Thread by @JusticeMyanmar

🧵 Cyber scam park Dongmei Park in #Myanmar, linked to Karen BGF/KNA, was built w/ involvement of Malaysian citizens, incl. a fmr Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department & @umnoonline senator, Dato Dr Mashitah Ibrahim & her husband, Datuk Abdul Shakor bin Abu Bakar ⬇️

The horrific conditions in the park were exposed in a 2023 @nytimes article featuring a Chinese man nicknamed Neo who was trafficked, confined for 7 mths and forced to work on cryptocurrency scams for a Chinese criminal gang in Dongmei.
@QianIsabelle 1/📰 nyti.ms/3KMAQBY

One of the main investors in Dongmei Park is Wan Kuok-koi 📸 ⬇️ (also known as Broken Tooth, Yin Gouju) a former leader of the 14K Triad, a major Chinese criminal org who is wanted by Malaysian police. In 2020 he was sanctioned by USA to mark International Anti-Corruption Day. 2/

The US Treasury announcement noted that Wan Kuok-koi's World Hongmen History and Culture Association “is spreading across Southeast Asia” and described it as being utilised by the 14K Triad “as an effort to legitimize itself”. 3/ home.treasury.gov/news/press-rel…

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/

Dr Mashitah Ibrahim has continued to play an active role in UMNO after she began her association w/ Wan Kuok-koi & Dongmei Group, running in the 2022 election as candidate for federal constituency of Kuala Kedah (she lost)

📸 with current Malaysian Foreign Minister @tokmatn9 5/

Datuk Abdul Shakor bin Abu Bakar is a former Malaysian diplomat who was formerly stationed in Egypt. 6/

Dongmei Group has a registered biz in Hong Kong, the US-sanctioned Dongmei Investment Group Company Limited, with 2 Malaysian directors & shareholders: Datuk Abdul Shakor bin Abu Bakar & Yong Mun Hong. 7/

Though not listed as a director or shareholder on the Hong Kong corporate registry, Sri Liong Kee Huat has identified himself as a founder of Dongmei Group. 8/

Dongmei Group is associated with Malaysian biz Grand Commerce Network Sdn Bhd, owned by Mashitah Ibrahim & Abdul Shakor bin Abu Bakar, with Ibrahim holding the controlling stake. Financial info shows no revenue from 2019-2023 & minimal transactions suggesting biz is dormant. 9/

Promotional materials describe plans for Dongmei Park to be a large-scale comprehensive park covering an area of 30,000 acres in Myawaddy with an entertainment zone, hotels and office blocks. 10/ bit.ly/4c1fLj6

Malaysians play a prominent role in Dongmei Park, as well as Yatai New City. Malaysia should investigate the involvement of their citizens, residents and biz perpetrating, enabling and benefiting from transnational crimes and human rights violations committed in Myanmar. 11/

For more details on the role of Malaysians and individuals and companies from other countries in the region, read our feature on the Karen Border Guard Force/Karen National Army's criminal business network. bit.ly/3V4GqFz