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Venturepharm Asia Sdn Bhd

PM: Suspend award to Venturepharm to build Malaysia Pavilion for Shanghai Expo 2010 until completion of investigations by MACC

The Star Newspapers reported on page 6 on 5th August, 2009:

“The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is investigating several officials from the Tourism Ministry following allegations of irregularities.  It is learnt that the MACC was investigating the awarding of contract to a foreign company that did not have the expertise to run a project that is said to be worth more than RM10 mil.

MACC officers would also be sent overseas to collect documents and files pertaining to the awarding of the contract, allegedly made via direct negotiations.

Wangsa Maju MP Wee Choo Keong had in June raised in the Dewan Rakyat several issues concerning the Tourism Ministry.  He had alleged that the ministry was involved in irregularities, especially in the awarding of contracts to a company that had no experience in the field.”

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MACC seizes files from Venturepharm Asia, the successful bidder for Malaysia Pavilion!

The Sun report: 30-07-2009.

World Shanghai Expo 2010 website here also publishes this report by the Sun.

MACC seizes files from Venturepharm
Tim Leonard

PETALING JAYA (July 29, 2009): The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has seized several files and documents from drug firm Venturepharm Asia Sdn Bhd, which was awarded a RM19.99 million contract to build the Malaysian pavilion at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.

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Pavilion for 2010 Shanghai World Expo: Government should cancel contract to Venturepharm Asia and call for a re-tender!

Pavilion untuk Ekspo Shanghai Se Dunia 2010: Kerajaan harus membatalkan kontrak kepada Venturepharm Asia dan mengadakan tender semula!

It is an open secret that Grace Chen Oyan Yun Shai is politically well-connected as we can see that many of the companies which were awarded contracts by the Malaysian Tourism Board are directly or indirectly connected to her. (Please read comment by Kang in previous post.)

Such award of contracts to a questionable company like Venturepharm Asia will definitely encourage more brain-drain as professionals see no future in Malaysia. The latest case of such ridiculosity had to do with the conceptualising, designing and construction of the proposed Malaysian pavilion in the shape of a Malaysian Minangkabau roof for the upcoming 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

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Minister of Tourism says Venturepharm Asia Sdn Bhd has no political link!

Update, 22 July 2009: World Shanghai Expo 2010 website here also publishes most of what I have written about on this subject!

Related links in this blog here, here and here.

Menteri Pelancongan kata Venturepharm Asia Sdn Bhd tidak mempunyai hubungan politik! (Versi BM ada dibawah)

The Minister of Tourism Datuk Seri Ng Yen Yen, had denied in The Sun today (20 July 2009) that there was no “political link” when it awarded the RM19 million contract to Venturepharm Asia Sdn Bhd (Venturepharm) to build the Malaysia Pavilion for the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai and that it was done via an open tender and the process was carried out in a clear and transparent manner. The Minister had also denied that the ministry had helped Venturepharm to win the contract.

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Speech for Debate on Bank Negara Bill 2009

Teks Ucapan YB Wee Choo Keong, Ahli Parlimen Wangsa Maju, Untuk Perbahasan Akta Bank Negara 01 Julai 2009

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