𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐀𝐂𝐂 𝐄𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐦𝐚 ~ 𝐓. 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐬𝐡'𝐬 "𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧" 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐧

𝐵𝑦 𝐴𝑛𝑛𝑖𝑒 𝑃𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑙

KUALA LUMPUR - Amidst a swirl of media engagements, the recent spotlight on The Star Media Group @staronline has revived several lingering questions surrounding its senior leadership.

On May 31, 2017, the New Straits Times @NST_Online revealed an intriguing case where the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) @SPRMMalaysia obtained a six-day remand order against T. Prakash, an assistant manager in The Star's editorial department.

Prakash was alleged to have solicited RM70,000 from a VIP under investigation by the MACC, asserting ties with someone within the commission who could quash the case.

By the time of his arrest in Kuala Lumpur, he was found in possession of approximately RM20,000 cash.

The incident has raised pointed questions about how such dealings could go unnoticed at the MCA-owned The Star, especially under the watchful eye of its senior figure, Wong Chun Wai @chunwai09.

Of particular note is an infographic released by Bernama @bernamadotcom very late last night, that details Chun Wai's 2009 appointment as an "ADVISOR" to the MACC, a position conferred shortly after Najib Razak assumed the role of Prime Minister.

Given such a designation, eyebrows are raised ~ what role does a media group editor play when concurrently serving as a digital media agency consultant, potentially through familial proxies, as evidenced by affiliations with Howling Wolf Digital Media and (allegedly run by his wife Florence Teh) Adrenaline Communications Sdn Bhd?

Moreover, why serve as an advisor to Malaysia's primary anti-corruption body?

Was this a political appointment by @NajibRazak? @chunwai09 should come clean about how and why he got the job soon after Najib became PM.

These unfolding intricacies paint corruption-adjacent Wong Chun Wai as operating in close proximity to allegations of corruption.

Connections to the Petrosaudi scandal, the mammoth 1MDB controversy, and interactions with figures deeply entrenched in fraud and money laundering all hint at a perplexing confluence of interests.

The T. Prakash episode, which strangely evanesced from the Malaysian media after the initial coverage, further muddies the waters.

It raises critical concerns.

Could Prakash have functioned as a conduit for 'facilitating' matters at the MACC?

The identity and role of Prakash's alleged 'inside contact' are crucial not just for the MACC's credibility, but also for understanding the broader landscape of power dynamics within Malaysian institutions.

If Prakash’s claims are founded, who is this individual with such influential reach inside the commission?

Is this person still active within the MACC?

More fundamentally, how could such covert liaisons persist without the knowledge, or perhaps even tacit endorsement, of other senior figures in both the media group and the commission?

And where does @chunwai09 fit into this puzzle?

Wong Chun Wai now begins his tenure at Bernama, but questions loom large.

His overlapping roles in media, consultancy, and the anti-corruption body provide a labyrinthine backdrop against which these recent events are set.

It's imperative to discern if Wong, given his myriad affiliations, had any inkling about the 'inside man' in MACC or any role in facilitating or curtailing such liaisons.

Is his role now to orchestrate narratives across media outlets, dictating which stories see the light of day and which remain shrouded in obscurity?

Only time, and a thorough investigation, will tell.

The significance of these revelations transcends mere institutional integrity.

They touch upon public trust, the credibility of watchdog institutions, and the role of the fourth estate in safeguarding democratic norms.

The Malaysian public, and indeed the global community, await clear answers, hoping that the shadows surrounding these allegations can be dispelled, restoring faith in the institutions designed to protect them.

Certainly, @fahmi_fadzil has a lot of questions to answer about corruption-adjacent Wong Chun Wai @chunwai09.