Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today said Tourism Minister Tengku Adnan Mansor must deal with the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) regarding the ‘Korean scandal’.

Last Friday, Malaysiakini reported that two senior Tourism Malaysia (TM) officers had pocketed large sums of money in relation to the production of a video clip.

The clip, said to cost a whopping RM850,000, was meant to promote the Visit Malaysia Year in South Korea.

“He (Tengku Adnan) has to talk to BPR (ACA), otherwise there will be unnecessary reaction from the public," Abdullah was quoted as saying by Bernama .

The prime minister told this at a press conference in Spain, where he is currently on a working visit.

Abdullah was asked to respond to a statement by Tengku Adnan that the officers were subject to an internal probe by the ministry over the allegation.

"Tengku Adnan should talk to the BPR. BPR would want to investigate and BPR cannot be prevented from investigating. Once they have identified, once they have information that something not right is happening, then BPR can go in.

"But if he feels that he would like to conduct some investigation before BPR comes in, he has to talk to BPR," said Abdullah.

Asked if he was informed of the matter, the premier replied: "I've not been informed. It happened while I'm here (in Spain)."

Prevent cover-up

On Monday, Public Accounts Committee chairperson Shahrir Samad said the ministry should leave the ACA to investigate "to ensure that the ministry will not try to cover up the matter."

Sources had also furnished Malaysiakini with documentary evidence to back their allegation against Seoul office director Abdul Mutalib Awang and TM North Asian regional director Ramzi Abu Yazid.

Although Tengku Adnan was also implicated in the scandal, the minister has since denied any involvement.

According to sources, Ramzi early last year suggested that the South Korean TM office produce a video recording of tourist attractions in Malaysia to be used for promotional purposes.

Mutalib agreed and subsequently announced that a tender would be opened for bidding. This was later awarded to South Korean-based Sekyung Communications Co Ltd.

Payment was made via bank transfer after Mutalib gave the approval. It was alleged that Ramzi and another Malaysian-based graphic designer would pick up the money and transfer it to a bank in Malaysia.

Sources alleged that Sekyung is a bogus company set up by Abdul Mutalib through several of his Korean friends.

According to the Star today, ACA officers had visited the Tourism Ministry office in Putrajaya in relation to this case.