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The internal audit report outlines how certain company officials had altered the minutes of board meetings; advanced monies without contracts and dodgy investments. R. Nadeswaran and Terence Fernandez, The Sun
Pempena Sdn Bhd executive chairman Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun vowed that action will be taken for the millions in losses in the Tourism Ministry subsidiary but was non-committal when asked if those responsible will be held accountable. | 
Pempena Sdn Bhd, Datuk Hj Idros Mohd (R) chats with Executive
Chairman of Pempena Sdn Bhd, Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun during PC
at PWTC.
| She also refused to give a direct answer when asked if the law will catch up with the perpetrators of fraud which cost the company RM50 million in bad investments and suspect decisions. "I don’t have to answer you now as to the status of our investigations, but I assure you we are taking action to rectify whatever had happened before (our time)," she told a press conference at the company’s office in Menara Dato Onn today. She said her team, which was poring over the audit report from PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC), which among others revealed that as of June, Pempena had invested RM54.4 million in 24 companies, with only four profitable. "We are also looking at the internal audit and will do the needful," she said, adding that this included lodging police reports. The internal audit report outlines how certain company officials had altered the minutes of board meetings; advanced monies without contracts and dodgy investments. On a report lodged by member of parliament Lim Kit Siang at the Dang Wangi police station today, Chew said Pempena was open to cooperating with the police. Questioned on some of these investments and decisions not to recoup losses, she retorted: "We won’t answer for what happened before us." She also took Lim to task – the whole purpose of the press conference – for remarks the Ipoh Timur MP made against her on Tuesday. "The Minister of Tourism was appointed in March 2008 whilst the new management of Pempena was put in place in May. The minister and Pempena have been transparent by making available the PWC business review report to Lim. It is disappointing that these efforts have been undermined and attacked by Lim," she read out from a statement. Addressing Lim’s allegations, she said Pempena’s staffing of 57 workers had followed procedures. Asked how those who had applied for research officers in the minister’s office had instead been appointed as directors and general managers, Chew replied: "It is up to the company to give them a job that we feel fits them. Is there anything wrong?" She also denied that she was given a company car, saying that she used her own car for official functions – this despite an internal memo which showed that her position comes with perks such as a car and driver. She also said there was no conflict between her work in Pempena and her duties as Wanita MCA chief and that there was no need for her to take up the Pempena post as she had received various offers from the private sector. "I however accepted the job in Pempena as my national duty," she said, adding that these duties included attending post cabinet meetings and chairing management meetings, as well as being a member of the International Advisory Council for the ministry. Also present were Pempena CEO Datuk Idrus Mohamed and human resource manager Zul Aman Shah. Asked on allegations addressed in the internal audit where several Pempena staff had not been paid their salaries for up to four months, Chew dismissed them as "poison pen letters". Idrus, while saying these allegations were "news to me", said he was willing to investigate if there was evidence to this. Meanwhile, after lodging his police report Lim said: "The company has lost RM20 million and there is a lot of hanky panky and monkey business here. The minister owes everyone an explanation. There is basis for the police to investigate these losses." He said he also learnt that the ministry wanted another RM5 million to keep Pempena afloat.
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In time to come, these will all be swept under the carpet !
Malaysian muda lupa !