We urge the call for urgent investigation into alleged misconduct by certain overseas top management of Amphenol, whose long-term rental arrangements with local premises have caused the company to suffer huge losses of potential profit that Amphenol rightfully should have gained.
Objective: To ensure a healthy and fair trade environment, demolish bribery and corruption networks linked to American companies overseas, and safeguard the global reputation of Amphenol and the wider US semiconductor industry.
Allegations of Bribery & Corruption
It is strongly suspected that the approval of these arrangements involved corrupt dealings with the landowner (premise owner). This landowner has a long background of smuggling and illicit activities, including the theft and resale of Intel chips over 20 years ago, for which his mentor, Citiraya Singapore was previously caught and relocated. Today, he is known to manipulate foreign company executives—including American semiconductor firms in Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines (IRI Philippines, IRM Group, Reclaimtek, etc.)—through bribery, profit skimming, and fraudulent waste-handling practices.
Evidence points to illicit funds being kept in Singapore, where related companies such as Citiraya are already under investigation and subject to extradition processes. The landowner has been collecting rental income from the Amphenol factory and has also bribried internal management to sell all precious metal–plated scraps exclusively to his facility, citing proximity as the reason. This arrangement raises serious concerns of conflict of interest. The U.S. Government and Amphenol HQ shall conduct a thorough investigation into the local management directors who approved the factory rental under these circumstances, as well as their role in diverting valuable materials. Companies such as IRI Philippines, IRM Group, and Reclaimtek have been implicated in stealing uncrushed patented products, further highlighting the urgency for oversight and accountability.
Fake Environmental Companies & Trade Deception
Across Malaysia, numerous so-called licensed environmental recovery companies operate fraudulently, presenting themselves as legitimate but in reality conducting tax evasion, export duty evasion, illegal e-waste recovery, processing and disposal of toxic chemical processes. These companies—including those in Penang, Kedah, Selangor—are able to operate due to weak enforcement compared to Kuala Lumpur or Selangor.
Amphenol waste products containing gold-plated scrap and semiconductor components have allegedly been diverted and undersold directly to the neighboring landowner’s factory, without fair bidding, under secret agreements by Amphenol top management. This amounts to deception, product substitution, and fraud.
Such practices not only harm Amphenol shareholders but also contribute to:
i. Unfair trade distortions,
ii. Illegal chip resale (uncrushed chips, diverted shipments),
iii. Severe environmental damage from unregulated chemical discharges and toxic gas emissions.
Wider Regional Scandal
This network—the Main Big Fives are IRM Group, IRI Philippines, Reclaimtek (Number 1), MEP Enviro Technology Sdn. Bhd. (Number 2), Shan Poornam Metals Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia) (Number 3), Jaring Metal Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia) (Number 4), Krubong Recovery Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia) (Number 5) has systematically engaged in illicit resale of semiconductors belonging to US, Europe, Japanese, and other multinational companies. The scale of loss is suspected to be much larger than officially reported, involving potential concealment of frozen assets and hidden bank accounts. Previously, the primary owner, Goh Eng Hoe, was implicated in a case in Malaysia. However, the case records and files were allegedly erased due to his close political connections with high-ranking officials in the current government, who may also have been influenced through bribery.
The concept of Total Waste Management in Malaysia is largely misleading. Approximately 99% of companies currently operating in this sector primarily engage only in basic stripping and limited recovery processes, rather than true refining. These practices are often used to create the false appearance of recycling, while in reality, much of the material is diverted to the black market.
It is important to emphasize that the United States, Europe, and Japan—being among the world’s largest economic bodies—should not be afraid of Malaysia’s double standards rules and regulations. Protecting and safeguarding patented technologies must remain a top priority.
Over the years, growth in this industry has been dominated mainly by Malaysian companies through the construction of new factories and the expansion of processing facilities. In contrast, overseas reputable refiners continue to face resource constraints, which limit their ability to process and refine materials in a sustainable and legally compliant manner, free from resale-related issues.
Although we are not affiliated with any political party in Malaysia, we would like to commend YB Nik Nazmi and YB Rafizi Ramli for their commendable efforts in initiating a major crackdown on the import, export, and processing of illegal electronic waste, as well as the resale of patented chips on the black market. Unfortunately, following their replacement, the new minister has not taken meaningful action to address these critical issues such as air and water pollutions.
Call for US Government & Amphenol HQ Action
This constitutes what may become the “Semiconductor Shame Scandal” of Southeast Asia Pacific, if not urgently addressed.
Forensic investigation into these matters is essential to:
i. Protect fair trade and patented technologies,
ii. Prevent bribery and corruption involving American, Japan, Europe companies abroad,
iii. Stop illicit recovery operations that damage the environment and global reputation of US firms,
iv. Ensure Amphenol and other US semiconductor companies regain lost value and integrity.
As Mr. President Donald Trump has repeatedly emphasized: “FAIR TRADE” must prevail. This case represents the very opposite—unfair, corrupt, and environmentally destructive trade that undermines US corporate interests abroad. What many foreigners are unaware of about Malaysia, which has consistently failed to effectively prosecute offenders engaged in these illegal activities; rather, such cases are often forgotten or sidelined by the government.
Request
We firmly believe that only the U.S. Government led by Mr. President Donald Trump has the capacity and authority to safeguard the interests of American semiconductor companies operating overseas. We urge Amphenol Headquarters and the United States Government to:
- Launch a full-scale forensic investigation into the involvement of Amphenol and other American overseas top management in Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines which includes their respective Production, EHS & Facility, Purchasing, Warehouse, Security department.
- Investigate the landowner and his historical record of smuggling and chip theft. We insist that all defective chips must be sent back to the company’s country of origin without exception. Example, Intel- The U.S..
- Review fraudulent e-waste companies operating under false environmental licensing across Malaysia and Singapore.
- Freeze and investigate linked financial assets and accounts suspected of holding bribed funds in Singapore and Malaysia.
- Take strong action to restore fair trade and compliance, protecting US semiconductor corporations from further loss.
By Adam Tree
