Minister caught in Malaysia’s ‘corporate mafia’ saga denies US$2.4 million bribe claim

A Malaysian minister on Wednesday denied he was the unnamed politician at the centre of fresh allegations in the country’s so-called corporate mafia controversy, amid wide speculation over the individual’s identity.Ramanan Ramakrishnan, human resource minister, and vice-president of the ruling People’s Justice Party (PKR), rejected claims he had taken 9.5 million ringgit (US$2.4 million) in exchange for “helping resolve” the alleged matter.The controversy gained traction following news reports in February that a group of businessmen and their government cronies were colluding to seize control of companies.The latest allegation came from Malaysian businessman Victor Chin Boon Long, who released a 40-page chronology and a separate statement this week claiming that a PKR member of parliament asked him on October 18 last year to arrange 10 million ringgit in cash in exchange for speaking to the supposed “corporate mafia”.Chin, who was previously tied to that alleged network, now says he was in fact a victim of the same mafia scheme.Chin said he managed to provide 9.5 million ringgit, but the remaining 500,000 ringgit was never handed over because the promised resolution did not materialise. He did not publicly name the lawmaker in the documents, but referred to “Mr R” and several other initials.