Putrajaya stands by refusal to charge A-G

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 — Putrajaya has insisted it will not take action against Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail despite renewed allegations of corruption and fabricating evidence made against the country’s top lawyer. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz said that last year’s decision to close the door on the A-G’s alleged involvement in Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s 1998 “black eye” case still stands.

“Same reply, same reply. I replied to (DAP adviser Lim) Kit Siang in Parliament before. The reply is the same,” he told The Malaysian Insider when asked if Putrajaya would act on the latest allegations against Abdul Gani.

When asked to state if the government would take action against Abdul Gani’s accusers, Nazri repeated, “Same reply.”

In Parliament last December 14, the government side-stepped the damning accusations made by former investigating officer Datuk Mat Zain Ibrahim that Abdul Gani had falsified documents in the “black eye” case, brushing aside several open letters and appeals issued by the retired policeman..

Instead, Nazri had told the House that there was no need for Mat Zain to complain that the independent panel formed to investigate the claimed evidence fabrication had failed to clear his name in the incident.
This, said Nazri, was because Mat Zain had never been the subject of the panel’s probe and had merely been called forth as a witness to testify.

“The MACC’s (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) advisory board, though its letter to Datuk Mat Zain on July 23, 2009, had already stressed that there was no need for the independent panel or the MACC to clear Mat Zain’s name, seeing as he was not the subject of the investigation in the first place,” he said.
Nazri also said that the panel had been constitutional, despite Mat Zain’s claim that the Solicitor-General had no right to appoint the members.

In his first open letter to Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar, Mat Zain had claimed that the right to appoint a tribunal only lay with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, based on the prime minister’s advice.
Despite Nazri’s response, Mat Zain continued his relentless pursuit to convince the government to charge Abdul Gani in court and, over recent months, penned more letters to IGP Ismail.

The former senior police officer also went a step further recently by accusing Putrajaya of admitting to Abdul Gani’s role in allegedly falsifying evidence when Nazri appeared to back the independent panel’s findings on the case.

He said with Putrajaya’s endorsement, there was no longer a need to form a royal commission of inquiry or a tribunal to investigate Abdul Gani’s involvement.

Mat Zain also claimed that Najib was aware of Abdul Gani’s involvement as the prime minister had been briefed and was provided “complete evidence” in October 2008, when he was still the country’s deputy premier.

Mat Zain said he had briefed Najib at the latter’s Finance Ministry office in Putrajaya, adding that he had “assumed” the leader would take appropriate action once he took up the prime minister’s post.

PAS recently stepped into the fray, demanding Putrajaya form a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to investigate the numerous allegations of misconduct against Abdul Gani or prosecute the latter’s accusers for issuing false accusations.

PAS vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar asked why the government and Abdul Gani had chosen to ignore the allegations, which include several claims of corruption and evidence fabrication.

Failure to act on the accusations, he added, would only further tarnish the image, reputation and integrity of the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the post of the Attorney-General, who serves as the country’s highest-ranking public prosecutor.

“If the government fails to take any action within an acceptable timeframe, PAS will initiate a petition calling for the formation of an RCI and submit it to the Agong,” Mahfuz told a press conference.

The PAS MP had also listed several other accusations against Abdul Gani such as claims made by blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin that construction company Ho Hup Bhd paid for renovations to the Attorney-General’s house; the latter’s purported relationship with Shahidan Shafie, an alleged proxy to former Malaysia Airlines (MAS) chairman Tan Sri Tajuddin Ramli; and also his alleged role in the case of murdered Mongolian model Altantuya Shaaribuu.

Abdul Gani has denied all of Raja Petra’s accusations and had his name cleared by the authorities.

Government says MAS-AirAsia share swap only option left

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4 — Putrajaya insisted today it had “no choice” but to implement the controversial share swap with AirAsia to avoid having to bail out Malaysia Airlines (MAS) after Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmakers questioned the deal in Parliament today.

The Finance Ministry told Parliament that efforts to turn around MAS had only been “moderately successful” as seen from the flag carrier’s loss of RM770 million in the first half of the year.

“We had no choice. If it continues to make losses and the government has to inject funds, then there will be even more anger,” said Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Awang Adek Hussin.

Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar, Tan Sri Md Nor Yusof, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Mohd Rashdan Mohd Yusof during the signing ceremony of the share swap between MAS and AirAsia in Kuala Lumpur on August 9, 2011. — file pic

He said this in response to a question by Arau MP Datuk Ismail Kasim who said there was no reason for the 64-year-old airline to “learn from a chief executive officer from the music industry,” referring to AirAsia boss Tan Sri Tony Fernandes.

 

“Who is using who?” the Umno lawmaker asked.

His BN colleague Datuk Dr Marcus Majigoh also called on the government to explain how MAS had racked up such massive losses.

“MAS used to be a great company. Whoever has abused power must be punished,” the Putatan MP said.

Fernandes, who now sits on the MAS board to ostensibly help turn it around, has faced strong opposition from the right-wing Malay ground and Malaysia Airlines (MAS) staff since the swap was agreed two months ago.

Critics have accused the budget carrier’s ambitious boss of taking advantage of the loss-making national airline to fuel his personal ambitions, the latest being the acquisition of English Premier League club, Queens Park Rangers.

The national carrier will sponsor QPR’s home jersey for the next two seasons, while AirAsia’s logo will be emblazoned on the team’s away and third kits in a “multi-million pound” deal.

The August 9 deal allowed state investment arm Khazanah Nasional to swap a 20.5 per cent stake in MAS for 10 per cent in Asia’s top money-making budget carrier.

Awang was forced to repeatedly assure Parliament today that the deal “is based on the guiding principle that no one loses out and it will benefit all parties.”

The share swap is part of a Comprehensive Collaborative Framework between MAS, AirAsia and also low-cost international airline, AirAsia X, which will last for five years with an option to double the time span.
Awang also said that Khazanah was currently undertaking due diligence before deciding whether to take a stake in AirAsia X.

Reforms, then polls or face backlash, warns Bersih

The government must allow the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reform to finish its work before even thinking of calling snap polls, said Bersih 2.0.

The coalition's steering committee member Wong Chin Huat said the government must "respect the institution of Parliament" as ultimately it is Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's reputation on the line.

Wong stressed that he is very sure that voters will retaliate by voting against the ruling BN coalition if Parliament is dissolved before the PSC completes its work.

"I think we will see Bersih 3.0 in whatever form, an even bigger tsunami," he said, referring to the March 8, 2008, watershed general election that, for the first time, saw the opposition deny BN a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

Nazri criticised

Maria Chin Abdullah, who is also a Bersih 2.0 steering committee member, criticised Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz for hedging the government's responsibilities in seeing the PSC through.

By saying that the reforms could be implemented after the 13th general election, Nazri (left) was indicating that he "failed to comprehend" the importance of an electoral system that commands public confidence, Maria said.

"Nazri's statement is in contradiction with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's vision to make Malaysia the best democracy in the world," she said at a press conference at the Parliament lobby.

She said Bersih 2.0 wanted Najib to give his word that he will push back polls until the PSC's recommendations - including the coalition's eight demands - were implemented.

She also urged the PSC to hold public hearings in all states to collect evidence and views from as many Malaysians as possible.

"The 50,000 Malaysians who made their stand for electoral reform on July 9 must be given a chance to voice their dissatisfaction regarding the electoral system.

"We also urge the PSC to conduct consultations with civil society organisations, including Bersih 2.0," Maria added, and she reiterated Bersih's call for a royal commission of inquiry on electoral reforms.

Meanwhile, Sungai Siput MP Dr D Jeyakumar (left) who was also at the press conference, urged the Election Commission to carry out its own work to improve on the country's electoral roll and system.

Jeyakumar said contrary to repeated claims by EC officials, the commission has powers under existing laws to hold inquiries and implement reforms without having to wait for the PSC to finish its work.

"The EC can take proactive action based on existing laws. It can open inquiries at state level... we hope the EC will not use the PSC as an excuse to not do what it can," he said.

Pakatan says can add RM15.5b to government revenue

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) said today that it can increase government revenue by nine per cent to RM181 billion without introducing new taxes.

The federal opposition’s alternative budget stated that RM15.5 billion can be raised through auctions of approved permits (APs), higher oil prices and reintroducing import tax on 200 luxury items that was lifted by Barisan Nasional (BN) last year.

“These APs are currently issued at RM10,000 each by the government. The main recipients are influential cronies. It has been reported that these can subsequently be resold for RM40,000-RM50,000 each. If, in auction, the issue price is RM30,000 instead of RM10,000, an additional RM1.2 billion will be earned,” the alternative budget said.

PR also expects oil prices to average RM330 per barrel based on forecasts by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), up from RM310 in 2009, leading to higher profits from state oil company Petronas.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (picture) had launched PR’s alternative budget earlier today, stating that it would cap expenditure at RM220 billion, resulting in a deficit of 4.4 per cent.

“This is a substantial narrowing from the estimated six per cent in 2011 under the tutelage of BN,” the alternative budget said, adding that Putrajaya’s deficit was at 7.4 and 5.6 per cent in 2009 and 2010 respectively.

Datuk Seri Najib Razak has said Friday’s Budget 2012 will tackle the rising cost of living after seeing inflation persist at a two-year high of over three per cent since March.

The prime minister is expected to “break the bank” by including announcements such as a new civil service pay scheme that will see wages rise by as much as 40 per cent.

Shadow budget to rein in high cost of living

Pakatan Rakyat has unveiled its alternative budget, focusing on cushioning the impact of the rising cost of living on the rakyat.

"The guiding principle in the planning of this budget is to uplift the needs of the people and put (these) above all else," Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said.

He was delivering the policy broad-strokes at a press conference in Parliament house, ahead of announcing details of the 'alternative budget' at 5pm today.

Among the measures proposed to reduce the impact of the high cost of living and to increase income are:

• A universal minimum wage of RM1,100;

• RM1,000 annual bonus to senior citizens;

• RM1,000 annual allowance for homemakers;

• Increase the 'top-up' allowance for low-income earners to RM550 monthly; and

• Increase Welfare Department aid from RM300 to RM550 monthly.

A briefing session will be held at Parliament house tomorrow afternoon, and later in Shah Alam, by Pakatan experts and the committee responsible for drafting the alternative budget.

One point of contention raised by the BN to previous alternative Pakatan proposals on cushioning rising the cost of living has been about the source of the funds to cater for subsidies and allowances for the rakyat.

In the latest incarnation of the Pakatan shadow budget, the opposition explained how they are going to address this.

It aims to cut corporate subsidies, rein in discretionary spending by the prime minister and reintroduce excise and duties on luxury goods that were recently axed by the BN administration.

The federal government's policy has been that subsidies for the rakyat are no longer tenable, and is aiming to do away with subsidies altogether.

The opposition has pointed out that corporate subsidies which cost more are being maintained at the expense of the people.

Working along the same lines

However, the Najib administration has also been working along the same lines, announcing that the forthcoming Budget 2012 will specifically cater to the needs of the people.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak told the Dewan Rakyat during the Question session yesterday that the strategies to be unveiled would take into account the hardship faced by low-income earners with a view to help and protect them if a global economic recession occurs and triggers a hike in the cost of living and sends food prices spiralling.

Last month, Second Finance Minister Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah had said the current rise in the cost of living was due to global instability, where in the context of food supply, demand and supply are not in balance.

“The rise is also due to the increase in world population. To overcome this issue in Malaysia, the government has decided to include it as part of national agenda and the national key result areas.

“In our context, the cost of living involves food supply, housing and public transportation. The government has taken initiatives to find solutions to this issue and these will be tabled together with the Budget 2012."

Since solidifying into the viable coalition that it is now, the opposition has started to shadow the federal government policies in the model of the shadow government in other Westminster parliamentary systems.

This is Pakatan's second attempt at a shadow budget after denying BN a two-thirds parliamentary majority in the 12th general election in 2008.

Pakatan calls for RM22b subsidies, RM6b raise for civil service

By Shannon Teoh

October 04, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) proposed Putrajaya sets aside RM22 billion for subsidies and another RM5.9 billion to raise 1.3 million civil servants’ wages, citing rising cost of living. 

The federal opposition unveiled today its alternative budget for next year which it said would cut public spending by RM14 billion to RM220 billion, trimming the budget deficit to 4.4 per cent.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said in his speech that PR would achieve this by cutting the Prime Minister’s Department’s allocation by RM10 billion and reviewing government procurement.

“It is not a question of broadening the tax base. Trimming the deficit must focus on controlling expenditure and ensuring good governance,” the PKR de facto leader said, referring to Barisan Nasional’s (BN) proposed goods and services tax (GST).

Anwar (picture) added that PR would implement a RM1,100 minimum wage which will immediately benefit 300,000 civil servants earning below that base.

“The restructuring of civil service wages due to the introduction of minimum wage will involve an annual allocation of RM5.9 billion,” the former deputy prime minister said.

The Permatang Pauh MP also said that RM22 billion must be maintained for subsidies to avoid any rise in fuel prices and keep inflation, that has persisted at a two-year high of over three per cent since March, under control.

The Najib administration has seen its subsidy bill double to RM22 billion despite price hikes to basic goods such as fuel, electricity and sugar earlier this year.

The government said that this was to ensure that the deficit, which hit a two-decade peak of over 7 per cent in 2009, would be kept under 5.4 per cent this year.

But Anwar said the deficit is now expected to breach 6 per cent, pushing public debt to 53 per cent of the GDP.

BN has traditionally held strong in areas with large populations of civil servants such as Putrajaya, an important vote bank for the ruling coalition.

But with economic growth slowing from 7.2 per cent last year to just 4.4 per cent in the first half of 2011, Datuk Seri Najib Razak has said Friday’s Budget 2012 will tackle the rising cost of living.

The prime minister is expected to “break the bank” by including announcements such as a new civil service pay scheme that will see wages rise by as much as 40 per cent.

KUALA LUMPUR: Rosmah Mansor is not being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over the US$24 million (RM73 million) diamond ring fiasco.

Minister in the Prime Minister Department Nazri Aziz said in a written reply to Lim Lip Eng (DAP- Segambut) that the MACC, after checking with the Customs Department, “confirmed that there was no such purchase of the ring”.

“After a few days, the ring was returned to the company owner,” the reply added.

On July 13, pro-Pakatan Rakyat NGO Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) president Badrul Hisham Shaharin lodged a report with the MACC over the US$24 million ring allegedly acquired by Rosmah.
Just a day before, pro-opposition bloggers claimed that the ring, known as “Natural Fancy Blue Gray Cushion Cut Diamond Ring”, was sent to the premier’s wife by the New York-based fine jewellers Jacob & Co in April this year.

The ring allegedly passed through the Kuala Lumpur International Airport Customs and was cleared by a Customs operations manager known as A Krishnan.

Screenshots of the alleged Customs computer displays also revealed that the ring did not have import duties imposed on it. The same display also indicated the value of the ring to be US$24.4 million.

The finances behind the alleged purchase of the ring is suspicious, claimed Badrul. He said MACC had a public duty to ensure that Malaysians don’t suffer from the “Filipino Imelda Marcos” syndrome.
Najib in an interview with an Indonesian daily denied that his wife had bought the ring.

“That is not true,” Najib said, adding, “The ring was not ordered by her whether to be bought or to be used for private display,” a reference to pro-Umno bloggers who had said the ring was brought in for private display for four days.