MOST of property developer IOI’s properties or locations are located in Kinrara constituency, a state seat under the Subang parliamentary constituency, says DAP Selangor secretary Ng Sze Han in fending off criticisms against party candidate for Puchong parliamentary seat Yeo Bee Yin (pic).
He added many of the properties were in the Kinrara state constituency, which was under the Subang federal seat where he was the state assemblyman.
"This includes Bandar Puteri Puchong, Puchong Jaya, IOI Boulevard Puchong, Sheraton Puchong and IOI Mall of Puchong. Meanwhile, the Sierra 16 and IOI City Mall are in Sepang Parliament.
"None of the IOI Property development exists in the Puchong Parliament area to date," he said in a statement following concerns raised by anti-graft watch organisation the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Centre).
C4 had questioned Yeo’s ability to make decisions prioritising her constituency as she was the wife of IOI Properties Group Bhd chief executive officer Lee Yeow Seng, the son of late IOI Group Berhad founder Tan Sri Lee Shin Cheng.
"This is unfair to Yeo as they are based on assumptions," said Ng in his statement.
He said that instead of singling Yeo for being married to a successful spouse, C4 should look at investigating candidates who were still grappling with court cases and other corruption charges.
"Why are they still allowed to contest in the elections?" questioned Ng.
He added that people should not hold Yeo’s wealth against her. Instead, they should look at her past achievements as Science, Technology and Innovation minister as a benchmark.
Earlier on Sunday (Nov 6), C4 issued a statement citing concerns by the nomination of some politicians running for the upcoming 15th General Election (GE15) and their ties to businesses.
"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," said C4.
Following Ng's clarification, C4 released another statement, saying it meant no malice to Yeo, and invited her to engage in open conversations.
"Ultimately, 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."
