| Comments: I have been reliably informed that the Supply Bill (Budget 2009) that was approved yesterday by Dewan Rakyat was the one presented by the former Minister of Finance, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on August 29, 2008. This was confirmed by the Deputy Minister of Finance No. 2, Dato Haji Ahmad Husni Hanadzllah in Dewan Rakyat. The stimulus package totalling rm7 billion presented by his successor,Najib, yesterday is, therefore, not part of that Supply Bill but a fiscal amendment to it. This in part explains why Najib was able with the help of Sabah’s Pandikar to avoid answering questions by the Leader of the Opposition, Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim and other Parliamentarians from Pakatan Rakyat. It may be recalled that MP Tian Chua was suspended for one day by the Speaker for trying to question Najib on his package and verbal report on the state of the Malaysian economy. Furthermore, the statistics presented by Najib were obviously a figment of his imagination. The state of economy is worst than what the government would have us believe. As usual, the mainstream newspapers like the New Straits Times, The Star and the Utusan Malaysia, TV3, TVI and TV2 and also the so-called economic pundits have again misled the Malaysian public. Readers of my blog who feel that PR Parliamentarians led by former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim have been unnecessarily difficult over this matter should think again. They should not be misled by the mainstream media which is always trying to demonise members ofthe Opposition. Need I remind the Speaker , Dewan Rakyat, the Sabah Pandikar, that his primary role is to facilitate debate according to the rules of the House and not to protect Ministers of the Government. We, members of the public, have a right to know what the government is, among other things, doing with our money. All monies can only expended on government activities, programmes and projects subject to formal sanction and oversight by parliament, which is the sole legislative body in our country. As for Najib, he should be sent back to INTAN (Institut Tadbiran Nasional) to learn the basic rules of good governance and accepted practice. This is because what he tried to do in Dewan Rakyat yesterday (November 4) is “a clear indication of the sheer incompetence of our deputy prime minister.” (to quote Anwar Ibrahim). I appeal to all Parliamentarians on both sides of the aisle, especially those of UMNO-BN coalition to seek formal clarification on the so-called stimulus package. They should know that it is irresponsible on their part if they fail to have this matter tabled and debated. It is incumbent on the Minister of Finance No. 1 to formally table his stimulus package for debate and formal adoption by Dewan Rakyat. As both Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Kit Siang reiterated, making fiscal amendments to the original budget presented by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was tantamount to a new budget and members of Dewan Rakyat must first be informed of the amendments before it is tabled for reading.—Din Merican www.malaysiakini.com |
| Syed Jamal Zahiid | November 5, 2008 |
| Deputy speaker Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar today rejected an emergency motion filed by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim calling for the formation of a royal commission to probe into the government’s RM11.31 billion high-speed broadband project. In his motion, Anwar said Najib Abdul Razak, as finance minister, had approved the project in haste and at a high cost on Sept 16. The matter was of public interest therefore requiring it to be addressed urgently, he added. Although agreeing with Anwar that the issue was of public interest, the deputy speaker however rejected it on the grounds that it was not urgent enough.
“The matter is urgent because the broadband project will be handed over to the national telecommunications company (Telekom) and this project will be monopolised by one company. “The government has repeatedly in the past said that it wants to eradicate the practice of monopoly but what is happening (now) is a form of monopoly. I urge the speaker to take time to consider,” he said. However, Wan Junaidi replied that once the speaker makes a ruling, the decision cannot be overturned. “Just like decisions made in the past by other speakers, I cannot overturn my decision nor do I, as stipulated in the parliament standing orders, need to give any reason or justification for my decision,” he said. On Monday, Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia rejected another emergency motion filed by Anwar to form a royal commission to look into two other ‘mega projects’ as well - the RM4.26 billion purchase of Bank Internasional Indonesia shares by Maybank Bhd and the botched RM1.7 billion procurement of 12 helicopters from Eurocopter. The motion was filed last Wednesday night and was intended to be tabled the next day but Pandikar had deferred the Dewan’s decision to Monday. According to party sources, the motion was rejected through a written letter that was sent directly to the opposition leader’s office. In this motion, Anwar had blamed Najib for approving the purchase of Bank International Indonesia through Maybank on September 30. He described this as a waste of the nation’s funds as the shares were over-priced. As for the helicopter deal - struck when Najib was still defence minister - the Public Accounts Committee had cleared the government of any wrongdoing in the matter. |
Anwar (PKR-Permatang Pauh), who filed the motion yesterday, tried in vain to urge Wan Junaidi to reconsider his decision.| www.malaysiakini.com Anwar’s ‘mega project’ motion rejected |
| November 5, 2008 |
| Deputy speaker Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar today rejected an emergency motion filed by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim calling for the formation of a royal commission to probe three government ‘mega projects’.
However, Wan Junaidi replied that once the speaker makes a ruling, the decision cannot be overturned. Anwar had filed the emergency motion seeking a royal commission to probe the RM11.31 billion broadband project, the RM4.26 billion purchase of Bank Internasional Indonesia shares by Maybank Bhd and the suspended RM1.7 billion procurement of 12 helicopters from Eurocopter France. |
The deputy speaker rejected the motion on the grounds that it was not urgent.
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