Pamela Ling still missing but court to hear today her bid to challenge MACC's actions
Singaporean Pamela Ling disappeared on April 9, 2025 while on her way to the MACC office to assist in investigations related to a money laundering case. – File photo
KUALA LUMPUR (May 19): Sarawak-born Datin Seri Pamela Ling Yueh has been missing for more than a month now, but her lawyers will still go on today with her court bid to challenge her previous arrest and travel ban by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Just two days before her disappearance, Ling on April 7 filed her court challenge at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur against the MACC and the Immigration director-general.
In a nutshell, Ling wants the court to cancel the arrest warrant used by MACC in her January 8 arrest; to be allowed to leave Malaysia to care for her three children in Singapore; and is claiming for at least around RM137,000 as compensation.
Here are the five specific court orders that Ling is seeking in her court case:
1. To quash the December 2, 2024 arrest warrant — issued by the Johor Bahru Magistrates Court — against her.
2. A declaration that MACC does not have powers to directly or indirectly prohibit a person from leaving Malaysia (except in the way stated in the MACC Act's Section 44 and the anti-money laundering law's Section 44(4) )
3. To order MACC to return her mobile phone to her;
4. An order to compel the Immigration director-general to allow her to leave Malaysia;
5. An order for compensation – For expenses spent up to the day of filing of court challenge: Two sums of S$20,401.14 (equivalent to around RM67,000) and RM70,000, or any part of these amounts;- For expenses for the period between lawsuit filing up to decision date, and general, exemplary or punitive damages: To ask the court to decide the amount payable.
As Ling's lawsuit was filed as a judicial review application, she will first have to get the court's leave or permission for her actual lawsuit to be heard.
High Court judge Datuk Amarjeet Singh Serjit Singh is scheduled to hear her application for leave for judicial review this morning.
The Attorney General's Chambers is expected to object to only Ling's bid to have the arrest warrant quashed through this lawsuit.
Pamela Ling is seeking general damages for MACC's alleged unlawful arrest and detention of her during January 8 to January 11, and alleged emotional and psychological distress due to those actions and being allegedly unlawfully separated from her children who she said needs her care. – Malay Mail photo
What Ling is asserting in her court challenge
Ling and Sarawakian businessman Datuk Seri Thomas Hah Tiing Siu, who will both turn 42 and 56 this year, had been married for more than 20 years.
Ling was living in Singapore with their three children, while Hah is based in Malaysia.
The eldest child aged 20 and diagnosed with autism undergoes treatment in Singapore for a rare medical life-threatening condition known as hereditary angioedema, while another child aged 18 diagnosed with dyslexia also undergoes treatment there.
Ling had in August 2023 filed for divorce in Singapore while Hah had in December 2023 filed for divorce in Malaysia.
Based on court papers, Ling detailed multiple events, including MACC's obtaining of an arrest warrant on December 2, 2024, over her failure to comply with the agency's October 29, 2024 order to appear at its Johor Bahru office the next day for investigations into a case.
The investigations were for a case involving her father's business, which he said in court documents had been resolved after his late November 2024 payment of a compound sum offered by MACC.
In lengthy court documents, Ling asserts that the MACC's October 2024 order was not served according to the law, and that she had not wished to accept the order and had taken it under protest from an MACC officer without acknowledging service.
According to Ling, Singapore authorities on January 8 carried out the arrest warrant by taking her into custody in Singapore, before passing her to MACC officers at the Malaysia-Singapore immigration checkpoint the same day.
On January 8, Ling said she was in handcuffs when taken to MACC's Johor Bahru offices and confined, and remained in handcuffs when she was brought to MACC's Putrajaya headquarters and was kept in the MACC lock-up overnight.
Ling said she was then remanded or further detained for three days from January 9 to January 11 to assist in the MACC's investigations, and that MACC seized her phone and recorded her statement.
She was released from remand on January 11, with the MACC requiring her to pay RM35,000 as deposit and to report every month to MACC until investigation ends.
Apart from reporting to MACC every month, Ling said she had presented herself to the MACC to have her statement recorded on January 13, 15, 17, 22, 24, 27 and February 12.
Ling claims that she had shown up at MACC's office on January 24 and was waiting to have her statement taken, when her husband allegedly approached her and claimed to have been told by MACC officers that the two should settle matters between them.
Ling said she later found out that MACC had successfully obtained a travel ban on her since October 2024, but asserts that MACC had acted unlawfully in getting Malaysia's immigration authorities to stop her from leaving the country.
Ling asserts that immigration authorities had acted wrongfully and unlawfully by complying with MACC's alleged unlawful direction for the travel ban on her.
Ling said her criminal lawyers' January 24 letter to request that she be allowed to return to her children in Singapore received no response, while her same lawyers' February 14 letter with a similar request upon her eldest child's hospitalisation was refused by MACC.
She said there was no response to her civil lawyers' March 24 letter to MACC to request a lifting of the travel ban.
Among other things, Ling in her court documents expressed her belief that the actual purpose of her arrest, remand and travel ban was to pressure her to resolve with her husband on her claims, including on assets in their marriage and on his alleged forgery of her signature on a disputed July 2023 share transfer document.
Claiming that MACC had allegedly abused its powers and acted beyond the powers it had under the laws, Ling asserted that MACC had no legal basis to apply for the arrest warrant and the remand order or to impose conditions on her January 11 release from remand.
The expenses she is seeking to claim in her court challenge include her hotel stays since there is a travel restriction on her, and the RM70,000 she has so far paid to criminal lawyers for matters such as opposing the remand application and to deal with the MACC.
She is also seeking general damages for MACC's alleged unlawful arrest and detention of her during January 8 to January 11, and alleged emotional and psychological distress due to those actions and being allegedly unlawfully separated from her children who she said needs her care.
She claims to have been denied her constitutional rights to liberty and equal protection of the law under the Federal Constitution's Article 5(1) and Article 8(1) respectively.
April 9 disappearance en route to MACC
Ling disappeared on April 9 after her e-hailing ride to MACC was intercepted by unknown individuals in several vehicles, and remains missing with no ransom demands made.
The police are currently investigating her disappearance as a missing persons case, and have so far recorded the statements of 27 individuals. Court MACC Pamela Ling Yueh
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Eateries fear losing customers over commercial LPG costs, says association
Credit- LOW BOON TAT/The Star PETALING JAYA: Consumers will inevitably bear the brunt if food operators are forced to use commercial liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in their operations, says a coffeeshop association. 'We do not want to pass down any costs as it does not solve any problems. 'At the end of the day, we will lose customers. Consumers will eat out less due to smaller spending power and ultimately, the impact comes back to us,' said Petaling Jaya Coffeeshop Association president Keu Kok Meng. He said the price of a bowl of noodles could increase by slightly more than RM1, when factoring in the cost of commercially priced gas cylinders. One subsidised LPG gas cylinder costs RM26 while the commercial variation is priced at RM70, marking an almost three times increase in cost. Citing the example of a stall selling prawn noodles, which uses two subsidised gas cylinders a day, costing a total of RM54, Keu said switching to commercial gas would increase the daily cost to RM140 daily. 'Lets say the stall sells 70 bowls of noodles a day, the price of a bowl may go up by slightly more than RM1. 'Passing down this cost will also not solve anything. 'It's been a tough time for hawkers. The best is to just allow the status quo. 'However, if enforcement under Ops Gasak does go ahead, an acceptable solution would be to allow stalls to have at least three subsidised gas cylinders visible on site,' he told a press conference on Tuesday (June 3). It was also attended by Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung. Keu said they had written to various stakeholders on this issue, including the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) and MPs, including MCA leaders. This comes after the ministry launched Ops Gasak, taking place from May 1 to Oct 31, to look into the misuse of subsidised LPG. MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong has been vocal on this issue, urging for hawkers to be given a clear assurance that they can continue using subsidised LPG so that food prices will not be raised. While the ministry previously said current enforcement measures only comprised advocacy, Keu claimed there was already action taken against a premises in Setia Alam, Selangor. 'It was extremely frightening when we heard about the seizures made. Imagine there are enforcement officers coming into the shop and say the Ops Gasak has begun, then asking for a permit,' he said, urging for more clarity on what this permit meant. 'Currently, we are clear on the permit which will allow users to store more than three cylinders but there is a grey area on whether these three cylinders can be used by the same party,' he said. MP Lee said he had sought for clarification on the matter from Selangor KPDN and said he will continue to help hawkers on this. He also proposed for the ministry to consult stakeholders like food courts, restaurants and coffeeshop operators as well as MPs before implementing such measures.
Borneo Post
2 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Govt urged to reconsider mandatory stamp duty on employment contracts
Tan KOTA KINABALU (June 3): The Sabah Association of Professional Accountants (SAPA) expresses concern over the recent directive by the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN Malaysia) requiring all employment contracts to be stamped in accordance with the Stamp Act 1949. 'While we recognise the importance of legal compliance and revenue collection, SAPA calls on the government to urgently consider exemptions or threshold limits, especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs),' said its president, Datuk Tan Kok Liang. He said this policy places additional administrative and financial burdens on businesses — particularly in Sabah, where operating costs are already higher due to logistics, geographic challenges, and a more constrained labour market. 'The move to enforce stamp duty on all employment contracts, regardless of salary level or business size, risks creating unintended pressure on SMEs,' he said in a statement on Tuesday. The key concerns are as follows: Disproportionate impact on SMEs: Unlike large corporations, small businesses operate on tight margins. A blanket enforcement adds to compliance costs without proportional benefit. Administrative Burden: The need to process, submit and pay for stamp duty on every employment contract creates extra red tape, especially for businesses with high staff turnover or seasonal employment. Impact on formalised contracts: Over-regulation in the hiring process may discourage small businesses from formalising contracts thus placing employees in rural and semi-urban Sabah into vulnerable position. SAPA's recommendations: Introduce a Threshold Limit: Exempt employment contracts for positions with monthly salaries below a reasonable threshold (e.g. RM4,000), in line with many other tax relief measures. Provide Full or Partial Exemption for Micro and Small Enterprises: Particularly those with annual revenue below RM500,000 or fewer than 10 employees. Phase Implementation with Outreach: This includes sufficient time to meet up with the new requirements and a new implementation date of 1 January 2026 and approach with education and support will ease compliance. SAPA strongly urges the Ministry of Finance and the Inland Revenue Board to engage with industry stakeholders in Sabah and other less-developed states before blanket implementation. Public policy must consider regional disparities, business realities, and the broader objective of stimulating employment and economic growth. 'We are confident that with constructive dialogue, a balanced policy solution can be achieved that protects both the interests of the government and the resilience of our local business community,' said Tan. He added the Stamp Act must be modernised to reflect current practical realities rather than remaining rooted in outdated and regressive approaches. While its original intent and purpose — to provide legal certainty and protect the interests of contracting parties — remain important, these objectives must be interpreted in the proper context. The Act should not be used in a manner that causes undue inconvenience or serves merely as a revenue-generating tool. In the case of employment contracts, for instance, such agreements have long been executed and honored by both employers and employees without issue. This consistent practice demonstrates mutual respect and understanding of contractual obligations, regardless of whether the documents were stamped. Insisting on strict adherence to outdated requirements, especially where there is no dispute between parties, undermines the spirit of the law and creates unnecessary administrative burdens, he pointed out. 'It is time for a balanced approach — one that preserves the protective function of the Stamp Act but updates its application to align with modern business practices and realities' he said. Previous Article UMS water supply sufficient, says Shahelmey
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Bella', seven others change pleas to not guilty in criminal intimidation
JOHOR BAHRU: Eight individuals, including a woman known as 'Bella' who went viral on social media, changed their pleas from guilty to not guilty at the Magistrate's Court here today on charges of criminal intimidation by issuing death threats, extortion, and wrongfully confining a man in a house in Plentong last April. Muhammad Aqmal Hafifi Mustafa Kamal, 25; Ahmad Rushdi Jumadi, 23; Muhammad Nur Shafiq Abdullah, 25; Muhammad Haikal Zulkarnain, 19; Mohamad Amierul Hakim Shamsuri, 23; Mohamad Danish Hakim Kamaruddin, 20; Syamsul Hamiziey Saiful Razali, 19; and Nuredrianna Balqqisyh Anabella Norazman, 22, made the plea change after the three charges were read out to them again before Magistrate A Shaarmini today. On April 25, all of them had pleaded guilty before Magistrate Atifah Hazimah Wahab to the three charges. Under the first charge, they were jointly charged with criminal intimidation by issuing death threats against Muhammad Faris Syahmi Mohd Ridzwan, 22. For the second charge, they, along with two others still at large, were charged with committing extortion by causing fear to Muhammad Faris Syahmi, specifically by threatening not to stop assaulting the victim until he paid RM3,000. They were also charged with extorting Muhammad Faris Syahmi by continuously assaulting him and refusing to release him, thereby inducing the victim to hand over RM650 via an e-wallet account and a Yamaha Y16 motorcycle key to Mohamad Amierul Hakim. For the third charge, all the accused, along with the two others still at large, were jointly charged with wrongfully confining the victim. In separate proceedings before Magistrate Nur Fatin Mohamad Farid, the seven men also changed their pleas to not guilty on a fourth charge of voluntarily causing hurt to the same victim, along with one other accomplice still at large. All the alleged offences were committed in a flat in Plentong, Masai, here, between 10 pm and 4 am, from April 18 to 19. The first three charges are framed under Sections 506, 384 and 342 of the Penal Code respectively, while the fourth charge is under Section 323 of the same Code. The offences carry penalties of imprisonment for up to 10 years, or a fine, or both, upon conviction. Accused Syamsul Hamiziey was represented by counsel Nurul Nadia Yunos; Mohamad Amierul Hakim by counsel T Haressh; while Muhammad Aqmal Hafifi and Ahmad Rushdi Jumadi were represented by counsel Khairulazwad Sariman and Syahmi Nawawi respectively. The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutors Nik Noratini Nik Azman and Nur Fatihah Mohd Nizam. The Court fixed July 17 for the next mention of the case, submission of documents, and for the accused who are not yet represented to appoint counsel.
