Seven days to response in writing! That's all!
Majlis Amanah Rakyat chairman Annuar Musa said Mara had conducted an internal probe into Mara Inc, about two months before Australian paper The Age reported on its controversial investment in Melbourne.
"We regard the news article in The Age as further information to help in their probe. We will cooperate with the authorities investigating the case and will leave no stone unturned," Annuar told a press conference on Wednesday.
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He, however, did not say anything about those named in the 'scandal' - as to whether they are still on their respective chair or 'on holiday' pending investigations.
Annuar only said the purchase of Dudley House in Melbourne was according to procedure and the National Economic Council was aware of it.
Meanwhile, former minister Zaid Ibrahim waded into the Mara scandal today, asking for a probe into the dodgy deal the latter made in Melbourne that involves millions.
The deal, as reported by The Age, said that Malaysian officials, acting on behalf of Mara, overpaid by some RM13.7 million for a five-storey apartment block near Monash University that they purchased.
Describing it as a “heist” more than a deal, Zaid said an investigation should be called for immediately to get to the bottom of it although he implied that Mara itself would not likely make the first move.
In May last year, Bernama reported that several Mara board directors and executives, headed by its chairperson Annuar Musa (photo) were in Melbourne to inspect two properties Mara had acquire, at a cost of about A$60 million, to house its students.
The 12-storey building at 746, Swanston Street, minutes away from the University of Melbourne and RMIT University, has 281 apartments, while the five-storey Dudley International House in the suburb of Caulfield, will accommodate 113 Mara students attending Monash University. The Swanston Street building was formerly a hostel for nurses.
Mara had more than 1,000 students in Australia with 309 based in melbourne and more than 500 in Sydney.
The Bernama report also said executives from UEM Sunrise Berhad, one of Malaysia's largest property developers and an arm of UEM Group Berhad, which is owned by Khazanah Nasional Berhad, were also in Melbourne to negotiate the development of two prime land parcels it had acquired in Melbourne's CBD, in LaTrobe Street and MacKenzie Street.
Led by UEM managing director, Izzaddin Idris, they met the Victorian State Planning Minister Matthew Guy, Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle and Malaysian-born Ken Ong, head of the Melbourne City Council planning committee, to brief them on the projects.
Majlis Amanah Rakyat chairman Annuar Musa said Mara had conducted an internal probe into Mara Inc, about two months before Australian paper The Age reported on its controversial investment in Melbourne.
"We regard the news article in The Age as further information to help in their probe. We will cooperate with the authorities investigating the case and will leave no stone unturned," Annuar told a press conference on Wednesday.
He, however, did not say anything about those named in the 'scandal' - as to whether they are still on their respective chair or 'on holiday' pending investigations.
Annuar only said the purchase of Dudley House in Melbourne was according to procedure and the National Economic Council was aware of it.
"We are not aware of claims that the value of the property had been inflated or claims that officials had received kickbacks. Mara Inc officials have been given seven days to response to the allegations in writing..."Well, anti-climax! He could have easily said this to the media yesterday!
Meanwhile, former minister Zaid Ibrahim waded into the Mara scandal today, asking for a probe into the dodgy deal the latter made in Melbourne that involves millions.
The deal, as reported by The Age, said that Malaysian officials, acting on behalf of Mara, overpaid by some RM13.7 million for a five-storey apartment block near Monash University that they purchased.
Describing it as a “heist” more than a deal, Zaid said an investigation should be called for immediately to get to the bottom of it although he implied that Mara itself would not likely make the first move.
“Mara Chairman (Annuar Musa) to probe Melbourne heist? That’s like asking Najib (Razak) to probe 1MDB”, he said cynically likening this latest scandal to that of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) that has been raging on for months now.Calling on reputable auditors to be brought in to start investigations, he said, “The right thing to do is to appoint Ernest (sic) Young/PWC to investigate”.
In May last year, Bernama reported that several Mara board directors and executives, headed by its chairperson Annuar Musa (photo) were in Melbourne to inspect two properties Mara had acquire, at a cost of about A$60 million, to house its students.
The 12-storey building at 746, Swanston Street, minutes away from the University of Melbourne and RMIT University, has 281 apartments, while the five-storey Dudley International House in the suburb of Caulfield, will accommodate 113 Mara students attending Monash University. The Swanston Street building was formerly a hostel for nurses.
Mara had more than 1,000 students in Australia with 309 based in melbourne and more than 500 in Sydney.
The Bernama report also said executives from UEM Sunrise Berhad, one of Malaysia's largest property developers and an arm of UEM Group Berhad, which is owned by Khazanah Nasional Berhad, were also in Melbourne to negotiate the development of two prime land parcels it had acquired in Melbourne's CBD, in LaTrobe Street and MacKenzie Street.
Led by UEM managing director, Izzaddin Idris, they met the Victorian State Planning Minister Matthew Guy, Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle and Malaysian-born Ken Ong, head of the Melbourne City Council planning committee, to brief them on the projects.