from Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 21 (Bernama) -- The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) detaining two Perak state executive councillors (excos) for investigations into a corruption case was based on facts and not politically motivated, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
"The people can make their own interpretations but we cannot make conclusions that they are guilty unless they are convicted. The due process of law must take place," he said when commenting on remarks by Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin that the detention of the two was a political conspiracy.
The two excos together with four other men were detained by the ACA yesterday and Tuesday on suspicion of being involved in corruption relating to a housing project worth RM180 million in Seri Iskandar, Ipoh.
Najib was speaking to reporters after opening The Women's Summit 2008 at the Sime Darby Convention Centre here Thursday.
-- BERNAMA
Friday, August 22, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Ex Immigration DG charged for bribery
From Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 — Former Immigration Department director-general Datuk Wahid Md Don pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court today to receiving a RM60,000 bribe from a businessman to speed up the approval of visas for 4,337 Bangladeshi workers.
Wahid, 56, is alleged to have received the money from Datuk Low Chang Hian at his house in Jalan Lembah Ledang, off Jalan Duta, on July 10.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in jail and a fine of up to five times the bribe involved or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Judge S.M. Komathy Suppiah allowed bail of RM50,000 with one surety and fixed five days from May 18 next year for trial.
Wahid was brought to the court complex in Jalan Duta at about 9.30am escorted by ACA officers and his family members.
Deputy public prosecutor Kevin Morais asked the court to set bail at RM100,000 with one surety and to impound his international passport.
He also told the court that the prosecution was calling 25 witnesses.
Defence counsel Datuk V. Sithambaram urged the court to release Wahid on a personal bond as his client was a law-abiding, high-ranking government officer and would not abscond.
Sithambaram said Wahid had cooperated fully with the ACA in its investigation and, moreover, would lose everything if he absconded.
Wahid, who has been the Immigration director-general since Oct 1, 2006, has been transferred to the Public Service Department pending the disposal of the case. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 — Former Immigration Department director-general Datuk Wahid Md Don pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court today to receiving a RM60,000 bribe from a businessman to speed up the approval of visas for 4,337 Bangladeshi workers.
Wahid, 56, is alleged to have received the money from Datuk Low Chang Hian at his house in Jalan Lembah Ledang, off Jalan Duta, on July 10.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in jail and a fine of up to five times the bribe involved or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Judge S.M. Komathy Suppiah allowed bail of RM50,000 with one surety and fixed five days from May 18 next year for trial.
Wahid was brought to the court complex in Jalan Duta at about 9.30am escorted by ACA officers and his family members.
Deputy public prosecutor Kevin Morais asked the court to set bail at RM100,000 with one surety and to impound his international passport.
He also told the court that the prosecution was calling 25 witnesses.
Defence counsel Datuk V. Sithambaram urged the court to release Wahid on a personal bond as his client was a law-abiding, high-ranking government officer and would not abscond.
Sithambaram said Wahid had cooperated fully with the ACA in its investigation and, moreover, would lose everything if he absconded.
Wahid, who has been the Immigration director-general since Oct 1, 2006, has been transferred to the Public Service Department pending the disposal of the case. — Bernama
Friday, August 15, 2008
Dr Mahathir to migrate if Anwar become PM
From Malaysian Insider
KUALA TERENGGANU, Aug 10 — Saying he did not want anyone like Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim "who stabbed him in the back" as Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday he would rather migrate if the former deputy prime minister succeeds in toppling the Barisan Nasional government.
"If he comes Prime Minister, I will get out of the country. Give everything to him," Utusan Malaysia quoted the former prime minister's reply to a question at the Current Challenges for Malays forum here.
However, the acerbic Dr Mahathir was confident that Anwar will not become Prime Minister by September 16 although he was sure his former protégé would be victorious in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election this Aug 26.
He said Anwar was greedy enough for support that he would forsake the special privileges for his own race to cooperate with the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) which is filled with racism.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
who's next
Commentary
from Malaysian Insider
AUG 13 — The director-general of Immigration is on the verge of being charged in court. The head of Kelantan Fisheries Department has been nabbed. The director-general of Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board was charged in court today. The question along the corridors of Putrajaya is: who's next?
This is a legitimate question given that the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) appears to have thrown off the shackles of fear and conservatism in the fight against graft in the country.
The Malaysian Insider understands that this new approach has more to do with the top two individuals running the ACA than any directive from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
When he became the PM in October 2003, Abdullah told the ACA that it had a carte blanche to tackle corruption. But ACA investigators are by the nature of their work a cynical bunch. They give little credence to public pronouncements by politicians and their bosses. They only move when the top lead by example.
Also, the view within the ranks of ACA officers was that the then DG - Datuk Zulkipli Mat Noor - was more interested in coasting than making a strong statement against corruption in the country.
It did not help that he was to find himself fighting off allegations of corruption and criminal activities. The ACA officers sensed a change in May last year when Datuk Ahmad Said Hamdan was appointed as the ACA chief. His deputy was Datuk Abu Kassim Mohamed.
Both have been at the forefront of pushing for the setting up of the Anti-Corruption Commission, even telling Cabinet ministers that the body should be based on Hong Kong's ICAC.
They have been working overtime to add flesh to the idea of the commission and hope that the de facto Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim will be able to bring it before Parliament soon, possibly even before the Judicial Appointment Commission Bill.
Said a government official: "For the first time, the PM has an agency chief who is on the same page as him and as committed to fighting corruption.''
Good to know but if Abdullah really wants to encourage the ACA he should stay out of their way. Or at least stop making statements that send cross signals about his commitment to tackle corruption.
On Tuesday, he seemed to suggest that there was one rule for Umno and another for the rest of the country?
"The Umno headquarters has decided and allowed the ACA to come in and investigate, '' he said.
Since when did the ACA need the green light to investigate corruption or bribery? Money politics. Graft. Bribery. Call it anything you want.
But the law states clearly that ACA investigators are empowered to probe any report of corruption, even anonymous complaints. There is no mention of special dispensation for Umno members contesting party elections.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that millions of ringgit are being spent by party members to buy the support of the rank and file and guarantee nominations for the upcoming election in December. Indeed, party officials believe that funds which were dispensed to help Umno candidates in the general elections are now being sprinkled liberally on the ground.
The Malaysian Insider understands that at least two ministers have had reports lodged against them for allegedly buying support. A menteri besar recently complained to the PM that a senior party official was brazenly spending money to remain as the division chief.
"The MB hoped that there could be a mechanism to address such cases, '' said an official familiar with the conversation.
Really, there is no need for any new mechanism. Unleash the ACA and one by one, division chiefs, aspirants to that position and even a minister or two will be arrested and charged in court. Only then, there will be fear among the givers and takers in the party.
Just like what is happening in the Malaysian civil service. Who's next?
from Malaysian Insider
AUG 13 — The director-general of Immigration is on the verge of being charged in court. The head of Kelantan Fisheries Department has been nabbed. The director-general of Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board was charged in court today. The question along the corridors of Putrajaya is: who's next?
This is a legitimate question given that the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) appears to have thrown off the shackles of fear and conservatism in the fight against graft in the country.
The Malaysian Insider understands that this new approach has more to do with the top two individuals running the ACA than any directive from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
When he became the PM in October 2003, Abdullah told the ACA that it had a carte blanche to tackle corruption. But ACA investigators are by the nature of their work a cynical bunch. They give little credence to public pronouncements by politicians and their bosses. They only move when the top lead by example.
Also, the view within the ranks of ACA officers was that the then DG - Datuk Zulkipli Mat Noor - was more interested in coasting than making a strong statement against corruption in the country.
It did not help that he was to find himself fighting off allegations of corruption and criminal activities. The ACA officers sensed a change in May last year when Datuk Ahmad Said Hamdan was appointed as the ACA chief. His deputy was Datuk Abu Kassim Mohamed.
Both have been at the forefront of pushing for the setting up of the Anti-Corruption Commission, even telling Cabinet ministers that the body should be based on Hong Kong's ICAC.
They have been working overtime to add flesh to the idea of the commission and hope that the de facto Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim will be able to bring it before Parliament soon, possibly even before the Judicial Appointment Commission Bill.
Said a government official: "For the first time, the PM has an agency chief who is on the same page as him and as committed to fighting corruption.''
Good to know but if Abdullah really wants to encourage the ACA he should stay out of their way. Or at least stop making statements that send cross signals about his commitment to tackle corruption.
On Tuesday, he seemed to suggest that there was one rule for Umno and another for the rest of the country?
"The Umno headquarters has decided and allowed the ACA to come in and investigate, '' he said.
Since when did the ACA need the green light to investigate corruption or bribery? Money politics. Graft. Bribery. Call it anything you want.
But the law states clearly that ACA investigators are empowered to probe any report of corruption, even anonymous complaints. There is no mention of special dispensation for Umno members contesting party elections.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that millions of ringgit are being spent by party members to buy the support of the rank and file and guarantee nominations for the upcoming election in December. Indeed, party officials believe that funds which were dispensed to help Umno candidates in the general elections are now being sprinkled liberally on the ground.
The Malaysian Insider understands that at least two ministers have had reports lodged against them for allegedly buying support. A menteri besar recently complained to the PM that a senior party official was brazenly spending money to remain as the division chief.
"The MB hoped that there could be a mechanism to address such cases, '' said an official familiar with the conversation.
Really, there is no need for any new mechanism. Unleash the ACA and one by one, division chiefs, aspirants to that position and even a minister or two will be arrested and charged in court. Only then, there will be fear among the givers and takers in the party.
Just like what is happening in the Malaysian civil service. Who's next?
Tourism Ministry DG charged with corruption
from Malaysiakini
The Director General of Tourism Malaysia Mirza Mohammad Taiyab was this morning charged with corruption at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.
He was charged with accepting dental treatment worth RM13,860 paid for by Zulhisyam Ayob, director of Perunding Pakar Media Sdn Bhd between Jan 17, 2005 and July 26, 2005.
Mirza was the deputy director-general 1 of Tourism Malaysia during that period.
The senior ranking Tourism Ministry official claimed trial and has been released on a RM5,000 bail.
The prosecution claimed that Mirza allegedly committed the offence at the Clinic Practice Prosthodontics in Taman Tun Dr Ismail in Kuala Lumpur.
Mirza was arrested this morning by the Anti-Corruption Agency at the agency's headquarters in Putrajaya.
He had gone there to give a statement.
He was then taken straight to the court in Jalan Duta.Judge Fathiyah Idris fixed Feb 16 to 18 next year to hear the case.
The Director General of Tourism Malaysia Mirza Mohammad Taiyab was this morning charged with corruption at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.
He was charged with accepting dental treatment worth RM13,860 paid for by Zulhisyam Ayob, director of Perunding Pakar Media Sdn Bhd between Jan 17, 2005 and July 26, 2005.
Mirza was the deputy director-general 1 of Tourism Malaysia during that period.
The senior ranking Tourism Ministry official claimed trial and has been released on a RM5,000 bail.
The prosecution claimed that Mirza allegedly committed the offence at the Clinic Practice Prosthodontics in Taman Tun Dr Ismail in Kuala Lumpur.
Mirza was arrested this morning by the Anti-Corruption Agency at the agency's headquarters in Putrajaya.
He had gone there to give a statement.
He was then taken straight to the court in Jalan Duta.Judge Fathiyah Idris fixed Feb 16 to 18 next year to hear the case.
Monday, August 11, 2008
ACA probing top Sabah politician for abuse of power, bribery and forgery
From bernama
ACA probing top Sabah politician for abuse of power, bribery and forgery
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 — The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) is closing in on a high-ranking Sabah politician for alleged abuse of power, forgery and bribery which allowed him to snare three contracts worth about RM40 million in Labuan.
According to Bernama , the politician had bribed some officers at the Federal Territories Ministry - which gives out tenders - to assist his engineering firm to get the lucrative contracts.
In addition, the report says, the 51-year-old politician is also suspected to have forged several documents related to the contracts to obtain an RM8-million loan from a bank in Kota Kinabalu to settle his personal debts and make progress payments to sub-contractors hired by him for the three contracts concerned.
Bernama has also learnt that Bank Negara Malaysia and the Sabah Commercial Crime Department had instructed its officers to investigate why the bank in Kota Kinabalu had released RM8 million to the politician, without proper documentation.
Sabah ACA director Latifah Mohd Yatim, when contacted by Bernama, declined to comment on the probe.
"I don't want to say anything at the moment. Let us to do our job," she said.
It is also learnt that several files belonging to the politician, who is also holding a high-ranking position in a government agency in Labuan, were seized by ACA investigators recently.
Bernama also learnt that the Sabah ACA would record the politician's statement very soon and would wrap up the case for further action.
Meanwhile, a highly-placed official in a federal agency in Labuan told Bernama that the Sabah ACA had already informed him of the probe and the agency was looking seriously into the matter.
"They recorded my statement last Saturday and we are ready to assist the Sabah ACA in their probe.
"We will bring this matter to our board of directors soon. We are not going to compromise on the (politician's) wrong-doing," he said, adding that the agency had not decided on the type of action to be taken against the politician.
Bernama further learnt that the politician had also cheated a Kuala Lumpur-based sub-contractor who was hired to build a RM20.5-million market in Labuan. Eventually, the sub-contractor suffered losses amounting to about RM500,000.
The 28-year-old victim, who only wanted to be identified as Eric, told Bernama he lodged a report against the politician at the Sabah ACA headquarters on July 29 before lodging a police report at the Kamunsing police station in Kota Kinabalu the following day.
He said he was awarded the contract to build a market at Ujong Pasir in Labuan and received a letter of acceptance (LA) from the politician's engineering firm early this year.
"However, the LA was incomplete and I asked him for a proper documentation. The politician was reluctant to do so, saying that I should trust him as he was a well-known politician. I have all the evidence to prove that the politician had misused his power.
"He asked me to begin the construction without signing several important documents but only made an initial payment of RM200,000.
"I trusted him and he promised me to pay the balance. However, on July 14, he sent me a letter of termination of the RM20.5-million contract (market in Labuan), without notice," said Eric, adding that the politician made a fresh agreement with another party to build the market.
He estimated his total losses to be more than RM1 million and is contemplating suing the politician. — Bernama
ACA probing top Sabah politician for abuse of power, bribery and forgery
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 — The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) is closing in on a high-ranking Sabah politician for alleged abuse of power, forgery and bribery which allowed him to snare three contracts worth about RM40 million in Labuan.
According to Bernama , the politician had bribed some officers at the Federal Territories Ministry - which gives out tenders - to assist his engineering firm to get the lucrative contracts.
In addition, the report says, the 51-year-old politician is also suspected to have forged several documents related to the contracts to obtain an RM8-million loan from a bank in Kota Kinabalu to settle his personal debts and make progress payments to sub-contractors hired by him for the three contracts concerned.
Bernama has also learnt that Bank Negara Malaysia and the Sabah Commercial Crime Department had instructed its officers to investigate why the bank in Kota Kinabalu had released RM8 million to the politician, without proper documentation.
Sabah ACA director Latifah Mohd Yatim, when contacted by Bernama, declined to comment on the probe.
"I don't want to say anything at the moment. Let us to do our job," she said.
It is also learnt that several files belonging to the politician, who is also holding a high-ranking position in a government agency in Labuan, were seized by ACA investigators recently.
Bernama also learnt that the Sabah ACA would record the politician's statement very soon and would wrap up the case for further action.
Meanwhile, a highly-placed official in a federal agency in Labuan told Bernama that the Sabah ACA had already informed him of the probe and the agency was looking seriously into the matter.
"They recorded my statement last Saturday and we are ready to assist the Sabah ACA in their probe.
"We will bring this matter to our board of directors soon. We are not going to compromise on the (politician's) wrong-doing," he said, adding that the agency had not decided on the type of action to be taken against the politician.
Bernama further learnt that the politician had also cheated a Kuala Lumpur-based sub-contractor who was hired to build a RM20.5-million market in Labuan. Eventually, the sub-contractor suffered losses amounting to about RM500,000.
The 28-year-old victim, who only wanted to be identified as Eric, told Bernama he lodged a report against the politician at the Sabah ACA headquarters on July 29 before lodging a police report at the Kamunsing police station in Kota Kinabalu the following day.
He said he was awarded the contract to build a market at Ujong Pasir in Labuan and received a letter of acceptance (LA) from the politician's engineering firm early this year.
"However, the LA was incomplete and I asked him for a proper documentation. The politician was reluctant to do so, saying that I should trust him as he was a well-known politician. I have all the evidence to prove that the politician had misused his power.
"He asked me to begin the construction without signing several important documents but only made an initial payment of RM200,000.
"I trusted him and he promised me to pay the balance. However, on July 14, he sent me a letter of termination of the RM20.5-million contract (market in Labuan), without notice," said Eric, adding that the politician made a fresh agreement with another party to build the market.
He estimated his total losses to be more than RM1 million and is contemplating suing the politician. — Bernama
Tackling Touts By Limiting Purchase Of Express Bus Tickets
from Bernama
KUALA TERENGGANU, Aug 10 (Bernama) -- The government may limit the purchase of express bus tickets per person to prevent touts from buying them in bulk during festive seasons, said Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Datuk Noh Omar.
He said this was one of the ways being studied to curb the activities of touts during festive seasons.
"Should we limit the purchase of tickets per person, some people might get angry and if we don't, some people might buy between 30 and 40 tickets.
"We are looking into it... whether it is necessary to limit the ticket purchase. If it is the best way to deal with touts, it will be implemented during the coming Hari Raya Puasa season," he told reporters after attending the closing of a commercial vehicles management course here Sunday.
Noh said the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) and other agencies had already launched operations to curb touts in view of the coming festive season.
He said 40 touts, including two foreigners, who were selling express bus tickets were nabbed at the Puduraya bus terminal in Kuala Lumpur in an operation, two days ago.
-- BERNAMA
KUALA TERENGGANU, Aug 10 (Bernama) -- The government may limit the purchase of express bus tickets per person to prevent touts from buying them in bulk during festive seasons, said Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Datuk Noh Omar.
He said this was one of the ways being studied to curb the activities of touts during festive seasons.
"Should we limit the purchase of tickets per person, some people might get angry and if we don't, some people might buy between 30 and 40 tickets.
"We are looking into it... whether it is necessary to limit the ticket purchase. If it is the best way to deal with touts, it will be implemented during the coming Hari Raya Puasa season," he told reporters after attending the closing of a commercial vehicles management course here Sunday.
Noh said the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) and other agencies had already launched operations to curb touts in view of the coming festive season.
He said 40 touts, including two foreigners, who were selling express bus tickets were nabbed at the Puduraya bus terminal in Kuala Lumpur in an operation, two days ago.
-- BERNAMA
Sunday, August 10, 2008
noraqilah and maziziana are Sarawak champion
Participants posing for the album
Maziziana receiving her prizes from Ahmad Said
Noraqilah Zulkifli Abdul Rahman of SMK Agama Limbang won the State Level Bahasa Malaysia category of Pre University Anti Corruption Oratory contest, second was Alvin Joe Nyipa of SMK Bintulu while placed third was Robinson Ningkan of SMK Datuk Patinggi Kedit, Betong.
In the English category, Maziziana David from SMK Merbau was champion, Veronica Prabhakarun from SMK Sungai Tapang, Kota Samarahan second while Foo Fang Hau from SMK Methodist Sibu was placed third.
The prize was presented by Datuk Seri Panglima Ahmad Said Hamdan, director general of Anti Corruption Agency.
ACA welcome whistleblowers
Anti Corruption Agency Sarawak has received 800 complaint to date and investigating all the allegation that are having basis. This was revealed by ACA director general Datuk Seri Panglima Ahmad Said Hamdan in Miri today.
Ahmad Said said ACA would like to see the media exposing corrupt wrongdoing without fear or favour.
"If you love this country, please give us accurate information," he appealed.
Ahmad Said said ACA would like to see the media exposing corrupt wrongdoing without fear or favour.
"If you love this country, please give us accurate information," he appealed.
More aware of ACA's role now
From Malaysiakini
More aware of ACA's role now
Abdul Hakim Bujang Aug 9, 08 5:20pm
There is a surge in public awareness in the role of the Anti Corruption Agency (ACA), its director general Ahmad Said Hamdan said today.
MCPXThis was proven by the more than 10,000 complaints received by the agency from throughout the country in the first half of this year, he told reporters in Miri today.The complaints, he said, were allegations of various wrongdoings in both the public and private sectors.However, only 30 percent of the complaints have basis to work on while the rest is irrelevant, Ahmad Said revealed. The DG was happy with public awareness on the ACA role but was disheartened with people penning poison-pen letters to slander others, saying that such an act was triggered by jealousy. On the Permatang Pauh by-election, Ahmad Said stressed that the agency was monitoring its run-up with equal importance as the Umno branch elections.
Just a normal election "There is nothing special in Permatang Pauh. But because the candidate has been charged (for sodomy) you people said this and that to amplify the election. To the ACA, it is just a normal election just like any other by-election or Umno election," he said. The DG also stressed that there is no such thing as a high profile case because to the ACA, every case is equally important. "Mind you, we are looking after the whole country, not just Permatang Pauh or Umno election. Our people are on the ground, closely monitoring corruption activities particularly in the management of public funds because this is where corruption is more rampant," he added. Earlier, Ahmad Said launched the Sarawak ACA’s educational magazine Randau BPR - the first of its kind in the country - which will be distributed free to students. Also present at the launching was Sarawak ACA director Mohamad Yusoff Akope.
source - Malaysiakini
More aware of ACA's role now
Abdul Hakim Bujang Aug 9, 08 5:20pm
There is a surge in public awareness in the role of the Anti Corruption Agency (ACA), its director general Ahmad Said Hamdan said today.
MCPXThis was proven by the more than 10,000 complaints received by the agency from throughout the country in the first half of this year, he told reporters in Miri today.The complaints, he said, were allegations of various wrongdoings in both the public and private sectors.However, only 30 percent of the complaints have basis to work on while the rest is irrelevant, Ahmad Said revealed. The DG was happy with public awareness on the ACA role but was disheartened with people penning poison-pen letters to slander others, saying that such an act was triggered by jealousy. On the Permatang Pauh by-election, Ahmad Said stressed that the agency was monitoring its run-up with equal importance as the Umno branch elections.
Just a normal election "There is nothing special in Permatang Pauh. But because the candidate has been charged (for sodomy) you people said this and that to amplify the election. To the ACA, it is just a normal election just like any other by-election or Umno election," he said. The DG also stressed that there is no such thing as a high profile case because to the ACA, every case is equally important. "Mind you, we are looking after the whole country, not just Permatang Pauh or Umno election. Our people are on the ground, closely monitoring corruption activities particularly in the management of public funds because this is where corruption is more rampant," he added. Earlier, Ahmad Said launched the Sarawak ACA’s educational magazine Randau BPR - the first of its kind in the country - which will be distributed free to students. Also present at the launching was Sarawak ACA director Mohamad Yusoff Akope.
source - Malaysiakini
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