuk Rashidi Bin Hasbullah), has returned to Kuala Lumpur from a special mission overseas trip to PR China.
Datuk Rashidi Hasbullahwill be back tomorrow from his one week trip for a conference in Halong Bay, Vietnam. Perhaps this is his “Last Kopek” trip before his retirement in a few weeks time. It is very normal for high ranking civil servants to take their garden leave before their retirement. But not for Datuk Rashidi. Rumour has it that he is an extremely “dedicated” man who will sacrifice his life for MOTAC and that he is prepared to slog his guts out for another six month without pay! Yours truly would rather believe that as the head of MOTAC he has too many “unfinished businesses” to seal up before he bid farewell to MOTAC. What a conscientious civil servant! KSN should make him a role model for all civil servants.
Datuk Musa Bin Yusof, the newly appointed DG of TM cum powerful president of KOPEMA (the shareholder of Geeko Tech Sdn Bhd), is also attending the same conference as Datuk Rashidi in Halong Bay.
It is a good thing that both of them are away from MACC HQ for a week of peace and tranquillity in Vietnam. Rumours has it that next week both of them will be extremely busy having many “minum teh tarik” sessions with MACC officers. Good luck to the “Awang & Adik Team” and the other little napoleons in TM.
Please staytuned.
Updates at 8:30 pm on 17-01-2019:Yesterday Puan Zaleha Binti Asmahan, TM’s Director of Information Technology Unit, was called to MACC HQ for statement.
Officers from the Auditor-General are now carrying out a special audit in Tourism Malaysia. The Auditor General office should have carried out this special audit some two years ago then the shady Speedy Gonzales deal could have been avoided. As the saying goes, it is better late than never.
TM has been an ATM machine for some of the little napoleons for years. They don’t give a damn to the regulations and laws. They have been operating TM under deficit of more than RM130 million for the past two years.
Datuk Rashidi Bin Hasbullah (KSU MOTAC) & Datuk Mirza Mohamed Taiyabv (former DG of TM)
It seems that Datuk Rashidi Bin Hasbullah is not bothered about the sorry state of TM. The then DG of TM, Datuk Seri Mirza Mohamed Taiyab, was running “amok” in TM. It was for this reason that on 4-4-2018 Datuk Rashidi chaired the special Lembaga Perolehan “A” (Lembaga) with the support of and suppression of the real status of TM by Datuk Seri Mirza Mohamed Taiyab. It was the Lembaga that kickstart the shady RM99 mil Speedy Gonzales Geeko.
At that material time, TM was in no financial position to go into any contract with any parties involving RM99 million (the shady Speedy Gonzales deal). As we already know that TM was operating under a deficit of more than RM130 million. In fact the little napoleons in TM used the budgets for other approved activities to cover initial payments to Geeko. Just imagine these little napoleons were so bent to ensure the smooth passage of this shady deal at all costs. Both Datuk Rashidi and Datuk Seri Mirza are fully aware of the Procurement Regulations and Policy and yet they saw it fit to flagrantly breach the MOF procurement regulations and policies.
The Arrest & Remand Of Siew Ka Wei & Elizabeth Ken
Pic of Dato’ Siew Ka Wei, former TM chairman, and current chairman of Ancom Bhd & MD of Nylex Bhd and Ms Elizabeth Ken.
Both in orange “uniform”, Dato’ Siew Ka Wei, former TM chairman and current chairman of Ancom Bhd and MD of Nylex Bhd, and Ms Elizabeth Ken. They were arrested and remanded for four days by MACC to help with the investigation into the shady ‘Speedy Gonzales’ RM99 milion.
Elizabeth Ken (with face covered) has been running very high in Redberry as its ‘media specialist’. This was the picture of her when she was released. Why was she shy to show her beautiful face? She was known to be a high flyer. She loves to be in the limelight!
It was due to this shady Speedy Gonzales deal, which was evaluated and sealed within one day, that the former chairman of TM, Dato’ Siew Ka Wei, who is also the chairman of Ancom Bhd and director of Nylex (M) Bhd, and MD of Redberry Media Group, was arrested and remanded for 4 days by MACC. Ms Elizabeth Ken Tzu Ying (Elizabeth Ken), a media specialist of Redberry, was also arrested and remanded together with Dato’ Siew Ka Wei. Please read HERE.
The Auditor-General Should Look Into The Following Deals
Shady “Speedy Gonzales” RM99.693 million
The background of the shady Speedy Gonzales deal are:
6-11-2017 Geeko Tech Sdn Bhd (Geeko) was incorporated. Elizabeth Ken with one share, her company En vogue Sdn Bhd 14,999 share. KOPEMA (Koperasi Kakitangan MOTAC) 10,000 share. Datuk Musa Yusup, the newly appointed DG is the president of KOPEMA and Datuk Ammar A Gapar (one of the director in TM) is the deputy.
February/March 2018 TM’s committee rejected the shady “Speedy Gonzales” deal. It was later bulldozed through and Geeko was appointed to do a study of the “Speedy Gonzales” deal and Geeko recommended Geeko to be appointed to be the “Special Purpose Vehicle”. For the so-called study Tm paid Geeko about RM1.3 million!
4-4-2018 the shady Speedy Gonzales RM99.693 million was evaluated, negotiated and sealed. On this date Geeko was not even registered with ministry of Finance.
24-4-2018 (20 days later) Geeko submitted a claim for RM11,693,160.00 to TM.
27-4-2018 Datuk Seri Khani Daud, the then Deputy DG for Promotion, approved the claim with lighting speed.
Early May 2018 TM issued payment of RM11,693,160.00. TM being involved in hospitality business, as expected one of its top ranking officer was so kind as to collect the cheque on behalf of Geeko!
It was because of this shady deal that Siew Ka Wei and the Redberry’s media specialist and Geeko’s CEO, Elizabeth Ken, were arrested and remanded by MACC for four days.
Datuk Musa Bin Yusof
Datuk Musa Bin Yusof is the newly appointed DG of TM. At all material time when the shady was hatched, evaluated, negotiated and sealed, he was quite a powerful director of TM. He is the president of KOPEMA (Koperasi Kakitanggan MOTAC). When Geeko was incorporated on 6 November 2011, KOPEMA is a shareholder of 10,000 shares.
Siew Ka Wei had said “Geeko was a “special purpose vehicle” for Tencent Holding.
It will not be wrong to assume that Datuk Musa was fully aware of the setting up of Geeko as a “Special Purpose Vehicle” for someone. Siew Ka Wei said in a press statement on 1-6-2018 that Geeko was a “special purpose vehicle” for Tencent Holding, the giant tech company in Shenzen, China. However a week later Siew Ka Wei did an about turn to contradict his earlier statement. Yours truly is curious as to why was it so necessary for this corporate genius to directly contradict his earlier statement! Please see below the extract of Siew Ka Wei’s press statement to contradict his earlier statement.
Star report of Dato’ DR Siew Siew Ka Wei, Chairman of Tourism Malaysia, press release dated 8-6-2018. The total about turn on his earlier statement that Tencent Holding chose Geeko Tech as its “Special Purpose vehicle”!
Lets see whether Datuk Musa dares to deny that he had knowledge from day one about the shady ‘Speedy Gonzales’ Geeko deal.
Kraken Interactive Sdn Bhd (Kraken)
In 2016 Kraken was appointed by TM to provide a digital marketing platform. A digital marketing platform contract was signed for RM40 million!
Kraken was never a digital marketing provider. It was just a small time computer programing company. After the two year contract, Kraken only provide a few mobile apps and some advertising works. Auditor-General must thorough investigate into all the so-called works done by Kraken against the payments made too it.
The Famous Raja Mohd Firdaus Raja Zainal a.k.a. Raja Firdaus
Raja Firdaus Mohd Firdaus Raja Zainal‘s name card. (Executive Director).Kraken’s List of Directors in the record of SSM.
Kraken is not a bumi company too.
List of shareholders of Kraken in the SSM report.
Raja Firdaus’ business card showing him as the Kraken’s executive director. In the SSM report he was not even a director of Kraken. He is a very close friend of Datuk Ammar A Gapar, a director of TM, and many other little napoleons in TM. He was seen to have accompanied the then Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz and/or other high ranking officers of TM on overseas trips. He has class and only traveled in First Class or Business Class.
Raja Firdaus was and still is very influential in TM. He was the personal assistant to Datuk Kadir Shaik Fadzil, when the later was the then Minister of MOTAC. MACC should investigate how many direct nego contracts were awarded to companies directly or indirectly connected to Raja Firdaus.
Datuk Tam Yun Tong, one of the champions for direct nego contract
Datuk Tam Yun Tong (Datuk Tam) is another big player in direct nego contracts for taxi wrapping in Japan and bill board advertising in Japan, Korea and China. He is another powerful figure in the advertising department in TM. When the current Minister of MOTAC visited Japan a month or so ago, the Minister had to pay homage to Datuk Tam. Just imagine how powerful is Datuk Tam. Please see the photo below.
The new Minister of Tourism & Cultures have been surrounded by the smooth operators. The minister pay homepage to Datuk Tam (2nd left in pic after Datuk Rashidi, KSU of MOTAC).
The government had a standing policy against direct nego contracts. But Direct nego contracts had been highly encouraged and the norm in TM. Hence the deficit in TM hit an all time high of over RM130 million. No other Ministries or government agencies dare to operate under such a huge deficit and/or let alone enter into shady “Speedy Gonzales” Geeko deal under the circumstances.
If the Auditor-General Department were to comb through all the direct nego contracts totalling about RM90 million, it will discover many scandalous transactions. There are also many direct nego contracts connected to two or three cronies of certain powerful figure in MOTAC itself
Wee Choo Keong 