HeiTech Padu Bhd has redesignated its executive director Datuk Sandraruben Neelamagham as the company’s new deputy chairman, effective immediately, as the technology group moves to strengthen its leadership structure.
Sandraruben, 39, joined HeiTech Padu as an executive director in April 2024. A lawyer by profession, he previously served as an adviser to NexG Bhd before taking up his role at HeiTech Padu.
HeiTech Padu Bhd, Deputy Chairman – Datuk Sandraruben Neelamagham.
His appointment comes amid continued attention surrounding corporate developments involving NexG, including allegations and disputes raised earlier this year involving key shareholders, intellectual property and government-related technology contracts.
According to statements made by businessman Victor Chin Boon Long and Pandan Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, Sandraruben — also known as Ruben — was allegedly the individual referred to as “Mr R” in relation to claims involving the proposed transfer of 421.7 million NexG shares to an unnamed party described as his purported “boss”.
In March, NexG founder and major shareholder Datuk Hanifah Noordin alleged that Sandraruben and lawyer Datuk Chong Loong Men had attempted to transfer NexG’s core technological capabilities and critical intellectual property linked to its government contract to HeiTech Padu.
Hanifah further claimed that Sandraruben was reporting to an individual identified only as “Mr A”, whom he linked to Bestinet Sdn Bhd, a company involved in the processing of foreign workers, including those from Bangladesh.
He alleged that the individual was behind an effort to move NexG’s key technological assets out of the company.
The identity of “Mr A” has not been officially disclosed. However, Rafizi had previously linked the individual to Datuk Seri Farhash Wafa Salvador, a former political secretary to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, citing that Sandraruben’s law firm had represented Farhash in a defamation suit against him.
The allegations have drawn attention within Malaysia’s technology and corporate sectors, particularly due to NexG’s involvement in government-related technology solutions and digital identity infrastructure.
HeiTech Padu has not provided further details regarding the leadership change beyond announcing Sandraruben’s redesignation as deputy chairman.
Following the announcement, shares of HeiTech Padu closed unchanged at RM1.29 on Wednesday, giving the company a market capitalisation of approximately RM210.25 million.
The counter has declined more than 24% year-to-date amid ongoing market scrutiny and investor sentiment surrounding the company.
