Ong Kean Swan
{{short description|Malaysian-Chinese businessman (born 1982)}}
{{family name hatnote|Ong (王)|lang=Chinese}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = Yang Berbahagia Dato' Sri
| honorific_suffix = SSAP DIMP
| name = Peter Ong Kean Swan
| image =
| image_caption =
| nationality =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1982|11|7}}
| birth_place = Penang, Malaysia
| occupation = Chief Executive Officer of Dream Success International
}}
{{Chinese|s=王梓骅|t=王梓驊|poj=Ông Chú-hôa|tl=Ông Tsú-huâ|j=Wong4 Zi2 Waa4|p=wáng zǐ huá}}
File:Certification from Malaysia Government - No Adverse Record.jpg
Peter Ong Kean Swan (born 7 November 1982) is a Malaysian-Chinese businessman. His companies were essentially pyramid schemes, and have been banned in China, Malaysia and Taiwan due to alleged fraud.
Businesses
In 2007 Ong was working as a distributor for the multi-level marketing company Melilea, a company selling health and beauty products.{{Cite news|title=Saman fitnah RM20 juta syarikat jualan lansung terhadap Kayveas ditolak|date=27 March 2012|newspaper=Sinar Harian|url=http://www.sinarharian.com.my/semasa/saman-fitnah-rm20-juta-syarikat-jualan-lansung-terhadap-kayveas-ditolak-1.35577|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403052222/http://www.sinarharian.com.my/semasa/saman-fitnah-rm20-juta-syarikat-jualan-lansung-terhadap-kayveas-ditolak-1.35577|archive-date=3 April 2012|url-status=live}} In a defamation lawsuit he was charged with breaking his distribution contract and disclosing proprietary information.Melilea contended that the distributors had violated various terms in their agreements with the company and had voluntarily resigned.{{Cite news|title=Company loses suit against NSTP|date=28 May 2012|newspaper=New Straits Times|url=http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/company-loses-suit-against-nstp-1.66969|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328163101/http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/company-loses-suit-against-nstp-1.66969|archive-date=28 March 2012|url-status=dead}} While the newspaper and other defendants were found to be not guilty of defamation, judgment was rendered against Ong and the other two distributors.However, the plaintiff won the case against Ong on the merits of the case. {{Cite news|title=Firm loses lawsuit against Kayveas and three others|date=28 May 2012|newspaper=The Star Online|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2012/03/28/Firm-loses-lawsuit-against-Kayveas-and-three-others/}} Ong answered the complaint, but chose not to appear in court.
The Surewin4u corporate website says that in 2008 Peter Ong launched a successful coffee shop franchise concept. That was the year that Peter Ong together with his brother Philip became involved with the Island Red Café (Red Island Coffee) franchise business.{{Cite journal|author=Ong Khee Lye|year=2009|title=Strategies in Positioning Island Red Café|journal=Transport Management|volume=1|publisher=Institute of Transport Administration|location=Hong Kong|url=http://www.iota.org.hk/publications/090513-dr_ong_for_iota_journal_issue_1-2009.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715022027/http://www.iota.org.hk/publications/090513-dr_ong_for_iota_journal_issue_1-2009.pdf|archive-date=15 July 2014|url-status=live}} The author Professor Ong was a principle business advisor to the MLB International Group of Companies of Philip and Peter Ong. The Ong brothers devised a multi-level marketing business plan for Island Red Café franchises through their company MLB International. The pyramid scheme collapsed,{{Cite news|title=紅島咖啡連鎖店風波‧檳民投資額料達千萬|date=31 January 2010|newspaper=Guang Ming Daily|url=http://www.guangming.com.my/node/67061?tid=23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140608231106/http://www.guangming.com.my/node/67061?tid=23|archive-date=8 June 2014|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|author=Wahid, Waziha|title=Pengarah dituduh tipu RM16 juta (Director accused of plot to RM16 million)|date=12 February 2010|newspaper=Kosmos|url=http://www.kosmo.com.my/kosmo/content.asp?y=2010&dt=0212&pub=Kosmo&sec=Negara&pg=ne_04.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100214060415/http://www.kosmo.com.my/kosmo/content.asp?y=2010&dt=0212&pub=Kosmo&sec=Negara&pg=ne_04.htm|archive-date=14 February 2010|url-status=live}} with photo and in 2011, Ong Tong Swan (Philip Ong), Peter Ong's brother, as a director of Island Red Café, pleaded guilty to fraud.{{Cite web|title=Another Director of Island Red Café Franchise Sdn Bhd Pleaded Guilty for Defrauding Investors|date=29 September 2011|publisher=Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia (SSM)|url=http://www.ssm.com.my/en/press-release/another-director-island-red-caf%C3%A9-franchise-sdn-bhd-pleaded-guilty-defrauding-investors}}
His company website indicates that Peter Ong had also been involved with a multi-level insurance programme,The insurance company was MLB Resources. {{Cite web|title=Uni.Asia Life Assurance Berhad Appoints MLB Resources Sdn Bhd To Distribute Its Endowment Savings Plan, Uni Guaranteed Cash Plus |date=6 October 2009 |publisher= Gibraltar BSN |url=http://www.gibraltarbsn.com/gibraltar_bsn/newsroom/press_details.php?pkid=12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614162824/http://www.gibraltarbsn.com/gibraltar_bsn/newsroom/press_details.php?pkid=12 |archive-date=14 June 2014 |url-status=live}} before creating, in 2011, together with his brother Philip, the Surewin4u Group (圆梦赢家) to promote their gambling winning system. In 2012, he founded Dream Success International, which now includes: Surewin4u, Dream Success Property, Dream Success Car Centre, Dream Success Jewelry and Dream Success Coffee.{{cite news|script-title=zh:彭亨蘇丹華誕?王梓驊受封拿督 - 星洲网新聞 - 星洲日報|url=http://news.sinchew.com.my/node/316772?tid=1|access-date=2013-08-09|newspaper=news.sinchew.com.my|date=2013-08-13|language=zh}} On 25 September 2013, Dream Success International and website www.Surewin4u.com were listed by the Central Bank of Malaysia (Bank Negara Malaysia) as engaging in unlicensed activities.{{Cite web|title=List of known companies and websites which are not authorised nor approved under the relevant laws and regulations administered by BNM|year=2014|publisher=Central Bank of Malaysia (BNM)|url=http://www.bnm.gov.my/documents/2014/210504_FCA_en.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140608231819/http://www.bnm.gov.my/documents/2014/210504_FCA_en.pdf|archive-date=8 June 2014|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|script-title=zh:列“未经授权公司” 圆梦集团无执照营运 |title=Laid out: "unauthorized company" Dream Group operating without a license|date=23 September 2014|newspaper=Nanyang Business Daily |location=Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malayasia |language=zh|url=http://www.nanyang.com/node/651125?tid=460 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140926061136/http://www.nanyang.com/node/651125?tid=460 |archive-date=26 September 2014|url-status=live}} After the Taiwanese government closed down the Taiwan branch of Dream Success International in September 2014 leaving thousands of "investors" without recourse,{{Cite news|author=葉德正|title=暴利好賺 退休警幫吸金集團拉下線 (Retired police make payoffs to help pull off Ponzi scheme Group) |date=12 September 2014|newspaper=China Times|location=Taiwan|language=zh|url=http://www.chinatimes.com/newspapers/20140912000888-260106 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914204029/http://www.chinatimes.com/newspapers/20140912000888-260106|archive-date=14 September 2014|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|title=「圓夢」吸金主嫌 竟辯「投資大馬拿督賭博」("Dreams," the chief suspect actually argue attract "large investment Ma Nadu gambling") |date=11 September 2014|newspaper=Apple Daily|location=Taiwan|language=zh|url=http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/new/20140911/468045/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140916045557/http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/new/20140911/468045/|archive-date=16 September 2014|url-status=live}} Ong Kean Swan said there was nothing he could do ("圆梦无力回天"). In early 2015, Dream Winners and Surewin4u were widely revealed as a multi-level pyramid scam that operated not only in Malaysia and Taiwan, but also in Singapore and China.{{Cite news|author=Teh Wei Soon |title=150 Get Cheated In S$50 Million Scam Spearheaded By A Self-Proclaimed "Datuk"|date=29 January 2015|newspaper=Malaysian Digest |url=http://malaysiandigest.com/news/539831-150-get-cheated-in-s-50-million-scam-spearheaded-by-a-self-proclaimed-datuk.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702082358/http://malaysiandigest.com/news/539831-150-get-cheated-in-s-50-million-scam-spearheaded-by-a-self-proclaimed-datuk.html |archive-date=2 July 2015 |url-status=usurped}}{{Cite news|script-title=zh:聽信靠賭徒賺錢 疑入傳銷陷阱 新加坡百餘人 博弈投資被騙 |date=29 January 2015 |language=zh |newspaper=本報訊 (The Daily News) |location=Markham, Ontario |url=http://news.singtao.ca/toronto/2015-01-29/world1422521462d5419133.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916171332/http://news.singtao.ca/toronto/2015-01-29/world1422521462d5419133.html |archive-date=16 September 2015 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news|title=Participants in the "Dream winners" gambling system lose everything they invested; 150 people lost one hundred million yuan |script-title=zh:参加“圆梦赢家”血本无归 赌博投资150人痛失亿元 |date=29 January 2015 |newspaper=Nanyang Business Daily |location=Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia |url=http://www.nanyang.com/node/678247?tid=460 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916171329/http://www.nanyang.com/node/678247?tid=460 |archive-date=16 September 2015 |url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|author=Lim Mun Fah |date=20 March 2015 |title=The invisible killer in Nanning |newspaper=The Malay Mail |url=http://www.themalaymailonline.com/what-you-think/article/the-invisible-killer-in-nanning-lim-mun-fah |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618163702/http://www.themalaymailonline.com/what-you-think/article/the-invisible-killer-in-nanning-lim-mun-fah |archive-date=18 June 2015 |url-status=live}}
Because he could not be found, his surrogates in SingaporeMr. Wan Hoe Keet and Ms. Sally Ho were sued by a defrauded investor in 2017. The defendants settled out of court.{{Cite news |title=Investors in gambling scheme 'lost $50m' |date=21 October 2017 |newspaper=The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/investors-in-gambling-scheme-lost-50m |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023041911/http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/investors-in-gambling-scheme-lost-50m |archive-date=23 October 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy |access-date=27 August 2018 }}{{Cite news|title=Yangon Chief Minister Slammed for Accepting Donation to City from Accused Fraudster |date=16 July 2018 |newspaper=The Irrawaddy |url=https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/yangon-chief-minister-slammed-accepting-donation-city-accused-fraudster.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716152453/https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/yangon-chief-minister-slammed-accepting-donation-city-accused-fraudster.html |archive-date=16 July 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy}} Estimates of Singapore investors' losses are as high as 50 million Singapore dollars (US $36.7 million).
In 2018, Ong was reported in Myanmar (Burma).
Life
Ong's family came from Hui'an County, Fujian Province, China, and Ong was born in November, in Penang.{{Cite news|title=Spreading birthday joy by giving|newspaper=The Star Online|date=8 November 2013|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Community/2013/11/08/Spreading-birthday-joy-by-giving/}} He was born in 1982, although some reports indicate 1983. His company website indicates that he graduated in information technology from the University of Nottingham in England in 2003.{{Cite web|title=About the Founders |url=http://www.surewin4u.com/en/about.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606190218/http://www.surewin4u.com/en/about.html|archive-date=6 June 2014|url-status=live}}
At his thirty-first birthday celebration in November 2013, he was noted for his philanthropy.{{Cite news|script-title=zh:圆梦赢家总执行长生日 宴会狂派逾16万慈善金 - 南洋网新聞 - 南洋商报 |title=Dream Winner Chief Executive Officer birthday party, over 160,000 donated to charities|url=http://www.nanyang.com/node/577194 |newspaper=Nanyang Business Daily |date=8 November 2013 |language=zh |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714195845/http://www.nanyang.com/node/577194 |archive-date=14 July 2014 |url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=圓夢贏家國際總裁‧王梓驊慶生捐出69萬 - 星洲网新聞 - 星洲日報 (Dream Winner International president Ong Kean Swan, Qingsheng, donates 690,000)|url=http://news.sinchew.com.my/node/334172?tid=1 |access-date=2013-11-18|newspaper=news.sinchew.com.my|date=2013-11-18|language=zh}}
Honours
- {{Flag|Pahang}} :
- 50px Knight Companion of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (DIMP) - Dato' (2012){{cite web
|url=http://www.istiadat.gov.my/index.php/component/semakanlantikanskp/|title=Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat|publisher=Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia)}}{{Cite web|title=photo|url=http://www.surewin4u.com/images/peter_ong.png|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606190221/http://www.surewin4u.com/images/peter_ong.png|archive-date=6 June 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=6 June 2014}} picturing Ong receiving an award from the Sultan of Pahang.{{cite news|title=王梓驊受封DIMP拿督|url=http://www.chinapress.com.my/node/447317|access-date=2013-08-09|newspaper=news.sinchew.com.my|date=2013-08-09|language=zh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606230502/http://www.chinapress.com.my/node/447317|archive-date=6 June 2014|url-status=live}}
- 50px Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) - Dato' Sri (2013)
References
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Clear}}
{{Multi-level marketing}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ong Kean Swan}}
Category:Businesspeople from Penang
Category:Malaysian people of Chinese descent
Category:Malaysian businesspeople