Alibaba founder and Chinese tech billionaire Jack Ma is suspected to be missing after Ma failed to show up for the final episode of his own talent show, Africa’s Business Heroes, according to British publication The Telegraph.
Ma was replaced by an Alibaba executive, according to the paper. His picture was also removed from the show’s website.
An Alibaba spokesperson says the founder could “no longer be part of the finale judge panel” due to “a schedule conflict” says the Financial Times.
Ma has not been seen in public in over two months, since he gave a controversial speech on Oct 24, 2020, that criticised the financial supervision system in China.
The speech was made at the Bund Summit in Shanghai, in front of the country’s top financial leaders such as Zhou Xiaochuan, former governor of the People's Bank of China, and Yi Gang, the current governor of the People's Bank of China.
Ma further added that traditional banks were operating with a “pawn shop” mentality, saying that they will be unable to support the financial needs of the world in future.
Some 10 days after Ma’s speech, the Shanghai and Hong Kong exchanges suspended Ant Group’s US$37 billion dual IPO, which was the biggest-ever at the time.
See: Shanghai and Hong Kong exchanges suspend Ant Group's US$37 bil dual IPO
The suspension was made just 36 hours before the ceremonial gong at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
See also: Derailing of Jack Ma’s Ant IPO shows Xi Jinping's in charge and Behind the implosion of Ant Group's mega IPO
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