KUALA LUMPUR – Former deputy religious minister Datuk Mashitah Ibrahim has lodged a police report in response to allegations linking her to organised crime activities in Myanmar, including human trafficking.
Mashitah strongly denied the “baseless” accusations, asserting that she would not hesitate to pursue legal action against those attempting to defame her and tarnish her reputation.
She specifically criticised the Malaysian International Humanitarian Organisation (MHO), which had filed a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday, urging an investigation into claims of a politician and her husband’s involvement with Myanmar-based scam operations.
In a Facebook post this morning, Mashitah accused the MHO of “cherry-picking” media reports.
“Alhamdulillah, I adhere to Islamic teachings and am not involved in any activities that contravene my religion or Malaysian law,” she added.
Mashitah also shared a photo of herself and her husband alongside two police officers outside Bukit Aman’s D3 Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Division.
MHO had declined to reveal to the press the names of Malaysian figures named in their report to the MACC, merely hinting that the politician had served as a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department under Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s administration.
Earlier today, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain confirmed that investigations are ongoing into a former deputy minister and her husband regarding allegations of their involvement in Myanmar-based human trafficking.
Addressing a press conference at the Kelantan police headquarters, Razarudin disclosed that the police had recorded statements from both the politician and her husband last month.
Previously, Scoop reported on Malaysia’s apparent ties with Dongmei Zone, a heavily guarded site in Myawaddy, Myanmar said to be rife with criminal activities, illicit drugs, and brothels allegedly linked with prominent Malaysian figures as investors.
It is believed that Malaysia’s involvement in the project may be through Grand Commerce Network Sdn Bhd, a decade-old company jointly owned by Mashitah and her husband, former diplomatic officer Datuk Abdul Shakor Abu Bakar.
According to details surrounding a March 2020 event at the JW Marriott Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, which hosted a launch event and investor appreciation night for the Saixigang Industrial Park – Dongmei Zone’s former name – Mashitah and Shakor were the sole directors and shareholders of Grand Commerce Network, with an 85% and 15% stake, respectively, as revealed by Companies Commission documents sighted by Scoop.
Mashitah had labelled herself as an “iron lady” for the project, spearheaded by Hong Kong company Dongmei Investment Group Ltd, in a caption for her Facebook post of the event.
Other photos shared by Mashitah show her and her husband standing alongside convicted Macau mob boss Wan Kuok-koi, also known as Broken Tooth, as well as former Malaysian fugitive Nicky Liow, who was charged with 26 counts of money laundering in April 2022.
Another Facebook post by Mashitah in February 2020 included a picture and video of Shakor delivering a speech at an event in Myanmar, understood to be the foundation-laying ceremony for Dongmei Zone, where armed militia members provided security.
Justice for Myanmar, a human rights group investigating organised crime activities in Myanmar, considers the presence of armed militia, identified as Karen National Army soldiers, at the event as evidence of the militia’s involvement in the zone. – August 29, 2024
