No malice against Bee Yin in raising political-business nexus, says C4 Center

Updated 1 year ago · Published on 6 Nov 2022 7:56PM · 5 Comments

C4 Center has expressed concern over Yeo Bee Yin’s possible political-business nexus and conflicts of interest arising from her standing for election in a parliamentary constituency where her in-laws possess vast business interests. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, November 6, 2022.

HOURS after being told that it got its facts wrong on Yeo Bee Yin’s supposed conflict of interest in the Puchong parliamentary seat, the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center) invited the DAP leader for “open conversations” on her ties with IOI Group.

C4 Center said it remained perturbed by the fact that although IOI Group’s vast business interests may be cut out from the Puchong constituency, the company continues to have a major presence in neighbouring constituencies and in other parts of the Klang Valley.

“While we meant no malice or harm to Yeo, we would like to invite Yeo to offer a response to these matters of public interest and engage in open conversations pertaining to her relationship with IOI Group Bhd,” it said.

“Ultimately, political parties must remain vigilant in ensuring that the circumstances giving rise to the expansion of the business-political nexus are limited as much as possible, especially if those parties are campaigning on an anti-corruption and reformist agenda.”

The issue started when C4 Center issued a statement this morning to express concern over Yeo’s possible political-business nexus and conflicts of interest arising from her contesting a parliamentary seat in an area where her in-laws possess vast business interests.

Yeo, a former energy, science, technology, environment and climate change minister under the Pakatan Harapan government in 2018, is married to IOI Properties Group Bhd chief executive officer Lee Yeow Seng, the son of IOI Group founder, the late Lee Shin Cheng.

However, Yeo responded by saying that the properties mentioned in C4 Center’s statement as being wrongly listed in the Puchong constituency.

“Let the facts speak for themselves. Puchong constituency covers Seri Kembangan and Sri Serdang state seats. Whatever is mentioned by C4 is under Kinrara, which is under the Subang constituency,” she said.

“In Malaysia, a constituency name and the areas it covers sometimes are not the same. An NGO (non-governmental organisation) which aspires to raise corruption issues in the international arena should do proper due diligence, lest it ruins its own credibility.”

Selangor DAP secretary and Kinrara assemblyman Ng Sze Han also responded to C4 Center’s claims, saying that most of the properties or locations mentioned in the C4 Center statement as owned by IOI Group are actually located in Kinrara, a state constituency under the Subang parliamentary area.

This, he said, included Bandar Puteri Puchong, Puchong Jaya, IOI Boulevard Puchong, Sheraton Puchong and IOI Mall of Puchong.

“The Sierra 16 and IOI City Mall are within the Sepang parliamentary seat,” he said in a statement.

“As such, as of now, none of the IOI Property developments exists in the Puchong parliamentary area.

“C4 Center’s statement, therefore, is not accurate.”

Following the clarifications from the DAP leaders, C4 Center said its core concern in its press statement remains, specifically, that of the disconcertingly close nexus between politics and business in Malaysia.

It said in its recent “Business in Politics” report, it had highlighted concerns of when election candidates with strong business ties enter public office, including on how politicians with business links vote in parliament on matters that do not serve the interests of companies linked to them. – November 6, 2022.

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Comments

  • C4 is barking up the wrong tree, or have they been bought by someone? Sunak, the PM of UK is a rich man and his wife is from the richest family in India. So does that raise questions on his eligibility? YBY has shown herself very capable and has not shown any tinge of conflict of interest during her stint as a Minister. Why the doubt now? To distract her form her campaigning? C4....you have really overdone it this time. Just apologise and move on for that massive blunder

    Posted 1 year ago by Brave Malaysian · Reply

  • C4 totally wrong. She got married after she already entered the parliament.
    She also a brilliant girl both academically and as a professional
    She can contribute towards Malaysia's future. The fact that she somehow falls in love with someone doesn't not disqualify her from becoming an MP.

    There are so many examples out there from UMNO.. Politicians that involve with business... Johari of Titiwangsa, Sheikh Fadzil's siblings in Penang, Jazlan in Johor..

    Why pick on a woman?

    Posted 1 year ago by DENGKI KE? · Reply

  • You did not get your facts right, got eggs all over the face, be an adult, apologise and admit your mistakes to restore your credibility, dont play diversion tactics, we are all not children.

    Else the next time you say something, i will doubt your facts & your integrity.

    Posted 1 year ago by CL Low · Reply

  • C4 is awfully quiet on the integrity (or lack of) of the MACC, and that of BN and PN politicians. Why?
    Worse, in Bee Yin's case, they got their facts wrong.
    It would seem that they are now trying to engage in the desperate act of distracting from their cockup.

    Posted 1 year ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply

  • Why is C4 asking a naive question? Is C4 implying that there are no established guidance on how a public official is to deal in a situation of conflict of interest?? You declare your interest and refrain from participation in further discussions or voting.

    I hope C4 can just own up to their mistake and move on. Do not indulge in unproductive diversion tactics..

    Posted 1 year ago by Super Duper · Reply