MaGIC denies quid pro quo arrangement with Uber
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre (MaGIC) yesterday refuted its involvement in any quid pro quo arrangement.
“Earlier this week, we were surprised to find ourselves named in an article which levelled serious accusations at the way Uber has operated in the region,” said chief executive officer Ashran Ghazi.
He said the agency regularly collaborated with corporates, connecting them with Malaysia’s leading entrepreneurial talent to help build a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Ashran said these strategic partnerships had helped inspire and nurture young entrepreneurs at the ideation stage.
An international news agencies reported that the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) is currently investigating Uber to determine whether it broke laws regarding overseas bribery.
The report said, as a result, Uber’s law firm was investigating the corporate donation worth “tens of thousands of dollars” Uber made in August last year to MaGIC.
The bribery allegation was related to MaGIC’s Asean Next Great Idea (ANGI), which was coorganised by MaGIC, Uber and another corporate partner that was launched in August last year.
In the tie-up, MaGIC compiled the content, planned modules and marketed the programme to get Asean participants, Uber was responsible for the ideation lab while a third corporate partner provided the start-up strategy.
“ANGI was subject to stringent controls and proper procedures. We uphold the highest standard of integrity in all of our programmes and the way we conduct our operations,” he added. Bernama