It's ACA or court for Pempena’s bad decision makers

By IZATUN SHARI

PETALING JAYA: Individuals involved in Pempena Sdn Bhd’s allegedly dubious investment decisions risk being sued or face action by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA).

Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the Tourism Ministry would make a decision on its subsidiary - either to proceed with lodging a report with the ACA or to file a private suit against certain persons.

“So now, we have to evaluate what we should do next. If it’s CBT we’ll proceed with the ACA; if it’s a bad decision we’ll have to sue certain people,” she told reporters Tuesday after the launch of Zoom!Malaysia campaign at Media Prima here.

She was asked to comment on the ministry’s next course of action against those allegely involved in bad investment decisions resulting in Pempena losing a lot of money.

She said the question is whether it was really a bona fide (in good faith, without fraud or deceit) bad decision or if the decision was tainted with prejudice.

“You can lodge an ACA report but you have to be very certain whether there is CBT or if it is just bad businessmen making bad decisions. Bad businessmen making bad decisions is bona fide. That’s a good defence. But good businessmen making bad decisions, that is CBT. We have got to evaluate all these decisions that have been made.

“So the first question is whether the investment decisions made were right or wrong. The second question is if the business decisions were right, why did the company fail to implement the decisions?” she asked.

In the case of Pempena’s executive taxi service, for instance, she said the report that she obtained showed that the company entrusted was not capable of carrying out the service although RM11mil was approved for it and as a result, its rights were revoked.

“I was informed that Pempena’s board of directors has issued a letter to revoke the rights given to Dalamas,” she said, adding that it is true that Pempena’s restaurants to promote Malaysian food overseas have not become a reality.

On Monday, Azalina admitted in Parliament that Pempena was involved in dubious deals and bad decisions on investments and that the ministry had appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers to audit Pempena’s business decisions.

She said PricewaterhouseCoopers would release the findings to her on Wednesday.

Source: The Star 3.11.2008