RoS suspends troubled Malay chamber of commerce

The Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (DPMM) has been involved in a leadership tussle.

PETALING JAYA: The Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (DPMM) has been suspended by the Registrar of Societies (RoS).

DPMM secretary-general Don Nazwim Don Najib confirmed that a temporary suspension letter from the RoS, as spread on social media recently, was received by DPMM earlier this month.

“I would like to assert our commitment that DPMM will fully cooperate and reply accordingly to the RoS as per their request,” he told FMT.

“We would like to thank our members and stakeholders around the country and internationally for your concern and support.”

Don Nazwim also thanked the RoS and home ministry, under which the RoS is parked, for their professionalism in handling “this unfortunate and delicate situation”.

“DPMM is dedicated to improving and continuing the good work it has done in its role as the representative of the Malay business and industrial community of Malaysia.

“We would like to appeal to all to remain calm and not politicise this matter.”

A letter, dated July 31 and signed by RoS director-general Masyati Abang Ibrahim, officially informed DPMM of the suspension as a society.

However, the notice did not state what led to its suspension, only asking that they respond to the notice.

The letter ordered all DPMM activities to be suspended from July 31 onwards so the DPMM does not “continue breaking the organisation’s rules”.

The DPMM is currently divided into two factions. They are led by Syed Hussein Alhabshee and Rizal Faris Mohideen Abdul Kader, who both claim to be the DPMM president.

Infighting within the chamber’s top leadership was in the limelight last year when Syed Hussein and 17 members sued Rizal and Don Nazwin over RM5 million, which was allocated by the finance ministry to the group before the last general election.

The 18 claimed the money was not deposited into DPMM’s account but instead channelled into Yayasan DPMM Pulau Pinang Bhd’s account without the approval of the chamber’s executive council.

They also claimed RM1 million was credited to DPMM from a company known as “Redberry”, and that Rizal had decided to use the money for an election campaign, also without the approval of the executive council.

The lawsuit was withdrawn after the DPMM’s annual general meeting (AGM) on June 15.

Rizal has also slammed Syed Hussein’s group for using the association’s name illegally, saying the group had used the association’s letterhead and held a meeting with a minister as association members.

Vice-president Norsyahrin Hamidon, at the time, said they had written to the RoS several times informing it of the change in leadership but that they had received no response. - FMT