Earlier, in a letter to the president, the members of the council of chiefs expressed “deep and utmost concern about the grave allegations made by certain individuals on the firm and made recommendations thatpresident discharge Morris Davidson as Palau’s honorary Consul to Malaysia; stop the false advertisement in the internet that makes it appear that the country is supporting the company; to prohibit Ngiraingas, Minister of Public Infrastructure, Industries and Commerce from using his post to support Davidson and his firm; and direct the Office of the Attorney General to initiate a probe on Ngiraingas’ possible violation of the Code of Ethics.
Toribiong told reporters that Ngiraingas has been supporting this project from day 1 and did not see any Code of Ethics violation in it.
Although the president stated that he is not involved in the project, “he believes in the presumption of innocence” and did not want to conclude whether the UKIHL operation is a scam.
“I do not know if it’s a scam. What is wrong with selling shares, what is wrong with putting up advertisement. What have they done wrong, ” he said.
He also lamented the fact that the traditional chiefs opted to express their views in public instead of giving it to him directly “in a confidential manner to avoid creating what may become a public disagreement especially on issues beyond the scope of their authority.”
The traditional chiefs said that Toribiong’s support of UKIHL is a serious matter as it “undermines the rule of law to which we have long aspired to maintain as the bedrock of our nation and our institutions and, negates and defies the clear and transparent government your administration has espoused for and which we all proudly advocate.”
The leaders said that the internet advertisement contains statements that made it appear that UKIHL has various licenses from Palau to undertake the wide range of businesses that are part of Nautilus City and Solaris City Project.
It added that the advertisement also made it appear that UKIHL has the full backing of the Toribiong administration through Ngiraingas.
to the firm which appears to be trying to dupe several investors.
UK Holdings is the company involved in the planned ambitious Nautilus Project in Peleliu State.
UK International Holdings Limited is the Malaysian firm that is pushing the multi-million project.
Former president Tommy Remengesau Jr. did not approve of the project saying it’s a scam.
Ngiraingas for his part said that this is the time for Palau to open the country to foreign investment and called the chiefs advise as “intrusion into powers that are domain of the President and the Olbiil Era Kelulau.”
The minister asked President Toribiong to remind the chiefs of their role and refrain them from offering “unsolicited comments and advice.”
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