Prominent Malaysian corporate figure Tan Sri Dato’ Tan Boon Seng @ Krishnan (Tan Sri Krishnan Tan) and IJM Corporation Berhad have initiated legal action against Britain Business Insider over two articles published on the portal.
The first article, titled “Corruption Investigation: Former Malaysian PM Ismail Sabri, Chindian Tycoon and the RM170 Million Scandal,” was published on 15 March 2025. It alleged that a tycoon, referred to only as “TSKT,” was implicated in a corruption investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) involving RM170 million in illicit funds. It also suggested links between a network of corrupt individuals and several Malaysian Prime Ministers.
However, the article did not explicitly name or show the image of the individual referred to as TSKT. Does IJM Corporation believe that TSKT refers to Tan Sri Krishnan Tan?
The second article, titled “IJM Corp’s Expansion in the UK: A Strategic Move or a Risky Gamble?” was published on 18 March 2025. Unlike the first article, this was merely an analytical piece discussing the expansion strategies of several Asian companies, including IJM, and did not accuse IJM Corporation or its chairman of any wrongdoing.
In response, legal representatives for Tan Sri Krishnan Tan and IJM Corporation Berhad have issued a formal demand to Britain Business Insider, rejecting the allegations as “false, malicious, and entirely baseless.” The legal notice asserts that the defamatory statements have significantly damaged the reputations of both Tan Sri Krishnan Tan and IJM Corporation Berhad.
IJM Corporation’s legal team has demanded the following immediate actions from Britain Business Insider:
• The removal of both articles from its website and any other platforms where they have been published.
• The immediate cessation of any further publication of defamatory statements related to Tan Sri Krishnan Tan and IJM Corporation Berhad.
• A full and unequivocal retraction of the defamatory statements, along with a public apology within 24 hours, given the same prominence as the original publication of the articles.
Failure to comply with these demands may result in legal proceedings, with the claimants reserving the right to seek damages.
According to IJM Corporation Berhad’s legal counsel, IJM—a leading Malaysian conglomerate with businesses spanning construction, property development, industry, and infrastructure—remains financially robust despite this controversy.
However, is TSKT truly a reference to IJM Chairman Tan Sri Krishnan Tan?
