It is not fair if the public perceives a minister's family as
profiting from a government project because of his or her position in
the cabinet, former minister and Umno Wanita chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil
said in the High Court today.She said this when cross-examined by Ranjit Singh, counsel for PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli and PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin, against whom Shahrizat has filed a RM100 million defamation suit.
Shahrizat faced a barrage of questions on the bidding for a project by the family of a cabinet minister.
Ranjit laid the ground by saying that the public mostly knew about the controversial National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) as a result of the 2010 Auditor-General's report, in which some adverse comments were made about it.
The former minister agreed that prior to the report, not many people knew that her family got the project. Shahrizat's husband Mohd Salleh Ismail is chairperson of NFC.
Ranjit: Being a minister and senator, would you say that you have to lead an exemplary life?
Shahrizat: Yes.
Ranjit: A family of a minister profiteering from a government project. Would it create a negative impression?
Shahrizat: I want to tell...
Ranjit: No, you should answer 'yes' or 'no'.
Shahrizat: I want to explain on this.
Ranjit: Okay, I will rephrase the question. Would you agree that if a family of a minister appears to be profiting from a government project, it would be perceived to be the minister (himself or herself) who is profiteering from the project?
Shahrizat: I do not agree.
Ranjit: Would it be fair for the public to perceive a minister as profiting from his or her position if his or her spouse obtains a huge, important government project?
Shahrizat: I don't think it is fair.
Ranjit: In this case, would it be fair for your spouse to bid for the project when you are a minister?
Shahrizat: That you have to ask the Agriculture Ministry as his bid did not concern my ministry.
Ranjit: But the public could perceive that you are profiting from it, and in defamation suits, isn't this more about perception?
Shahrizat: I disagree.
High impact project
Asked further questions on the project, Shahrizat agreed that NFC is a high impact project to make Malaysia self-sufficient in the supply of beef.
“At present, the beef is imported from Australia and India,” she said.
Asked by Ranjit what she knew about food security, the former minister said “as the term implies”.
Asked to explain further, she said basically it was to ensure there was sufficient supply of food for the country.Ranjit then asked Shahrizat, as a former chairperson of two public-listed companies, to relate how she had to act in a trustworthy and transparent manner.
Shahrizat was former chairperson of Island and Peninsular Bhd and of Austral Entreprise Bhd before she contested for the Lembah Pantai parliamentary seat in 1995.
Ranjit: Do you know, being a former chairperson, that you must act with honesty and transparency?
Shahrizat: Yes.
Ranjit: In dealing with companies and with public funds, a company has to act with good corporate governance and transparency?
Shahrizat: Most certainly.
Ranjit: In the BN government, do you agree that its members believe that they must be 100 percent honest and transparent?
Shahrizat: Yes.
Ranjit: Is the BN government stand, in dealing with dishonesty and corruption in abusing public funds, that these are despicable acts?
Shahrizat: Yes.
Video clips played in courts
Earlier, in the morning, in proceeding with her defamation suit, Shahrizat viewed and concurred with the video clips shown in court as those linked to her suit on the libel statements made at a press conference at the Parliament lobby sometime in November 2011.
Four clips of the allegedly defamatory statements uttered by Rafizi and Zuraida (picture above), who is also Ampang MP, were screened before judicial commissioner Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera.
However, the video clips and the transcripts were not marked as court exhibits as the maker of the video footage is yet to be called to take the stand.
Rafizi and Zuraida have filed a counter-claim against the RM100 million defamation suit filed by Shahrizat.
The hearing continues on Sept 18.-malaysiakini
Shahrizat: Calling Rafizi a traitor not unIslamic...
Former women, family and community development minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil does not consider calling PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli a traitor to the Malays and Islam to be heinous and unIslamic.
In fact, Shahrizat admitted in court, what Rafizi had said in at a press conference in the lobby of Parliament was more maligning and defamatory of her.
Rafizi, she added, said that she was setting a bad example for women by not wanting to clarify and apologise to all Malaysians on the award of the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) project.
Responding to questions from Ranjit Singh, representing Rafizi, she agreed that all four quotes by Rafizi (left in photo) and Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin (right in photo), which were stated in her RM100 million claim against the two, were slanderous, defamatory and against Islam.Ranjit wanted her to compare between Rafizi’s alleged defamatory statement, and her statement on which was more heinous and unIslamic.
In her witness statement Shahrizat had stated that slander is one of the biggest sins in Islam and something unforgivable.
Rafizi had, among others during the press conference on Nov 30, 2011, wanted Shahrizat to explain her family’s involvement in the NFC project, failing which, he claimed, it may drag Umno and BN down.
She, however, responded by calling Rafizi 'Si Tanggang' during her speech to the Umno Wanita wing, which she heads, at last year's Umno general assembly, describing him as a traitor, a person willing to sell his religion and race.
Rafizi and Zuraida have in turn filed a counter-claim over what Shahrizat had said during the assembly.
Throughout today’s cross-examination there were exchanges between Shahrizat, a former lawyer and magistrate, and Ranjit Singh as at times the former minister was seen to be hesitant in coming out with a direct answer.
‘I did not know my son is NFC director’
Asked by lawyer Ranjit when did she learn that her husband Mohd Salleh Ismail had been awarded the NFC project, Shahrizat replied sometime in late 2006 and 2007.
She
said that she did not know the exact time as her husband had said that
he wanted all three children to work in the project, when two of them,
Wan Shahinur Izmir (left) and Wan Izzan Fatimah Zabedah, were still overseas. Ranjit then proceeded showing a company search which his law firm had carried out.
Ranjit: Your son who was born in 1984. At the age of 22, (he) became a director of NFC on Dec 29, 2006.
Shahrizat: I do not know as we never discuss this. You see my husband is a professional being busy with his work at Taman Technology Malaysia. He has his work and I have mine as a minister.
Shahrizat: Not all the times as we are both busy.
Ranjit: You mean your son lives with you in the same house and you do not know about this?
Shahrizat: I only remember my husband telling me that he wanted the children to come back home and work with NFC that was sometime in 2007. He (Wan Shahinur Izran) graduated at the age of 19 in Computer Science from a university in Sacramento, California. He worked there for a year, and upon his return he told me he wanted to be an entrepreneur.
Ranjit: Did you not ask him what projects he was working on while he was at home or where he was leaving for work?
Shahrizat: No.
Ranjit: I would have asked my children where they are headed for work as I would want to know their whereabouts.
I put it to you that you knew Izran was involved in the NFC project even when it was awarded in 2006.
Shahrizat: No.
Her other children Wan Izzan Fatimah became an NFC director on Sept 19, 2007 while Wan Shahinur Izmir was appointed director two months later, on Nov 7.
She testified before a packed courtroom of Umno and PKR supporters.
The hearing before judicial commissioner Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera continues on Sept 18.-malaysiakini
Mahkamah tonton klip video 'fitnah'...
Pendengaran
kes saman fitnah yang difailkan oleh bekas menteri, Datuk Seri
Shahrizat Abdul Jalil diteruskan, dengan Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur
menonton klip video yang didakwa mengandungi kenyataan fitnah yang
didakwa dibuat dalam sidang media di lobi Parlimen pada 30 November
2011.
Empat klip yang didakwa kenyataan fitnah yang diucapkan oleh Pengarah Strategi PKR, Rafizi Ramli dan Ahli Parlimen Ampang, Zuraida Kamaruddin, ditayangkan di hadapan Pesuruhjaya Kehakiman Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera.
Bagaimanapun, klip video dan transkripnya tidak ditandakan sebagai ekshibit mahkamah kerana pembuat rakaman video itu belum lagi dipanggil memberi keterangan.
Rafizi dan Zuraida berdepan dengan saman fitnah RM100 juta yang difailkan oleh Shahrizat, yang merupakan ketua Wanita Umno..
Kedua-dua mereka telah memfailkan tuntutan balas.
Shahrizat selepas ini akan disoalbalas oleh peguam Rafizi dan Zuraida di mahkamah yang padat dengan penyokong Wanita Umno dan PKR. [Baca berita penuh]
Sementara itu, Bernama melaporkan Shahrizat memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi bahawa beliau tidak mengetahui anak keduanya terlibat dalam projek Pusat Fidlot Nasional sehinggalah diberitahu pada 2007.
Shahrizat berkata sebelum itu beliau tidak mengetahui bahawa Wan Shahinur Izran Mohd Salleh, 28, telah menjadi pengarah syarikat National Feedlot Corporation Sdn Bhd (NFC) sejak Disember 2006.
'Tak ambil tahu urusan masing-masing'
Beliau mula mengetahui perkara itu apabila suami beliau, Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Salleh Ismail memberitahu mahu anak-anak mereka pulang ke tanah air dari luar negara untuk membantu menguruskan projek tersebut.
"Saya tidak tahu mengenai bidaan projek tersebut. Saya hanya tahu pada sekitar 2007 selepas suami saya menyatakan hasrat mahu anak-anak pulang ke tanah air untuk membantunya dalam projek ini.
"Ia berlaku selepas beliau (Mohd Salleh) telahpun memperoleh projek itu," katanya ketika pemeriksaan balas oleh peguam Ranjit Singh dalam prosiding kes saman fitnah terhadap Ketua Wanita PKR Zuraida Kamaruddin dan pengarah strategi parti itu, Mohd Rafizi Ramli.
Ranjit mewakili kedua-dua defendan.
Shahrizat turut menafikan mengetahui projek NFC lebih awal dan perbincangan mengenai NFC bukanlah atas kapasiti sebagai seorang menteri sebaliknya perbualan antara suami isteri.
Ditanya bukankah Wan Shahinur Izran masih terlalu muda untuk dilantik sebagai pengarah syarikat kerana baru berusia 22 tahun ketika itu, Shahrizat berkata ia tidak salah kerana anaknya telah tamat pengajian ketika berusia 19 tahun di Amerika Syarikat serta antara pelajar terbaik.
Katanya Wan Shahinur Izran tinggal bersamanya sejak 2004 dan dua lagi iaitu Wan Shahinur Izmir, 32, dan Wan Izzana Fatimah Zabedah, 26, berada di luar negara dan kembali ke Malaysia pada 2007 untuk menyertai NFC.
Tambahnya walaupun beliau, suami dan Wan Shahinur Izran tinggal sebumbung tetapi mereka tidak ambil tahu urusan kerja masing-masing.
Shahrizat: Mereka buatkan orang ramai salahkan saya
Shahrizat berkata beliau mula meneliti pembabitan ahli keluarganya dalam projek itu pada tahun lepas selepas tersiar di media dan meminta suaminya memberi penjelasan.
Ketika ditanya oleh Ranjit bahagian manakah di dalam kenyataan kedua-dua defendan sehingga memudaratkan dirinya, Shahrizat berkata:
"Kata-kata mereka membuatkan orang ramai menyalahkan saya."
Di awal prosiding, mahkamah ditunjukkan tayangan video mengenai sidang media melibatkan kedua-dua defendan di bangunan Parlimen.
Pada 19 Januari lalu, Shahrizat memfailkan saman terhadap Zuraida dan Mohd Rafizi berhubung kenyataan yang didakwa memfitnah beliau dalam isu NFC.
Shahrizat menuntut ganti rugi am RM50 juta dan RM50 juta lagi sebagai gantirugi teladan dan teruk daripada defendan.
Beliau juga memohon injunksi bagi menghalang defendan daripada terus mengeluarkan kenyataan sama ada secara lisan atau penerbitan terhadap beliau berhubung NFC atau syarikat bersekutu.
Prosiding di depan Pesuruhjaya Kehakiman Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera bersambung 18 September.- malaysiakini
Empat klip yang didakwa kenyataan fitnah yang diucapkan oleh Pengarah Strategi PKR, Rafizi Ramli dan Ahli Parlimen Ampang, Zuraida Kamaruddin, ditayangkan di hadapan Pesuruhjaya Kehakiman Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera.
Bagaimanapun, klip video dan transkripnya tidak ditandakan sebagai ekshibit mahkamah kerana pembuat rakaman video itu belum lagi dipanggil memberi keterangan.
Rafizi dan Zuraida berdepan dengan saman fitnah RM100 juta yang difailkan oleh Shahrizat, yang merupakan ketua Wanita Umno..Kedua-dua mereka telah memfailkan tuntutan balas.
Shahrizat selepas ini akan disoalbalas oleh peguam Rafizi dan Zuraida di mahkamah yang padat dengan penyokong Wanita Umno dan PKR. [Baca berita penuh]
Sementara itu, Bernama melaporkan Shahrizat memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi bahawa beliau tidak mengetahui anak keduanya terlibat dalam projek Pusat Fidlot Nasional sehinggalah diberitahu pada 2007.
Shahrizat berkata sebelum itu beliau tidak mengetahui bahawa Wan Shahinur Izran Mohd Salleh, 28, telah menjadi pengarah syarikat National Feedlot Corporation Sdn Bhd (NFC) sejak Disember 2006.
Beliau mula mengetahui perkara itu apabila suami beliau, Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Salleh Ismail memberitahu mahu anak-anak mereka pulang ke tanah air dari luar negara untuk membantu menguruskan projek tersebut.
"Saya tidak tahu mengenai bidaan projek tersebut. Saya hanya tahu pada sekitar 2007 selepas suami saya menyatakan hasrat mahu anak-anak pulang ke tanah air untuk membantunya dalam projek ini.
"Ia berlaku selepas beliau (Mohd Salleh) telahpun memperoleh projek itu," katanya ketika pemeriksaan balas oleh peguam Ranjit Singh dalam prosiding kes saman fitnah terhadap Ketua Wanita PKR Zuraida Kamaruddin dan pengarah strategi parti itu, Mohd Rafizi Ramli.
Ranjit mewakili kedua-dua defendan.
Shahrizat turut menafikan mengetahui projek NFC lebih awal dan perbincangan mengenai NFC bukanlah atas kapasiti sebagai seorang menteri sebaliknya perbualan antara suami isteri.
Ditanya bukankah Wan Shahinur Izran masih terlalu muda untuk dilantik sebagai pengarah syarikat kerana baru berusia 22 tahun ketika itu, Shahrizat berkata ia tidak salah kerana anaknya telah tamat pengajian ketika berusia 19 tahun di Amerika Syarikat serta antara pelajar terbaik.
Katanya Wan Shahinur Izran tinggal bersamanya sejak 2004 dan dua lagi iaitu Wan Shahinur Izmir, 32, dan Wan Izzana Fatimah Zabedah, 26, berada di luar negara dan kembali ke Malaysia pada 2007 untuk menyertai NFC.
Tambahnya walaupun beliau, suami dan Wan Shahinur Izran tinggal sebumbung tetapi mereka tidak ambil tahu urusan kerja masing-masing.
Shahrizat: Mereka buatkan orang ramai salahkan saya
Shahrizat berkata beliau mula meneliti pembabitan ahli keluarganya dalam projek itu pada tahun lepas selepas tersiar di media dan meminta suaminya memberi penjelasan.
Ketika ditanya oleh Ranjit bahagian manakah di dalam kenyataan kedua-dua defendan sehingga memudaratkan dirinya, Shahrizat berkata:
"Kata-kata mereka membuatkan orang ramai menyalahkan saya."
Di awal prosiding, mahkamah ditunjukkan tayangan video mengenai sidang media melibatkan kedua-dua defendan di bangunan Parlimen.
Pada 19 Januari lalu, Shahrizat memfailkan saman terhadap Zuraida dan Mohd Rafizi berhubung kenyataan yang didakwa memfitnah beliau dalam isu NFC.
Shahrizat menuntut ganti rugi am RM50 juta dan RM50 juta lagi sebagai gantirugi teladan dan teruk daripada defendan.
Beliau juga memohon injunksi bagi menghalang defendan daripada terus mengeluarkan kenyataan sama ada secara lisan atau penerbitan terhadap beliau berhubung NFC atau syarikat bersekutu.
Prosiding di depan Pesuruhjaya Kehakiman Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera bersambung 18 September.- malaysiakini
Gelar Rafizi pengkhianat tidak bertentangan dengan Islam...
Bekas menteri wanita Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil tidak menganggap tindakan menggelar Pengarah Strategi PKR Rafizi Ramli sebagai pengkhianat Melayu dan Islam sebagai kejam dan bertentangan dengan agama.
Malah, Shahrizat mengakui di mahkamah bahawa apa yang Rafizi katakan dalam sidang akhbar di lobi Parlimen, lebih buruk dan memfitnahnya.
Rafizi, tambahnya, berkata dia (Shahrizat) menunjukkan teladan yang buruk kepada wanita kerana tidak mahu menjelaskan dan memohon maaf kepada semua rakyat Malaysia mengenai anugerah projek National Feedlot Corporation (NFC).
Menjawab
soalan peguam Rafizi dan Zuraida, Ranjit Singh, beliau bersetuju semua
empat petikan Rafizi dan ahli Parlimen Ampang Zuraida Kamaruddin (kiri) yang dinyatakan dalam tuntutan RM100 juta yang difailnya terhadap kedua-dua mereka adalah fitnah dan bertentangan dengan Islam.Ranjit mahu Shahrizat membandingkan kenyataan Rafizi yang dikatakan berunsur fitnah, dan kenyataannya yang lebih kejam dan bertentangan dengan Islam.
Dalam kenyataan saksinya, Shahrizat menyatakan bahawa fitnah adalah dosa besar dalam Islam dan sesuatu yang tidak boleh dimaafkan.
Rafizi, antara lain dalam sidang akhbar pada 30 November 2011, mahu Shahrizat menjelaskan penglibatan keluarganya dalam projek NFC dan jika gagal berbuat demikian, Rafizi mendakwa, ia mungkin boleh menjatuhkan Umno dan BN.
Bagaimanapun, Shahrizat bertindak balas dengan memanggil Rafizi "Si Tanggang" semasa ucapan kepada Wanita Umno yang diketuainya, semasa perhimpunan agung Umno tahun lepas, yang menyifatkan Rafizi sebagai penderhaka, jual agama dan pengkhianat bangsa.
Rafizi dan Zuraida memfailkan tuntutan balas terhadap apa yang dikatakan oleh Shahrizat semasa perhimpunan tersebut.- malaysiakini
cheers.
No comments:
Post a Comment