KUALA LUMPUR, 29 May 2025 – Chin Hin Group Berhad, along with two of its key corporate figures, Datuk Seri Chiau Beng Teik and his son Chiau Haw Choon, have filed a lawsuit against online exposé portal The Corporate Secret, seeking RM10 million in damages over allegedly defamatory and baseless statements.
According to a letter of demand issued by legal firm Firoz Julian, Chin Hin contends that two articles published by the portal on 22 and 23 May 2025 severely defamed and damaged their reputation.
The two articles in question are:
- “MBI Scheme: The Secret Behind Datuk Seri Chiau Beng Teik’s RM10 Million Payment to Tan Sri Kean Soon Exposed!” published on 22 May by a writer identified as Protagoras.
- A follow-up article of the same title was published the next day by Farrel Farzan.
The letter claims that the articles imply that Chin Hin Group was involved in the MBI Scheme — an investment scheme widely associated with a large-scale Ponzi fraud — and that the individuals mentioned were engaged in money laundering. Their lawyers assert that these allegations are false, malicious, and intended to tarnish their clients’ reputation in the eyes of the public.
“These defamatory statements have subjected our clients to public ridicule, emotional distress, humiliation, and severe reputational damage,” the legal letter states.
As an immediate course of action, Chin Hin demands that:
- The articles be removed from the website;
- The Corporate Secret immediately cease and desist from issuing any further defamatory statements;
- A full written apology and formal retraction be published;
- Compensation of RM10 million be paid for damages incurred.
The Corporate Secret has been given a 24-hour deadline to comply with these demands. Failure to do so will result in legal proceedings being pursued in court.
In late April, The Corporate Secret had also published an exposé implicating a third “Tan Sri” figure in the MBI scheme — Tan Sri Datuk Alex Ooi, the Founder and Executive Chairman of Ideal Property Group — who later publicly denied the allegations. Nonetheless, media reports subsequently confirmed his arrest and the seizure of related assets.
Previously, two other prominent figures — Tan Sri Datuk Seri Tan Kean Soon, Executive Deputy Chairman of T7 Global Berhad, and Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Khor Eng Chuen, Chairman of ECK Development Sdn Bhd — were also remanded by police in connection with the same scheme.
In contrast, Datuk Seri Chiau Beng Teik, Chairman of Chin Hin Group Bhd and the alleged “RM10 million payer,” appears to remain untouchable and was last seen relaxing on his luxury yacht. And now, Chin Hin Group is demanding RM10 million in damages from The Corporate Secret.
As of the time of writing, no official response has been issued by The Corporate Secret.
