Man threatens to set himself on fire

The retiree wants to protest the Pahang state government's refusal to honour a RM70-million court compensation award.

PETALING JAYA: A 55-year-old man is threatening commit suicide by setting himself on fire in protest over the Pahang state government’s refusal to honour a RM70-million court compensation owed to a company he invested in.

Gan Ee Seng, a retiree, told reporters at a parking lot of a field at Kota Damansara here: “I will kill myself… just to let the people of Malaysia know that justice is more important than my life.”

Gan, who is now holding a hunger strike as well, said he did not mind dying in order to let people know about this injustice.

“I don’t mind. I need people in Malaysia to know that there is law in this country. If there’s no law, why do you study law?” said Gan.

He said he would be sitting inside a tent and would refuse food until he collapses.

Then, he said, holding up an empty tin, he would pour petrol over himself and self-immolate.

Gan is a father of three children – an 18-year-old daughter, and two sons aged 23 and 25.

Asked if he has informed his family members about this serious decision, he said he has not. They are only aware that he is involved in a protest.

“I don’t care about anything anymore,” said Gan, who had invested RM700,000 into Seruan Gemilang Makmur Sdn Bhd over a logging contract.

“I will not eat for a few days. If they still don’t wake up, if there is no police or Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) action or anything from Umno Pahang, or the menteri besar, I would use my life to fight to exchange for justice,” he said.

‘We don’t condone suicide’

Seruan Gemilang spokesperson Lee Sin said that he and other 20 shareholders supported him over the hunger strike, but would try to console him and persuade him against suicide.

“We don’t condone this. A hunger strike is extreme enough for us. But we understand his frustration and despair as we have been the victims for so many years,” said Lee.

Kuantan-based Seruan Gemilang had in 2002 sued the state for breaching a logging contract in which Seruan Gemilang claimed it was issued a permit to clear 8,000 acres of forest in Pekan, said to be owned by Pahang Umno.

In 2007, the Kuantan High Court awarded RM37,127,471.60 in damages with 8% interest per annum backdated to Dec 31, 2000. In total, the amount due to the company is now over RM70 million.

The award was retained as the Federal Court denied the state government’s application for leave to appeal against the May 2007 decision.

Since then, Seruan Gemilang had repeatedly attempted in vain to compel the state to pay up, including resorting to holding demonstrations, appealing to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and even holding a hunger strike relay last year.

Lee said that a few individuals in Umno Pahang are now trying to “illegally” attempt to obtain the RM70 million that is rightfully theirs through the courts.