Kepong MP claims Jamal-linked company among AP holders

PARLIAMENT | Lim Lip Eng (Harapan-Kepong) has alleged that a company linked to controversial Umno politician Jamal Md Yunos was among the list of 128 approved permit (AP) holders awarded by the previous BN administration.

In his debate of the royal address today, Lim, who called for a review of the AP holders, cited Jamal's name as being among the Umno-linked politicians who had allegedly benefited from the policy.

"I urge the government to change the Open AP policy so that the policy could truly benefit more bumiputera, and not just to further enrich certain groups of already rich bumiputera," said Lim.

"The 128 APs are for existing companies and 36 new companies. I would like to ask who are the owners of the 128 companies?

"I was made to understand that most of the 128 were Umno politicians and their cronies, one of them is Umno's Jamal," said Lim, who later confirmed to Malaysiakini that he was referring to the Umno Sungai Besar division chief.

He also called for an overall review of the AP policy to benefit more bumiputera companies rather than enriching a select few.

Malaysiakini learnt that the Jamal-linked company Lim (photo) was referring to was Ismo Automobile Sdn Bhd.

A check found the company's name at No 57 out of 164 companies on the International Trade and Industry Ministry's (Miti) latest updated list of AP holders.

A check with the Companies Commission of Malaysia's records also revealed Jamal's name as one of the four company directors with one percent stake in its entire operations.

According to the SSM records last updated in September last year, the Kepong-based company was set up in 1982. It is unclear whether the company's ownership had undergone any changes since then.

'We will know what to do then'

When contacted, Jamal dared Lim to repeat the allegations against him outside the Dewan Rakyat.

"This is not the first time he had cited my name, but this time I will respond, and I challenge him to repeat the allegations outside of the Dewan Rakyat.

"We will know what to do then," said Jamal when asked for the confirmation on his status as an AP holder.

Questioned about his links to Ismo Mobile, he merely said: "I don't want to make any further comments because it will involve the company's directors and shareholders."

Last week, Miti had confirmed that 36 new companies had been made AP holders under the new Open AP policy which commenced in January.  - Mkini