Businessperson Victor Chin said the RM9.5 million he allegedly paid to a PKR MP was a “service fee” and was not intended to settle matters with enforcement agencies investigating the “corporate mafia” scandal.
In a statement today, Chin (above) said the amount was also not to settle allegations of wrongdoing against him and that he resorted to the act under “significant duress” from the “corporate mafia” gang members.
“The payment was not made to ‘kaw tim’ (settle) any enforcement agencies, nor was it to close any investigation or settle allegations of wrongdoing against me. It was a ‘service fee’ made in an extreme situation, in order to stop the hostilities against the people believed to be associated with me.
“I was told that the payment of RM9.5 million would be passed to the ‘corporate mafia’ gang to make them happy, stop the hostilities against my people, and also give me a second chance to live.
“Put yourself in my shoes. I was under significant duress,” Chin said, claiming he was pressured and forced to surrender his shares for free to the gang, which allegedly stages coercive corporate takeovers.
‘Staff affected, loans not paid’
Chin claimed the group targeted his family members, business associates, companies, friends, and anyone assumed to be connected to him.
He added that after authorities froze more than 500 accounts belonging to people believed to be associated with him, many were not able to pay salaries to their employees and make loan repayments.
“All the affected individuals and companies were concurrently panicking and in significant financial and mental distress. I did not have a choice. I was feeling extremely guilty because these people were suffering simply because they knew me.
“I made the payment to protect my people and friends, and in the hopes of ending their financial misery immediately. The payment of RM9.5 million was simply a reaction to get the ‘corporate mafia’ gang to stop their extreme measures.
“The greatest wealth in life is not money, but peace of mind. I would have done anything for the peace of mind of my people,” he added.
Chin also repeated his call for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into the scandal, which has also implicated the MACC.
“I hope it (RCI) will be carried out thoroughly and impartially, covering all parties involved or connected to these events, and not limited to me alone as an individual,” he added.
PKR threatens lawsuit, PN demands answer
Last month, Bloomberg named Chin as part of a network of businesspeople who allegedly colluded with the MACC to stage corporate takeovers of rivals.
Earlier today, PKR threatened legal action against anyone spreading slander against the party’s leadership, following Chin’s allegation that one of the party’s MPs had solicited RM10 million from him to resolve the scandal, using an intermediary called “Mr R”.
“I managed to arrange RM9.5 million initially, but the remaining RM500,000 was never passed to him, as this MP did not resolve the matter. None of the money was ever passed to the corporate mafia gang,” Chin alleged on Tuesday (March 24).
The businessperson threatened to expose the MP’s identity if the money was not returned to him by March 30.
Responding to the allegations, PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh said it was easy to make such accusations, “particularly by those who are desperate to deflect attention from their own wrongdoings or misconduct”.
The allegation drew a reaction from Human Resources Minister R Ramanan, who denied taking money from Chin, adding he would lodge police reports against such accusations, which he asserted have been spread by “irresponsible parties”.
Ramanan went on to claim that certain quarters allegedly linked with former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli have been attempting to paint him as the said “Mr R” - an assertion which he vehemently denied.
In a separate statement, Perikatan Nasional secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said Chin's allegations were deeply troubling, not only because of the substantial sum involved, but also because they raised serious questions over corporate governance, abuse of political influence, and the integrity of the nation’s institutions.
“PN also calls upon the government, and in particular the PKR leadership, to provide an immediate explanation and to extend full cooperation to the investigations being carried out,” he said. - Mkini
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