Malaysian slot machine distributor RGB International Bhd has refuted charges that it funded political campaigns in the country or maintained any ownership stakes in slot clubs.
The newspaper Utusan Malaysia alleges that the company made anywhere from MYR6 million to MYR7 million (US$1.3 million and US$1.5 million) in contributions to political candidates. According to a September 2022 report on the website Focus Malaysia, the country doesn’t have a political financing act to regulate funding, cap donations, and obligate candidates and donors to disclose the sources of funding.
Despite the company’s denial, Free Malaysia Today reported that its managing director, Chuah Kim Seah, is now out on bail pending completion of a probe by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). In a filing, RGB said he is fully cooperating with MACC.
“The company wishes to highlight that the investigation has been largely focused on his private business related to slot clubs. RGB’s involvement in this investigation is solely related to the sale of machines to Malaysia’s slot clubs. The company wishes to stress that it has not and will not condone any form of ‘political funding’. The company’s directors have no links to any politician in the country.”
A report last week by Inside Asian Gaming said 13 people were arrested on suspicion of owning pieces of companies that supply slot machines, and named RGB as one of the companies involved. RGB countered that it “only does outright sale of gaming machines and its accessories and has no involvement or ownership in Malaysia’s slots clubs.”
RGB continued, “The company and its subsidiaries are highly regulated in the jurisdictions where the group operates. The group adopts a zero-tolerance approach towards bribery and corruption and upholds to the highest standard of compliance.”
It cited its anti-bribery and corruption policy, established in 2015, “which sets out the standards the company expects the directors, employees, agents, consultants, suppliers, vendors and any third-party intermediaries or representatives performing work or services for or on behalf of the group to comply with in conducting business.
“If any parties deviate from the company’s zero-tolerance approach, the company will take necessary action to protect the interest of its shareholders and all relevant stakeholders.”
According to Asia Gaming Brief, the company further said that it “had not and will not condone any forms of political funding”’ and is “offering their full cooperation” to the MACC investigation.
The company did not indicate if it would pursue legal action over the original incriminating article.
