(Malaysiakini) The war of words between Americk Sidhu, the lawyer for private eye P Balasubramaniam, and Bayan Baru MP Zahrain Mohamed Hashim escalated today with the former PKR politician being called a “blatant liar”.
Zahrain, who left PKR to become an independent parliamentarian in February, had accused his former party of sponsoring blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin who has been living in self-imposed exile in London.
Last Wednesday, Zahrain said he had furnished the proof in the form of e-mail messages to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Aziz.
Zahrain has also said that Balasubramanian's interview with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), even if it took place in London, would be fruitless as the private investigator's revelation was scripted by his lawyers.
This has prompted an angry response the next day from Americk, who described the MP as a “dishonourable man”.
Yesterday, Zahrain retaliated and suggested that the furious reaction from Americk could be the result of the lawyer and Raja Petra feeling threatened by his revelation.
Zahrain's feeble threat
In an open letter to Zahrain today, the lawyer said the MP was holding onto the “feeble threat” of having documentary proof of the PKR sponsorship.
“The only proof you could possibly have of any sponsorship of my expenses in London would be copies of my American Express and Visa card bills,” said Americk.
“If you do indeed have copies of these statements, then you will no doubt have realised that whatever it cost to fly to London from Australia, stay in a hotel there for seven nights and then return to Australia, was paid for out of my own hard-earned money and no one else's.”
Americk proceeded to provide details of his expenses in London - both his hotel stay and his flight tickets between Perth and London.
“I have bills to back these expenses and I have proof that I paid for them myself,” said Americk.
He said the bills were paid through his American Express and Visa credit cards. Americk ended his letter by issuing a challenge to Zahrain.
“I have thrown down the gauntlet, Zahrain. Produce your proof or forever hold your loquacity,” said Americk.
Lawyers paid from own pockets
According to Americk, the other two Balasubramaniam lawyers - Manjeet Singh Dhillon and Amarjit Singh Sidhu - also paid for their respective trips to London themselves.
“You may question why we paid all this money out of our own pockets. You may also choose to question why the legal services we are providing Bala are pro bono. The answer is very simple and probably beyond your comprehension. We consider it part of our duty to the nation,” Americk said in his letter to Zahrain.
Meanwhile, Balasubramaniam has said earlier that he was sponsored by Deepak Jaikishan, a businessman who has close links with Prime Minister Najib Razak's wife, Rosmah Mansor.
While all the three lawyers were with Balasubramaniam in London last week, the private investigator was accompanied by Manjeet in his trip to Paris to meet with French investigators early this week.
Dear Bayan Baru MP Zahrain Hashim,
It has come to my notice that you have again provided the press with information pertaining to matters you actually have no knowledge of but are instead pretending to.
It seems to me that you are still so desperately trying to earn brownie points with your new masters that you have instead resorted to a pathetic and tenuous attempt to discredit my integrity based on nothing more than a feeble threat of being possessed of documentary proof of my wrongdoings, which I know for a fact you could not possibly have.
In the event you are unable to decipher the innuendo in that statement, then let me leave you in no doubt that apart from my observations of your dishonourable conduct as a parliamentarian, I am now calling you a blatant liar.
The only proof you could possibly have of any sponsorship of my expenses in London would be copies of my American Express and Visa card bills. If you do indeed have copies of these statements, then you will no doubt have realised that whatever it cost to fly to London from Australia, stay in a hotel there for seven nights and then return to Australia, was paid for out of my own hard-earned money and no one else's.
I understand this concept may be alien to a politician of your stature but please try and understand that ordinary people sometimes do pay their own bills.
So I am now going to detail those expenses for you, Zahrain. As I have said, I have bills to back these expenses and I have proof that I paid for them myself.
1. Qantas airfares for my wife and I from Perth to London return - AUD$12,560.24 (American Express)
2. Chesterfield Hotel, Charles St, Mayfair, London - Pounds Sterling 1,550 (Visa)
I also know for a fact that both Manjeet Singh Dhillon and Amarjit Singh Sidhu paid for their respective trips to London themselves but I do not have exact details of those expenses. Since you have not leveled any accusations against them as yet I will leave it at that.
You may question why we paid all this money out of our own pockets. You may also choose to question why the legal services we are providing P Balasubramaniam are pro bono. The answer is very simple and probably beyond your comprehension. We consider it part of our duty to the nation.
Bala travelled to London on a plane ticket he purchased himself in India from the funds he received from Deepak Jaikishan. He checked into a deluxe room in a 4-star hotel in Notting Hill Gate as required by the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission). They had promised to reimburse him for his flight and accommodation. I have documents to prove this. Please also remember that the MACC pulled out of this deal at the very last moment as Bala was in mid flight.
We were forced to hold a roundtable discussion at the Lagenda restaurant Holliday Villa Hotel, London, after the press conference on July 7 because Bala informed us he did not have enough money to pay his hotel bill. He had assumed the MACC would be picking up the tab.
I must confess I was greatly impressed with the speed at which all those at the table pitched in. RPK was the first person to hand over 500 pounds from his own pocket whilst other persons present passed the hat around and in no time at all, Bala was in funds again.
Needless to say, the two Special Branch agents seconded to eavesdrop were no where to be seen when that hat was passed around. Donations were received from ordinary Malaysians who were there supporting the fight of good over evil and truth over deceit. A big heartfelt 'syabas' to them all. Your nation is proud of you!
Now Zahrain, if you have proof to contradict my claim that my expenses in particular were borne by no other person than myself, please be man enough to reveal it. May I suggest that you ask Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz for those documents back. I am sure he would be only too happy to assist you in discrediting me.
Zahrain, be very clear that the reason why I called you a dishonourable man was for cheating those people who placed their trust in you by voting for you in the last elections. In the real world this would have meant that your credibility would have been irreparably destroyed. Not however, in the political world in which you now live, where chicanery of this nature is par for the course and is encouraged by reward.
Finally, Zahrain, even if PKR had sponsored my trip, (which unfortunately they have not), I am unable to comprehend why you would have considered this such a serious offence as to necessitate indignant press releases.
I would have thought support of this nature would have been lauded by any right thinking member of society as it would have shown a commitment by the opposition in ensuring that perpetrators of misdeeds are brought to justice, a concept you still appear not to appreciate very well.
So I have thrown down the gauntlet Zahrain. Produce your proof or forever hold your loquacity.
Let it be known that I am not intimidated by your threats. Paper tigers do not frighten me.
Zahrain, who left PKR to become an independent parliamentarian in February, had accused his former party of sponsoring blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin who has been living in self-imposed exile in London.
Last Wednesday, Zahrain said he had furnished the proof in the form of e-mail messages to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Aziz.Zahrain has also said that Balasubramanian's interview with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), even if it took place in London, would be fruitless as the private investigator's revelation was scripted by his lawyers.
This has prompted an angry response the next day from Americk, who described the MP as a “dishonourable man”.
Yesterday, Zahrain retaliated and suggested that the furious reaction from Americk could be the result of the lawyer and Raja Petra feeling threatened by his revelation.
Zahrain's feeble threat
In an open letter to Zahrain today, the lawyer said the MP was holding onto the “feeble threat” of having documentary proof of the PKR sponsorship.
“The only proof you could possibly have of any sponsorship of my expenses in London would be copies of my American Express and Visa card bills,” said Americk.
“If you do indeed have copies of these statements, then you will no doubt have realised that whatever it cost to fly to London from Australia, stay in a hotel there for seven nights and then return to Australia, was paid for out of my own hard-earned money and no one else's.”Americk proceeded to provide details of his expenses in London - both his hotel stay and his flight tickets between Perth and London.
“I have bills to back these expenses and I have proof that I paid for them myself,” said Americk.
He said the bills were paid through his American Express and Visa credit cards. Americk ended his letter by issuing a challenge to Zahrain.
“I have thrown down the gauntlet, Zahrain. Produce your proof or forever hold your loquacity,” said Americk.
Lawyers paid from own pockets
According to Americk, the other two Balasubramaniam lawyers - Manjeet Singh Dhillon and Amarjit Singh Sidhu - also paid for their respective trips to London themselves.
“You may question why we paid all this money out of our own pockets. You may also choose to question why the legal services we are providing Bala are pro bono. The answer is very simple and probably beyond your comprehension. We consider it part of our duty to the nation,” Americk said in his letter to Zahrain.
Meanwhile, Balasubramaniam has said earlier that he was sponsored by Deepak Jaikishan, a businessman who has close links with Prime Minister Najib Razak's wife, Rosmah Mansor.
While all the three lawyers were with Balasubramaniam in London last week, the private investigator was accompanied by Manjeet in his trip to Paris to meet with French investigators early this week.
Dear Bayan Baru MP Zahrain Hashim,
It has come to my notice that you have again provided the press with information pertaining to matters you actually have no knowledge of but are instead pretending to.
It seems to me that you are still so desperately trying to earn brownie points with your new masters that you have instead resorted to a pathetic and tenuous attempt to discredit my integrity based on nothing more than a feeble threat of being possessed of documentary proof of my wrongdoings, which I know for a fact you could not possibly have.
In the event you are unable to decipher the innuendo in that statement, then let me leave you in no doubt that apart from my observations of your dishonourable conduct as a parliamentarian, I am now calling you a blatant liar.
The only proof you could possibly have of any sponsorship of my expenses in London would be copies of my American Express and Visa card bills. If you do indeed have copies of these statements, then you will no doubt have realised that whatever it cost to fly to London from Australia, stay in a hotel there for seven nights and then return to Australia, was paid for out of my own hard-earned money and no one else's.
I understand this concept may be alien to a politician of your stature but please try and understand that ordinary people sometimes do pay their own bills.
So I am now going to detail those expenses for you, Zahrain. As I have said, I have bills to back these expenses and I have proof that I paid for them myself.
1. Qantas airfares for my wife and I from Perth to London return - AUD$12,560.24 (American Express)
2. Chesterfield Hotel, Charles St, Mayfair, London - Pounds Sterling 1,550 (Visa)
I also know for a fact that both Manjeet Singh Dhillon and Amarjit Singh Sidhu paid for their respective trips to London themselves but I do not have exact details of those expenses. Since you have not leveled any accusations against them as yet I will leave it at that.
You may question why we paid all this money out of our own pockets. You may also choose to question why the legal services we are providing P Balasubramaniam are pro bono. The answer is very simple and probably beyond your comprehension. We consider it part of our duty to the nation.
Bala travelled to London on a plane ticket he purchased himself in India from the funds he received from Deepak Jaikishan. He checked into a deluxe room in a 4-star hotel in Notting Hill Gate as required by the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission). They had promised to reimburse him for his flight and accommodation. I have documents to prove this. Please also remember that the MACC pulled out of this deal at the very last moment as Bala was in mid flight.
We were forced to hold a roundtable discussion at the Lagenda restaurant Holliday Villa Hotel, London, after the press conference on July 7 because Bala informed us he did not have enough money to pay his hotel bill. He had assumed the MACC would be picking up the tab.
I must confess I was greatly impressed with the speed at which all those at the table pitched in. RPK was the first person to hand over 500 pounds from his own pocket whilst other persons present passed the hat around and in no time at all, Bala was in funds again.
Needless to say, the two Special Branch agents seconded to eavesdrop were no where to be seen when that hat was passed around. Donations were received from ordinary Malaysians who were there supporting the fight of good over evil and truth over deceit. A big heartfelt 'syabas' to them all. Your nation is proud of you!
Now Zahrain, if you have proof to contradict my claim that my expenses in particular were borne by no other person than myself, please be man enough to reveal it. May I suggest that you ask Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz for those documents back. I am sure he would be only too happy to assist you in discrediting me.
Zahrain, be very clear that the reason why I called you a dishonourable man was for cheating those people who placed their trust in you by voting for you in the last elections. In the real world this would have meant that your credibility would have been irreparably destroyed. Not however, in the political world in which you now live, where chicanery of this nature is par for the course and is encouraged by reward.
Finally, Zahrain, even if PKR had sponsored my trip, (which unfortunately they have not), I am unable to comprehend why you would have considered this such a serious offence as to necessitate indignant press releases.
I would have thought support of this nature would have been lauded by any right thinking member of society as it would have shown a commitment by the opposition in ensuring that perpetrators of misdeeds are brought to justice, a concept you still appear not to appreciate very well.
So I have thrown down the gauntlet Zahrain. Produce your proof or forever hold your loquacity.
Let it be known that I am not intimidated by your threats. Paper tigers do not frighten me.
The writer is lawyer for private investigator P Balasubramaniam.
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