theStar: Mei Fun quits Pempena post

Thursday January 1, 2009 (the Star On Line)

PETALING JAYA: Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun has resigned as executive chairman of Pempena Sdn Bhd.

Chew said her resignation was to make way for the management of Tourism Malaysia, the holding company of Pempena, to move the company forward.

“I have completed the first phase of organisational restructuring,” she wrote in her blog Chew Mei Fun (http://chewmeifun.blogspot.com) at 11.30am yesterday.

The second phase would require a longer period, Chew said, and noted that her positions in MCA and Pempena required both time and dedication.

“With my appointment as MCA Wanita Chief two months ago, I have discovered that both MCA Wanita and Pempena require my dedicated time,” she said, adding that she also needed to devote time to rebuilding the party.

She thanked Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, the company’s board and staff for their support and assistance when she was with Pempena.

“I hope the company will move forward as soon as possible, and will again excel and be a catalyst for the tourism industry,” she added.

Chew was appointed executive director of Pempena on May 2 last year and executive chairman on Oct 1.

On Nov 19 last year, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang lodged a police report against Pempena and the ministry for alleged fraud, criminal breach of trust and abuse of power.

Azalina said in Parliament on Nov 3 that Pempena had been involved in dubious deals and had made bad decisions on investments.

The ministry appoin­­ted PricewaterhouseCoopers to audit Pempena and found that only a few of its 24 companies had showed profits. The audit firm has since wrapped up its report.