ARE INDIANS BEING UNREASONABLE AND ASKING FOR PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT

During the debate on the development budget at the Selangor State Assembly yesterday Mr.Muthiah the ADUN for Bukit Melawati said .. “he understood Manoharan, ADUN for Puchong was fighting for the Indian community, but any race anywhere in the world was only entitled to four rights – the right to their own language, religion, culture and history. Other rights like education, housing, employment, business, fairness and other basic necessities have to be championed as the rights of citizens, not racial rights,” he said

This requires a few comments. I am surprised that he chose to speak when there were so many others who could have spoken. Does it take a Muthiah to talk down the need of the Indian poor. Even if he disagreed he could have kept it to himself. Because I am sure he disagrees on so many other things but chooses to remain silent nevertheless, because of expediency. That he chose to speak, as he did is not for the well being of the people necessarily. It is, so that he will be picked again for the next elections. I feel bad to have to say this, but I am sorry. I am also speaking my mind.

Then about the point he raises. I would like to respond to those here. I do not think that by criticizing Khalid, Manoharan meant “treat Indians preferentially”. What he meant, I am sure is that there are problems unique to the Indian poor which require attention .

Firstly I am sure Manoharan was speaking about the Indian poor. Does Muthiah say there is no problem with this particular group of people. Attention to this group, in governance terms translates to allocation of resources. Can Muthiah deny that equal opportunities are being denied to the poor Indian young adults. That something needs to be done to even out the playing field?

Do they get to go to specially set up institutions like MARA, do they get preferential loans like SPED, do they get nurtured by TEKUN, do they get Womb to Tomb assistance in new businesses, do they get employment in GLCs, do they get land allocation like in FELDA, do they get to go to special schools like the MRSMs, is there an ecosystem that will provide them opportunities like with the Chinese community, that according to statistics has a 40% ownership of private equity in the country.

Come on Mr. Muthiah, do not be such a sycophant that you cannot see this happening every day right under your nose. When you speak like that, what is the difference between you and the MIC rep before you. Maybe the Indian voters of Bagan Pinang were right. There is no difference policy wise between PKR and PAS and BN so vote one or the other – no difference. Do not try to out do your Non Indian PKR reps by selling out who you should represent – for after all that is what they all say about the numbers of Indian reps in PKR, can’t you see how many Indian reps we have in PKR. Isn’t that multiracialism. Multiracialism for what? For what?? If all the Indian reps are going to talk like you, then it is better that we stick with known devils than with angels like you. Why do you think we call the likes of you Mandores?

Come to your senses Mr. Muthiah.

DBKL RAIDS PUDU PASAR - 1500 TRADERS – NOT ONE INDIAN TRADER

There was a raid on the Pudu Pasar to sweep up the illegal foreign workers and that caused a disruption to business. In the process what it threw up for view are few issues which relate to the Indian poor. There are a total of 1500 traders operating in the pasar. That the police should raid for illegal foreign workers suggests a large number of them there – just how many, I do not know. These stalls are all supposed to be licenced by the DBKL.

That is all fine and dandy. How are these licences issued ? Is there transparency about the process of issuing licences. Is there someone selling licences ? Is there someone buying and selling licences.? We do not have precise answers for all of this. But I can a venture a guess knowing how corrupt the system is. It is all probably occurring. In fact this was one of the grouses of the Hawkers and Petty Traders Association Chairman at the press conference he gave yesterday.

Then of the 1500 traders there is not one Indian trader in the lot. Is this just a coincidence and is it because Indians are poor businessmen. To say that Indians do not know how to run stalls and make a profit from it, is being plain stupid – look at the numbers of stalls that spring up at Deepavali time throughout the country or that spring up during the major festivals at the doorsteps of the temples. I put it that this is happening because equal opportunities are not provided on a transparent basis to the deserving. Or there is a corrupt mechanism at work in issuing the licences and cornering all the licences to the hisghest bidder.

Then, what are all the foreign workers, both legal and illegal, doing there? So, why is the government issuing permits for foreign workers in this petty trade business. Foreign workers should be allowed in areas where there is a real shortage of labour and petty trade business is really not one such area. These stalls should be run by owner traders. I suspect there is subletting of licences going on to the foreign workers here and easy rent money is being collected. If some of these licences are issued to the Indian young, this will create employment for them and for their families and probably keep them away from crime and such other negative activities.

All our analysis just keeps pointing to this one thing, the fact that there are just no opportunities for the energetic young Indian adults. The opportunities have all either been usurped or auctioned off. The working of the racist and corrupt system has usurped all these opportunities first in the name of NEP now in the name of entrepreneur development.

WHO WILL PAY FOR THE COST OF ALL THESE LIVES AND FOR ALL THE LOST HUMAN OPPORTUNITIES?

Today at 3.05pm Seetha succumbed to the paraquat she consumed in her grief over the death of her brother Surendran, who was brutally murdered by the Police. The police now have a lot of blood on their hands. They are running riot over the Indians in this country. Not only the police, but the Power Elite of the country. Indian lives have become cheap, so cheap that nothing that we say in these columns or anywhere else matters to them. They probably think they could do without these troublesome Indians anyway, just too much trouble.

In spite of so much expression of grievance about the dire situation that prevails with the Indian working poor, this cruel and tyrannous UMNO government has not done anything to positively address the problems of the trap of poverty. Everyday we read of this development program, that development program, but what development program for these Indian poor – can any one tell. This is after all the loud rumbling over the last two years. They have chosen to remain deaf. Instead they have given the Police another billion ringgit to buy more guns to shoot more Indians.

Who made Surendran a criminal?. Who imported the Paraquat that killed Seetha? Who is doing all the weedkilling with Paraquat inspite of the widely known dangers? Who blocked Seetha from a decent life? Who is responsible that her father is a security guard and her husband a lorry driver? Who will now look after 4 little ones? Who will pay for the cost of all these lives and for all the lost human opportunities? This is again another major call to the BN Government at the federal level and the PR Governments at the state level to get serious about doing the right things , not the expedient things to resolve the question of the Indian poor. Stop playing games. The situation is getting worse with every passing year.

Now the police will brandish the letter they say that Seetha wrote in her final days saying her consuming the Paraquat had nothing do with her brother’s death. One must think the police are indeed very considerate to relieve her brother of any blame for his sister’s death.. They will now prosecute her husband saying he already had paraquat in his Gemencheh house and she had brought it from there to consume it in Klang because of some problem with him. The police for their part are becoming too much of a danger to the well being of this country. They are corrupt, they are trigger happy, they are losing their moral authority to police this country. They are behaving no better than the criminals they are supposed to protect us from. They reign supreme.

All of this must stop. All this must change. Let us all work on changing this.

And May Seetha’s Soul Rest In Peace - Om Shanti.

Naragan

No State assistance at all for the most vulnerable in Malaysian Society

I would like to bring to attention the case of the twins from Taman Sepilai near Kulim , Sharmila and Shalini both 13 years of age. See picture. Both have deformities in their lower limbs and are totally incapable of moving about on their own. They both are tied down to wheelchairs.They are born to a family of 7 siblings. Their father, Letchumanan is an oil palm plantation worker earning about RM 500 per month.

The Indian poor, who are in such menial occupation are already in a very vulnerable group. Top it up with offsprings in their families who are born with incapacitating birth defects and what do you have – young citizens sentenced to alifetime of misery and pain.

The system does not take any ownership for this situation. This family is left to their own resources to fend for themselves. The doctors say that with some corrective surgery their condition can be corrected to an extent. But where do they go for the money needed for corrective surgery. They have nowhere to go. So now they are appealing through the newspapers for good Samaritans in the country to help.

This should never be happening. They should not be appealing for help. It is their right that the system should step in and do all the needful. But they are appealing because of how our racist and corrupt system works. It is happening because they are poor and weak. It is happening because they are the discarded Indian poor. It is happening because like most of us we do not know their rights. They are left to their own meager devices to solve their problems. If the Government truly does not have the resources to take care of such people, we could accept this outcome to a certain extent. But there is plenty of money available to the government. But that money is not for solving problems like this. That money is for the rich and the powerful to steal , to plunder .

There is theft of national resources on a colossal scale by the rich and powerful of huge sums of money. Take just one example, if you have been following the news about the Port Klang Free Zone, it was supposed to have been built with a little over 2 Billion ringgits. That is two thousand million Ringgits, mind you two THOUSAND million Ringgits. Already a huge sum. Today it is estimated to cost us all finally 12 billion Ringgits, because of the corruption behind it all.. Twelve THOUSAND MILLION Ringgits. This is how the money which should go to the likes of Shalini and Sharmila are milked out from the system by the rich and the powerful in the name of development. This is UMNO’s rule for all of us.

The most vulnerable in our society do not get what is their due. The continue to be denied their fundamental rights because the UMNOPutras do not have the money to give them. Then they tell lies to the Malay people that if they gave equal rights and benefits to the Indians, they will take everything away finally. They tell such lies and deny the Indian poor their fundamental rights. And they continue the looting.

Now, it is our right to stand up and ask in open forum like this that the Malaysian Ministry of Health should immediately take ownership for this situation and provide the twins with the necessary care and assistance and see the corrective surgery performed and they restored to a more normal life, which is their right.

You will see that this is like a cry in the wilderness. They will not take any heed even though we shout so loud. They do not want to recognize the problem. Why ? Because they have State Power and the Indian poor have none as it stands today. Do we take it as it is now? We in Hindraf/HRP have signed up to change all of this. We have undertaken to lead change. Come join us in this change effort.

Part 4: Bala finds his life turned upside down

Life on the run is not as rosy as most imagine when one’s family has to suffer. Bala finds that the money means very little when family life and the children’s education are sacrificed. He decides to change all that and to regain his normal life but his ‘handlers’ have other ideas. He realises, therefore, he has to break away from them if he really wants to be free.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Q 55. Why did you not tell them the truth about the way the 2nd statutory declaration was made since you had your family with you and they were all safe?

A. I was still in a state of confusion and was still concerned for the safety of my family. I was made aware that Deepak had some very powerful connections, especially after meeting the Malay VIP Datuk at The Curve a few nights previously and his advice was still in my mind.

I was also surprised at how far Deepak’s connections reached as he seemed capable of organising things in different countries and had even arranged a Thai woman to apply for our Indian visas in Bangkok.

At that time I had no idea what to expect so I felt I should follow their advice until I could think more clearly as I had my family to consider as I did not want them to be harmed.

My family and I were also in a foreign country with no access to finances.

Q 56. Did you communicate with anyone after this?

A. Yes. ASP Suresh called me from KL and advised me to change hotels so that the police officers from KL would not be able to contact me again if they required a further statement.

He also informed me to call my nephew in KL and ask him to stop talking to the press and to avoid holding any more candle light vigils as this was making Deepak feel uneasy. I then called my nephew and told him to stop all activities of this nature and he agreed. (See the video here: Stop the campaign, PI tells nephew)

Q 57. Did you change hotels?

A. Yes, we moved to the Beverly Hills Hotel. It was while we were at this new hotel that I received news from Rajesh that our visas could not be done in time as it would take at least 5 working days to process.

Deepak then arranged for a moneychanger, to whom he was acquainted, to pay me 100,000 Thai Baht for my expenses. I then waited for further instructions at this hotel.

Q 58. What happened after that?

A. At about 2.30 pm on the 11th July Rajesh called me to tell me to go to the airport to collect some e-tickets he had arranged for my family and I to fly to Kathmandu, so we packed our bags and headed to the airport.

However when we reached the airport Rajesh called and told me the flight had only been arranged for the next morning at 10.00 am. We then took a taxi back into town and checked into another hotel.

The next morning we returned to the airport, picked up our tickets and flew on a Thai Airways flight to Kathmandu.

Q 59. What happened when you landed in Kathmandu?

A. We were met at the airport by a representative of the Yak & Yeti Hotel who drove us to that hotel.

Q 60. Why was it necessary for you to fly to Kathmandu?

A. Before we could enter India we needed to apply for our Indian visas, which we had not been able to get in Bangkok.

ASP Suresh told me Deepak did not want us to stay in Bangkok any longer as the police knew we were there and that is why he wanted us to leave to Kathmandu so we could apply for our visas there.

Q 61. How long did you spend in Kathmandu?

A. We had applied to the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu for our Indian visas. After we managed to obtain 1-month visas for India, we left Kathmandu for New Delhi. This was on the 22nd July. We had spent approximately 10 days in Kathmandu.

Q 62. How long did you spend in Delhi?

A. We stayed in a hotel in Delhi for 2 nights before flying to Madurai en-route to Madras.

Q 63. How did you manage to extend your 1-month visas?

A. Our visas expired on the 21st August 2008. Deepak’s people had promised to get an extension for 1 year for us but nothing was done. So I had to get a 1-month extension for myself and my family till 20th September 2008.

I then sent my wife and children back to KL to stay with my mother-in-law in Segambut without Deepak’s knowledge.

I remained in Madras trying to get my visa extended. Deepak’s agent called Kumar tried to help me but after 5 months nothing had happened. I complained about this to Deepak and ASP Suresh when they visited me in Chennai. Deepak called Kumar who returned the passport to me with a sick certificate saying I could not have left the country due to an illness. This had to be done as I was then in India illegally as my visa had expired.

I then asked for help from my wife’s uncle who is a State Exco Member for Karaikal district. He managed to get my visa extended until 5th September 2009.

Q 64. Did you return to Malaysia during this period?

A. Yes, I returned a few times to sort out some of my personal affairs. Each time I returned I entered the country via Thailand across the Malaysia-Thai border at Bukit Kayu Hitam and left the same way. I did not go through Malaysian immigration.

I did not contact anyone each time I returned as I was afraid Deepak would find out. The only person who knew I had returned to Malaysia was ASP Suresh but he did not let Deepak know. He was upset with me for allowing my wife and children to return to Malaysia but I explained to him that my children needed to be educated and they could not get into a local school in Chennai.

Whenever I returned to Malaysia I used to stay with my wife and mother-in-law in Segambut.

Q 65. Where did your wife stay all the time she was in Malaysia?

A. She stayed with my mother-in-law in Segambut and managed to get my children into a school in Sentul. She did come to Chennai a few times with the children to visit me.

Q 66. Where are your wife and children now?

A. They are at present in Chennai. I managed to enrol my 2 eldest children into a school there. My wife may return to KL so that my youngest child can receive his schooling there. I will have to stay with my eldest two children in Chennai.

Q 67. Can you remember the dates you returned to Malaysia?

A. Yes, I was in KL from the 16.02.2009 to the 05.03.2009. During this period I met Deepak at his office in Sungai Besi. He was very worried I had returned to Malaysia and asked me to go back to Chennai immediately. He warned me that my life would be in danger if I stayed any longer.

The second time I returned to Malaysia was from the 11.04.2009 to the 02.05.2009.

The third time I returned to Malaysia was at the end of July 2009.

Q 68. What did you do when you returned at the end of July?

A. I decided to contact my lawyer Americk Sidhu and explain to him exactly what had happened to me over the past 1 year as I was very unhappy with the situation I was in.

TO BE CONTINUED

Part 1: The mystery unveiled

Part 2: Bala’s prison without bars

Part 3: The Malaysian police catch up with Bala

Molotov cocktails thrown at Manjeet's house tonight

I have today at 7.20 pm had Molotov cocktails thrown at my house. The resulting fire caused damage.

I believe this was a warning and threat to me and my family arising from my presence as a lawyer at a recent recording of an interview with the missing PI Bala who is connected to the Altantunya case.

It is tragic that such threats have to be issued. Those who have elected to issue such threats have failed to appreciate that lawyers have a role to play in the discharge of their professional duties. I have no affiliations or ties with any political party or faction and have for the last 39 years of my role as a lawyer maintained that neutrality.

My presence at the interview was as Mr. Americk Sidhu’s lawyer. Mr. Americk Sidhu was the lawyer who acted for PI Bala in the making of Bala’s first Statutory Declaration. My presence and role in this PI Bala interview was apolitical and was to ensure the integrity and voluntary nature of the interview.

Manjeet Singh Dhillon

Kuala Lumpur 18 November 2009

Selangor Govt’s controversial move upsets PKR leader

(The Star) - The Selangor Government’s controversial buyover of Talam Corp Bhd’s RM391mil debt has stirred an hornet’s nest in PKR.

A furious party secretary-general Datuk Salehuddin Hashim has despatched a strongly-worded e-mail to all PKR MPs and assemblymen in the state questioning why Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has kept them in the dark over the move.

Some who read the e-mail told The Star that Salehuddin, who described the move as an old trick used by crooks in the corporate sector, wanted them to seek an answer from Khalid.

"We are using the full might of the state to recover the amount due" ELIZABETH WONG

The State Assembly had on Nov 9 approved a supplementary budget of RM391mil for the state investment arm, Mentri Besar Incorporated, to buy over debts owed by Talam Corporation to several state agencies.

Talam is a major player in the Malaysian property sector, involved mostly in building affordable homes.

The RM391mil was owed to subsidiaries of Selangor Development Corporation (PKNS), Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd (KDEB), Permodalan Negeri Selangor Bhd (PNSB) and Universiti Selangor (Unisel).

Some have also questioned the need for the state to buy over the debts, as the multiple transactions involved might incur additional costs including consultancy charges.

Rumours are rife that certain quarters were making a quick buck out of the “round-tripping” procedure involved in the buyover.

Explaining the procedure, former Selangor Mentri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo said the Selangor Industrial Corporation (SIC), a subsidiary of PKNS, had been directed to buy over the RM391mil owed by Talam Corp to the state agencies.

SIC would then apply for a bank loan from CIMB to buyover the debts, and channel the funds to the state government as payment.

“The state government would then offer a grant of RM391mil to Mentri Besar Incorporated which will then channel the fund to SIC, which will later pay off its debt to the bank,’’ he said, adding that the SIC would also have to bear a RM70,000 daily interest until it settled the debt.

A PKR MP said the matter was never discussed during political bureau meetings.

“We view this matter very seriously as it is against the spirit of Pakatan Rakyat,’’ he added.

Selangor executive councillor Elizabeth Wong, when contacted, defended the move, saying the state had to buy over the debts from three government-linked companies which had failed to recover the RM391mil owed to them by Talam for a period spanning over a decade.

“Now, we are using the full might of the state to recover the amount due,’’ she said.

Wangsa Maju MP Wee Chee Keong, who said he was not aware of the e-mail, said Salehuddin should know what he is talking about as he had experience in the corporate sector.

State Umno leaders have also jumped on the bandwagon to criticise Khalid over the controversial buyover.

Dr Khir said companies listed on bourses usually resorted to the round-tripping tactic to give a false sense of profit to impress investors.

“But it is dangerous when a state government resorts to such a tactic, as they may have a tendency to overspend under the false impression that they had generated revenue,’’ he said.

Brushing aside Dr Khir’s claims, PKR vice-president Azmin Ali said SIC should be able to settle the RM391mil bank loan within 24 hours.

Malaysia has lost edge as low-cost producer, says World Bank

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 — Malaysia risks missing its goal of becoming a high-income nation as it has lost its edge as a low-cost producer and lacks the investment to compete in more advanced industries, the World Bank warned today.

In its first country report on Malaysia, the Washington-based body also said that as a trade-dependent country, Malaysia should not unwind its RM67 billion in economic stimulus as that could choke off a nascent recovery.

“The economy seems to be caught in a middle-income trap - unable to remain competitive as a high-volume, low-cost producer, yet unable to move up the value chain and achieve rapid growth by breaking into fast growing markets for knowledge and innovation-based products and services,” it said.

Private investment in Malaysia, which famously spurned advice and cash from the International Monetary Fund in 1998, is below that of virtually every other Asian country and has fallen dramatically since the Asian financial crisis.

According to World Bank data, private investment in Malaysia fell to 12 per cent of gross domestic product in 2008 compared with 30 per cent prior to the Asian crisis.

The government that has ruled this country for 52 years has announced a series of economic reforms aimed at winning back foreign investment that increasingly finds a home in neighbouring Thailand and Indonesia.

However, portfolio and direct investment flows have been negative since the second quarter of 2008 and there have been few signs that investment has picked up in response to the government measures.

The World Bank noted that while Malaysia has a high proportion of high tech exports it served as a low-skilled assembler of imported parts “rather than a creator of technological and product innovations”.

One major limitation on moving up the economic value chain is Malaysia’s education system, which churns out tens of thousands of graduates who are ill-equipped for the kind of high-value work such as biotechnology that the government has identified as growth areas.

Education in Malaysia has become mired in a deep political row as the government recently switched to Malay language instruction for math and science from English, a move critics said was designed to appease its ethnic Malay voter base.

While private investment has plummeted, the government’s spending has risen sharply. Malaysia expects to rack up its biggest budget deficit in 20 years at 7.4 per cent of gross domestic product this year.

The government expects the economy to shrink 3 per cent this year and to grow by 3 per cent next year, although the World Bank was more optimistic.

“With East Asia leading the recovery and advanced economies showing progressive improvement, the Malaysian economy is projected to grow at 4.1 per cent in 2010, following a contraction of 2.3 per cent in 2009,” it said.

The bank was, however, less optimistic on the government’s plans to slash the budget deficit in 2010 to 5.6 per cent of GDP, forecasting that it would be 6.4 per cent of GDP. - Reuters

Liow slams Ong as ‘corrupted by power’

By Lee Wei Lian - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 - Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai today blasted MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat after the latter reshuffled the presidential council and dropped eight members seen to be aligned to Liow.

In a dramatic press conference which saw axed former presidential council members Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong and Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun shed tears, Liow spoke of lofty principles such as democracy and lamented the alleged lack of it in MCA.

“The president elected his own people and eliminated those who disagreed with him so he can have absolute power in the presidential council and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” said Liow.

“MCA is a family at war. MCA is engaging in the politics of slash and burn. The president disowned the youth and wanita. This is a serious matter. And this can be seen as the last straw that broke the camel’s back.”

Liow urged MCA delegates to “rise up” and turn up in full force at the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on November 28 that is proposing fresh party polls.

“This is the time to make a decision to change party for better. MCA must return to the politics of values and uphold the fundamental democratic principles,” he said.

Liow however acknowledged that Ong was within his rights as president to appoint new members to the council.

Wee, who used up a pile of tissues during the press conference, pointed out that when the MCA president was the youth chief, he was still elected to the presidential council even though he had conflicts with then president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik.

He vowed to fight on to “return democracy” and prevent the party from being “monopolised” by just a few.

A visibly agitated Chew likened the dropping of the youth and women’s wing chiefs from the presidential council as making the “MCA without wings”.

Ong however defended the move saying that “as and when we need to reshuffle, we will do it.”

The sweeping revamp of the presidential council could trigger a wave of sympathy for Liow and his allies although response to the EGM that they have called has been lukewarm so far.

Liow however says he is confident of getting the required quorum of one third of the 2,377 central delegates for the EGM to be valid.

“I have been going around the country and receiving warm and strong support for the EGM,” he told reporters.

Sources say however that the situation may not be as bad as it seems as behind closed doors in the central committee meeting, Liow, Ong and Dr Chua had indicated that they would try and resolve party issues eliciting a clapping of tables from central committee members to show “happiness.”

The source also maintained that even though Wee who is deputy education minister, deputy higher education minister Hou Kok Chung and deputy home minister Datuk Wira Chor Chee Heung were dropped from the presidential council, it is likely they will be invited back to attend meetings as the council is a platform for the party to discuss government cabinet matters.

Pakatan wants Ku Li to head caucus on oil dispute

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani -The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 – Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders today met Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (pic) to discuss the possibility of the former finance minister chairing a proposed caucus on the Kelantan oil royalty dispute.

The offer came about when the veteran Umno leader met with Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Machang PKR MP Saifuddin Nasution, Kubang Kerian PAS MP Salahuddin Ayub, Batu MP Tian Chua at the MP's lounge in parliament.

After discussing for nearly 30 minutes, the Gua Musang MP told reporters that he would consider the offer but did not give a timeframe for an answer.

“They have proposed to form a caucus on oil because oil is a very hot subject being debated between the government and particularly the state representatives. They think that through the caucus there could be some kind of logical reasoning in order to arrive at an amicable solution to the problem," said the Kelantan prince.

“So they have decided to approach me to head the caucus. I have not given an answer. I will still consider and think about this,” said Razaleigh, popularly known as Ku Li.

Razaleigh said that he would consider the request as he was “involved in the oil business” since the formation of national oil company Petronas and the drafting of the Petroleum Development Bill. He was Petronas’s first chairman when it was formed in 1974.

“Anything that could protect the constitutional rights of the people, in particular of the states ... I will definitely not let any side down so I will try to play my part if I can in order to resolve this problem, if it is considered a problem at all,” said Ku Li.

“I think it was indeed in the vesting deed agreement that was signed between the states and Petronas that the states where oil is found on shore or off shore will benefit from such fund.

“They (Kelantan) should be given ... according to the agreement, they should get the oil money,” he added.

Razaleigh reiterated his stand that “there is no such thing as wang ehsan” or goodwill payment.

“Oil is the right of the people and it is not for the federal government to distribute as a largess. The government can distribute from the revenue collected from taxes in such line and that is the prerogative of the federal government but when it comes to this, it’s the right of the people.

“That is why I feel inclined to say my piece because I was involved from the beginning and I know the intention why we had the agreement,” he said.

When asked if prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was wrong in calling the oil royalty a “goodwill” payment, he replied that “it is left to your interpretation.”

Najib sparked an uproar when he announced that the Barisan National (BN) federal government woukd pay Kelantan “goodwill payment” for oil extracted in its waters instead of oil royalty.

PAS lawmakers are disputing the “goodwill payment”, saying that it is akin to receiving alms instead of rightful oil royalty.

Najib told Parliament that Kelantan has no right to claim for royalties from Petronas since oil was extracted beyond the state’s waters, similar to the situation in Terengganu.

Burst pipe main cause of Bukit Antarabangsa tragedy

By Neville Spykerman - The Malaysian Insider

SHAH ALAM, Nov 18 – A burst water pipe exacerbated soil loosened by heavy rain that snowballed into the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide last December, killing five and causing millions of ringgit in damages, according to a report declassified by Selangor today.

Victims of the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide will be able to obtain the declassified investigation report on the tragedy on Monday at the Ampang Jaya Munical Council (MPAJ) office at cost, said Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim (pic).

He had declassified the report using provisions under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) which allows ministers and mentris besar to declassify documents. The classified report was prepared by the Public Works Department and handed to MPAJ.

Khalid, who was speaking after the weekly state executive council meeting, said the report only touched on the possible causes of the landslide and did not indicate who was responsible.

The landslide at the upmarket Taman Bukit Mewah Housing estate on Dec 6 at 3.30am destroyed 14 bungalows at the four hectare site.

Khalid said the factors behind the landslide included loose soil at the slope during development, lack of maintenance and damage to drainage system at the slope and surrounding area, heavy rainfall, cracks and a burst pipe.

However according to a summary of the technical report, the main factor was the burst pipe along abandoned houses located on the slope, which increased ground moisture at the site which collapsed.

Khalid said the summary of the report would be provided free of charge to the public.

A summary of the report, made available to the press today, said a special technical landslide investigation committee identified a series of three soil movements on the day of the incident. Each had occurred over a span of three to five minutes.

The landslide, which occurred over 4ha of residential land, was due to a combination of factors:

1) The soil had already been loosened on the slope during the development process.

2) Due to lack of maintenance of the drainage system, damage occurred on the slopes and the surrounding areas.

3) The condition deteriorated further due to the rainy season between October and November 2008.

4) Gradual soil erosion worsened the condition, leading to further collapse.

5) Soil erosion caused the active pipes to burst.

The technical committee has recommended to the state government that landslide-prone areas should be identified before any development can take place.

It also suggested that the damaged piping system be repaired in the affected area, while the size of drains all over Bukit Antarabangsa should be increased and called for the installation of equipment at high-risk areas to constantly monitor soil erosion.

It added that piping systems on slopes should not be located underground, saying it should be constantly examined and maintained to prevent leaks.

Shootout suspect’s sister dies of paraquat poisoning

By Neville Spykerman- The Malaysian Insider

KLANG, Nov 18 — Housewife R Seetha died of multiple organ failure at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR) here today, a week after she apparently drank paraquat while grieving for her brother, who was killed in a police shoot-out on Nov 7.

According to the Human Rights Party Malaysia (HRP), Seetha died at 3.05pm at the intensive care unit. It reported that her husband, M. Manimaran, and the party’s pro-tem secretary-general P. Uthayakumar were at her bedside when she passed away.

Uthayakumar said doctors tried to revive her but failed, calling the death a double blow to the family just 11 days after her brother died.

The party quoted the hospital’s Dr Loh Hoong Sheng as saying Seetha died of multi-organ failure.

The 31-year-old mother and two of her children were admitted to the intensive care unit at the HTAR on Nov 12 while the other two children were in the normal ward after the alleged incident.

Her family said Seetha was devastated by the death of her 24-year-old brother R Surendren, who was among five men “high on the police wanted list” who were gunned down by police in Klang Utama on Nov 7.

They claimed that at 8.30am on Nov 12, Seetha poured the weedkiller into mugs and gave it to her children to drink with a straw before consuming it herself.

Her lorry driver husband has been questioned by police but was later released.

Her family and HRP maintain Seetha was “pushed over the edge” because of her brother’s death while police believe “domestic problems” was a factor in her suicide.

Uthayakumar told The Malaysian Insider that Seetha body would be taken to the family’s home in Gemencheh, Negri Sembilan, because Hindu funeral rites prohibits two funerals to be carried out at the same time.

The 16-day prayers for her brother is not yet over and her death is a double blow for the family, said Uthayakumar.

He added that the condition of the children who are also at the hospital remain unchanged.

Her eldest daughter Darshini, nine, and her only son, Kugendran, are in critical care while her two other daughters Usharani, seven, and Navina, three, are being treated in a normal ward.

Police had classify the case as attempted suicide as well as attempted murder and Seetha might have faced charges for trying to kill her children had she survived.

Doctrine of separation of powers – Kula’s emergency motion on police killing of five Indians should have been allowed

DAP MP for Ipoh Barat M Kulasegaran was unsuccessful in his attempt this morning to move Parliament for an emergency debate on the police killing of five Indians in a shoot-out in Klang on November 8 for being suspected gang members.

Deputy Speaker Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaffar conceded that Kula’s motion met two of the three criteria of being definite and of public importance, but it was not “urgent” as police investigations were “ongoing”.

I stood up to support the protests by Kula and DAP MP for Teluk Intan, M. Manogaran for rejecting a debate on the motion and argued that “investigations under way” should not be used as an excuse to disallow a parliamentary debate as this will be against the doctrine of separation of powers.

“Ongoing police investigations” is an executive action, but under the doctrine of the separation of powers, it is the executive that must be answerable to Parliament and not Parliament having to kow-tow to the Executive.

The Malaysian public are concerned about police killing of people in police shoot-outs and this is a matter which should be debated in Parliament with the executive giving a full and satisfactory accounting as at stake are public confidence in the police as well as in Parliament.

The following is a parliamentary report from Malaysian Insider:

Parliament rejects motion on Klang shoot-out

UPDATED

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 — Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar today rejected an emergency motion on the Klang shoot-out where five Indian men were killed as the matter was still under police investigation.

Ipoh Barat DAP MP M. Kulasegaran had moved a motion for the government to conduct a public inquiry on the five shot dead by the police on Nov 8 for being suspected gang members.

The shoot-out caused an outcry in the Indian community as opposition leaders and NGOs accused the police of being trigger happy. A sister of one of the dead men tried to commit suicide which the family said was linked to the shoot-out.

Kulasegaran argued that the police should have captured the suspects and brought them to court instead of shooting them.

“The police action has caused public peace to be in jeopardy. The incident that happened on Nov 8 has clearly shown that the police have abused their powers without considering public interest and peace,” he said.

He said the police should tell the truth.

“The police should not deny the allegations made against them,” Kulasegaran added.

Wan Junaidi explained that the motion was not allowed because the subject matter was not urgent although he did admit that it was a specific matter and was of public interest.

Ipoh Timur MP Lim Kit Siang objected and argued that the subject matter was urgent because it was of public interest.

“We cannot use that it was still under investigation as an excuse. This is an urgent debate because it involves the interest of many. It also involves the belief of the public in the institution of Parliament.

“The case is still investigated by police so there must be a separation of power between the legislative and the executive. This goes against the doctrine of separation of powers,” he said.

Last Thursday, R. Seetha poured weedkiller for herself and her four children in Klang and told them to “drink it so you can see uncle” after she was overcome with grief for her younger brother who was among those shot dead by police.

R. Surendren, 24, was among the five “high on the police wanted list” gunned down by the police.

Cherchez The French

AsiaSentinel,

Who got what for the sale of French submarines to Malaysia?

On September 3, a 66-meter submarine named for Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia's founding father, glided into the Royal Malaysian Navy base at Port Klang on Malaysia's western coast after a 54-day voyage from France. Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak was there to greet them.

As defense minister, Najib had commissioned a huge military buildup to upgrade Malaysia's armed forces including the purchase of two Scorpene-class submarines and the lease of a third, a retired French Navy Agosta-class boat, for US$1 billion. The two submarines were designed by France's DCNS naval shipbuilder and built in partnership with Spain's Navantia. Both companies are state owned. The deal earned a commission of €114 million for a company owned by Najib's best friend, Abdul Razak Baginda, once the head of a Kuala Lumpur political thinktank.

The Tunku Abdul Rahman, along with its companion, to be named for Najib's father Tun Abdul Razak and to be delivered in 2010, is at the very heart of the continuing controversy over the death of Altantuya Shaariibuu, a 28-year-old Mongolian translator and Razak Baginda's jilted lover. Altantuya was murdered in October of 2006 by two bodyguards attached to Najib's office after Razak , who had jilted Altantuya, went to Najib's chief of staff, Musa Safri, for help in keeping the 28-year-old woman away from him. Not long after being acquitted under questionable circumstances of participating in her murder, he left the country for England.

Questions over the purchases go well beyond the death of a spurned paramour and point to some difficult subjects for French and Malaysian officials. These questions assume added relevancy in light of revelations last week that someone, allegedly close to the Prime Minister, was willing to pay RM5 million (US$1.48 million) to a private detective to forget his statement connecting Najib to Altantuya.

The continuing controversy makes it appropriate to ask to examine the defence minister's diaries, calendars and telephone logs and those of Razak Baginda in 2002, when the Royal Malaysian Navy ordered the vessels. In letters found after her death, Altantuya said she was attempting to blackmail Razak Baginda for as much as US$500,000, apparently, her father said, because of her role as translator over the purchase of the submarines. Malaysia ordered the two diesel-electric submarines from DCN SA (Direction des Constructions Navales ), a French manufacturer of warships and submarines and the largest naval shipyard in Europe, in 2002. However, Razak Baginda and Altantuya went to France at the same time Najib did in 2005 to settle details of the purchase.

Perimekar, a company owned by Abdul Razak Baginda, received the €114 million for “coordination and support services” – 11 percent of the sale price of the submarines. Zainal Abidin, then the deputy defense minister, told a parliamentary inquiry that such commissions were commonplace in Malaysia. No further inquiry was made as to the commission, nor was any attempt made to determine what coordination and support services Perimekar might be providing.

However, it might pay to take a look at some other deals in which top French politicians were involved in, some of them along with DCN, and to ask whether all of that €114 actually went to Razak Baginda, or if some, with the complicity of Malaysian politicians, went into the pockets of their French counterparts.

There is plenty of reason to entertain that possibility. French politicians seem to have a knack for backhanders. On October 26, in a trial that centered on illegal arms sales to Angola, Jean-Christophe Mitterrand, the son of the late president Francois Mitterand, was given a two-year suspended sentence and a €375,000 fine for receiving embezzled funds. The court ruled that he had accepted millions of euros in "consultant fees" on the arms deals between 1993 and 1998. In the dock with him were 42 people accused of selling weapons to Angola in defiance of a UN arms embargo, or of taking payments from the arms dealers and using their influence to facilitate the sales.

The trial, it was said, shined a light into a murky world of secret payments made in cash and discreet deals linking Parisian high society with one of Africa's longest-running wars. But it hasn't shined a light on what happened elsewhere with contracts concluded by the representatives of France, and particularly by DCN. For instance, 11 French engineers employed by DCN, which peddled Malaysia's subs to Pakistan, were blown up in a bus bombing in 2002 which was first thought to have been perpetrated by Islamic militants. The 11 were in Karachi to work on three Agosta 90 B submarines that the Pakistani military had bought in 1994, with payment to be spread over a decade. According to Reuters, commissions were promised to middlemen including Pakistani and Saudi Arabian nationals. Agosta is a subsidiary of DCN.

Two French magistrates, Marc Trevidic and Yves Jannier, who were looking into the case on behalf of the victims, said kickbacks ended up in the campaign funds of Edouard Balladur, then the French prime minister and a rival of Jacques Chirac in the 1995 presidential election. The current French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, was Balladur's campaign manager as well as budget minister when the contract for the subs was signed.

Although Sarcozy and Balladur have both denied any wrongdoing, a top-secret memo turned up in October 2008 from DCN, which was state-owned at the time of the alleged kickbacks. Copies of the memo were shown on French television. The memo reportedly said France had stopped paying the bribes after Chirac won the 1995 elections despite requests by Pakistani officials for several years afterwards. Eventually, according to the story, the Pakistanis eventually lost patience and orchestrated the bus attack on the Agosta engineers in retaliation. The third submarine ordered and leased by Malaysia was an Agosta.

Another case involves the French company Thales, formerly Thompson-CSF, which sold six DCN-built La Fayette-class 'stealth' frigates to Taiwan in 1992 for US$2.8 billion. The warships, designated Kan Ding by Taiwan, were delivered between 1996 and 1998. The website DefenseNews reported that Taiwan is seeking US$882 million, down from US$1.12 billion on its claim against Thales, according to documents filed with the French market regulator Authorité des Marches Financiers. The update was made to its reference document submitted on April 12.

Taiwan's claim, the website said, is based on allegations that Thales wrongfully paid commissions to agents in the sale of the frigates. Thales said in the filing that it and its industrial partner have consistently contested the claim. A Thales spokesman declined to comment to Reuters beyond the information contained in the filing. Thales was prime contractor on the sale of the frigates, which were built by DCN. If Taiwan won the case, Thales would be liable for 30 percent of the claim, the filing said.

French judges have been investigating corruption allegations arising from the Taiwan contract over a number of years but have made no arrests, notably because documents are protected by defense secrecy laws, which the government refuses to lift. Nonetheless, it is widely believed that at least some of the alleged kickbacks were used as political campaign funds in the French 1995 elections.

At least six people connected with the case have died under suspicious circumstances, including a Taiwan naval captain, Yin Ching-feng, who was found floating off the country's coast, a victim of foul play. Yin is believed to have been killed because he planned to go to the authorities about the case. His nephew, who was also pursuing the case, a Thomson employee in Taiwan and a French intelligence agent were also among the dead. It gradually emerged that some $600 million in commissions had been paid into various Swiss accounts set up by Andrew Wang Chuan-pu, the Taiwan agent forThomson-CSF. In October 2008 a French judge finally ruled that no one could be prosecuted because of lack of evidence.

Housewife Who Drank Weedkiller Dies

KLANG, Nov 18 (Bernama) -- Housewife R.Seetha died Wednesday in hospital a week after she had consumed weedkiller along with her four children following the death of her younger brother in a police shooting.

She died at 3.15pm at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR) here, said Klang police chief ACP Mohamad Mat Yusop.

makkal Osai

"We will continue with the investigation into the case. The victim's four children at HTAR are still under treatment and their condition is stable," he said when contacted.

On Nov 12, Seetha, 32, her three daughters M. Darsini, M. Usarani and M. Navina and son M. Kugan, aged between three and eight, were found in a critical condition after they had drunk the weedkiller at their house in Jalan Batu 1/2, Jalan Kapar, here.

Seetha's sister Parvathy, 31, who lives nearby, rushed all five to the Kapar health clinic but their critical condition required them to be sent to HTAR.

On Nov 7, Seetha's 24-year-old brother was one of five men shot dead by police. They were believed to be on their way to stage a robbery in Sungai Keramat, Jalan Kapar, Klang Utama, here.

The Constitution: Your rights are all there

Malaysian Mirror

By Honeymah Dylyani

FEATURE LAWYER Sulaiman Abdullah, a native of Penang, recalled that there were, at one time, polls to elect the city mayor other councilors in the state.

It was his early glimpse of what democracy and the Constitution is all about – justice for the people and not to be suppressed by those in power.

sulaiman-abdullah.jpg“People must play and live by the rules. In the Constitution, the King is the symbol of the country’s sovereignty and we pledge our loyalty to him.

“The King is the protector of the land; not the lord of the land like his foreign medieval counterparts, he said at a forum to mark the launch of the Bar Council’s MyConstitution campaign on Nov 13. Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Liew Vui Keong officiated at the launch.

The two-year campaign sets to get all Malaysians – especially the younger citizens aged 15 to 35 – to understand their rights, as enshrined in the country’s Constitution, and to use this charter as their guide in nation-building.

Sulaiman, the co-chairman of the Pro Bono and Access to Justice Committee of the International Bar Association, was among the law activists and academicians who shared their views on the future direction of the country’s supreme law; the Federal Constitution.

The others were Dr Azmi Sharom, an associate professor at Universiti Malaya’s Law Faculty, Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, president of the National Human Rights Society (Hakam), Dr Abdul Aziz Bari, a political commentator and constitutional lawyer Emeritus Prof Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi.

Chairing the forum was the Bar Council’s past president, Ambiga Sreenevasan, who is also a executive committee member of the feminist Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO).

Guarantees rights of people

constitution-1.jpg“The Constitution is the basic document that guarantees the rights of the people,” said Sulaiman, pledging he would defend it.

His reference to local elections is pertinent and consistent with calls by various quarters to revive such elections, which were suspended after the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation in 1964.

The suspension was never lifted and the matter instead was made permanent under the Local Government Act 1976, which stipulates that local government members be appointed by the respective state governments.

In the March 2008 general elections, the DAP and the PKR included in their manifesto that local elections would be revived if they were to chosen to lead the country.

The two parties, together with PAS, managed to topple the Barisan Nasional in several states but they are still not able to carry out the plan to hold local council elections due to the Federal Constitution which prohibited the implementation.

Political observers feel it is unlikely that such elections would be brought back because "policymakers know from experience worldwide that the Opposition tends to dominate such councils as part of the electorate's desire for checks-and-balances."

The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, however, has its own reason for not wanting to hold more elections: “It is expensive.”

The electoral process and the right to vote are among the more familiar provisions of the Constitution, which is divided into 15 parts and 13 Schedules.
Each part and schedule contains relevant articles. There are 230 articles in the 15 parts, including those which have been repealed.

It provides for the establishment and the organisation of three main branches of the government - Parliament, which consists of the House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat) and the Senate (Dewan Negara); the executive branch represented by the prime minister and his Cabinet ; and the judicial branch headed by the Federal Court.

Provides answers to pertinent issues

liew-vui-keong.jpgLiew said the role of the citizen is the most important one to be established by the Constitution "because without the active knowledge and participation of citizens, our Constitution is an empty.meaningless and lifeless document."

He added: "The nobility of a good consitution is incumbent on its citizens and how they accept and practise law and order.

"The opposite of this is, of course, lawlessness and wanton behaviours.

"The country would be crippled with setbacks and unable to progress further than 'page one'."

The Constitution, said to be the lifeline of the nation, also defines the rights and responsibilities of the Federal government, each member state and the citizens.

Thus, the Constitution is rightly the custodian of the people’s rights and provides the answers to all pertinent issues.

my-constitution-logo.jpgTo make it easier to understand and to make it within reach of every household, the Bar Council has printed a simplified guide on the Constitution in the form of a leaflet, which will be distributed throughout the country.

The council hopes to capture a following of at least six million people over the next two years through the campaign.

The Bar Council feels that some of the country’s laws are ‘archaic’ and has formed a reforms committee to look into possible changes to meet current developments; but without undermining the spirit of the Constitution.

For instance, the committee would look into the provisions of the 40-year-old Internal Securities Act and recommend to the Home Ministry some changes to suit the day’s climate.

The Bar Council pertinently pointed out that it is for such reason that every Malaysian should know their Constitution and to not just be influenced by the media and politicians, who are also not very well-versed in the charter.

What is the Constitution?

Dr Aziz said the Constitution is simply ‘the basic law of the land’ and any other law or regulation must go back to it.

Welcoming the move to make the Constitution people-friendly through the Bar Council’s campaign, he said all this while it had been perceived that only the politicians and lawmakers ‘own’ the charter.

Dr Aziz said: “The Constitution is intended as a social contract and documented by Malaysia’s forefathers to facilitate the democracy of the emerging nation (then knoqwn as Malaya, which gained independence in 1957).

“They (the country’s founding fathers) acknowledged that the Malays and other natives are the sons of the soil but did not sideline others who make up the nation, “ he said, adding that there are politicians who are fond of using the ‘bumiputra’ issue to incite tensions and hatred among the races.

“The politicians forget that there are many more clauses in the Constitution to promote unity among the people.

“That is why educating the public is important, as also making the legalistic side of the Constitution more transparent,” said Dr Aziz.

Dr Shad Saleem agreed that the Constitution is the basic law of the land but, he added, everyone should have the right to go to the court. “Thus, no law or any person must - or can - be above the Constitution.

He suggested that the government be challenged if it acts wrongly; reiterating that the Constitution is the basis for every other law;be it legal, political or social.constitution-2.jpg

“It is the basic infrastructure of nation building and should stay in the middle of the majority and the minority, like it was intended to.

“The people must together seek to reconcile with and uphold the Constitution, since it is the shield that protects the whole nation and not to allow it to collapse.

Standing tall and still progressing

“When other multi-ethnic countries have turned to ashes, Malaysia with is multi-faceted population is still standing tall and progressing,”
he said.

Dr Shad Saleem akins Malaysians to the colours of the rainbow – separated but not apart.

“But there is still a lot of hard work to be done to ensure that the beautiful rainbow that is called Malaysia will live forever,” he added.

To achieve this, he said, Constitutional literacy must be encouraged.

“The Constitution must be higher than the executive and administrative laws,” he said, urging all Malaysians to respect the social contract that had been agreed to and to compromise where it helps and where it hurts.

NEXT: Does the Constitution have a universal appeal?

Death in police custody – R. Sundara Raju, detained at Klang police station (18 November 2002)

Seven years ago today, 32-year-old R. Sundara Raju died of injuries sustained while he was being held in police custody at the Klang police station lock-up.

He had been arrested on 11 November 2002, and was admitted to the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang a few days later, after he had reportedly been beaten up in the lock-up. He died in the hospital after being in a coma for three days. It does not appear that the cause of his injuries has been made known.

Despite the requirement that all custodial deaths be investigated by inquiries conducted pursuant to Chapter XXXII of the Criminal Procedure Code, it is not clear that an inquest has been conducted into R. Sundara Raju’s death.

Every death in custody must be thoroughly and impartially investigated. R. Sundara Raju’s death must not be relegated to a mere statistic.

Based on the Royal Malaysia Police’s statistics, 85 persons died in police custody between 2003 and 2007 alone.

We express our heartfelt condolences to R. Sundara Raju’s family and friends on this anniversary of his death.

Transkrip Perbahasan Di Parlimen Peringkat Jawatankuasa Jabatan Perdana Menteri

Teks Perbahasan Bajet 2010 – Versi Hansard , Peringkat Jawatankuasa Jabatan Perdana Menteri Oleh : YB DATO’ SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM

ISNIN, 16 NOVEMBER 2009

Tuan Pengerusi: Kepala Bekalan B.1 hingga B.9 dan B.40 dan Kepala Pembangunan P.6 dan P.7 terbuka semula untuk dibahas. Sila Yang Berhormat Permatang Pauh.

_

12.30 tgh.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Tuan Pengerusi, saya pohon turut serta dalam Perbahasan Peringkat Jawatankuasa B.3, 010000 dan 020000 – Pengurusan Korporat dan Pengauditan. Kita baru-baru ini dikejutkan dengan Laporan Ketua Audit Negara.

Setiap kali Laporan Ketua Audit Negara dikeluarkan Menteri-menteri dan kerajaan berpura-pura terkejut dan memberi jaminan tindakan diambil. Akan tetapi, saya masih ingat tatkala Allahyarham Tan Sri Ahmad Noordin menjadi Ketua Audit Negara sejak itu lagi, sebelum beliau diangkat menjadi Pengerusi Suruhanjaya BMF. Beliau telah mencatat beberapa kelemahan tidak separah sekarang tetapi ada langkah-langkah diambil. Umpamanya ada lembaga ketika itu namanya Maju Ikan yang kemudian dibatalkan dan di antara sebabnya ialah pembelian bot kecil nelayan. Apabila ditanya, bot tidak sampai. Order dibuat, bayaran dibuat. Apabila ditanya pegawai berkenaan, katanya bot tenggelam dan perkara itu ditutup begitu sahaja. Itu sebagai contoh bagaimana pada peringkat itu sekurang-kurangnya dalam hal yang agak kecil yang melibatkan ratusan ribu ringgit yang mengejutkan dan tindakan cuba diambil.

Akan tetapi, sekarang kebocoran dan kerugian dari perkara yang sekecil membeli skru driver, komputer dan sehingga sebesarnya. Semua beri jaminan tindakan akan diambil. Sepatutnya setiap Menteri memberikan jawapan yang tegas dan tindakan diambil melalui Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian berkenaan supaya ada makna pengauditan ini.

Saya mengalu-alukan tindakan dan keberanian Ketua Audit Negara serta pasukannya yang mengetengahkan isu-isu ini. Kalau kita ada Menteri KPI dan sebagainya tidak perlu sibuk soal lain. Kaji laporan Ketua Audit Negara dan perbaikinya. Itu pun sumbangan besar kepada negara… [Tepuk]

Akan tetapi, kalau kita hanya sibuk dengan rangka-rangka yang canggih dan pengumuman demi pengumuman hendak mempesonakan sedikit orang tetapi kesannya tidak ada. Lihat sahaja Laporan Ketua Audit Negara tahun ini, tahun sebelumnya, dan sepuluh tahun sebelumnya. Apakah ada perubahan yang lebih positif atau kita kekal malah lebih parah dalam beberapa aspek pelaksanaan?

Saya menyatakan di sini berdasarkan Laporan Ketua Audit Negara yang kami ikuti sejak puluhan tahun yang lalu ternyata tidak ada kesungguhan lebih-lebih lagi sekarang dalam pimpinan kerajaan sekarang kerana kesibukan mereka ialah membelanjakan sesuka hati, mengetepikan proses tender dan kemudian hendak salahkan pegawai-pegawai sahaja. Saya tidak katakan kita harus pertahankan semua pegawai yang terlibat dan dianggap salah. Akan tetapi, saya anggap kelemahan ini berpunca daripada pimpinan politik yang lemah dan tidak mempedulikan soal pertanggungjawaban dan ketelusan dalam pentadbiran kerajaan.

Kita lihat sahaja umpamanya sikap-sikap menteri dalam soal rasuah dan kerugian-kerugian besar. Kita ambil PKFZ, mana menteri yang sanggup pada mulanya mengambil tindakan? [Tepuk] Di mana suara Ahli Parlimen?… [Tepuk]

Tentunya Ahli Parlimen lebih takut lagi kerana pengaruh orang-orang dalam PKFZ.

Akan tetapi di mana suaranya sehingga didedahkan bertahun-tahun barulah berpura-pura mengambil sedikit tindakan dan yang bertanggungjawab itu menteri-menteri kanan. Bekas Menteri Pengangkutan Tun Ling Liong Sik, setelah Datuk Seri diangkat menjadi Tun. Apakala dibuktikan penglibatan beliau dalam kecurangan dan perompakan dalam PKFZ. Tuan Pengerusi mungkin sebut, “Oh kita guna istilah ini”. Apa istilah lain untuk diganti dalam PKFZ ini kalau belanja dan tanggungan yang sedemikian?

Kemudian, Menteri Pengangkutan berikutnya dan beberapa pegawai yang lain kita tidak tahu mana kesudahannya? Jadi, audit itu satu hal di mana ia membantu kita untuk mendapatkan keterangan yang cukup. Akan tetapi, untuk pemerintah dan kerajaan yang bertanggungjawab tindakan dalam item berkenaan itu harus diambil. Tidak cukup umpamanya menjerit dalam Dewan Rakyat mengatakan kami ini peka kepada rakyat. Ya, bantu RM40,000 atau RM100,000 atau setengah juta kepada kawasan. Rugi PKFZ RM12 bilion… [Tepuk]

Tanggungan PERWAJA RM13 bilion. Bayaran oleh Kementerian Kewangan, dua minggu setelah saya dipecat kepada PERWAJA RM3.6 bilion dan soalan-soalan saya tidak dijawab sampai sekarang. Apakah alasan Kementerian Kewangan menutup kes itu dengan sebegitu mudah. Bukan tanggungan sebenarnya, bayaran. Jadi, apa makna RM3 bilion senang sahaja beri kepada tauke. Kemudian, kita sibuk dengan RM30 juta canang satu negara bagaimana kita beri khidmat kepada rakyat jelata. Ini bukan soal pegawai, ini soal pimpinan negara.

Saya sebut tentang subsidi IPP, dijawab semberono. Subsidi IPP berbeza dengan peruntukan yang banyak kepada rakyat. Subsidi kepada tauke-tauke besar, siapa yang berani sentuh tauke-tauke besar? Hendak runding semula pun susah. Jangankan tindakan, runding semula dan malah ada ketika Menteri bagi jaminan ya kami bersedia runding semula perjanjian IPP. Siapa dia yang dapat IPP? Genting Sangyen, tauke Genting, untung catat ratusan juta. Siapa dia YTL, untung catat ratusan juta. Jawabnya, YTL dapat juga di negara-negara lain. Lihat

rekod kewangan di Malaysia dan di negara-negara lain. Keuntungan di sini lah yang paling besar kerana apa? Kerana sekongkolnya pemimpin-pemimpin negara dengan syarikat-syarikat besar… [Tepuk]

Kalau pimpinan negara mempunyai integriti, kewibawaan, keberanian, dan courage, mereka boleh berunding dengan mana-mana tauke besar tanpa kira dan menetapkan syarat yang baik. Kemudian, ada Yang Berhormat Batu Pahat hendak cakap? Siapa?

Beberapa Ahli: [Bercakap tanpa menggunakan pembesar suara]

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Ya, Yang Berhormat Batu Pahat sila bangun dan cakap… [Tepuk]

Beberapa Ahli: Bangun, bangun. Cakap, cakap… [Bercakap tanpa menggunakan pembesar suara]

Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad Zarkashi: [Bangun]

Tuan Pengerusi: Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat. Tidak beradat. Di dalam Dewan tidak ada cabar-mencabar. Yang Berhormat Permatang Pauh silakan teruskan.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Tuan Pengerusi, saya tidak mencabar. Akan tetapi, saya tahu di mana terutamanya Timbalan Menteri patut tahu adab dan akhlak. Biar budak-budak dengar… [Tepuk]

Tuan Pengerusi: Sila teruskan.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Yang Berhormat Batu Pahat tidak boleh jerit dari belakang, saya dengar. Sudah kaya raya… [Ketawa] Ya, cuba tanya kedudukan pendapatannya. Kaya raya kemudian menjerit. Beri, saya beri ruang. Bukan cabar, saya hendak beri ruang. Tanya kalau apa yang saya katakan ini tidak bertanggungjawab… [Tepuk]

Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad Zarkashi: Tuan Pengerusi…

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Saya tidak gunakan ruang di Parlimen. Tuan Pengerusi kenal saya.

Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad Zarkashi: Tuan Pengerusi…

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Ada bukti saya sebut, tiada bukti saya diam… [Tepuk] Ini PKFZ ada bukti.

Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad Zarkashi: Tidak, saya bangkitkan tadi yang RM8 juta saham Yang Berhormat Gombak itu macam mana?

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Ya, baik saya boleh jawab. Siasatan sejak 1998. Tahun ini 2009, apa yang jadi? Ditutup kerana tidak ada asas. Yang Berhormat Batu Pahat bercakap sebagai Ahli Yang Berhormat Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran. Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran kah? Saya pun tidak tahu.

Beberapa Ahli: Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran… [Bercakap tanpa menggunakan pembesar suara]

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Saya pun tidak berapa kenal. Cakap soal Islam, ungkapkan dengan istilah. Soalan kaitan, tuduhan, dan fitnah dengan fakta lain.

Tuan Pengerusi tahu Yang Berhormat sendiri sebut Anwar punyai RM3 bilion. Disiasat… [Tepuk] Saya cabar untuk siasat saya… [Tepuk]

Terima kasih Yang Berhormat Menteri pun mengangguk. Memang saya sahabat Yang Berhormat Tasik Gelugor. Cabar siasat saya, cabar siasat akaun saya dalam negara, luar Negara dan termasuk di Switzerland… [Tepuk]

Saya kata Perdana Menteri sekarang, bekas Perdana Menteri termasuk Perdana Menteri yang lama itu, siasat akaun dalam negara dan di Switzerland… [Tepuk]

Seorang Ahli: Setuju… [Bercakap tanpa menggunakan pembesar suara]

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Mana ada jawapan? Yang ada ialah fitnah berterusan. Termasuklah ustaz dan ustazah dalam UMNO pertahankan. Saya hendak beritahu di sini, saya cabar suruh siasat saya dan semua yang ada akaun di dalam negara dan luar negara kerana media UMNO dan Barisan Nasional guna sepenuhnya mengatakan Anwar punyai RM3 bilion. Diam, saya tahu pasukan kanan SPRM ke Penjara Sungai Buloh berjumpa saya sekali bersabit RM3 bilion.

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Saya bagi kenyataan. Diam sehingga 2009, minggu lalu, Pengarah Siasatan BPR buat kenyataan bersumpah di mahkamah mengatakan kami telah melakukan siasatan menyeluruh terhadap tuduhan tersebut, kami dapati tidak ada asas, kes tutup… [Tepuk]

Tuan Pengerusi, 11 tahun saya difitnah. Saya puji pegawai sekurang-kurangnya dia buat siasatan. Akan tetapi arahan Perdana Menteri pada masa itu, tutup, jangan sebut hasil siasatan.

Tuan Pengerusi, apakah saya ini paria di kelas bawahan? Sudah diterajang, dipukul setengah mampus dan ramai Ahli Parlimen dan kawan-kawan saya dahulu ketawa dan diaibkan. Kalau ada bukti, silakan! RM3 bilion, sibuk satu negara diceritakan soal RM3 bilion termasuk Ahli Parlimen dari Jelebu. Bukan Jelebu, yang kaya raya itu. Dia marah, cabar, mana dia kekayaan dia? Amboi! Saya kata, okey, siasat saya. Siasat dia, tengok… [Ketawa] [Disampuk]

Seorang Ahli: Rembau.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Eh, Rembau, Rembau! Silap Jelebu. Rembau, Rembau, Rembau, menantu. Yang Berhormat Menantu.

Tuan Pengerusi, soal RM3 bilion ini sebagai contohlah. Saya nak sebut Yang Berhormat Batu Pahat, politik, politiklah. Apabila kita cakap, Ahli Yang Berhormat kata oh, ini fitnah. Fitnah apa? RM3 bilion, saya tanggung 11 tahun fitnah itu. Ya, Alhamdulillah kebanyakan tidak percaya, tetapi ada orang percaya sebab yang disebut, yang menyebutnya itu media-media dan pemimpin-pemimpin. Kadang-kadang tidak di majlis terbuka, majlis tertutup. Fitnah ini keji, tak boleh kita teruskan.

Tuan Pengerusi tahu, banyak perkara yang saya tidak bersetuju. Akan tetapi, kalau saya tidak ada bukti, saya tak sanggup guna Dewan untuk serang dalam isu ini. Apabila saya sebut PERWAJA, Bakun atau PKFZ, saya lihat rekod.

Pertama kali saya keluarkan selepas Yang Berhormat Ipoh Timur bangkitkan dahulu, saya keluarkan dengan lengkap kenyataan PKFZ. Itu hanya setelah saya lihat sendiri dokumen termasuk Kertas Kabinet berkaitan. Nanti tanya pula, mana dapat? OSA pula… [Ketawa] Tak tahu! Macam mana tak tahu, sampai di depan saya. Jin mana hantar, saya tidak tahu… [Ketawa]

Kemudian selepas itu hilang.Apabila saya lihat, baru saya tahu percanggahan yang cukup besar. Iaitu seorang Menteri Pengangkutan boleh buat surat jaminan sebegitu rupa dan jawabnya tidak tahu, tidak ingat. Ini kesalahan besar dalam sistem pentadbiran kerajaan.

Yang Berhormat Tasek Gelugor, Menteri tahu bekas Bank Negara dan Menteri Kewangan bahawa tidak ada Menteri yang boleh buat surat jaminan selain Menteri Kewangan. Akan tetapi, ini dilakukan oleh senior Cabinet Minister. Apa yang dilakukan? Naik jadi Tun. Sistem kita permainkan. Orang boleh rompak ratusan juta, ribu juta boleh buat begini dengan kepentingan perniagaan guna wang rakyat berbilion ringgit memperkayakan diri, kroni dan keluarga dan kita tutup kes. Kemudian kita gunakan untuk fitnah orang lain.

Ini yang kita sebut peringatan, bukan peringatan Ronggo Warsito yang dipinjam oleh Timbalan Perdana Menteri. Ronggo Warsito kata zaman edan begitu, zaman edan ini pak, Tuan Pengerusi… [Ketawa] Bapak pula. Ini zaman edan ini, zaman gila Yang Berhormat Tapah. Zaman edan ini ikut philosophy Jawa ini, zaman gila. Saya sebut setelah melihat karya Ronggo Warsito yang awal itu diminta oleh Sukarno untuk diterjemahkan sebenarnya dan kemudian diedit semula.

Jadi, dia kata zaman edan ini, orang baik, yang akhlaknya baik, yang hidupnya

sederhana dituduh rasuah. Penyangak dan perasuah diangkat dan dipuja menjadi pemimpin… [Tepuk] Bukan saya kata, Ronggo Warsito kata.

Jadi, semalam di Kota Bharu, nasib Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz dicerca, diaibkan dan dikaitkan dengan rasuah kerana ada sponsor nak bawa dia menunaikan fardu haji. Saya akui ada masalah teknikal di situ. Akan tetapi Tuan Pengerusi, ini orang yang menjadi Menteri Besar 19 tahun. Boleh check rekod akaun dia, boleh tengok harta dia, boleh tengok kesederhanaan hidupnya. Saya bandingkan, saya sendiri pun dengan stail, tentunya lebih mahal daripada dia, kot saya dengan baju dia. Untuk kita, pemuda-pemuda UMNO dengan kekayaan sedemikian, secara angkuh dan takabbur menyerang Tok Guru itu sebagai perasuah, patut letak jawatan Tuan Pengerusi, ini dia… [Dewan riuh] Bangsa apa ini? Kita cakap soal Melayu, ketuanan Melayu, harapan Melayu. Bangsa apa ini yang boleh menghina seorang pemimpin?… [Dewan riuh][Tepuk] Kita mungkin berbeza pendapat.

Tuan Pengerusi pun tahu dalam kalangan pimpinan, ada pimpinan-pimpinan UMNO tertentu dahulu dan sekarang yang saya tidak sentuh kerana saya tahu masih boleh pertahan sedikit sebanyak kewibawaannya. Akan tetapi, ini hendak banding dengan Tuan Guru Nik Aziz, oleh tokoh-tokoh muda ini yang kaya raya dan cara dia lapor dan cerca, itu mengejutkan kita dan tidak menjadi budaya politik yang sihat dan guna SPRM.

Ini yang RM13 bilion rugi? Ha, Yang Berhormat Padang Besar tahu, dia Pengerusi PAC. Mana dia tindakan? Terpaksa tunggu bertahun-tahun. Desakan demi desakan sehingga menjadi satu isu besar barulah nak mulakan siasatan. Beza dengan sponsor naik haji yang lazim dilakukan oleh semua tuan-tuan guru di negara ini. Cuma kebetulan tuan guru ini Menteri Besar. Tradisi umat Islam seluruh dunia, tanpa kecuali di Malaysia ini, seorang tokoh ulama yang dikenali, selalunya diambil oleh anak-anak qariah dan jemaahnya untuk dibawa bersama bagi memimpin haji mereka…

Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad Zarkashi: [Menyampuk]

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Tak mengapa boleh tanya, siapa tadi? Tanya… [Dewan riuh]

Tuan Pengerusi: Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat, Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat, Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat, ini peringkat Jawatankuasa. Jangan ganggu, tak apa, sila.

Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad Zarkashi: Boleh mencelah Tuan Yang di-Pertua?

Tuan Pengerusi: Permatang Pauh, Permatang Pauh, panjang lagi?

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Saya tidak bangkang Tuan Pengerusi, dia nak minta penjelasan.

Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad Zarkashi: Tak, boleh minta penjelasan Tuan Pengerusi? boleh.

Tuan Pengerusi: Yang Berhormat Permatang Pauh sudah duduk, jadi bermakna bolehlah itu.

Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad Zarkashi: Ya, terima kasih, terima kasih.

Tuan N. Gobalakrishnan [Padang Serai]: Timbalan Menteri tak tahu undang-undang Dewan kah?

Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad Zarkashi: Ya, sebab itu kita tanya, bukan macam Yang Berhormat Padang Serai. Cakap tak minta kebenaran. Yang Berhormat Padang Serai memang tak tahu peraturan, sebab itu cakap tak minta kebenaran. Saya tanya dulu. Saya nak tanya Yang Berhormat Permatang Pauh, yang menjadi isu sekarang ini ialah kalau itu tidak menjadi masalah, kenapa nak dibatalkan? Pergi sahajalah.

Akan tetapi, maksudnya, apabila tak jadi pergi, maka itu menimbulkan keraguan. Iaitu seolah-olah kalau orang tak tahu, pergi. Apabila dah tahu, tak jadi pergi. Apatah lagi yang sponsor ini kontraktor, yang ada dapat banyak projek di kelantan. Jadi, kena jaga. Jadi, maksudnya, pemimpin juga kena jaga dari segi maruah dan ini adalah penting supaya kredibiliti Menteri Besar ini dijaga. Ini yang menjadi persoalan. Yang Berhormat Permatang Pauh pun sebenarnya saya tengok tadi cakap pun bukan ikut peraturan, tuduh saya kaya raya. Apa bukti saya kaya raya? Dia dah tahukah akaun saya? Banyakkah duit dalam akaun saya berbanding akaun beliau dan isteri beliau? Terima kasih… [Dewan riuh]

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Tuan Pengerusi, saya ini dalam hidup saya memang pantang dicabar! [Tepuk] Saya ada maklumat. Kalau Yang Berhormat mahu, bukan hajat saya untuk dedahkannya. Saya hendak bagi tahu, tetapi tak usah cabar saya. Cukup setakat itu. Ya, nanti tidak baik, tidak membantu saudara sebagai tokoh muda yang sedang naik… [Tepuk] Cuma nasihat si abang ini,…

Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad Zarkashi: Dedahlah, tak ada masalah, tolong dedah.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: …Biar saya jawab tentang Tuan Guru Nik Aziz. Tak apa, Tuan Guru Nik Aziz. Saya nak jawab pasal tok guru Nik Aziz.

Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad Zarkashi: Nak tengok akaun saya pun, saya boleh bagi.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Ya, dengan akaun dalam negara, bank akaun luar negara…

Tuan Pengerusi: Ahli Yang Berhormat, Ahli Yang Berhormat…

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: …Syarikat nominee, tak nominee. Saya Menteri Kewangan dahulu, tanya Menteri Kewangan sekarang, kita tahu proses dia. Biar saya jawab Tuan Guru Nik Aziz dulu…

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Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad Zarkashi [Batu Pahat]: Itulah saya kata, Tuan Pengerusi, ini sudah disebut nominee dan sebagainya. Tolonglah dedahkan, tidak ada masalah.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Tidak, tidak. Saya hendak jawab…

Tuan Pengerusi: Yang Berhormat Batu Pahat.

Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad Zarkashi [Batu Pahat]: Tolong dedahkan, tidak ada masalah.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Saya hendak jawab Tuan Guru Nik Aziz.

Tuan Pengerusi: Yang Berhormat Permatang Pauh, jangan lupa kepala…, Kepala B.1

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Kepala tadi B.3

Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad Zarkashi [Batu Pahat]: Tuan Pengerusi, memang Yang

Berhormat Permatang Pauh ini dia suka serkap jarang.

Tuan Pengerusi: Jangan terkeluar daripada Kepala-kepala.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Tidak keluar, tidak keluar.

Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad Zarkashi [Batu Pahat]: Yang Berhormat Permatang Pauh

memang serkap jarang.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: SPRM.

Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad Zarkashi [Batu Pahat]: Dia suka buat cara begitu. Dia bukan ada fakta pun.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: SPRM. SPRM.

Tuan Pengerusi: Yang Berhormat Batu Pahat, Yang Berhormat Permatang Pauh menjawab.

Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad Zarkashi [Batu Pahat]: Kalau berani tolong dedahkan. Tolong dedahkan kalau berani. Jadi, jangan main tuduh-tuduh. Sama sahaja dua kali lima, menuduh orang tidak betul tetapi Yang Berhormat Permatang Pauh pun dua kali lima tidak betul, buat tuduhan yang bukan-bukan. Kalau berani tolong dedahkan.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Tidak mengapa.

Tuan Pengerusi: Sila, sila. Teruskan, Yang Berhormat.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Bertenang. Bertenang.

Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad Zarkashi [Batu Pahat]: Tolong dedahkan. Maksudnya tolong dedahkan apa harta saya, apa syarikat saya, apa nominee saya?

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Terima kasih.

Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad Zarkashi [Batu Pahat]: Tengok akaun saya, berapa duit yang tinggal?

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Baik, Yang Berhormat.

Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad Zarkashi [Batu Pahat]: Kalau berani tolong dedahkanlah. Kalau berani.

Tuan Pengerusi: Ini perbahasan-perbahasan di bawah kepala Perdana Menteri bukan akaun-akaun masing-masing.

Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad Zarkashi [Batu Pahat]: Ini bukan cabar-mencabar. Ini bukan soal cabar mencabar, Tuan Pengerusi tetapi saya fikir kalau Yang Berhormat Permatang…

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: SPRM. Saya hendak menjawab tidak boleh. Dia sudah bangkit soalan…[Dewan riuh]

Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad Zarkashi [Batu Pahat]: Kalau Yang Berhormat Permatang

berani…

Tuan Pengerusi: Yang Berhormat Batu pahat.

Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad Zarkashi [Batu Pahat]: [Bercakap tanpa menggunakan pembesar suara]

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: [Bercakap tanpa menggunakan

pembesar suara]

Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad Zarkashi [Batu Pahat]: Jangan main cakap sembarangan.

Tuan Pengerusi: Sudah Yang Berhormat Batu Pahat. Yang Berhormat, sila duduk. Semua yang dihujah dalam Dewan ini dicatat. Semua orang di luar dengar. Sila.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Terima kasih Tuan Pengerusi, saya hendak jelaskan tentang persoalan yang dibangkitkan mengenai SPRM yang di bawah B.9 ini. Ia berkaitan dengan tindakan kepada Tuan Guru Nik Aziz. Katanya kalau tidak ada apa-apa masalah mengapa beliau ambil keputusan untuk membatalkan. Beliau tentunya diberi nasihat. Isu teknikal yang berbangkit. Beliau batalkan.

Oleh sebab itu saya sebutkan tadi, kalau Yang Berhormat Timbalan Menteri dengar, saya sebut soal teknikal. Akan tetapi saya juga tekankan isu besar di sini, isu rasuah. Mengapa yang kita hendak pilih, buru orang-orang tertentu dalam pembangkang dalam isu-isu teknikal kecil? Apatah lagi seorang tokoh yang dikenali hidup sederhana menjadi Menteri Besar 19 tahun. Bandinglah dengan semua Menteri Besar lain yang dulu dan yang sekarang.

Tuan Pengerusi, adillah. Janganlah hina dan aibkan orang yang sedemikian. Itu yang saya hendak tekankan. Kalau kita hendak jadi jaguh menentang rasuah, benarkah kita ini jaguh menentang rasuah? Mengapa yang RM10 bilion tidak nampak? Kalau betul konsisten, konsistenlah tetapi kalau hendak jadi jaguh dalam kursus Biro Tatanegara bolehlah kerana orang ini tidak boleh hujah.

Akan tetapi kalau hendak jadi jaguh dalam soal SPRM, hujah di sini isu faktanya. Bukan saya… Sebab itu saya tidak mahu terikat dengan pertengkaran peribadi dengan beliau. Saya hendak tumpu tindakan yang SPRM ambil dan SPRM ambil tindakan bagi saya atas arahan politik kerana menuju kepada tokoh-tokoh tertentu untuk pertikai kredibiliti masingmasing. Yang ini tidak baik sama sekali. Ia umum dan diketahui, bukan sahaja orang Kelantan. Orang tahu kalau tokoh Melayu, Muslim begini pun diserang ini apa hendak jadi kepada Negara kita. Ini yang saya sebut Ronggo Warsito itu.

Saya belum tahu, sejak saya terlibat dalam politik 1982 atau sebelumnya seorang tokoh politik yang ada jawatan besar, yang hidupnya sederhana seperti Tuan Guru Nik Aziz. Kalau orang semacam itu diserbu, diaibkan dan diserang sebagai rasuah, mengapa lepaskan perasuah-perasuah besar lain?… [Tepuk]

Tuan Pengerusi, saya sambung soal yang dibangkitkan oleh Ahli Yang Berhormat yang mana jawapan daripada Menteri itu agak longgar termasuklah permasalahan yang dibangkitkan tentang perbelanjaan tambahan akibat daripada kerugian beberapa pelaksanaan projek umpamanya Projek Landasan Kereta Api Berkembar Rawang-Ipoh RM1.1 bilion. Ini yang dianggap besar.

Yang kecil, yang lain itu tidak mahu saya sebut di sini kerana memang tercatat

dalam laporan B.3 dan 020000 – Pengauditan. Laporan menyebut di antara lain kajian yang dibuat dan dilaporkan dalam akhbar The Star, “Ketirisan, kerugian, penambahan belanja tidak kurang RM28 bilion setahun.” Apakah ini bukan satu angka yang harus menggerunkan atau menyebabkan kita mengambil langkah-langkah untuk perbaiki?

Baik, saya faham Menteri Kewangan atau menteri-menteri yang lain boleh perjelaskan kadang-kadang kos simen meningkat maka ada pertimbangan naik 5% atau 3%. Itu perkara biasa dan saya tahu berlaku. Oleh sebab itu peningkatan RM28 bilion mungkin tidak RM28 bilion tetapi mustahil RM28 bilion itu semua kerana penambahan, bukan kerana ketirisan akibat daripada kebocoran, rasuah dan penyelewengan. Peruntukan pembangunan dalam Belanjawan 2010, RM53 bilion. Rekod tentang ketirisan semuanya itu RM28 bilion. Apa yang sampai kepada rakyat yang disebut, tidak kiralah rakyat Barisan Nasional yang dapat banyak pun, tentunya sedikit daripada jumlah yang berkenaan. Oleh sebab itu sementara kita akui dan tahniah kepada Jabatan Audit Negara kita tidak boleh ketepikan kelemahan yang ketara dalam ini.

Dalam B.9. 20,000, saya ulang dan juga 40,000 tentang pencegahan, saya tanya dulu berdasarkan Laporan Audit Negara tahun lalu iaitu Kementerian Kewangan pada 13 September 1998 telah meluluskan semua hutang Kumpulan PERWAJA yang perlu ditanggung oleh kerajaan dari tahun 1998 hingga 2007 berjumlah RM3.9 bilion ditukar menjadi geran. Saya tidak faham setakat yang kearifan saya dalam bidang ini bahawa perkara ini boleh dilakukan.

Apabila kita bantah, rupa-rupanya Ketua Audit Negara sendiri menyarankan bahawa peruntukan itu yang disediakan mesti diluluskan oleh Parlimen kerana sumber pembiayaan pinjaman ini adalah daripada Kumpulan Wang Amanah. Sehingga hari ini kerajaan belum membentangkannya untuk kelulusan Parlimen. RM4 bilion boleh dibelanjakan tanpa mengikut peraturan, setelah ditegur satu tahun oleh Ketua Audit Negara.

Tuan Pengerusi ingat tarikhnya? Pada 13 September. Saya dipecat pada 2 September. Pada 13 September, Kementerian Kewangan diarah untuk padamkan hutang jadi geran RM4 bilion. Saya dipecat 2 September. Sebulan kemudian tol naik mendadak. Maknanya usaha menahan kebocoran ini dilepaskan sebaik daripada saya dikeluarkan dan tiada orang yang menahan kebocoran terus berlaku. Akan tetapi dalam kes ini diperkuat oleh Ketua Audit Negara kerana Ketua Audit Negara mengatakan dan saya ulang mesti diluluskan oleh Parlimen kerana peruntukan ini adalah sumber pembiayaan pinjaman daripada Kumpulan Wang Amanah. Ada penyelewengan! Apa pendapat dan siasatan SPRM dalam kes ini?

Kita bukanlah bermaksud umpamanya mengutip semua isu ini menjadi masalah. Oleh sebab itulah dalam ucapan membahaskan belanjawan saya akui beberapa projek yang sampai ke kumpulan sasar dan beberapa peruntukan dan kerangka fiskal dan kebijakan ekonomi dalam beberapa aspek yang boleh kita terima dan kita sokong. Akan tetapi hal-hal kecurangan ini besar, terlalu besar bukan kecil, PERWAJA RM4 bilion, RM3.9 bilion.

Kemudian Laporan Audit mengenai MAS termasuk dakwaan bekas Pengerusi MAS, Tan Sri Tajuddin Ramli. Beliau dipaksa beli saham.

Tuan Pengerusi: Panjang lagi, Yang Berhormat?

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Ya, saya hendak selesaikan sedikit.

Tuan Pengerusi: Mahu disambung tengah hari?

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Baik, Tuan Pengerusi.

Tuan Pengerusi: Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat mesyuarat akan disambung 2.30 petang.

Beberapa Ahli: [Bangun]

Tuan Pengerusi: Duduk dulu, Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat. Majlis bersidang semula sebagai Majlis Mesyuarat. Kita dalam peringkat Jawatankuasa. Terlampau khusyuk mendengar hujah daripada Yang Berhormat Permatang Pauh. Sebelah tengah hari, ingat Yang Berhormat Permatang Pauh, kerana masa biasanya sepuluh minit sahaja.

Majlis Mesyuarat bersidang semula.

[Tuan Yang di-Pertua mempengerusikan Mesyuarat]

Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat, mesyuarat kita ditangguhkan sehingga pukul 2.30 petang.

Mesyuarat ditempohkan pada pukul 1.00 petang.

Mesyuarat disambung semula pada pukul 2.30 petang.

Majlis bersidang dalam Jawatankuasa.

[Timbalan Yang di-Pertua (Datuk Dr. Haji Wan Junaidi Tunku Jaafar) mempengerusikan Jawatankuasa]

Tuan Pengerusi [Datuk Dr. Haji Wan Junaidi Tunku Jaafar]: Terima kasih. Assalamualaikum warahmatullaahi wabarakaatuh. Sebelum saya menjemput Yang Berhormat Permatang Pauh untuk meneruskan ucapan beliau, saya ingin memperingatkan kepada semua Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat, semasa Jawatankuasa ini kita berbahas atau bercakap stail Jawatankuasa iaitu mengikut butiran dan dalam butiran itu sahaja dan tidak kepada fakta-fakta lain. Sila Yang Berhormat Permatang Pauh.

2.33 ptg.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Terima kasih Tuan Pengerusi. Saya ingin menyentuh B.8, 10000, 30000, 40000 dan saya akan mulakan dengan penekanan soal royalti minyak yang banyak dibangkitkan oleh Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat dan ini bukan sahaja menyentuh negeri-negeri yang lazim pengeluar minyak seperti negeri Terengganu, negeri Sabah dan negeri Sarawak tetapi juga menimbulkan kedudukan negeri Kelantan sendiri. Kita telah menyemak semua undang-undang awal sehingga pindaan Petronas terakhir, semua kenyataan Perdana Menteri sejak Allahyarham Tun Abdul Razak sehingga Perdana Menteri sekarang, memang ternyata percanggahan pertama ialah istilah yang disebut dalam undang-undang royalty dengan pindaan kepada wang ihsan sebagai pertimbangan pentadbiran.

Keduanya janji bidang kuasa negeri yang jelas dalam Undang-undang 1976 yang awal dengan pindaan yang baru di mana kuasa itu adalah kuasa negeri dan kemudiannya dipindahkan kepada Petronas dengan syarat Petronas menganugerahkan royalti minyak sebanyak 5%. Oleh kerana perkara ini tidak berkesudahan, saya ingin memberi notis bahawa akan mengemukakan Rang Undang-undang Persendirian – Private Member’s Bill dalam isu pengagihan kekayaan negara minyak ini kepada negeri Kelantan, negeri Terengganu, negeri Sabah dan negeri Sarawak termasuk cadangan kita supaya pengagihannya itu telus dengan royalti 20% kepada negeri Kelantan, negeri Terengganu, negeri Sabah dan negeri Sarawak dan juga dengan peraturan kewangan yang ketat.

Walaupun kita usulkan supaya peruntukan ini dipindahkan dari persekutuan ke negeri mengikut hak yang termaktub dalam undang-undang tetapi saya bersetuju supaya pengagihannya dan pelaksanaannya mengikut tatacara kewangan yang ketat dan mengelakkan daripada salah guna kuasa pengagihan, baik dari peringkat pusat mahupun di peringkat negeri.

Berikutnya juga dengan Jabatan Peguam Negara, bahagian Perbicaraan dan Rayuan 40000 dan saya ingin mulakan dengan laporan Suruhanjaya Diraja mengenai tape V K Lingam. Dalam jawapan Menteri tidak memuaskan sama sekali, salah dari segi moral tidak salah di sisi undangundang. Apa faedahnya bagi kerajaan bersetuju di atas desakan rakyat untuk menubuhkan satu Suruhanjaya Diraja, kalau tidak diberi pertimbangan sama sekali, jawatankuasa, panel yang dibentuk terdiri daripada bekas Hakim Mahkamah Persekutuan. Meneliti semua fakta dan undang-undang, kemudian diserahkan kepada Peguam Negara, dan Peguam Negara iaitu Tan Sri Ghani Patail atas arahan politik, mengetepikan sahaja.

Kerana itu saya tanya berulang kali, mengapakah pemimpin negara nampak begitu lemah berdepan dengan orang-orang, tokoh-tokoh, peguam kaya seperti V.K Lingam dengan rekod separuh jenayah yang dilakukan begini rupa, mempengaruhi pelantikan hakim, menulis judgement (penghakiman) dan dalam kenyataan oleh setiausaha beliau sendiri yang dilaporkan kepada Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia, beliau sendiri yang cash wang RM300,000, beliau sendiri yang membawa ke rumah hakim dan serahkan kepada hakim. Beliau sendiri yang membeli tiket untuk Tun Eusoff Chin dan disebut nama-nama tokoh hakim besar seperti Tun Eusoff Chin, Tun Ahmad Fairuz iaitu hakim yang bergelar Tun, tetapi sekarang ini di kalangan mata rakyat yang menjadi orang yang terlibat dalam kes penyelewengan, salah guna kuasa dan jenayah ini, Tun-Tun belaka. Tadi dalam kes PKFZ, Tun Dr. Ling Liong Sik, dalam kes jenayah bidang penghakiman orang yang diamanahkan untuk menjaga keadilan di negara ini, disabit kesalahan besar dalam kes penghakiman.

Jadi saya harap Tuan Pengerusi, perkara ini diberikan perhatian yang serius kerana berbeza daripada kecaman atau yang disebut oleh rakan-rakan saya Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat. Bukan Yang Berhormat Pasir Salak, seolah-olah kita ini hanya memberikan tuduhan semberono, kita angkat keputusan Suruhanjaya Diraja yang dilantik oleh kerajaan di kalangan yang difikirkan oleh kerajaan, orang yang paling layak dan berwibawa tetapi apa yang berlaku ialah di sebaliknya. Tiada alasan yang munasabah sama sekali untuk menolak dan kalau diberikan atas alasan berselindung di bawah Peguam Negara maka tidak lama lagi, suruhanjaya kalau disiasat dan conduct dan prestasi Peguam Negara juga ada banyak masalah.

Tuan Pengerusi, dalam ucapan-ucapan Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat terutama dari Barisan Nasional tidak sangat di dalam Dewan tetapi di luar, banyak yang menyindir orang-orang yang dianggap oleh mereka bersalah dan dihukum termasuk saya. Kes RM3 bilion telah saya jelaskan, tetapi ada kes-kes dakwaan

sejak tahun 1998 yang pada mereka sudah diputus tanpa soal oleh mahkamah.

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Apa yang saya tuntut ini hanya keadilan. Saya tidak minta diberikan perlindungan dan keistimewaan. Orang yang meneliti kes dari awal pertuduhan di Tivoli Villa yang belum wujud dipinda pertuduhan, didera orang-orang yang dituduh, dipaksa, dirampas darah bukan mengikut peraturan, ditutup siasatan apabila ada laporan kedoktoran. Apakah kerana kedudukan kita ini sebagai pembangkang yang memilih untuk mengkritik dan menegur penyelewengan dan rasuah dalam kerajaan, maka kita harus dihina, diaibkan dan dipukul begitu sekali. Ataupun negara ini ada dua skim undang-undang.

Sebab itu peruntukan yang diberikan dan harapan diberikan kepada badan kehakiman ini dianggap harus bebas, haruslah selayaknya dibahaskan di Parlimen ini. Sehinggakan ada yang menyinggung setiap kali saya sampaikan ucapan atau memberi teguran atau memilih untuk menerima pelawaan Menteri Besar dan Kerajaan Negeri Selangor untuk menjadi pasak ekonomi Selangor…

Dato’ Haji Tajuddin Abdul Rahman [Pasir Salak]: [Bangun]

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Saya ingat Pasir Salak berdiri hendak tanya tadi. Itu dianggap sebagai sesuatu yang hendak alih daripada pertuduhan, takut bila saya masuk penjara.

Tuan Pengerusi, penjara tahanan politik, tahanan lokap sudah empat, lima kali saya rasai. Saya tahu apa maknanya kezaliman dan Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat yang ketika itu dengan rasa sedih dan menunjukkan keprihatinan terhadap saya semata-mata kerana kontrak dan jawatan, dia alih pandangan. Tidak ada masalah, itu hak dia. Akan tetapi saya ingin sebut kalau dianggap pertuduhan yang dibawa oleh pengkhianat politik dengan niat jahat fitnah itu sebagai sesuatu yang sah, mereka bertanggungjawab bukan sahaja kepada Perlembagaan Negara ini, bertanggungjawab di hadapan Allah SWT.

Dalam kes terbaru yang terpaksa saya hadapi, ini Peguam Negara berkeras untuk meneruskan pendakwaan atas niat politik walaupun keterangan-keterangan doktor, pakar-pakar yang mereka pilih sendiri daripada HKL di sebaliknya. Inilah satu kes seksual atau rogol di dunia, di mana kes itu dibawa dan didakwa walaupun doktor kata tidak ada kesan sama sekali bagi orang yang mendakwa perkara itu berlaku.

Tiga pakar Hospital Kuala Lumpur mengesahkan laporan dari Pusrawi umpamanya, “No conclusive clinical findings suggestive of penetration to the anus and no significant defensive wound on the body of the patient.” Sebab itu, Tuan Pengerusi, saya tanya kadang-kadang yang dibicarakan lubang mana saya tidak tahu… [Disampuk]

Dan saya harap kezaliman-kezaliman ini tidak boleh diteruskan atas nama tuntutan keadilan di negara kita. Saya sebut tadi permulaan dengan kes V. K . Lingam kerana kes V. K. Lingam ini tidak terlepas daripada pendakwaan 1998. Tuan Pengerusi kalau dengar…

Tuan Mohd. Yusmadi bin Mohd. Yusoff [Balik Pulau]: Ketua Pembangkang, minta penjelasan sedikit pasal V. K. Lingam. Tahukah Permatang Pauh bahawa minggu lepas iaitu pengerusi kepada, dengan izin Operation Review Panels oleh SPRM sendiri di atas desakan awam telah membuat kenyataan bahawa beliau memohon kebenaran daripada Peguam Negara untuk menilai semula laporan tersebut kerana ia pada pandangan mereka tidak menimbulkan keyakinan rakyat, tetapi sehingga hari ini selepas seminggu telah berlalu, tidak ada sebarang jawapan pun daripada Peguam Negara. Mohon penjelasan.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Tuan Pengerusi, Peguam Negara…

Tuan Pengerusi [Datuk Dr. Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar]: Saya pun hendak Tanya Datuk Seri, berapa lama lagi?

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Sudah hendak habis. Saya hendak rumuskan.

Peguam Negara ini hanya alat politik dan tidak ada kewibawaan untuk meneruskan tanggungjawab dia… [Tepuk] Beliau selamat ini hanya semata-mata kerana jadi boneka murahan, perkakas orang politik untuk mengesahkan rasuah dan kezaliman yang ada. Kita kemukakan bukti V. K. Lingam dan sekarang dipertikaikan oleh panel SPRM, ditanya tidak dijawab. Ada suruhanjaya ditutup, ada pendakwaan dan jenayah lain ditutup. Sebab itulah dia kekal. Ini yang saya tanya dahulu mengapa dalam sistem sekarang ini, ia bercakap soal ketelusan, anti rasuah boleh pertahankan orang-orang seperti ini.

Tuan Pengerusi harus ingat bila kita ambil pendirian seperti ini menggunakan ruang ini, kita tentunya akan dicekal, akan dianggap sebagai musuh Peguam Negara dan itulah sebabnya kita terus menanggung tekanan dan kezaliman ini.

Datuk Haji Mohamad bin Haji Aziz [Sri Gading]: [Berjalan masuk ke dalam Dewan]

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Sri Gading, oh bukan. Jadi sebab itu bila ada kenyataan daripada panel SPRM meminta supaya perkara ini dibuka semula kerana panel menganggap wajar. Bayangkan panel kerajaan, SPRM sendiri yang bebas menganggap perlu dikaji semula, diketepikan begitu sahaja oleh Peguam Negara dan Sri Gading memilih untuk pertahankan kerja macam ini atas nama Islam, atas nama kononnya Melayu. Melayu apa yang diketengahkan? Kita hendak ketengahkan kalaupun Melayu, Melayu yang boleh memimpin dan pegang amanah, tidak khianat, tidak bolot kekayaan untuk sebahagian kecil. Melayu ini Melayu ramai, Melayu rakyat Sri Gading, Melayu rakyat Padang Besar, Melayu rakyat Permatang Pauh, bukan tiga, empat kerat Melayu di atas yang kaya-raya. Saya kenal Sri Gading dan sepatutnya Sri Gading menyokong prinsip ini seperti mana saya pernah dengar dia sokong dahulu. Bukan sokong saya, sokong prinsip ini. Akan tetapi ini kita memilih untuk menyerang dan melindungi penjenayah-penjenayah di atas.

Datuk Haji Mohamad bin Haji Aziz [Sri Gading]: Permatang Pauh, lain hulu lain parang, lain dulu lain sekarang… [Ketawa]

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [Permatang Pauh]: Saya terima, lain dulu lain sekarang. Saya bahaskan ini prinsip, Yang Berhormat kakanda Sri Gading. Yang saya bahaskan ini prinsip. Kalau dahulu kita tentang rasuah, sekarang kita tentang rasuah. Kalau dahulu kita tolak penipuan, sekarang kita harus tolak penipuan. Mengapa harus kita pilih untuk melindungi? Kalau kita sebut, dia kata ini kerana suara pembangkang. Sebab itu saya pilih laporan Suruhanjaya Diraja, laporan yang arif-arif semua dari hakim, kemudian ditutup atas arahan politik oleh Peguam Negara.

Jadi oleh yang demikian soal V. K. Lingam itu jangan dibiarkan dipadamkan begitu sahaja. Kes ini bukan baru. Saya ulangi, sejak laporan PricewaterhouseCoopers Report 1995, 1996, keluar 1998, sudah disebut peranan V. K. Lingam ini menjadi peguam bagi semua syarikat besar, tetapi masih diberi perlindungan. Kita hairan di negara ini, mengapa orang yang begitu

dengan bukti penipuan begitu, bukan sekadar dilindungi tetapi terus diangkat. Saya hendak tunggu sahaja masa bila dia hendak dapat Tan Sri.

Tuan Pengerusi, saya ingin menyebut badan kehakiman ini kerana selagi tidak ada perubahan dari bentuk pelantikan, tindakan dan keputusan, maka tidak akan ada keyakinan terhadap sistem dan mengharapkan satu badan kehakiman yang bebas. Saya juga telah sentuh tadi beberapa hal yang menyentuh dengan SPRM dan saya harap tidak ada jawapan yang dianggap sepintas lalu, kerana ada kes-kes yang khusus yang telah dibawa dan saya harap SPRM memulihkan kewibawaan mereka dan menjalankan amanah seperti mana yang dilakukan oleh ramai pegawai SPRM yang menjalankan tugas secara profesional, tetapi rasa kesal kerana keputusan-keputusan mereka itu diketepikan begitu sahaja.

Tuan Pengerusi, dalam beberapa minit akhir ini, saya hendak sentuh apa yang saya sebut tadi soal royalti minyak kerana tarikh yang saya sebut tadi 1966 itu tidak tepat.

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Sebenarnya peraturan Petroleum Mining Act itu memang benar Continental Shelf Act 1966, kemudian Petroleum Mining Act and the National Land Code, dikaitkan dengan Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance No. 7 of 1969 yang berkaitan dengan jaminan kedudukan kerajaan-kerajaan negeri dan ini disahkan oleh Jabatan Peguam Negara sendiri yang mengesahkan kedudukan dan bidang kuasa kerajaan negeri. Juga pendirian Petronas bahawa semua perkara mengenai aktiviti cari gali, pembangunan dan pengeluaran petroleum adalah tertakluk kepada Petroleum Development Act 1974 dan pandangan Petronas ialah dengan izin,

“The state’s right to petroleum royalties is based on the PDA 1974 under section 2 of PDA’s 1974, Petronas was given the entire ownership and exclusive rights to explore and obtain petroleum whether on onshore or offshore of Malaysia”.

Jadi oleh kerana undang-undang ini mengesahkan bidang kuasa negeri kemudian diserahkan kepada Petronas, maka ada perjanjian Petronas dengan setiap negeri. Petronas then entered into vesting agreements with each state government in Malaysia where for each vesting a royalty agreement was entered. Istilahnya sekali lagi Royalty Agreement lima peratus daripada nilai yang dihasilkan. Oleh kerana kita gagal mendapat jaminan daripada kerajaan berbeza daripada jaminan dibuat oleh Allahyarham Tun Abdul Razak pada tahun 1975. Kalau menjawab soalan daripada Ketua Pembangkang pada ketika itu maka kita terpaksalah mengemukakan satu Private Member’s Bill dengan mengajak semua rakan-rakan terutama dari Terengganu dan Kelantan, Sabah dan Sarawak supaya jangan mengkhianati amanah rakyat kepada mereka. Amanah rakyat adalah supaya mereka dapat petroleum dan mandat kepada kerajaan negeri supaya disalurkan dan diagihkan dengan adil.

Tuan Yang di-Pertua, terima kasih.