By Confidente Reporter
CHINESE businessman Jack Huang, has opened up about his perceived relationship by the media with President Hage Geingob describing it as a working relationship similar to that he had with the previous two presidents.
Huang was speaking at a media briefing in the capital this morning where he also addressed his recent arrest on alleged N$3, 5 billion tax evasion charges.
“Much has been said in the media about my so-called friendship with his excellency President Dr Hage Geingob maybe because of the Sunrise Investment company in which his family trust have some shares. But in our culture and belief, everyone is a friend whether high or low people and we accord them similar respect and courtesy. How I relate to him is not different from how I’ve been relating to his predecessors as the presidents of Namibia with due respect and consideration of the trust that the Namibian people have given them, and most certainly not as my best friends with whom I would relax and dance around the camp fire or in a karaoke bar,” Huang said.
The businessman also took a swipe at unnamed local mainstream media and certain government agencies that made serious accusations against him which he claims landed him in unlawful police detention.
Huang said that his arrest had caused a lot of damage to his reputation and business name outside Namibia.
“I solemnly declare that I have always complied with the Namibian laws and regulations and operated lawfully in the past and undoubtedly at present and will continue to do so in the future. As I said earlier on, I am an investor and a businessman, I have never set my foot in politics.
“…I sincerely hope foreign investors like myself will never become unwilling participants or victims of the local politics so that they can feel at ease in their efforts to advance the economy and create more social wealth and employment opportunities. Namibian politics must remain exclusively for Namibians as internal matters,” he said.
Huang, who spoke through an interpreter, also revealed his intentions to partner with local institutions, groups and individuals to develop vocational education and vocational training in Oshikango.
“My wish as a businessman, is merely that the Namibian government including media and the Namibian people will continue to provide investors with a sound investment environment in which they will do business through mutual benefit and respect.”
Huang expressed confidence in the Namibian courts that they will absolve him of any wrong doing. He also said that despite what he termed as victimisation and the publishing of bad things by the media about him, Huang said he will continue to invest more and do more business in the country in the economic interest of Namibia and his company.
In conclusion, he also revealed that he was seeking legal advice from Namibia and South Africa so as to seek redress in the court about possible defamation of his character.