KUALA LUMPUR – Former deputy religious minister Datuk Mashitah Ibrahim has claimed that her presence at a controversial 2020 event in Myanmar was at the invitation of a “friend”, one Datuk Seri Liong Kee Huat.
The former Baling MP posted a video on Facebook today, following the police’s confirmation of investigations into Mashitah and her husband, former diplomatic officer Datuk Abdul Shakor Abu Bakar, regarding allegations brought by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) of their supposed involvement in Myanmar-based human trafficking.
Mashitah stressed that her and Abdul Shakor’s presence at the event, which she confirmed was a groundbreaking ceremony for the Saixigang Industrial Park, were merely as “guests”.
Abdul Shakor, she said, was requested by Liong to read out a speech prepared for the latter as he “could not speak English”, while the event was “considered an international one”.
“I don’t know anyone else at the event except for (Liong) and we have no connection with the (other) guests invited. We did not communicate with the other guests as they could not speak English, so there was a language barrier.
“In his capacity as a friend, (Liong) brought me and my husband to view the project site, so we went,” Mashitah, who served as a deputy minister under Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak’s administration, said in the video uploaded today.
Commenting on the presence of armed guards at the project, the Wanita Umno figure said it is “normal” for guards in Myanmar to carry firearms as the country is controlled by the military.
“It is illogical to connect me with mafia and human trafficking (activities) just because I was pictured at an event as an invited guest.”
The 2020 groundbreaking ceremony for the Saixigang Industrial Park that Mashitah referred to in her video was captured in photos which are posted on her Facebook, dated February 24 that year. One photo shows Abdul Shakor delivering a speech, while armed militia stand in the background.
Photos of another related event – a launch and investor appreciation night for the park – held at the JW Marriott Hotel in Kuala Lumpur were also posted on her Facebook on March 17, 2020. In her caption for the photos, Mashitah labelled herself “Ironlady” for the project.
Other photos shared by Mashitah show her and her husband standing alongside convicted Macau mob boss Wan Kuok-koi, also known as Broken Tooth, as well as former Malaysian fugitive Nicky Liow, who was charged with 26 counts of money laundering in April 2022.
Mashitah also slammed a chat group run by Edisi Siasat for “malicious and rude” allegations linking Sultan of Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay with human trafficking.
For the record, the subtitles in Mashitah’s video spell Liong as “Leong”, while Liong’s name is mentioned in a report by human rights group, Justice for Myanmar (JFM), that reported on Mashitah’s alleged links with Dongmei Park in June.
Yesterday, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said police are on the hunt for a man with a ‘Datuk Seri’ title to assist an investigation into Myanmar-based human trafficking activities, which allegedly involve a politician and her husband.
The investigation, Razarudin said, is being conducted under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) Act 2007.
Last week, Mashitah lodged a police report in response to allegations linking her to organised crime activities in Myanmar, including human trafficking.
She denied the “baseless” accusations, asserting that she would not hesitate to pursue legal action against those attempting to defame her and tarnish her reputation.
On the same day Mashitah filed her police report, Razarudin confirmed that investigations are ongoing into a former deputy minister and her husband regarding allegations of their involvement in Myanmar-based human trafficking.
The Saixigang Industrial Park mentioned by Mashitah, is now known as Dongmei Zone, a heavily guarded site in Myawaddy, Myanmar said to be rife with criminal activities, illicit drugs, and brothels allegedly linked with prominent Malaysian figures as investors.
These claims about Dongmei Zone are based on findings by JFM, which has been tracking the involvement of militant group, the Karen National Army, in organised crime.
The allegations of links to human trafficking, however, were made against Mashitah and her husband by a local NGO, Malaysian International Humanitarian Organisation (MHO), citing an investigation report video on YouTube by Deduktif Indonesia.
Malaysia’s link to Dongmei Zone is believed to be through Grand Commerce Network Sdn Bhd, a decade-old company jointly owned by Mashitah and her husband. Both are the sole directors and shareholders, holding 85% and 15%, respectively, as revealed by Companies Commission documents sighted by Scoop.
Abdul Shakor, meanwhile, is also one of two Malaysian directors in Dongmei Investment Group Company Limited, which is registered in Hong Kong, according to research by JFM. – September 2, 2024