KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: An allegation against Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim, a former Malaysian deputy minister, recently resurfaced, accusing her of involvement in the development of Dongmei Park, an alleged transnational crime hub, during her visit to Karen State, Myanmar, in 2020.

The Malaysian police have confirmed that an investigation into the allegation is underway.

According to Malaysian media outlet The Star, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain confirmed that Dr Mashitah visited Myanmar at that time “for a real estate investment matter in Myawaddy.”

“We were able to check and confirm it. This is after recording her statement last week,” he said when contacted by The Star on 3 September.

Comm Mohd Shuhaily added that the CID is continuing its investigation into allegations of human trafficking involving Malaysians in Myanmar.

“We have also recorded the statement of an individual with a Datuk Seri title in relation to the same case,” he said, noting that statements have been taken from five individuals, including Dr Mashitah.

The issue was first raised in May this year by a civil society group called Justice for Myanmar, which alleged that Malaysians played a significant role in the Yatai New City and Dongmei Park projects, linked to the Myanmar junta-allied Karen Border Guard Force, now rebranded as the Karen National Army.

According to JFM, Dr Mashitah and her husband, Datuk Abdul Shakor Abu Bakar, allegedly joined a contingent of prominent Malaysians to launch the Dongmei Park project, which it described as “a cyber scam park.”

Dr Mashitah served as Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department from 2008 to 2013, while her husband, Abdul Shakor, is a former diplomat who was previously stationed in Egypt.

The matter gained renewed attention when the Malaysian International Humanitarian Organisation (MHO) called for an investigation into Dr Mashitah’s involvement with the developer Dongmei Group on 28 August.

MHO cited a YouTube video by the Indonesian investigative news outlet Deduktif, which highlighted issues of human trafficking in Myanmar.

Dr Mashitah Refutes Allegations, Says 2020 Myanmar Trip Was for Event Attendance

However, on Tuesday, Dr Mashitah denied the allegations, asserting that her visit to Myanmar was solely for attending an event as a guest.

In an interview with media outlet Kosmo!, the former  explained that she and her husband were invited to a groundbreaking ceremony in Myanmar by their friend, Datuk Seri Leong Kee Huat.

She clarified that it was an international event and that Leong had asked her husband to deliver an English speech at the ceremony.

Dr Mashitah also refuted claims that photos showing her with alleged gangsters were actually images of her with security personnel at the project site.

She noted that it was common to encounter armed security personnel in Myanmar due to the country’s military junta rule.

Dr Mashitah emphasized that she and her husband only knew Leong and had no business dealings with anyone else at the event.

She has since filed a police report and provided her statement to the authorities.

Wan Kuok-koi, Former 14K Triad Leader Known as Broken Tooth, Is a Principal Investor in Dongmei Park

Separately, Justice for Myanmar (JFM) welcomed the Malaysian authorities’ investigation into Dr Mashitah and her husband in a statement released on 29 August.

“We urge the police to conduct a swift investigation into Mashitah Ibrahim and Abdul Shakor, as well as all other Malaysian nationals involved in cyber scam parks in Myanmar, and to hold them accountable under the law. ”

JFM highlighted that Dongmei Park, formerly known as Saixigang Industrial Park, is operated with trafficked labor subjected to forced criminality, torture, and extortion.

Tight security measures, including watchtowers and guards in military uniforms stationed at the main gate, prevent captives from escaping.

Despite Dr Mashitah’s denial of the allegations, JFM pointed out that substantial evidence linking the couple to Dongmei Park can be found in past posts on Mashitah Ibrahim’s own Facebook page. In one post, she referred to herself as an “iron lady” for the project.

One of the principal investors in Dongmei Park is Wan Kuok-koi, also known as Broken Tooth or Yin Gouju, a former leader of the 14K Triad, a major Chinese transnational criminal organization.

Wan Kuok-koi was sanctioned by the USA in 2020.

Dongmei Group, which includes the Hong Kong-registered Dongmei Investment Group Company Limited, is also sanctioned by the USA.

The company has two Malaysian directors and shareholders: Abdul Shakor bin Abu Bakar (who shares a similar name with Dr Mashitah’s husband) and Yong Mun Hong.

On social media platform X, JFM also shared a video of a person resembling Abdul Shakor delivering a speech in English during the 2020 Dongmei Park groundbreaking ceremony.

Wan Kuok-koi set up the Dongmei Park venture w/ well-connected Malaysians including Dato Dr Mashitah Ibrahim, her husband, Datuk Abdul Shakor bin Abu Bakar, Yong Mun Hong & Dato Sri Liong Kee Huat

Datuk Abdul Shakor bin Abu Bakar spoke at the park’s foundation laying ceremony 4/ pic.twitter.com/09ZEsSzwS4

— Justice For Myanmar (@JusticeMyanmar) June 20, 2024

JFM spokesperson Yadanar Maung urged Malaysia to demonstrate to the people of Myanmar and the region that it will not tolerate the involvement of its citizens in human trafficking and cyber slavery.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES: Alice Leal Guo, a fugitive and former mayor in the Philippines accused of having links to Chinese criminal syndicates, has been arrested in Indonesia, the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Wednesday (4 September).

Alice, also known by her Chinese name Guo Hua Ping, is wanted by the Philippine Senate for refusing to attend a senate inquiry into her alleged criminal connections.

According to Senior Superintendent Audie Latuheru of the Indonesian Police, Guo was apprehended at 11:58 p.m.  in Tangerang city in Jakarta on Tuesday (3 September).

“This development has been confirmed by our Immigration counterparts, who have verified that Ms. Guo is currently in the custody of the Indonesian Police at Jatanras Mabes Polri,” the statement read.

In a separate Facebook post, Senator Risa Hontiveros also confirmed Guo’s arrest in Indonesia, expressing gratitude to the Indonesian authorities.

Hontiveros, who chairs a Senate Committee, said she expects Guo to face the Senate hearing soon.

“We appreciate the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) commitment to hand her over to the Senate after she has been processed,” she said, adding that the Senate will hold accountable anyone who aided in Guo’s escape.

Last month, Philippine law enforcement agencies, including the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), jointly filed multiple counts of money laundering against Guo and 35 others before the DOJ.

Guo and her co-conspirators were accused of laundered over 100 million pesos (US$1.8 million) in proceeds from criminal activities.

Guo, who was removed from her position as mayor of Bamban town in Tarlac province, fled the country in July.

She traveled to Malaysia and Singapore before eventually reaching Indonesia in August, using her Philippine passport.

During a hearing on 27 August, her sister, Sheila Guo, revealed that she, Alice, and their brother Wesley used three different boats to escape from the Philippines to Sabah, Malaysia.

Earlier, on 21 August, Sheila and Guo’s business associate, Cassandra Li Ong, were arrested in Batam, Indonesia, while attempting to return to Singapore. They were subsequently deported to the Philippines the following day.

On 19 August, Senator Risa Hontiveros first disclosed that Alice Guo might have already fled the Philippines in July. She noted that the 38-year-old had traveled to Singapore to meet her parents, Lin Wen Yi (林文怡) and Guo Jianjiang (郭建奖).

Hontiveros also revealed that Zhang Jie, a Singaporean citizen, assisted ex-mayor Alice Guo’s group by booking their hotel in Batam.

Zhang Jie was identified as the former president of Lucky South 99, an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga. Lucky South 99, a previously licensed POGO, was raided in June, with several alleged crimes, including torture, reported at the site.

Alice Guo Accused of Supporting Illicit Activities

When Alice Guo was elected as the mayor of Bamban, her family in China published a congratulatory message: “Ms. Alice Leal GUO, also known as Guo Huaping, the daughter of Mr Guo Jianjiang of Chaodai Village, Jinjing Town, Jinjiang City, Fujian Province, was elected Mayor of Bamban, Tarlac Province, Philippines, on May 9, 2022, becoming the city’s first female mayor.”

ALARMING! Is the country infiltrated by Chinese Militias and Sleeper Agents?@senatePH @HouseofRepsPH
How did we end in this dangerous situation? pic.twitter.com/Elaxyeo8SW

— Ricky S (@saudiboy2) May 11, 2024

Since May 2024, she has been under investigation for her alleged involvement in illegal scam operations.

Guo faced accusations of backing a POGO hub in Bamban that was raided last March, where authorities uncovered evidence of human trafficking, illegal detention, physical abuse, and torture.

Guo is also allegedly connected to Fujian-born individuals Zhang Ruijin and Lin Baoying, both convicted in Singapore’s S$3 billion money laundering case.

On 13 July, the Senate ordered Guo’s arrest along with some family members after she failed to appear twice for hearings related to the scam centres. However, she has since gone missing.

Guo earlier denied allegations of criminal connections, asserting that she had no ties to or knowledge of illegal Pogo operations.