PAS - MYSTERIOUS RM4 BILLION CHEQUE?

Nothing is ever small for a relatively unknown company occupying a humble office suite, but its latest RM4 billion mock cheque stunt has finally made it famous for all its worth.

Reports that the company had made a whopping RM4 billion contribution to the Kelantan PAS for development projects have created minor tremours across the political landscape today, with a shocked UMNO urging the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate.

I'da World Group and its executive chairman Abdul Rahim Abdul Wahab (right) had earlier announced a RM4 billion contribution for development projects which included redevelopment of the border town of Rantau Panjang.

He also told the press that the donation was not related to the Super Mega Seri Tujuh project, also worth a hair-raising RM313.71 billion purportedly awarded to the company.

As disappointing as it may sound to PAS members, Kelantan PAS said that they knew nothing about it nor received a single cent from the company.

“PAS has neither received a real cheque nor any contribution of RM4 billion from this company. PAS also does not know of the company’s projects in Kelantan,” said PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub, describing the report an attempt to depict PAS as being involved in suspicious activities.

Understandably, UMNO, who earlier this year accused Kelantan PAS of spending RM4 million to bring down former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, wasted no time in urging MACC to investigate the latest report carried by several newspapers over the weekend.

PAS Kelantan state secretary Mohd Zaki, however, sees humour amid the brouhaha.

"This is just a joke," he said. "In fact, we don’t even know the owner of the company," adding that the state PAS had never been informed or invited to participate at the dinner where the mock cheque was presented.

A quick check by Harakahdaily on the internet reveals a website registered under the Malaysian domainhttp://www.idaworldgroup.com.my/, claiming the company was involved in off shore reclamation, oil refineries, sea ports and new township development.

"We want to play a role in nation building in line with the government vision. We have our focus on various mega projects which will establish a 'landmark'," says a message attributed to executive chairman, Abdul Rahim Abdul Wahab.

The website also contains photographs of its directors engaging in various business events, including pictures showing their meeting with Nik Aziz last month.

Other than Abdul Rahim (extreme left, pic above), individuals listed on its organisation chart are (pics above, second left to right) Azida Che Zakaria, Muhammad Sobri Din, Mohd Adnan Janom, Mohd Saleh Ishak, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin and Zainal Abidin Mohammad, besides another ten individuals for various portfolios.

Nothing is small for this relatively unknown company. Its "future projects" include hospitals, logistic centres and sea ports, as well as urban development. The "100% Bumiputera" company boasts a paid-up capital of RM1 million and names the Al-Rajhi Bank's Kelana Jaya branch as its banker. Its group asset is given as US$2.716 trillion.

Yet, the company's address suggests a small and humble unit at "A609, 4th Floor, Block A, Glomac Business Centre, Kelana Jaya", in downtown Petaling Jaya, according to the website's contact page.

'I was surprised too'

The fat cheque, literally that is, was apparently received by Nik Din Nik Mat, the brother of none other than Kelantan Menteri Besar Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

Nik Din later pleaded ignorance of the whole plan, saying he too was caught by surprise and had attended the event on personal invitation and not on behalf of his brother.

“I did not represent the Menteri Besar at the dinner. In fact, I was totally surprised to be called to receive the mock cheque,” he clarified yesterday.

And where was Nik Aziz, the state chief, when billions of ringgit worth of projects were changing hands?

INDUSTRY MOVERS OR ROGUE CONMEN?... A photograph of top directors of the company posing with Nik Aziz for the camera

"They did not approach me about the gift and I didn't know about the dinner. I am the party chief (in Kelantan) and I know nothing about it. I only learnt about it now (from reporters)," said Nik Aziz, who was away in Perlis.

Nik Aziz however said he had met Abdul Rahim and other directors of the dubious company a few days earlier, and was told that it wanted to carry out several projects in the state, to which Nik Aziz had told them to come out with a proper proposal and endorsement from the state's economic planning unit (UPEN).

“But there was nothing. There was no paper submitted either to Upen or the exco," he said.

And how is the RM4 billion gesture to be rewarded by the Kelantan state government?

For now, Nik Aziz said he was considering blacklisting the company for tarnishing the state government’s reputation.

courtesy of HarakahDaily