Will former Pampena Chairman Chor Chee Heong step forward to explain the RM50 million Pempena scandals?


The new Executive Chairman of troubled Tourism Ministry subsidiary, Pempena Sdn. Bhd, Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun called a press conference yesterday but refused to answer questions about the RM50 million Pempena scandals of bad investments, criminal breach of trust and financial improprieties declaring:

“I will not answer on things that happened before my time. Now I just want to focus on revamping the company.”

Is nobody to be responsible for the scandalous RM54.4 million Pempena investments in 24 investee companies as at June 2008, where Pricewaterhouse Cooper audit has recommended the immediate closure of five companies resulting in instant loss of some RM20 million!

If Chew does not want to assume responsibility for what happened before her time, why didn’t she get the former Pampena Chairman, Datuk Chor Chee Heong, to appear together with her at the media conference yesterday so that questions about the propriety, accountability and integrity of the RM50 million Pampena scandals could be answered?

Or is the RM50 million Pampena scandals a MCA mess? If Chor is not prepared to answer and account for the RM50 million Pampena scandals, is he prepared to resign as Deputy Home Minister as Chew has pushed the whole buck of the RM50 million Pampena scandals to him?

The whole purpose of Chew’s press conference yesterday was to declare that she is not responsible for the RM50 million Pampena scandals as they happened before her time.

She was also very offended that I had mentioned that she was paid RM10,000 a month and provided with a car and driver, declaring that she was actually embarrassed that she was getting such a small remuneration as compared to Executive Chairman of other corporations.

Chew may think that she is entitled to be paid RM100,000 a month but she must realize that Pempena Sdn. Bhd, as a subsidiary of Tourism Ministry, is a government company and she is dealing not with MCA funds but with taxpayers’ money.

Since she has accepted appointment as the new Pempena Executive Chairman, she must accept responsibility to give full and proper accountability for the RM50 million Pampena scandals, even if they happened before her time under the chairmanship of Chor Chee Heung.

I am surprised that Chew has denied that Pampena has asked the Tourism Ministry for an injection of RM5 million to keep it afloat.

Is Chew totally unaware of this Pempena application, which I understand was submitted only last month, raising the question whether she is a hands-on or a hands-off Executive Chairman.

Can Azalina deny that she has received such an application from Pempena?

Chew has evaded the question at her press conference yesterday how those who had applied for research officers in the Tourism Minister’s office had instead been appointed as directors and general managers of Pempena, giving the lame reply: “It is up to the company to give them a job that we feel fits them. Is there anything wrong?”

There is nothing wrong if Pampena is a MCA company using MCA funds but it is a government company using taxpayers’ monies and therefore requires proper accountability.

Malaysians are entitled to know the full number, list and costs of the “political appointees” padded onto the Pampena payroll after the March 8 general election, but who are not doing any Pempena work as they answer directly to the Minister of Tourism.

What is the justification for increasing the monthly overhead costs of Pempena when it is already such a losing concern?

Finally, didn’t Chew begin her appointment in Pempena in mid-May but why was her appointment backdated to April 1, 2008?

  1. #1 by k1980 on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 11:28 am

    “I will not answer on things that happened before my time. Now I just want to focus on revamping the company.”

    So, will Ong Tee Ket use the same excuse to sweep the RM4.6billion PKFTZ scandal under the carpet because that also happened under the tenure of the previous minister, chan kc?

  2. #2 by All For The Road on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 11:51 am

    On the RM50 million Pempena scandals, if everybody is passing the buck, then in the end we will get no answers whatsoever! Where’s the accountability and transparency as expounded by the so-called authorities. Position dan gaji mau, tetapi kerja tak mau buat dan tugas tak mau jalankan! Is this what is happening in Pempena?

    The only solution is to boot out all these recalcitrant officials and close shop for Pempena! Then there won’t be problems and tax-payers’ hard-earned money can be saved. Thumbs down for the Tourism Ministry!

  3. #3 by Godfather on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 11:53 am

    Ong Tee Keat says PKFZ is not his responsibility. Badawi says Eurocopter purchase is not his responsibility. Azalina says Pempena is not her responsibility. Zaki says previous rulings were not his responsibility. Najis says the Scorpene commissions are no longer his responsibility. Shahrir says all price increases are not his responsibility since he has already lowered the fuel price.

    And the old Mamakthir says racial divides which are getting worse are not his responsibility.

    There is only one action for those who shirk responsibility – fire them.

  4. #4 by monsterball on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 11:55 am

    Mahathir said..he will put out a list of UMNO.. corrupted people…in his blog….prepared to go to jail…like RPK.
    Go read that in newspaper.
    Here we have a traitor exposed.
    At least…a dozen of them….to fool few thousands.
    Without this…no future in BN…..when lord of them all….UMNO is not happy.

  5. #5 by Johorean on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 12:05 pm

    Aiyo, she can at least say we will investigate and announce course of actions to be taken. *sigh* Ms Chew, act like a politician not our daily aunty in the wet market.

  6. #6 by madmix on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 12:12 pm

    You get politicians to be CEO of a company what do you expect to get? Lousy managerial skills; lousy knowledge of business practices; lots of party members lining up begging for favours like jobs, contracts, kangtows…
    Politicians have NO BUSINESS running businesses. Just get rid of them and close Pempena and save tax payers’ money.

  7. #7 by frankyapp on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 12:20 pm

    Monsterball,are you serious ? TDM is putting a list of corrupted UMNO people.It’s a joke,right ? If he did,then his name and sons name must be among the first,second and third in the list,right !

  8. #8 by dawsonruby on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 12:25 pm

    You guys are so funny, it’s easy to say “just boot them out if they are found guilty in sweeping all the taxpayers monies and blah, blah” but does you know that even Mr. Lim and other PKR members have trouble just to table the motion/complain in the parliament with the “judge” keeps rejecting their motion.

    If you ever notice, the whole security system is also controlled by the gov so how on earth can you guys seek for justice when there aren’t one in msia? maybe in your dreams yes.

    I know this harsh but this is reality.

  9. #9 by jus legitimum on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 12:29 pm

    YB LKS,this beloved country of ours Malaysia should thank you immensely for your hardwork and your relentless effort to expose the wrongdoings,the string of scandals committed by those who have been vested with powers.Those offenders should be brought to book and be punished.Despite the poor economic outlook,the offenders still continue to plunder taxpayers’ money.The culprits should be jailed like what the Taiwan new administration has done to its ex President and other high ranking officials.

  10. #10 by frankyapp on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 12:29 pm

    What happen when a murderer admitted his guilt killing say her father before Ms chew was born,will she not say something ?.

  11. #11 by ktteokt on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 12:33 pm

    The ministry is a legal entity and whoever heads the ministry is supposed to be answerable for everything which took place in the past, present and future! If these officials simply brush away such responsibilities, then we do not need such personnel and the country could perhaps save hefty sums of money paying them their salaries! This is one thing BN people never learnt – BE RESPONSIBLE!!!!!!!

  12. #12 by i_love_malaysia on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 12:56 pm

    I wonder whether I can use the same arguments as CMF to not follow or prosecuted under those laws passed before I was born in Malaysia as those laws were passed before my time!!! how can I be answerable to them???

    Politicians should focus on politics and not business; as business will only keep them busy with “making money” and no other objectives!!! Just let true businessmen to run businesses!!! We can never serve two masters at the same time!!!

    We can preach day and night on this, but all our BN political parties are involved in businesses that channel the money back to their parties to fund their activities!!!

  13. #13 by k1980 on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 1:00 pm

    Well, well, well. Former PMs can also go on trial. This is the meaning of true democracy.
    See:http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/20/france-sarkozy-scandal-de-villepin

  14. #14 by Yee Siew Wah on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 1:14 pm

    As i have said, MCA including other component parties are all watching their very own pockets. How can these guys run any business wen they cant even look after the very own rakyat they claimed they represented. What a bunch of greedy bums and cowards. That Mr. “Chor” cant even take care of his own ministry not to mention running a business. This is daylite robbery of the rakyat money.
    I am real disappointed with that madam in MCA. She disgrace and brought shame to her gender she represented.
    Millions of rakyat money is involved and as a people rep, she did not even care where all these hard earned money from the rakyat disappear. Real disgusting to have a people rep who are so irrresponsible. Perhaps this is how this so called party representing the chinese act. All care for their own interest.

  15. #15 by undergrad2 on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 1:18 pm

    “The whole purpose of Chew’s press conference yesterday was to declare that she is not responsible for the RM50 million Pampena scandals as they happened before her time.”

    Nobody is asking her to take the blame for the mess! If this is the kind of calibre that can be expected from people entrusted with taxpayer money, then may God save us all!

  16. #16 by undergrad2 on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 1:19 pm

    This is disgusting to say the least!

  17. #17 by monsterball on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 2:53 pm

    frankyapp…I am serious!
    Mahathir said he is not afraid to reveal all UMNO corrupted crooks.
    He said..if RPK can go to jail and got released…he hope the police will be kind to him.
    Yes….you are right….he and his son…should be first on the list.
    But have we not seem this old man weird character…accusing everyone in UMNO…and BN playing race …agreed massive corruptions…on going for 30 years….keep saying he lost the Kedah by-election..with UMNO offering RM200 to everyone..not to vote for him.
    He even said… no one can prove he was on the take.
    Such is the man…..so filled with hatreds on those that abandoned him….starting from Dollah and Najib…that his focus to revenge is there..day and night….calculating…..UMNO dare not touch him…which ..he is so right….as all are crooks.
    Now go and read him saying……UMNO is corrupted for past 30 years..excluding himself!
    Accusing others playing race politics….when he keeps on supporting special treatment for Malays…must be maintained.
    And his 14 times ‘.”I don’t remember”..at the Royal Commissioners questioning him….and blame his lost of a small by election…based on corruption. Everyone knows…majority Muslims in Kedah does not like him..anymore.
    That’s why he stepped down as PM…for if he stood for the general election..he would have lost …much more votes than Samy Vellu…creating more history for him.
    Yes frankyapp….this man is desperate to bring Dollah and Najib to the grave with him.

  18. #18 by chris chong on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 3:09 pm

    all the MCA dogs, Chor CH is one of the worst kind. in the bandar cheras mahkota incident, he agreed on polis brutality without knowing anything. and the recently, “crime rate isn’t increase but the report is”.

    he is totally shameless and an disgust to chinese…

    MCA has this type of scumbag and some more appointed as a Deputy minister. sure die lah.

  19. #19 by kenghuei on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 3:33 pm

    Just yet another BN / MCA scandal..we should already be immune to this.

    And Chew Mei Fun saying she doesnt want to answer on issues prior to her time just shows that she is an irresponsible CEO, it is as good as saying, “I do not care about past problems, what’s most important is how I do my job now”.
    How on earth can she revamp/improve her organisation then without looking at the past for learnings? This is an example of a ‘self-oriented’ leader and not an ‘organisation-oriented’ leader. =)

  20. #20 by izrafeil on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 4:16 pm

    Uncle Lim,
    If you are appointed Minister of Transport / Minister of JKR, would you approve a RM600 Million for a bus hub?

  21. #21 by melurian on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 5:01 pm

    cmf as ceo, she sure a businesswoman ? heck she even donno how to articulate against tonypua, what a joke.

    best when she has lost in pju she better retires in bukit jelutong keep away from politics instead….

  22. #22 by bc on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 5:11 pm

    they are so dirt.

    Make sure you wear a mask if you approaching them closely.

  23. #23 by Swarnabumi on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 5:27 pm

    The PEMBENA Scandal by Ministry of Tourism.

    It is very easy to get to the root of this scandal.
    All we need is an honest Minister of Tourism and Executive Chairman of the company.
    If you maid steals RM5 you know about it and get the police to act BUT when your staff “honeymoon” with RM50 millions you don’ know (or don’t want to know). Why ? in the process of digging for Truth you may unearth your own family member, relative, best golf buddy or crony. Malaysian have reached “intellect puberty age”. So let’s cut the crab! Datin Chew Mon Fun is either a competent person whose hands are tied or an incompetent who has accepted the high position for the perks. Please stop this “serving the nation” garbage. If General Patton is here today he would have rephrased like this ” No #### politician ever served his/her nation. He/she only came there to rob the innocent people by getting them to vote every 5 years. Full Stop.

  24. #24 by k1980 on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 6:34 pm

    General Patton: “Don’t die for your country. Make the bastard on the other side die for his country”

  25. #25 by oct on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 8:08 pm

    What can we expect from an ex-longkang MP? She is good for looking after longkangs than managing a corporation. How can she disclaim responsibility when she is the Head of the Corporation? You are paid to do a good job and not warming the chair. A good leader must accept responsibilities when he/she accepts the post. She should pursue to get the person who caused all these problems and then tell the rakyat that she has corrected the mistake instead of shirking her duties by claiming it is not her responsibility as it happened before her.

  26. #26 by Richardqed on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 8:57 pm

    Judging from the longkang ex-MP’s side-stepping of questions directed at her in her press conference, she has not changed one bit since getting thrashed by Tony Pua on Mar 08. As ever, an obedient servant to her political masters, and a traitor to the rakyat.

  27. #27 by undergrad2 on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 9:07 pm

    “If Chew does not want to assume responsibility for what happened before her time, why didn’t she get the former Pampena Chairman..”

    That’s the general idea. She’s been appointed so others need not have to answer.

  28. #28 by ktteokt on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 10:07 pm

    Can Chew turn back and say that since her parents were born before she came to this world, then her parents are none of her concern then if she is going to argue in this line!

  29. #29 by lofuji on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 10:28 pm

    A person who lost badly in the GE12 but still can get voted in as MCA Wanita President, wha else can you expect from our Bolehland.Politicians have no biz to BE IN BIZ! If they want to be in BIz they have to resign from politics.
    LKS,You shud bring this up in Parliament.In fact,get the other PR MP’s to bring this up.
    Bunch of crooks,the hol lot of them.May they burn in eternal hell! Hahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

  30. #30 by earthdweller on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 10:35 pm

    I love Malaysia, Malaysians and the art of irresponsibilities. Many things you can learn from BN politicians and if you work in government, just act like the masters and you get off scott-free.

  31. #31 by negarawan on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 10:55 pm

    Hey Rustam, why not just mail the datukship medal to Shahrukh in India? You could register it for peace of mind, so that you know whether he accepted the parcel or rejected it again. If he accepts it, do pop into ebay to see if he has put the medal on auction. Who gives a damn about datukship nowadays? Even criminals are datuks and tan sris.

  32. #32 by negarawan on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 10:58 pm

    Whoops, sorry wrong thread

  33. #33 by mendela on Thursday, 20 November 2008 - 11:12 pm

    chris chong Says:
    all the MCA dogs, Chor CH is one of the worst kind.

    Very well said, totally agree with you!
    Just looking at Chor’s fcuking face you will able to tell this scumbag’s main aim in joining MCA is to make quick money!

    After so many years, what this running dog has done for Malaysia?
    Nothing but only enriching he himself!

  34. #34 by rubini on Friday, 21 November 2008 - 1:28 am

    Another one bites the dust. Is this what MCA talking about???? Is not the UMNO who are corrupt, the MCA pimps are sleeping with UMNO.

  35. #35 by letek on Friday, 21 November 2008 - 2:32 am

    u guys gentermen Never n Dont Forget when next GE comes , this scandal shamless crooks will come back again asking your mercy 2 give them a big support n vote them 2 parliament 2 voice out your unjust n feelings . Please always remember not forget 2 give them a lesson never welcome the irresponsible , disgrace n scumbags ask them 2 get lost ……we dont need them anymore ! ! ! ! ! !…….Sudah Lah.

  36. #36 by HB Lim on Friday, 21 November 2008 - 3:37 am

    Can Chew be allowed to get away by merely saying that whatever wrong done was done before her time and go on collecting her RM10000 a month? She should at least get her predecessor to explain what went wrong. If every one can be excused just because the wrong doing was done before his or her time, then what becomes of the principle of accountability? Then it would become an easy matter to cover up a sin by appointing someone else to take over one’s position after the sin has been committed – classic sweeping everything under the carpet.

    I guess they all think that we are all very stupid to believe and take it that all will be forgiven and forgotten if they would just “it was all done before my time, what can I do?”

    Chew, you should just resign and have the guts to tell them that you are not not going to take all this s..it for a mere RM10000 a month. Unless you think that RM10000 a month is a fair price to pay for the sacrifice of your integrity and self-respect. You know, just yesterday I went to Louis Vuitton at Jalan BB with a friend and he bought a hand bag for his girl friend for RM13000. Your price per month is worth less than a hand bag if you chose to hang on to your RM10000 per month and compromise all else by saying “it was done before my time.”

    When you exchange integrity, self-respect or principles for money, you are no better off than a prostitute who plies her trade at Jalan BB. Choose self-respect, integrity and principles over the protection of the wrongdoers. That’s what you should do for the sake of yourself, your descendants and the country. But then again you are from the MCA and there is not much we can expect from you.

  37. #37 by justiciary on Friday, 21 November 2008 - 5:26 am

    This Chor is from Alor Star.Remember his mentor Oo Gin Sun who was once a deputy finance minister in early 80’s.This chap earned a bad name in his dealing with the import of mandarin oranges.Anyway birds of the same feather flock together.

  38. #38 by justiciary on Friday, 21 November 2008 - 5:49 am

    Whether it is CMF or CCH,there is no need to talk about integrity to them.The reason is they only can see the big S with double strokes.

  39. #39 by shortie kiasu on Friday, 21 November 2008 - 11:08 am

    Chor had said to the reporters that he did not anything of what happened in Pempena while as chief executive, he only knew he drew the salary and the benefits from Pempena. The other matters relating millions of ringgit of thrown away investments were left to his subordinates/superiors to have a happy times flinging the money and put their dirty hands into the many cookie jars opened up for him and others.

    As ususal and expected nothing substantial will ever come out from the so-called these mediocre people in power. There is no sense of responsibility and urgency.

  40. #40 by GC THAM on Friday, 21 November 2008 - 2:49 pm

    All just want to hand on to power, so was Chew, who dare to propose action? Her rice bowl will gone immediately.

  41. #41 by Toyol on Friday, 21 November 2008 - 3:06 pm

    Every time something goes horribly wrong, our so called leaders deny responsibility and pass the buck. Why on earth do we then vote these people to represent us? It is understood that when you take over a company, you are responsible for its past, present and future. Only BN are experts in separating the issues and take credit for the good (if any) and deny responsibility for the bad.

    The Opposition has done exactly what we voted them for…to expose all the wrong and crap that is going on in government. Now the BN clowns are tripping over themselves to pass the buck and deny all wrong doing. I can’t imagine how stupid BN supporters can be when they voted for these idiots.

  42. #42 by Damocles on Friday, 21 November 2008 - 4:59 pm

    Uncle Lim, throughout our history, has anyone in UMNO/BN taken responsibility? They can get away with anything!
    The reason that they are still playing the racial card is the thought that if they can control the Malay votes, they are very save!
    And they have been proven right until DSAI came along and gave this bastion a good pounding during the last GE.
    Hopefully, they can be dislodged in the next one.
    But by then, it may be too late!

  43. #43 by i_love_malaysia on Saturday, 22 November 2008 - 12:49 pm

    CMF was appointed NOT to dig the sh*it out, but precisely to cover the shit, so that no sh*it smell may be blowned all over the places!!!
    Do you think it is an easy job to dig the sh*it out??? just look at PKFZ scandal and the report is still not out yet!!!
    No servant (CMF) is greater than the Master, so you should know the answer by now!!!

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