President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. said that the issuance of executive order on border security was intended to increase government’s efforts in doing background checking on foreigners entering the country.
Remengesau, during a press conference on Wednesday, said that the executive order was not directed at a particular individual but to all criminals who intend to come to Palau. This was in response to the media’s inquiry whether the executive order on border security which he signed on April 30 was in response to reports that former Macau gambling triad leader, Wan Kuok-koi also known as Broken Tooth Koi, is planning to invest in a casino business in Palau.
The president also took the chance to explain that the non-profit organization application of Broken Tooth Koi which he signed on February 25, 2019 was made in the confidence that the Attorney General’s Office, who forwarded it to his office for signing, had already reviewed and investigated the application.
“We must, under executive order, do some investigative background of people who want to do not only non-profit organizations in Palau but also going through the [Foreign Investment Board (FIB)],” Remengesau said, expressing relief later on that he had not read any criminals being cleared by the FIB to do business in the country. He also added that Broken Tooth does not have a foreign investment in Palau.
“The EO was issued and I hope because of that the government can beef up its own effort or increase its capacity,” Remengesau said.
In our previous report, Broken Tooth Koi was found to have established a non-profit organization called Palau China Hung-Mun Cultural Association which, in its document, said that it aims to “promote better understanding, acceptance, and exchanges of Palauan cultures and practices to the foreigners, especially Chinese people in or traveling to Palau.” (Rhealyn C. Pojas)