PUTRAJAYA, 15 January 2019: Former Tourism Malaysia chairman, Datuk Siew Ka Wai, who is facing charges of corruption, was released on bail last Friday according to local media reports.
Both Siew and a company chief executive officer identified as Elizabeth Ken Tze Ying, were released on bail set at MYR50,000 according to the Star Online report.
News reports in Malaysia claimed they were arrested, last week, after giving statements to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in Kuala Lumpur.
Siew, 64, faces allegations that he used his position to propose that a company be appointed directly for a lucrative contract that would have authorised it to act as a go-between for Tourism Malaysia and a China-based firm to promote Malaysia through a digital advertising campaign.
Digital advertising campaigns undertaken by Tourism Malaysia came under scrutiny last year. Currently, investigations continue particularly with reference to contracts signed with foreign media and digital content providers in both the trade and consumer space.
Allegations facing the two defendants focus on a contract approved within a day that the anti-corruption commission claimed did not follow Tourism Malaysia’s procurement regulations.
Sources said more people might be called in for questioning as the investigating team probed deeper into the case.
A statement was also taken from Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry secretary-general Datuk Rashidi Hasbullah in relation to the case.