A dead one-legged chicken at Anwar's service centre a 'provocation'?...

Penang PKR members were shocked today to find a dead chicken hanging outside Anwar Ibrahim’s service centre in Seberang Jaya, leading its Youth wing to lodge a police report on the matter.

The wing wants the police to probe elements of provocation by certain quarters in the symbolic act.

State PKR Youth chief Amir Md Ghazali said he was informed about the dead chicken about 10.40am by one of the service centre’s staff members.

Amir (right) said he was attending a meeting at the Seberang Perai Municipal Council when he received the information by SMS.

Upon receiving the message, he rushed to the centre, located at Seberang Jaya. Amir described the incident as a “provocation by certain quarters” aimed at disrupting Pakatan Rakyat’s programmes for the people, especially those carried out by the Youth wing in Permatang Pauh.

Anwar, who is PKR adviser, is also Permatang Pauh MP.

“We believe this act was done to weaken the resolve of the party’s Youth wing, especially in our efforts to organise a debate on abolishing highway tolls,” Amir said.

“However, we are not threatened by the provocation and will continue with the programme, which will be held in Sungai Dua tonight,” he added.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is expected to speak at the event.

Nor Mohamed invited to debate

An invitation has also been sent to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nor Mohamed Yakcob to debate the issue with Lim.

Nor Mohamed, who is Tasek Gelugor MP, has not responded to the invitation.

Anwar's service centre staff member, Fathilullail Jaafar Sidek, who spotted the dead chicken, said she was not aware of the carcass until she looked at the office gate.

“It was hung quite out of view and I did not realise it at first,” Fathilullail told reporters in the presence of Amir and other members of state PKR Youth wing.

“After parking my motorcycle, I realised that the thing was hanging there, with blood still oozing out, with the chicken's right leg dismembered,” she added.

Fathilullail said she believes the chicken may have been put there between 3am and 10am this morning, as she did not notice anything suspicious when she left the office at 3am. - malaysiakini

 Ayam kaki satu diletak didepan Pusat Khidmat Anwar

Pagi ini saudara Fathilullail bin Jaafar Sidek (petugas Pusat Khidmat Permatang Pauh) terkejut apabila beliau datang ke Pusat Khidmat jam 10 pagi, beliau menjumpai ayam berdarah dengan satu kaki tergantung di Pusat Khidmat Permatang Pauh Dun Seberang Jaya dan Bilik Gerakan AMK Permatang Pauh.

Apakah motif mereka yang tidak bertanggungjawab berbuat demikian? Budaya politik apa yang mahu dibawa ke Malaysia? Budaya berbau ugutan adalah budaya samseng ala umno dan perkasa ujarnya kepada sharpshooter.

Saudara Fathilullail bin Jaafar Sidek merupakan abang kepada Fayyadh Affiq Albaqry Bin Jaafar Sidek yang tercedera ditembak polis dalam demo BERSIH 2.0


Pejuang Kemaafan yang juga anggota Jingga 13 Pulau Pinang berkata beliau berada di Pusat Khidmat ini hingga pukul 3.00 pagi tetapi tiada apa yang berlaku.


Manakala menurut saudara Mohd Saiful beliau berada di Pusat Khidmat ini hingga pukul 7.30 pagi tetapi katanya ayam tersebut tiada. Beliau juga hairan apa motif mereka berbuat demikian.



Ketua AMK Pulau Pinang saudara Amir Ghazali amat kesal dengan kejadian ini dan beliau berkata kemungkinan besar ini ada kaitan dengan debat "GASAK" pada malam ini.

Semalam juga beliau menerima laporan bahawa UMNO dan Perkasa akan datang mengganggu debat malam ini. Sharpshooter difahamkan bahawa kemungkinan besar malam ini YB Parlimen Tasek Gelugor Nor Yaacop tidak berani turun berdebat dengan Lim Guan Eng di Dewan Sg Dua. Besar kemungkinan malam ini Pemuda UMNO dan Perkasa akan ganggu dan membawa budaya samseng.

Amir juga berkata, debat malam ini akan diteruskan dan kita juga telah bersiap sedia dengan segala kemungkinan yang akan berlaku pada malam ini. Beliau menyeru penyokong Pakatan Rakyat usah bimbang untuk hadir beramai-ramai malam ini. - Amizudin Ahmat (Din Binjai)

source:sharpshooterblogger.blogspot.com

cheers.

Umno MP guilty of making false claims...

The sessions court in Shah Alam today found the Umno MP for Sabak Bernam, Abdul Rahman Bakri, guilty on eight counts of making false claims amounting to RM80,000.

Judge Azhaniz Teh Azman Teh delivered the ruling after finding that the defence had failed to raise doubts on the prosecution's case.

Abdul Rahman, 47, was charged with making the claims of RM10,000 each between Jan 21 and Feb 4, 2008, when he was Sungai Ayer Tawar assemblyperson.

The court found him guilty of making eight false claims from his constituency's allocation for a series of non-existing events when he was Sungai Ayer Tawar assemblyperson.

Even if found guilty, there will be no by-election in the constituency, as Abdul Rahman has served more than two-thirds of his elected term.

Meanwhile, his aide Mohd Rusli Busro, who is charged with abetting him in making the false claims, was also found guilty.

If found guilty under theAnti-Corruption Act 1997 charges against him, Abdul Rahman will face up to 20 years in jail and a fine of five times the amount of gratification involved.

Defence to mitigate tomorrow

Judge Azhaniz Teh agreed to hear his mitigation at 11am tomorrow,  after allowing the defence application for this to be put off till then, after which the sentence will be delivered.

Abdul Rahman's lawyer Mohd Afifuddin Hafifi submitted that since the fine could possibly touch RM400,000, "we hope to seek the court's indulgence to postpone the mitigation and sentencing to tomorrow".

This, Afifuddin said, was to allow time for his client to prepare the necessary funds as the amount of fine would be more excessive than the offence.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission head of prosecution Abdul Razak Musa, noted that it was already late and had no objection to the request.- malaysiakini

MP Sabak Bernam didapati bersalah buat tuntutan palsu

Ahli Parlimen Sabak Bernam Abdul Rahman Bakri(kiri) hari ini didapati bersalah terhadap lapan pertuduhan tuntutan palsu yang berjumlah RM80,000, tiga tahun lalu.

Abdul Rahman, 46, didakwa melakukan kesalahan itu semasa dia menjadi Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Sungai Ayer Tawar mewakili Barisan Nasional (BN).

Hakim Mahkamah Sesyen Azhaniz Teh Azman Teh membuat keputusan tersebut selepas mendapati pihak pendakwaan berjaya mengemukakan bukti tanpa keraguan munasabah.

Selain itu, mahkamah turut mendapati pembantu Abdul Rahman, Rosli Busro, 43, bersalah terhadap pertuduhan bersubahat dalam melakukan semua lapan kesalahan yang didakwa.

Abdul Rahman didakwa membuat tuntutan membeli hadiah dan cenderamata serta penganjuran jamuan Program Motivasi Pelajar Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) dan Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) di kawasan Dun Ayer Tawar.

Beliau juga didakwa membuat tuntutan menggunakan butiran palsu mengenai Program Mesra Rakyat dan Hari Keluarga KRT di Dun Sungai Ayer Tawar, Program Forum Perdana Peringkat Mukim Bagan Nakhoda Omar, program Mesra Rakyat dan Hari Keluarga Guru-guru Kemas serta Program Mesra Rakyat serta sambutan Maulud Nabi.

Semua tuntutan palsu itu membabitkan jumlah RM10,000 setiap satu.

Kesalahan itu didakwa dilakukan tertuduh antara 21 Januari hingga 12 Februari 2008 di Pejabat Daerah Sabak Bernam.- FMT

Wakil Rakyat Umno Didapati Buat Tuntutan Palsu

cheers.

Oops...we visited the wrong shopping mall, admits Rafizi...

PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli has apologised for naming the wrong location in Singapore for a premier supermarket that the family of Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil is said to be developing.

Contacted today, he said the shopping mall - where the supermarket will be an anchor tenant - is Rochester Mall located in Rochester Drive and not Star Vista Mall, as he had claimed yesterday.

Rafizi explained that the two malls are next to each other, causing his staff who had gone to view the site, to make a mistake.

"Our men who went to recce made a mistake. They went to the wrong shopping mall. We have checked again. They found the location of supermarket in another shopping mall - Rochester Mall," he said.

In a statement issued later, Rafizi said a fresh check this morning with Malaysians living in Singapore had confirmed the correct shopping mall.

However he defended other allegations made at a press conference yesterday, during which he had revealed his suspicion that Shahrizat's family members had misused the RM250 million government soft loan to the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC), to open the supermarket in their personal names.

‘No denial from NFC’

Farmhouse Supermarkets Pte Ltd, owned by Shahrizat's husband and two children, has rented 28 units on the second floor of the mall. The project, developed by UE One-North Developments Pte Ltd, consists of Rochester Mall and luxurious condominiums..
The website  of Rochester Mall lists Farmhouse Supermarket as its biggest tenant on the second floor.

“I'm of the view that since Rochester Mall is just next to Star Vista, the estimated rental made by me yesterday based on the report of Competition Commission of Singapore should not differ much," Rafizi commented.


 He cited a report published by English daily The Malay Mail today, in which NFC chairperson Mohamad Salleh Ismail did not deny the existence of the supermarket project.

"I openly apologise to (the owner of Star Vista Mall) CapitalMall and NFC for the factual mistake, but it does not dismiss the various questions arising from the involvement of NFC in operating a luxury supermarket in Singapore," he added.-malaysiakini

Oops...pasaraya NFC bukan di Star Villa tapi di Rochester Mall...

Pengarah strategi PKR, Rafizi Ramli mengakui kesilapannya berhubung lokasi pasaraya yang didakwa dimiliki National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) di Singapura.

Ketika ditanya, beliau hari ini mendakwa, lokasi sebenar pasaraya itu ialah Rochester Mall yang terletak di Rochester Drive, Singapura dan bukannya di Star Vista Mall seperti yang didakwanya semalam.

Jelasnya, kedua-dua pusat membeli-belah itu terletak berdekatan di antara satu sama lain dan petugasnya yang membuat pengesanan itu telah berkunjung ke lokasi yang salah.

"Orang kita yang pergi kesan itu buat kesilapan. Mereka pergi ke pusat membeli belah yang salah.

"Kita telah periksa semula. Mereka dapati (lokasi pasaraya) itu di satu lagi pusat membeli-belah – Rochester Mall," katanya.

Bercakap ketika dihubungi Malaysiakini hari ini beliau berkata Rochester Mall juga telah dibuka dan beroperasi sejak beberapa lama.

Dalam kenyataannya, Rafizi berkata beliau memandang berat kesilapan tersebut, ekoran kenyataan daripada pemilik Star Vista bahawa kompleks beli belah itu tidak mempunyai kaitan dengan pasaraya berkenaan – Farmhouse Supermarket Pte Ltd.

Beliau turut memohon maaf secara terbuka kepada syarikat pemilik pusat membeli belah Star Vista  dan juga kepada NFC atas kesilapan fakta itu.

"(Namun) ia tidak memadamkan pelbagai persoalan yang timbul mengenai pembabitan NFC di dalam operasi pasaraya mewah di Singapura," katanya.

Beliau percaya bahawa kesilapan yang dilakukannya hanyalah berhubung alamat sebenar premis berkenaan manakala maklumat lain yang didedahkannya semalam adalah "tepat."

"Kenyataan Dato’ Seri Salleh Ismail yang disiarkan oleh The Malay Mail bertarikh 29 Februari 2012 juga mengesahkan bahawa NFC tidak menafikan kewujudan pasaraya mewah ini, malah masih mempertahankan hak mereka untuk menceburi apa-apa perniagaan yang mereka rasa sesuai," katanya.

Beliau juga mendakwa Farmhouse menyewa 28 unit kedai di kompleks menara berkembar tersebut.

"Semakan di laman rasmi Rochester Mall jelas menyenaraikan Farmhouse Supermarket sebagai salah satu penyewa mereka.

"Maklumat di laman itu juga mengesahkan bahawa Farmhouse Supermarket adalah penyewa terbesar di tingkat 2, berbanding kedai-kedai lain," katanya lagi.

Tambahnya beliau juga berpendapat bahawa anggaran sewa di Rochester Mall tidak banyak berbeza seperti Star Vista seperti laporan Competition Commission of Singapore.- malaysiakini

cheers.

PAS would have to distribute Anwar's sex videos(if) we were still with UMNO...

The reality is Umno is losing Malay support, said PAS research head Dzulkefly Ahmad, stressing that it is “undeniable” the community has been split for years.  

“But the real question that should be asked is why is the Malay support leaving Umno,” he said at a forum titled ‘Why are Malay votes split?’.

“Before, it was just between just Umno and PAS... first in 1969 and then again in 2008... today Malays are in PAS, PKR and DAP,” said the Kuala Selangor MP.

However, the split should not be regarded as a “curse” and “is necessary to save the Malay race”, Dzulkefly (right) said at the Shah Alam forum, organised by Kumpulan KarangKraf.

He recounted that PAS, which was allied with Umno from 1974 to 1978, severed ties  after falling out, with the latter claiming that Umno’s governance of the country has led to various issues affecting Muslims.

Dzulkefly added that it was for the benefit of Malays because PAS has since made progress, together with its coalition partners in Pakatan Rakyat, in ensuring that there are checks and balances in the country’s administration.
 

“We would have to distribute sex videos (allegedly) of Anwar Ibrahim (if) we were still with Umno,” he said.

The Malay community which accounts for 60.3 percent of the population, will have a harder time deciding on who vote for if Malay-rights groups such as Jalur Tiga (Jati) and Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa (Perkasa) decide to field independent candidates, he added.

‘Lack of a common vision’

Perkasa information chief Ruslan Kasim, however, said the existence of various politic parties is not the reason the community is divided but the lack of a common vision.
“If we were to look back at history, Malays as well as the Chinese and the Indians, were united in opposing the formation of the Malayan Union and in the defeating the British colonisers.

“Today we need to identify a common vision,” suggested Ruslan ( right), stressing that Malays have to come together when it concerns faith.

Johor PKR chief Dr Chua Jui Meng, who was also among the panellists, also concurred with Dzulkefly that the rift is evident. However, he opined that race-based politics are becoming “irrelevant”.

Chua (left) said that instead of targetting votes from a certain community, political parties should be gunning on issues of rampant corruption and abuse of public funds.

Targetting Perkasa, he said, the NGO should be more vocal on issues like he National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) controversy, capital flight and submarine commissions.

Ruslan, however, said that such matter are under investigation, particularly NFC, which is being probed by the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

However, Pandan MCA parliamentarian Ong Tee Keat said that the split is apparent among all communities irrespective of race

“Let’s not hold on to the zero-sum game mindset. It does not mean that if one race is divided, another race will benefit,” he reminded, adding that racial polemics has to avoided to pave the way forward.

PAS kena edar video lucah Anwar kalau masih mahu bersama UMNO...

Pengarah penyelidikan PAS Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad perpecahan di kalangan orang Melayu tidak dapat dinafikan apabila wujud dua parti utama dari kalangan anggota masyarakat tersebut -- PAS dan Umno.

Katanya, perpecahan itu juga tidak harus dilihat sebagai satu masalah sebaliknya sebagai keuntungan kepada rakyat.
 
"Itu bukan dosa tetapi wajar untuk selamatkan orang Melayu," katanya dalam satu program wacana di Shah Alam hari ini.

Katanya, keadaan itu sendiri boleh dilihat dalam sejarah apabila para ulama dalam Umno bertindak keluar daripada pergerakan itu dan membentuk PAS.

Para ulama berkenaan bertindak demikian sebagai membantah tindakan kerajaan pada masa itu berhubung isu melibatkan umat Islam termasuk "isu loteri," katanya.

Keuntungan itu juga boleh dilihat hari ini apabila PAS kini semakin berpengaruh bersama anggota Pakatan Rakyat di Parlimen untuk menjalankan fungsi semak dan imbang.

Tambahnya, isu perpaduan Melayu itu juga timbul memandangkan Umno kini berada dalam keadaan lemah, seperti ketika selepas pilihan raya 1969.

Katanya lagi, PAS lebih mudah untuk bersama dengan DAP berbanding Umno kerana asas kerjasama tersebut adalah untuk kebaikan bersama.

"Kami kena edar video lucah Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim kalau masih bersama Umno," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika mengulas pandangan seorang lagi ahli panel, Ruslan Kassim yang berkata umat Melayu perlu bersatu dalam asas akidah Islam.

"Macam mana PAS boleh bersama dengan DAP tetapi tidak bersama Umno," soal pemimpin pertubuhan PERKASA itu lagi.
 
Ruslan juga dicabar untuk menyatakan pendiriannya berhubung pendirian PERKASA berhubung isu rasuah yang mendapat perhatian ramai.

Seorang lagi ahli panel, pengerusi PKR Johor Datuk Dr Chua Jui Meng berkata, PERKASA sepatutnya mengutarakan isu seperti "lembu kondo", komisyen pembelian kapal selam dan juga isu pelarian modal.

Ruslan(kanan) berkata, dakwaan melibatkan National Feedlot Corporation itu sedang disiasat dan isu berhubung pendakwaan itu tertakluk kepada peguam negara.

"Kita janganlah dahului mahkamah," kata bekas majistret itu lagi.

Ruslan yang diasak oleh moderator forum selepas itu berkata, PERKASA juga berpendirian sama dalam kes Liwat II yang dihadapi ketua pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Ketika ditanya dalam sidang media selepas itu, Ruslan berkata Anwar sering menyebut mengenai "perangkap konspirasi" dan betapa bekas timbalan perdana menteri itu tidak terperanjat dengan keputusan yang akan dibuat mahkamah.

"(Anwar kata) dah tahu, tinggal baca keputusan saja. Kita tak setujulah.

"Dulu kata konspirasi, mahkamah diperalat, tapi sekarang dah lain," katanya lagi.

Seorang lagi ahli panel program wacana anjuran akhbar Sinar Harian itu ialah bekas presiden MCA, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

Najib, mengapa projek lembu tak diserah pada Felda...

Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, yang membisu berhubung skandal syarikat Perbadanan Fidlot Kebangsaan (NFC) digesa menjelaskan mengapa syarikat milik Ketua Wanita Umno, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil dipilih menguruskan projek mega ternakan lembu itu dan bukannya syarikat Felda yang turut membuat bidaan.

Menurut Pengarah Strategi PKR Rafizi Ramli (kiri), Najib bersikap hipokrit apabila memperbesar-besarkan sumbangan beliau kepada peneroka Felda tetapi pada masa yang sama tidak memberikan projek bernilai lebih RM300 juta yang boleh memberi manfaat kepada ribuan peneroka kepada syarikat yang dimiliki oleh Felda.

Memetik jawapan yang diberikan oleh Menteri Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani, Datuk Seri Noh Omar di Dewan Rakyat pada 31 Oktober tahun lalu, Rafizi berkata Najib yang merupakan Timbalan Perdana Menteri ketika itu, mempengerusikan Jawatankuasa Pemilihan Projek Fidlot Negara pada tahun 2006.

Jawatankuasa itu menerima bidaan daripada enam syarikat, termasuk dari Felda Farm Products Sdn Bhd, anak syarikat Felda Plantations Sdn Bhd, dan Agroscience Industries Sdn Bhd bagi mendapatkan projek mega itu.
 
Jawatankuasa itu kemudiannya memilih Agroscience Industries dan Lamberts Agriculture Trade (M) Sdn Bhd untuk dipertimbangkan lanjut tetapi Lamberts kemudian menarik diri. Justeru, Agroscience Industries menjadi syarikat tunggal untuk melaksanakan projek itu.

Membandingkan profil semua enam syarikat yang membuat bidaan itu, berdasarkan dokumen yang diperolehi, Rafizi, seorang eksekutif korporat sebelum menceburi dunia politik, berkata, beliau membuat kesimpulan bahawa Felda Farm Products adalah syarikat terbaik untuk melaksanakan projek ini.

Syarikat itu ditubuhkan pada tahun 1995 dengan modal berbayar sebanyak RM10 juta dan pada 31 Disember 2010 telah membuat keuntungan RM9.6 juta.

Manakala Agroscience Industries yang hanya ditubuhkan setahun sebelum kontrak dianugerahkan tidak mempunyai pengalaman dalam perternakan  lembu.

"Tidak perlu seorang genius untuk memikirkan mana syarikat terbaik untuk diberikan projek itu," kata Rafizi.

"Najib tidak boleh lepas tangan dan berdiam diri seperti apa yang dilakukannya sejak enam bulan yang lalu."Beliau sama seperti (bekas Perdana Menteri) Pak Lah sekarang. Malah, beliau lebih senyap berbanding Pak Lah ... Tandatangannya ada pada projek ini.

"Jika beliau tidak memberi maklum balas, kami akan mendedahkan sesuatu," kata Rafizi, sambil mencabar Najib untuk menjadi ‘lelaki budiman’ (gentleman).

"Saya tidak mahu menggunakan perkataan pengecut. Tetapi setakat ini perkataan untuk menggambarkan Najib yang meninggalkan Shahrizat keseorangan menangkis isu ini, adalah bukan lelaki budiman."-malaysiakini

 

Najib, why not cattle project for Felda subsidiary?

PKR today called Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who has been seen as silent on the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) scandal, to explain why he did not choose a Felda subsidiary that had also bid for the cattle breeding project.

Najib has to tell the people why he picked the company owned by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil's family to undertake the mega project, the party said.

It is hypocritical of the premier to trumpet his contributions to Felda settlers and not give the project, worth more than RM300 million and which can benefit the settlers, to a company owned by Felda, the opposition party added.

Citing the answer of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Noh Omar, in Parliament on Oct 31, 2011, PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli (left in photo) pointed out that Najib, who was deputy prime minister then, chaired the National Feedlot Project Anchor Company Selection Committee in 2006.

The committee invited six companies, including Felda Farm Products Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Felda Plantations Sdn Bhd, and Agroscience Industries Sdn Bhd to submit their biddings for the mega project.

Eventually, the committee shortlisted Agroscience Industries and Lamberts Agriculture Trade (M) Sdn Bhd, but Lamberts withdrew, making Agroscience Industries the sole company to execute the project.

Comparing the profiles of all six companies, based on documents obtained from company searches, Rafizi, a corporate executive before venturing into politics, concluded that Felda Farm Products was the best company for the project.

The company was established in 1995 with a paid-up capital of RM10 million and RM9.6 million as revenue as of Dec 31, 2010, while Agroscience Industries was only formed a year before the contract was awarded, and had no experience in cattle farming.

“It does not take a genius to figure out which should be the best company to take over the project,” said Rafizi.

“Najib cannot wash his hands and keep quiet like what he has done in the last six months.

“He is like (former prime minister) Pak Lah now. He is quieter than Pak Lah... He has his signature on the project.

“If he doesn’t respond, we’ll bring something on him,” warned Rafizi, adding that the premier “is not a gentleman”.

“"I don’t want to use the word coward. But the only word to describe Najib for leaving Shahrizat alone to fend off the issue so far, is not gentleman.”

Natural choice among six companies

Asked about the RM22 million loss suffered by Felda Farm Products as shown in the financial documents, Rafizi, who is also the chief executive officer of the Selangor Economic Adviser's Office, argued that the major criteria to evaluate the size and operations of a company is its revenue.

He said the loss may not reflect the company’s performance unless more details were available.

“Felda may not be the best company, that’s why the government should call for an open tender.

"If I was Najib, my natural choice among these six companies would be Felda Farm Products because the other five were just formed yesterday,” he stressed.
Furthermore, Rafizi elaborated, Felda possesses huge land and its settlers can be readily trained to farm cattle.

“Najib is responsible for granting the project to Shahrizat’s family. If he had given it to Felda, we would not have the mess now,” he added.

Hence PKR demanded the premier to publish all minutes of the selection committee meetings and explain: Why he sidelined Felda Farm Products in awarding the project; and what was the criteria used by him to award the project? - malaysiakini

Najib was the one who chose the Shahrizats for NFC, sidelining Felda

It was Prime Minister Najib Razak who selected a company owned by the family of Umno minister Shahrizat Jalil to be awarded the NFC cattle breeding project, whilst his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin endorsed the decision in his then capacity as Agriculture minister in 2006.

Najib, apart from heading the selection committee which also picked Lambert Sdn Bhd for a slice of the NFC project, also came under fire for not considering Felda, the national land resettlement scheme that falls under his direct supervision.

“The anchor company selection committee for the NFC was chaired by Datuk Seri Najib Razak. He must explain how he can talk about fighting for Felda with the public listing but did not give the project which would have benefited the settlers,” PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli told a press conference.

Why no open tender and why not Felda

Indeed, the other shocker from Tuesday's revelations was the ruthless manner in which Najib had sidelined the interests of Felda, which given its land bank and agricultural experience, would surely be the most appropriate agency to be given first shot at the project. "Felda has the land and they need to value-add their operations," said Rafizi.

Indeed, 6 firms including Felda Farm Product Sdn Bhd, Group Five Bonsmara Breeding Centre Sdn Bhd, Agroscience Industries Sdn Bhd, Lamberts Agriculture Trade (M) Sdn Bhd, MIG Farm Sdn Bhd and MLC Industries Sdn Bhd were invited by the government to tender for NFC.

Yet, Najib chose Agro Science, the least experienced of the lot, and Lamberts, which is a unit of an Australian firm that had drawn up a master proposal for the project. Lamberts was given 500 acres to develop and Agro Science 5,000 acres.

Umno's quagmire of corruption and treachery

The National Feedlot Centre project has become a showcase of Umno political patronage, corruption and treachery, with key factions involved in the deal.

Najib was then the deputy prime minister and whie he may have headed the NFC selection committee, according to the Umno grapevine, it was Abdullah Badawi - the then prime minister - and his son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin who had allegedly 'pre-selected' the Shahrizats for the project, which also carried in tow a RM250mil government soft loan.

Which is the true story story and who was really at fault - Najib, Muhyiddin, Badawi or Khairy - is unlikely to be ever made clear, especially officially, although all three factions will spread their version of the truth through their blogs and media.

Regardless of who was to blame, what is clear is that Malaysian public gets the short end of the stick, together with Felda - which has been looking for a good viable project to add to its planting activities for a long time now.

The NFC project - awarded to Agro Science which in turn set up NFCorp to manage it - has been described has having fundamental "weaknesses" by the Auditor General.

Revelations by Rafizi and his team, which includes PKR Women's chief Zuraida Kamaruddin and Felda bureau chief Suhaimi Said, that NFCorp had abused its powers, including splurging a large chunk of the loan on luxury condominiums, overseas holidays, credit card purchases, giving million-ringgit discounts to other family-owned firms, have stunned and angered Malaysians who want those responsible to face action.

So far, Shahrizat has insisted the NFC was awarded to her family and there was no reason for her to resign as she was not involved in the project's dealings. Her defense was ripped apart and condemned even by her own Umno colleagues.

Top Umno leaders such as Muhyiddin Yassin have been hesitant about the sort of action to take, while Najib has hinted that it was possible that the Attorney-General may not take action against the Shahrizats.

"Who then should pay for all the government loan used for the wrong purposes? What about interest on the free use of the government loan? Frankly, even if the Shahrizats have managed to make enough money from investing in the condos and what-not, it is still illegal and against the Companies Act to use a government loan for making non-related purchases or to 'sub-lend' to the directors. Who will punish the Shahrizats or will Umno let them off, so as long as they make good the RM250mil as Nazri Aziz had once proposed," Zuraida told Malaysia Chronicle.

Umno standing up for corruption

Indeed, Nazri - the minister in the PM's Department - had several weeks ago dropped a bombshell by proposing that Shahrizat need not resign so long as her family paid back the money they owed NFC. Obviously, Nazri was immediately denounced for his suggestion, which civil society and transparency advocates said was tantamount to supporting and whitewashing corruption.

Nonetheless, Najib himself has sounded warning that despite the police recommendation for Salleh Ismail, Shahrizat's husband and the NFC chairman, to be charged for CBT, it was not incumbent on the Attorney General to prosecute or to arrest Salleh.

“I am saying this on the principle that assumptions cannot be made on what is going to happen (next) because it is up to the A-G ... and only he has the right to make the decision in this matter. We cannot make the assumption that all investigations end with prosecution,” Najib told reporters on Sunday.- Malaysia Chronicle

cheers.

NFC bosses to open supermart in S'pore...

Frustrated by the inaction of the authorities on the National Feedlot Centre scandal, PKR claimed today that Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil's family was in the midst of operating an upmarket supermarket in Singapore.

The new venture may be funded with the RM250 million government soft loan given to NFC, the opposition party added.

The supermarket operator, Singapore-registered Farmhouse Supermarkets Pte Ltd, is jointly owned by Mohd Salleh Ismail, second son Wan Shahinur Izran and youngest daughter Wan Izzana Fatimah Zabedah.

They are family members of Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli said today that Farmhouse had entered into an agreement with a luxury retail mall named Star Vista, to be its anchor tenant, taking up 28 units on the second floor.

Rafizi has made a site visit to the mall which is under construction at a prime location near Nanyang Technology University.

A check with the Singapore Competition Commission revealed that the retail rental at such locations goes at S$350-500 per sq m, which means that floor area of some 3,000 sq m floor would cost Farmhouse about S$900,000 a month or RM2.2 million a month, he added.

Rafizi  said he believes that the company's financial documents show that the modus operandi used by NFC to purchase luxury condominiums in Singapore has been repeated in the supermarket business.

He said the RM250 million government soft loan intended for the National Feedlot Centre project was used as collateral to get extended loan facility from two banks - Maybank and UOB.

The supermarket is expected to be operational later this year when the mall opens, said Rafizi.

'Freeze personal assets, too'

Worrying that part of the government soft loan will now be sunk into the supermarket business, Rafizi demanded a freeze - not just of NFC's assets, but all the personal assets of Shahrizat's family members.

He said it is obvious that money from the soft loan has been transferred to other companies under their names.

"PKR urges NFC to come clean on its financial commitments through Farmhouse, including the rental agreement signed. Before this, they wanted a restaurant to promote the beef, that's fair, but what about supermarket?"

During the press conference at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya, Rafizi distributed copies of a recruitment advertisement placed by Farmhouse from Jan 17 to Feb 16 in the republic.

"The advertisement was published after (Prime Minister) Najib (Abdul Razak) announced that NFC assets have been frozen. Even as the country boils in anger, you have the family of Shahrizat doing business as usual," he quipped.

Najib had announced the freeze of NFC assets pending the completion of investigations, but the company has claimed that it is still "business as usual".
If the authorities still fail to act, warned Rafizi, PKR will do a weekly expose on the scandal until the Parliament sits next month.

Ampang MP Zuraidah Kamaruddin, who was present, threatened to move an urgent motion in Parliament if the government does not take action.

When contacted, NFC executive director Wan Shahinur Izran said the company will issue a statement on the allegation soon.- malaysiakini

Questions raised over Singapore supermarket owned by Shahrizat’s family

NFCorp terlibat perniagaan pasaraya mewah di Singapura

PKR hari ini mendedahkan National Feedlot Corporation(NFCorp) turut terlibat dalam perniagaan pasaraya mewah di Singapura, selain tiga buah restoran dan pelaburan RM44 juta kondominium  di republik  itu. 

Menurut Pengarah Strategi KEADILAN, Rafizi Ramli, perniagaan itu dikendalikan syarikat Farmhouse Supermarkets Pte Ltd yang dimiliki suami Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil – Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh Ismail dan dua anak mereka, Wan Shahinur Izram Salleh dan Wan Izrarana Fatimah Zabedah.

Siasatannya  mendapati Farmhouse Supermarkets Pte Ltd  menjadi penyewa utama kepada kompleks pasaraya mewah Star Vista, di kawasan elit berdekatan Nanyang Technology University.

“Pasaraya yang diusahakan oleh Farmhouse Supermarkets Pte Ltd ini dijangka mula beroperasi dalam suku ketiga tahun ini, apabila kompleks Star Vista siap,” jelas beliau dalam sidang media di Ibu Pejabat KEADILAN hari ini.

Syarikat itu juga, katanya, telah menandatangani perjanjian sewaan dengan pemaju, CapitalMalls bagi 28 unit ruang kedai di kompleks tersebut.

Sewa ruang kedai yang setiap satu berkeluasan 3,000 meter persegi itu dianggar mencecah S$900,000 sebulan atau RM2.2 juta, mengikut harga pasaran semasa.

“Sudah tentu perniagaan pasaraya ini akan dibiayai oleh dana awam yang disalurkan bagi tujuan penternakan lembu seperti yang dimandatkan oleh NFC, seperti yang berlaku di dalam pembelian-pembelian aset mewah lain sebelum ini,” tegasnya.

Sehubungan itu,  katanya, KEADILAN mendesak  NFC menjelaskan komitmen kewangan yang telah dibuat melalui Farmhouse Supermarkets Pte Ltd, termasuk perjanjian sewaan yang telah dimeterai.

“Tindakan tegas perlu dilakukan segera untuk merampas kembali kesemua dana yang telah diselewengkan secepat mungkin dan mendakwa individu terbabit di mahkamah atas tuduhan pecah amanah dan jenayah perdagangan.

“Jika ini tidak berlaku dalam minggu ini, KEADILAN akan melakukan pendedahan setiap minggu hinggalah Dewan Rakyat bersidang pertengahan bulan Mac ini,” tegas beliau. - keadilandaily

NFC beli pasaraya pula di Singapura

Kecewa dengan kegagalan kerajaan bertindak terhadap syarikat penternakan lembu Perbadanan Fidlot Kebangsaan (NCFC) yang didakwa terbabit dengan penyelewengan dana RM250 juta, PKR hari ini mendedahkan bahawa syarikat berkenaan memiliki sebuah pasaraya mewah di Singapura.

Pengendali pasar raya itu yang berdaftar di Singapura, Farmhouse Supermarkets Pte Ltd dimiliki bersama oleh suami Ketua Wanita Umno Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil - Datuk Mohd Salleh Ismail - bersama dua anak mereka, Wan Shahinur Izran, dan Wan Izzana Fatimah Zabedah.
Menurut Pengarah Strategi PKR Rafizi Ramli, Farmhouse memeterai perjanjian dengan pusat peruncitan mewah yang dinamakan Star Vista, untuk menjadi penyewa utama pusat membeli-belah itu dengan menyewa 28 unit di tingkat dua.

Rafizi juga telah mengunjungi tapak pusat membeli-belah yang masih dalam pembinaan di lokasi utama berhampiran Universiti Teknologi Nanyang di Singapura.

Semakan dengan Suruhanjaya Persaingan, kata Rafizi mendedahkan bahawa sewa di lokasi utama itu adalah sekitar harga SGD350 hingga SGD500 bagi setiap meter persegi.

Justeru, katanya ini bermakna sewa bulanan bagi kira-kira 3,000 meter persegi yang disewa di pusat membeli-belah yang disewa dari Farmhouse adalah sekitar SGD900,000 atau RM2.2 juta.- malaysiakini

cheers.

Najib ingat rakyat bodoh pasal SPRM dan undi 2/3...

Kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN) tidak memerlukan kemenangan dua per tiga daripada kerusi Parlimen untuk meningkatkan keupayaan Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) kerana cadangan sedemikian tidak seharusnya dibandingkan dengan Pakatan Rakyat (PR), kata pemimpinnya.

Kepimpinan pembangkang berkata kepada The Malaysian Insider bahawa setiap langkah yang diambil bagi mempertingkatkan kadar efisiensi dan akauntabiliti badan pencegahan rasuah berkenaan amat dialu-alukan, dan bersedia untuk berdevat berkenaan perkara itu ketika sidang Dewan Rakyat akan datang di Parlimen. 

Presiden Majlis Peguam, Lim Chee Wee(kiri) menambah, tiada sebab mengapa

ahli parlimen tidak akan mengundi terhadap pindaan terhadap Perlembagaan Persekutuan yang amat dialu-alukan itu sekiranya dilaksanakan demi kepentingan rakyat.

Mereka semua memberikan maklum balas terhadap kenyataan Datuk Seri Najib Razak, semalam yang berjanji akan memberikan kebebasan kepada SPRM untuk melantik dan memecat keanggotaan pegawai mereka sekiranya BN menguasai dua per tiga majoriti kerusi Parlimen dalam pilihan raya akan datang.

Liew Chin Tong

Setiausaha Antarabangsa DAP,  Liew Chin Tong menyelar kenyataan perdana menteri itu dan berkata perlu ada perbincangan teliti dengan pembangkang berhubung perkara itu.

“Ini adalah kerja sia-sia, secara prinsipnya kami bersetuju untuk memperkukuhkan SPRM, demi kebaikan orang ramai. Tapi tidak timbul persoalan berkenaan keperluan majoriti dua per tiga dewan.

“Prinsipnya kami bersetuju, dan berasakan adanya keperluan meletakkan SPRM di bawah bidang kuasa Parlimen, dan bukannya di bawah seliaan Pejabat Perdana Mendteri,” katanya kepada  The Malaysian Insider .

Ahli Parlimen Bukit Bendera itu berkata dalam setiap undang-undang demokrasi matang, perbincangan yang teliti setiap pihak perlu diambil kira.

Menurut beliau, Najib memandai-mandai merasakan pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat tidak akan bersetuju denan cadangan panel penasihat.

“Pembangkang sangat gembira untuk bekerjasama,” tambahnya.

Dr Mujahid

Ahli jawatankuasa PAS Pusat, Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa menegaskan, pindaan terdahulu terhadap fungsi dan “mengukuhkan” SPRM, dan masalah sebenarnya adalah memastikan badan anti rasuah ini bebas daripada “campurtangan politik”.

“Tidak perlu dua pertiga. Isunya bukan sebab kekuatan, tapi lebih kepada autonomi SPRM untuk menjalankan tugas,” katanya kepada  The Malaysian Insider .

“Pakatan Rakyat telah bersetuju untuk melaksanakan perubahan terhadap SPRM, berdasarkan cadangan kepada panel penasihat,” tambah pemimpin PAS ini.

Nurul Izzah

Naib Presiden PKR, Nurul Izzah Anwar berkata kepada  The Malaysian Insider , kenyataan Najib itu seolah-olah menunjukkan SPRM tidak mempunyai keupayaan untuk mengawal rasuah di negara ini.

“Orang ramai patut menolak pemimpin sedemikian. Sejarah membuktikan apabila mereka menang dengan majoriti yang besar, mereka tidak akan teragak-agak untuk menyalahgunakan kuasa,” katanya.

Lim menegaskan kedua-dua BN dan PR menunjukkan “kematangan” dengan dwi-partisan Jawatakuasa Khas Pilihan Parlimen (PSC) dalam pembaharuan pilihan raya.

“Oleh itu tiada sebab kenapa perkara ini tidak boleh disamakan dengan keperluan dan kelebihan pindaan Perlembagaan,” katanya kepada  The Malaysian Insider .

Peguam itu bagaimanapun mempersoalkan Najib yang menyebut berkenaan Ketua SPRM setaraf dengan Peguam Negara dan Ketua Audit Negara, dan menyatakan masing-masinh mempunyai had berbeza dalam penafsiran mereka.

“Persoalan yang timbul daripada kenyataan perdana menteri adalah kesamaan taraf Ketua Pesuruhjaya SPRM dan Peguam Negara dan Ketua Audit Negara.

“Bekas itu mempunyai budi bicara tak terkekang, menjadikan beliau berkemungkinan lelaki paling berkuasa du Malaysia. Seperti diterangkan dalam Akta Audit 1957,” jelas presiden Majlis Peguam.

MACC revamp doesn’t need two-thirds parliamentary majority

The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) does not need to win two-thirds control of Parliament to improve the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) as such plans would not necessarily be opposed by Pakatan Rakyat (PR), say its lawmakers. 

Opposition lawmakers told The Malaysian Insider that any steps to improve the efficiency and accountability of the anti-graft body should be welcomed, and that they will be open to debating the matter in Parliament at its next sitting.

Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee said there should be no reason why MPs “across the floor” would not vote in favour of amendments to the Federal Constitution if it was done in the interest of the nation.

They were responding to Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who pledged yesterday to give more freedom to the MACC in the appointment of its officers if BN wins two-thirds control of Parliament in the next general election.

Liew said there was no question of needing a two-thirds majority.

DAP international secretary Liew Chin Tong rubbished the prime minister’s remarks, saying that there should be a proper level of consultation with opposition lawmakers on the matter. 

“This is nonsense. In principle we agree on empowering the MACC for the betterment of the public. There is no question on needing a two-thirds majority.

“In principle we agree, and think that the MACC should be placed under the jurisdiction of Parliament, and not the Prime Minister’s Office,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

The Bukit Bendera MP said that in any mature democracy where laws are made, proper consultation on all levels needs to take place.

He said Najib was presumptuous to think PR lawmakers would not agree to some of the recommendations of the advisory panel.

“The opposition is happy to be consulted,” he added.

PAS central committee member Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa stressed that past amendments to the purpose and function of the MACC had already “empowered” the commission, and that the real problem was ensuring the anti-graft body was free from “political interference.”

“You don’t need two thirds. Issue is not about strengthening, but more of allowing autonomy to MACC to carry out its duties,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

“Pakatan Rakyat has agreed to reform measures for the MACC, based on proposals by the advisory panel,” the PAS leader added.

PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar told The Malaysian Insider that Najib’s remarks were an admission that the MACC did not have enough clout to tackle corruption in the country.

Mujahid said the issue was more of giving the MACC the autonomy to carry out its duties.

“The people should reject this kind political motivation from a leader. History has shown that when BN rules with a bigger majority, they are not afraid to abuse their powers,” she said. 

The Bar Council’s Lim pointed out that both BN and PR MPs had demonstrated “some amount of maturity” with regards to the bipartisan Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reforms.

“Thus there is no reason why this cannot equally be the case with necessary and advantageous amendments to the Federal Constitution,” he said.

The lawyer however questioned Najib’s mention of a proposal to elevate the status of the MACC chief commissioner to a standing equal to the Attorney-General or Auditor-General, stating that both had different limits to their jurisdiction.

“A question which arises from the PM’s statement is the meaning of equal standing of the chief commissioner of MACC to the Honourable Attorney-General and Auditor-General.

“The former has unfettered discretion to prosecute, making him probably the most powerful man in Malaysia. Whilst the latter’s powers, duties are prescribed the Audit Act 1957,” said the Bar Council president.

source:malaysian insider

cheers.

Tajudin Ramli settlement - Mahathir's legacy of losses lives on...

Recently, the past has fast cascaded into the present - or to be more specific, the Mahathir Mohamad past has cascaded into the Najib Abdul Razak present.

Today the High Court in Kuala Lumpur fixed March 5 to decide whether to end the multi-billion ringgit legal battle between Malaysian Airlines (MAS) and Tajudin Ramli, by striking out MAS’ mega claims against Tajudin as well as his RM500 million counter-claim against the government and the national carrier.

Tajudin has been entangled in a complicated series of expensive suits, countersuits and appeals with various parties arising from his failure to service a billion ringgit loan he took to purchase a major stake in MAS in 1994. Tajudin was the executive chairperson of the airline from 1994 to 2001.


In 2002, MAS lodged its first police report against Tajuddin, accusing him of allegedly causing the flag carrier to suffer losses in excess of RM8 billion.

According to a report to the Anti-Corruption Agency, a major contributor to the record losses under Tajudin was the relocation of MAS’s cargo operation in Amsterdam and Frankfurt to a single hub in Hahn, Germany, where the airline was forced to enter into a disadvantageous aircraft lease contract with a company, which was later linked to Tajudin’s family.

The new cargo hub operation had caused MAS to suffer losses of between RM10 million and RM16 million a month before the project was terminated after the government regained control of MAS in 2001.

The termination resulted in a RM300 million arbitration claim against MAS by the company.

MAS has had a turbulent past decade after the government bought back the airline from the former corporate high-flyer at RM8 per share or about double the market price at the time. The airline was at the time saddled with a debt reported to be RM9.5 billion.

In 2009, Danaharta and two of its subsidiaries won a RM589.143 million suit against Tajudin. The case arose after the tycoon borrowed RM1.792 billion from a group of syndicated lenders in1994 to purchase a 32 per cent stake in MAS.

However, from 1994 to 1998 he failed to service the original loan, causing it to become a non-performing loan (NPL).

In 1998, Danaharta acquired the NPL from the lenders but Tajudin also failed to settle his debts to Danaharta until it was in default of RM1.41 billion as at October 8, 2001.

As part of a settlement agreement, Tajudin was to pay RM942 million in four instalments over three years and that he was permitted to redeem his charged shares at a minimum price per share.

Settlement agreement was terminated

Tajudin, however, defaulted in the payment of the quarterly interest payable under the settlement agreement and on April 27, 2002, the plaintiffs terminated the settlement agreement and demanded RM1.61 billion from him.

On April 29, 2002, Danaharta, together with its subsidiaries Danaharta Urus Sdn Bhd and Danaharta Managers Sdn Bhd, sold part of the charged shares consisting entirely of Technology Resources Industries (TRI) shares at RM2.75 per share, resulting in total proceeds of RM717.39 million.

As at Dec 31, 2005, the amount outstanding was RM589.14 million and on May 11, 2006, Danaharta and the subsidiaries commenced action to recover the money. The national asset management company won its case against Tajudin in 2009.

But the ex-MAS chief filed a counter suit claiming RM13.46 billion from some 22 parties and individuals.

Tajudin alleged, in his affidavit, that he was directed by former prime minister Mahathir and former finance minister Daim Zainudin in 1994 to buy a controlling stake in MAS to bail out the government.

Tajudin had claimed that former premier Mahathir had made him buy MAS to help bail out Bank Negara after the central bank suffered massive foreign exchange losses due partly to speculation in foreign currency markets as a “national service” with an “Overriding Agreement” to indemnify him against any losses suffered.

Although Tajudin’s claim has been denied by Mahathir, the former prime minister’s rebuttal has little credibility.

Last August, Putrajaya intervened and commenced action to put an end to the controversial legal battle by ordering all suits against Tajudin to be dropped.

On Feb 14, Danaharta and Tajudin reached “out-of-court settlement”,  the terms of which remain confidential between the two parties, where all suits pertaining to the RM589.14 million that Tajudin was ordered to pay to the firm in 2009, would be dropped and Tajudin agreed to withdraw a total of 27 appeals, 11 against Danaharta.

The question, whether the RM580 million out-of-court “renunciation”  of Tajudin’s debts is proof that Malaysians today are still paying for the RM100 billion financial scandals perpetrated in the 22 years of Mahathir premiership, has been asked but not answered.

There is now the second question - whether a settlement of the multi-billion ringgit litigation  between MAS and Tajudin, with  the striking out of their mutual claims against each other, would also be in consequence of the same factors and forces resulting in the government “surrender” of the RM580 million court judgment against Tajudin?

Revisiting the ‘black hole’

It is indeed time to revisit the RM100 billion “black hole” created by Mahathir’s financial scandals in his 22 years of premiership, especially if the present generation of Malaysians are to pay for the sins of Mahathir's past premiership.

There can be no better start to revisit Mahathir's financial scandals in his  22 year as prime minister  than to refer to Chapter 6 “Scandal, What Scandal?”  of Barry Wain's  “Malaysian Maverick - Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times”, which started with the following paragraphs:

“Dr Mahathir’s administration took office in 1981 with the slogan bersih, cekap amanah - clean, efficient, trustworthy. Almost immediately, however, it became embroiled in financial scandals that exploded with startling regularity, some of them truly spectacular. A few were of an order of magnitude that could have bankrupted most developing countries.

“But tropical Malaysia was generously endowed with natural resources, notably offshore hydrocarbon deposits, and commanded by a leader committed to rapid development. The expanding economy absorbed the shock of much of the dissipated wealth, and where necessary, the gaps left by the missing billions were plugged with the proceeds of oil and gas exports.

 “Almost all the scandals involved the government directly, or senior officials and businessmen closely connected to UMNO. In some cases, impropriety - whether illegal or merely ill-advised – was officially authorised or condoned for an allegedly higher purpose. Public funds were stolen in various ways, or simply poured into a big black hole in the name of ventures that bordered on the reckless, improbable or criminal.

“The extent of the losses - and in some cases the way the money disappeared - was never fully documented. Dr Mahathir’s administration generally did not hold Malaysians accountable for the financial disasters, and often laid the blame on others. By the early 1990s cynics remarked that it had been a good decade for bad behaviour, or a bad decade for good behaviour.”

In this chapter, Barry Wain estimated that Mahathir’s financial scandals would have created “a big black hole” of RM100 billion.

With the Mahathir past fast cascading into the Najib present, whether because of the MAS  “double bail-outs”  triggered by the 1992/3 RM30 billion Bank Negara forex scandal, they are all powerful reasons demanding full accounting for the RM100 billion “black hole” caused by Mahathir’s financial scandals of 22 years.- Lim Kit Siang, malaysiakini

One disaster to cover another disaster (part 1)

One disaster to cover another disaster (part 2)

Hutang RM580 juta Tajudin Ramli,siapa nak bayar?

Adakah penyelesaian di luar mahkamah berhubung hutang tokoh korporat Tan Sri Tajudin Ramli bernilai RM580 juta yang tidak perlu dibayarnya bererti semua rakyat Malaysia harus menanggung hutang itu?

Ketua Parlimen DAP Lim Kit Siang berkata, rakyat berhak mendapat jawapan Datuk Seri Najib Razak tentang hal itu kerana ia membayangkan rakyat Malaysialah yang perlu menanggung segala hutang akibat pelbagai skandal kewangan berjumlah RM100 bilion sepanjang 22 tahun pentadbiran Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad sebagai Perdana Menteri.

Katanya, semakin ramai rakyat mempersoalkan masalah itu kerana kurangnya ketelusan, perkakaunan, penjelasan atau butir-butir tentang hutang RM580 juta oleh Tajudin yang telah “diselesaikan” di luar mahkamah.

“Adakah kerajaan Barisan Nasional telah mencapai satu lagi Rekod Buku Guinness dengan menjadi kerajaan pertama di dunia yang menyerah kalah tanpa menuntut hutang dan hak yang bernilai RM580 juta?

“Siapakah yang akan kita percaya, Mahathir atau Tajudin, apabila masing-masing mempertahankan diri tentang ‘bail out’ (menyelamatkan syarikat) Malaysia Airlines (MAS),” katanya dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.

Kit Siang yang juga Ahli Parlimen Ipoh Timur berkata, Tajudin telah mendakwa melalui affidavit mahkamah bahawa Mahathir telah memaksanya membeli MAS untuk membantu menyelamatkan Bank Negara setelah bank pusat itu melakukan kesilapan dalam spekulasi matawang antarabangsa.

Katanya, Tajudin mendakwa bekas Perdana Menteri itu telah memaksanya berbuat demikian atas alasan “khidmat negara” dengan “Perjanjian Overriding” yang dapat “membebaskan” Tajudin daripada sebarang kerugian.

Sebaliknya, Kit Siang menambah, Mahathir pula telah menafikan dakwaan Tajudin.

Menurutnya, pihak-pihak yang yakin dengan dakwaan Tajudin telah mengemukakan empat alasan untuk mempertahankan kenyataan tokoh korporat itu, iaitu:

1. Mustahil Tajudin akan membuat kerja bodoh dengan membeli saham pada harga RM8 sedangkan harga jualan pada masa itu adalah RM3.50.

2. Tajudin hanya akan berani berbuat demikian jika ada jaminan beliau dilindungi oleh perjanjian overriding seperti yang didakwanya itu.

3. Dakwaan wujudnya perjanjian overriding dilihat sebagai benar apabila kerajaan kemudiannya telah membeli balik daripada Tajudin pada harga dua kali ganda daripada harga pasaran walau pun kerajaan tidak wajib berbuat demikian.

4. Afidavit adalah kenyataan bersumpah kepada mahkamah, dan sebarang kenyataan palsu dianggap sebagai pembohongan, dan ia adalah kesalahan yang boleh didakwa di mahkamah.
 
Kit Siang berkata, Najib sebagai Perdana Menteri sepatutnya tahu apa yang berlaku.

“Beliau perlu menjelaskan kepada kita sama ada Mahathir atau Tajudin yang berbohong, dan sama ada Tajudin akan dikenakan dakwaan jenayah di mahkamah jika terbukti beliau berbohong dalam afidavitnya,” ujar beliau. – Roketkini.com

cheers.