Wong charged with holding top posts while a bankrupt
NST 16/6/2004 By A. Hafiz Yatim

MALACCA, June 15: Felda’s instant millionaires would remember Datuk Wong Akau well. Some would remember the houses they purchased through his company, Astana Strategi Sdn Bhd, which have since been auctioned.

Wong, a former Malacca assistant state secretary-turned-housing-developer, made headlines again today when he was charged in a magistrate’s court with holding top posts in different companies despite having been declared bankrupt.

Wong, 52, of Bukit Beruang Heights, claimed trial to:

* Holding the manager's post at Oriental Fountain Sdn Bhd, a housing development company; and,

* Being a director of another development company, Koka Construction Sdn Bhd despite being declared bankrupt on June 26, 2002.

He also faced two other charges of committing the same offences without written approval from the Housing and Local Government Minister.

All offences were under the Housing Development (Control and Licensing) Act 1966.

Wong, dressed in a short-sleeved shirt and slacks, appeared calm when the charges were read and translated to him in Mandarin.

Deputy public prosecutor Naziah Mokhtar prosecuted while Wong was represented by Siaran Nadarajah. Magistrate Elesebet Paya Wan fixed Sept 21 for hearing.

Wong was declared bankrupt after one of his companies, Astana Strategi Sdn Bhd, was wound up following a Kuala Lumpur High Court order on Feb 9, 2002.

It was reported last year that a group of Felda landowners who acquired millions from the sale of their land paid cash to buy houses in Taman Lukut Jaya in Port Dickson from Astana Strategi.

The buyers claimed the company later failed to settle the arrears with a finance company, resulting in their houses being put up for auction.