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Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
‘Privileged prisoner' Abdullah Ang dies at 79
Jailed tycoon Abdullah Ang pictured in Kuala Lumpur in 1989 when he should have been in prison. (Goh Seng Chong pic) PETALING JAYA : Abdullah Ang, a high-flying businessman who stirred controversy for receiving privileged treatment while in jail, has died at the age of 79. His death on Wednesday was reported by The Star, quoting his former legal adviser Selva Sugumaran as saying that Abdullah had fought a long battle with an illness which saw frequent hospital visits. His funeral will be held in Kuala Lumpur on June 2. Abdullah was the chief executive of the now-defunct Malaysian Overseas Investment Corporation when he was convicted of criminal breach of trust of some RM338,000 in 1986. He was sentenced to eight years in prison and a RM100,000 fine, and did his time in Kajang prison. However, the Malay Mail newspaper revealed in 1989 that Abdullah was able to roam freely outside prison and even had a carpeted prison cell equipped with a refrigerator, video player and waterbed. An investigative report by the newspaper led to Abdullah being pictured in Kuala Lumpur, where he was said to be helping run a family business, when he should have been at a prison-run orchid farm in Mantin, Negeri Sembilan. Former Malay Mail editor Salehuddin Othman said a special home ministry panel which investigated the matter blamed it on weaknesses in the prison system, while then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad ordered a shake-up of the prisons department to bring it along the lines of the national police structure.
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
Abdullah Ang, inmate who had water bed in Kajang Prison, has died
PETALING JAYA: Ang Swee Kang, a former managing director of the now-defunct Malaysian Overseas Investment Corporation who sparked national outrage in 1989 for receiving luxury and privileged treatment while jailed in Kajang Prison, has died. Better known as Abdullah Ang, 79, he breathed his last on Wednesday (May 28) after a long illness. Ang, who was sentenced to eight years' jail and fined RM100,000 in 1986 for criminal breach of trust involving over RM338,000, was embroiled in another scandal just three years later during incarceration when an English-language daily revealed he was receiving special treatment in Kajang prison. It was reported that unbefitting for a prisoner, Ang's cell Was furnished with a carpet, refrigerator, TV, video player and a water bed. The newspaper also revealed that investigations revealed Ang, who was said to be close to the then-prime minister Tun Mahathir Mohamed, also frequently left prison grounds to manage his business in Kuala Lumpur. This triggered public uproar over preferential treatment for wealthy or well-connected inmates. Soon after, several prison officials faced inquiries and a shake-up of the Prisons Department followed. Ang's former legal adviser, Selva Sugumaran, who worked for Ang for over 25 years, told The Star that the businessman had been unwell for eight years and was frequently hospitalised. He said Ang had ventured into business soon after his release from prison and ran a latex glove manufacturing company. Selva, 64, said he and Ang stayed in touch over the years until his demise on Wednesday. Ang's funeral is scheduled for this coming Monday (June 2) in Kuala Lumpur.
