Originally posted by ^tamago^:
[b]Awards for two MLM-linked
businessmen under review
Global event's organisers are reconsidering their choice on
learning that firm faces investigations
Lorna Tan, Finance Correspondent
November 3, 2007
A DECISION to give business awards to two men linked to a
controversial multi-level marketing (MLM) firm is now under
review.
The awards are due to be handed out during this month's Global
Entrepolis event, a huge international business networking event
hosted by Singapore.
The firm in question, Sunshine Empire, has been placed on investor
alert lists by the authorities in both Singapore and Malaysia as a
result of concerns over its business practices. It is also being
investigated by the Commercial Affairs Department.
This has prompted organisers of the Global Business Opportunities
Forum, part of Global Entrepolis, to review the decision to grant
the awards.
Mr James Phang, the man behind Sunshine, was due to receive an
Outstanding & Innovative Global Entrepreneur award on Nov
13.
Mr Phang is the founder and international president of Empire Group
Alliance (EGA), of which Sunshine is an associate firm.
Mr Ignious Yong, the managing director of Mr Phang's
telecommunications arm Empire Communications, was due to get a Most
Potential Enterprise award on the same day.
The MLM firm has attracted the attention of the authorities because
its activities appear to be like a pure investment scheme - but it
is not licensed for such operations.
Last month, EGA was informed by forum organiser Business Ventures
of the award winners.
The Straits Times learned about the awards in a blog posting on the
Sunshine website. The announcement was posted on Tuesday under the
heading 'EGA Leaders to receive GBO Awards from PM Lee'.
When contacted, Global Business Opportunities' founder Winnie Wang
said the organisers have had second thoughts about the winners
after reading reports on Sunshine in The Straits Times on Oct
24.
'We are shocked by the newspaper reports on Sunshine and are
reviewing the winners of the two awards. We are convening a meeting
next week to make a final decision,' she said.
A third award category - the Outstanding & Leading Global
Technological Awards - which has four winners this year, is
unaffected.
Ms Wang said the awards would be given out by Global Business
Opportunities' overseas and local chairmen and not by Prime
Minister Lee Hsien Loong, as stated in the Sunshine blog.
According to Ms Wang, Sunshine claimed that the blog was not posted
by its management. The blog has since been removed.
[email protected]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Second thoughts
Mr James Phang
The adviser to Sunshine Empire was due to receive an Outstanding
& Innovative Global Entrepreneur Award.
Mr Ignious Yong
The managing director of Mr Phang's telecommunications arm, Empire
Communications, was due to get a Most Potential Enterprise
Award.
Copyright, 2007, Singapore Press Holdings Limited[/b]
this sums up the truth

now a big wide smile for the piece of wonderful news

Now back to the topic
Is he really doing the right thing? The media will be
made known soon in time to come.
PS: Btw- when is this newpaper article being published?