Pahang Regent denies he got RM1.3bil kickback from China company

KUANTAN: The Regent of Pahang, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah (pic), refuted an allegation circulating on social media that he had received RM1.3bil as a kickback for “his patronage” over a project.

Tengku Abdullah said on Tuesday (June 12) that he had nothing to do with China Rainbow International Investment Co Ltd (CRIIC), the company alleged to have made the payment to him.

"I have nothing to do with the China company. The company has given a reply. I do not wish to comment,” he said in a WhatsApp message through his media officer to Bernama here.

A letter purportedly claiming the award of RM1.3bil to Tengku Abdullah as an alleged kickback went viral on social media on Monday (June 11).

The letter, dated Feb 8, 2018, and purportedly signed by CRIIC Global and Pacific president Will JW Ding, said the money was a reward after the so-called Sapura-China Rainbow Consortium was awarded the MRT3 project valued at RM45bil.

Meanwhile, CRIIC, in its statement, also refuted the allegation, stressing that it “conducts business with full integrity and practices the highest standards of corporate governance”.

"The purported letter is a fabrication. CRIIC has never issued such a letter. The contents are totally false and there is no such Sapura-China Rainbow Consortium," it said.

The statement also said that CRIIC was seeking legal advice and reserved all rights to seek civil and criminal remedies against the perpetrator of the malicious act. - Bernama