Yeo blasts C4, denies 'conflict of interest' allegation

GE15 | Puchong hopeful Yeo Bee Yin has slammed the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) over a statement alleging the candidate's “conflict of interest” in the seat.

DAP's Yeo (above), who is also a former energy, science, technology, environment and climate change minister under the Pakatan Harapan administration, stated that properties mentioned in C4'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 setas. Whatever is mentioned by C4 is under Kinrara, which is under the Subang constituency.

"In Malaysia, a constituency name and the areas it covers sometimes are not the same. An NGO, which aspires to raise corruption issues in the international arena should do proper due diligence, lest it ruins its own credibility," she responded via Whatsapp.

This was echoed by incumbent Kinrara state assemblyperson Ng Sze Han - who similarly branded the group's statement as being inaccurate.

"In regard to the C4 Consultancies media statement today, Nov 6 2022, titled 'GE15: Yeo Bee Yin’s nomination in Puchong a grave concern for conflict of interest of major proportions', please be informed that most of the properties or locations mentioned in the statement are located in (the) Kinrara constituency, a state seat under the Subang parliamentary seat," said Ng.

The Kinrara state assemblyperson cited examples such as Bandar Puteri Puchong, Puchong Jaya, IOI Boulevard Puchong, Sheraton Puchong and IOI Mall of Puchong being in the Subang parliamentary seat.

"Meanwhile, the Sierra 16 and IOI City Mall are in Sepang parliamentary seat.

"As such, none of the IOI Property development exists in the Puchong parliamentary area to date. The statement of C4, therefore, is not accurate," said Ng in a statement.

C4 statement

Earlier today, C4 said in a statement that it is alarmed by the nomination of some politicians running for the upcoming 15th general election and their ties to business.

Following the release of C4’s report, “Business in Politics: Seeking Control of Malaysia’s Political System” on Nov 2, it reiterated its concerns over GE15 candidates with business ties and urged political parties to review their choices of nominees thoroughly.

C4 cited that Yeo, who was nominated for Puchong, is the spouse of IOI Properties Group Bhd chief executive officer Lee Yeow Seng, son of IOI Group Berhad founder, the late Lee Shin Cheng.

"The propriety of an active politician being married to a powerful businessperson and the telling ways in which the business-political nexus manifests, Yeo’s nomination for a parliamentary seat in an area where her in-laws possess vast business interests smacks of potential conflict of interest concerns," it warned.

Further, C4 stated that Yeo's nomination to run for the Puchong seat indicated a “glaring blindspot” of political parties.

"At worst, such a connection could potentially become leverage for the purposes of political funding if we still fail to heed and learn from the lessons of the past.

"In lieu of a functioning Political Funding Act or policy on asset declaration, 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," said C4.

The group said, in its statement today, that the growing trend of business-in-politics and vice versa gives rise to “nepotism, cronyism, patronage politics and undue influence of business on policy-making”.

Malaysiakini has contacted C4 for a response on the issue.

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