Koperasi Jayadiri Malaysia Berhad (Kojadi) chairman Ng Peng Hay has also resigned as an MCA member as a sign of protest.
In a statement today, Ng said Kojadi received a “financial grant” of RM15 million from Yayasan 1MDB in 2012 to implement a socio-economic micro-credit scheme called Kojadi Micro Credit Scheme for Youths.
He said the grant has since been fully disbursed to 1,264 small enterprises under the scheme, while RM1.72 million was written off as “bad debts”, RM1.03 million paid off as tax, and RM8.06 million still held in cash.
“In the light of MACC’s announcement of the civil forfeiture list of 41 names last week and numerous statements in the press that there will be more civil forfeiture against those who had received 1MDB money, I called for an emergency board meeting yesterday,” he said.
“In view of the RM15 million financial grant from Yayasan 1MDB, I tabled a proposal to the board meeting to return the aforesaid financial grant from Yayasan 1MDB.
“My intention was to safeguard the interests of Kojadi, its 60,000 members and staff as any civil forfeiture process against Kojadi could adversely impact the operation of Kojadi and affect its 60,000 members and the livelihood of over 50 staff,” he added.
Ng said the board directed him to meet with the anti-graft body today to clarify the cooperative’s position and seek its direction and guidance.
“However, before I could secure an appointment with MACC, the president of MCA issued an instruction to all directors of Kojadi via social media to stop this meeting with MACC and to meet with party leaders on July 1 or 2 (to be confirmed).”
Ng said he objects to what he said was “interference” by Wee in the day-to-day management of Kojadi.
“I will call for another emergency board meeting of Kojadi to re-table my proposal to refund the financial grant from Yayasan 1MDB,” he added.
When contacted, Wee said he will issue a statement on the matter soon.
The cooperative was set up by MCA in 1981 to provide educational loans for students to pursue higher education.
Wanita MCA, Pahang MCA and several Umno chapters are among those named in MACC’s forfeiture suits to return funds said to have been allegedly given to them by former prime minister Najib Razak from 1MDB.
The MACC is allowing the individuals concerned to return the money voluntarily to avoid further prosecution.