MACC: Biting the Political Neutrality Bullet

By
Dr Lim Teck Ghee

Several days ago, I received an urgent message from a friend inviting me to a seminar on ‘Corruption Prevention  in Business Sector 2009’ organized jointly by the MACC, MACC Consultation and Prevention of Corruption Panel and the Business Ethics Institute of Malaysia.

The friend – whose name I need not  mention here – is an MACC advisory committee member who knows full well my scathing opinion of the MACC and its work to date. “Come to the seminar as my guest and hear them out” he urged me. “Rome was not built in a day; we must be constructive not destructive”.

Now I have criticized the MACC on several occasions in public speeches as well as in writing, especially in relation to its involvement in the Teoh Beng Hock tragedy. I have also called for the MACC advisory committee members to resign in protest against the death of Teoh when the young man was under MACC custody.

Although some readers may get the impression  that I am an inflexible, uncompromising or implacable critic of the  MACC, the fact is that I and others that have spoken out against the  MACC, want to see it reformed and truly effective in its work mission.

I recognize the great value that a dedicated, fully professional and efficient MACC can bring to the fight  against the scourge of corruption which has seeped very deeply into all segments of the society. Hence, my criticisms are not meant to bury the agency; rather they are intended to expose key flaws and weaknesses  in the MACC that have prevented it from carrying out its duties under section 7 of the MACC Act 2009.

I and other critics may not be MACC advisory members but our role in identifying the root defects and inadequacies that have marred the MACC’s performance, and in suggesting solutions perhaps may be just as – if not more – useful than that of advisory members.

Hence, my decision – despite the late  notice – to attend the seminar and to find out specifically if there  had been any new developments that may have taken place in the MACC that would warrant me to change my negative view of the agency.

Deputy Chief Commissioner’s address

I must say that I was very surprised by the welcome speech of the MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner, Dato’ Haji Abu Kassim bin Mohamed. This was not your usual scripted introductory address full of niceties and protocol

He spoke candidly and unusually for a senior civil servant, almost off the cuff, and from the heart, of the many problems and issues that his organization faced, not least of which is the public perception that the MACC has under-performed.

I was struck by the almost evangelical pitch he used in condemning the widespread acceptance of corruption  in the society at large. I was also struck by his faith in the government’s commitment to the fight against corruption.

“Believe me, the government wants real reform; it wants change; it wants accountability”. There was also much flag waving by Dato’ Abu Kassim of the MACC’s five committees and 42 members. They are “really independent” and “representing the public’s interests”.

I was struck but I must say that I am not yet persuaded by his rhetoric in the ability of the MACC to do  its job without interference from any quarter or to retrieve that lost public confidence in its autonomy and independence.

Restoring public confidence

I had the opportunity during the short  Q & A session to express my opinion on what can restore public confidence in the MACC and help to ensure that it is a body of unquestionable integrity  and professionalism. In my view (shared by many Malaysians), the fatal flaw of the MACC is that it is not politically neutral.

I stressed to Dato’ Abu Kassim that until this issue of political neutrality is satisfactorily addressed, there will continue to be a lack of confidence with the way in which the MACC investigates complaints, collects evidence and undertakes prosecution.

In my delivery, I also made three suggestions to Dato’ Abu Kassim on how to address the issue of political neutrality.

Firstly, that the mission statement of the MACC includes clear wording that the agency will scrupulously ensure and maintain political neutrality in the way it conducts its work.

Secondly, that a sixth committee on “safeguarding and ensuring political neutrality” should be established and tasked with the oversight of the political neutrality of the MACC

Thirdly, that the MACC reports to Parliament and not to the Prime Minister of the day

Finally, I pointed out that these suggestions would assist MACC staff in their work by helping ensure that they are beyond reproach and not made to suffer on the issue of political bias or selectivity. Implementing the suggestions would also help the government convince the public that it is serious about eradicating corruption.

I was pleasantly surprised at the generally  positive response provided by Dato’ Kassim to the suggestions. Although he responded that the proof of the MACC’s political even handedness was already evident in the cases it had taken up, he agreed to raise them with the Prime Minister and the government.

Rallying to the cause

It is important that Dato’ Abu Kassim  does not take up the issue of political neutrality of the MACC all alone by himself. If we – through inaction – allow this to happen, the cause will be lost.

I hope that members of the MACC can  fully discuss the crucial issue of political neutrality in their coming meetings and see how this can be made the centerpiece of the terms of reference of the agency and the work of the advisory committees.

I have no doubt that the combined voices of the 42 MACC advisory committee members on this issue can bring quick change. The only question is whether they share the same sense of urgency on the matter that I feel.

In addition to the three suggestions I proposed at the seminar, I would like to add a fourth suggestion and that is that a second Deputy Chief Commissioner be added to the existing senior staff to manage and be responsible for the MACC policy on political neutrality.

If this litmus test of political neutrality is not developed and applied, then I fear it may not be possible to protect the dedicated staff of the MACC from becoming pawns or victims of partisan political interests. Worse, it may mean that the MACC may be beyond salvaging.

Latest TI Corruption Perception Ranking

Quite coincidentally, at the same time  as the seminar was taking place, Transparency International Malaysia was holding a press conference to announce Malaysia’s position in the TI Corruption Perception Index 2009. In this latest survey, Malaysia’s ranking has plunged to its worst ever ranking in the last decade (see Table below).

Transparency Corruption Perception Index (1 = Best Performing)

 Year

Ranking

Number of Countries

2009

56

180

 2008

47

180

 2007

43

179

2006

44

163

2005

39

158

2004

39

145

2003

37

133

2002

33

102

2001

36

91

2000

36

90

Source:
http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi

The choice for the MACC is clear: embrace political neutrality in its terms of reference and practice it fully  in its work or be seen as a tainted and partisan agency engaged in selective and politically motivated action.

Final Thought

When I sent this draft to my MACC advisory committee friend, he reminded that “a declaration of political neutrality is not the panacea” for all of the MACC’s ills and woes.  It is not. However, it is an important – perhaps the most important – requirement for the restoration of legitimacy and integrity to this much maligned agency.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 21 November 2009, 1:17 pm and is filed under
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Teoh Beng Hock’s body exhumed

The exhumation of DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock at the Nirvana Memorial Park, Semenyih this morning has been carried out  satisfactorily and the second autopsy will be carried out at the Sungai Buloh Hospital tomorrow.

Thai pathologist, Dr. Pornthip Rojanasunand, who was present at the exhumation, said Teoh’s body is still in good condition for the autopsy.

Teoh Beng Hock’s mysterious death at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters in Shah Alam on July 16 has become a national and international cause célèbre and touchstone of the independence, credibility and professionalism of MACC.

Teoh’s death and the ensuing  crisis of confidence in  the MACC is undoubtedly one major reason for Malaysia’s worst ranking and score in 15 years in the recently-announced Transparency International Corruption Perception Index 2009, plunging 33 places from No. 23rd position in 1995 to No. 56th position in 2009 and a drop of .77 score from 5.28 in 1995 to 4.5 in 2009.

All were burdened with a heavy heart at the exhumation as it is a painful process which Teoh’s family, DAP leadership, friends and supporters had to go through so that there can be a second autopsy to get to the bottom of his death and to bring to book his killers, as no one believed that Teoh committed suicide by jumping off the 14th floor MACC headquarters.

Justice for Teoh Beng Hock

Teoh body exhumed, in good condition

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid | The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 — The exhumation of Teoh Beng Hock’s body for a second autopsy, ordered by the inquest into his recent death, has been completed. The exhumation comes following the testimony of Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand that the death of the political aide was very likely a homicide.

A team of ten police forensic experts had earlier cordoned off the grave area with the aid of several cemetery workers, who are helping with the exhumation.

Teoh’s family members arrived earlier, and began offering rites to the departed’s spirit. A feng shui master explained that the time of the exhumation had been chosen specifically to coincide with swallows beginning the day, for good luck.

Dr Pornthip is also on the scene to observe the exhumation process.

Following the prayer rituals, the casket was successfully disinterred and displayed to the media present, before being covered in plastic sheets.

The family’s lawyer, Gobind Singh Deo, said that all parties involved were satisfied with the way the exhumation was performed and added that Teoh’s body was still in good condition for the second autopsy.

Dr Shahidan Md Noor, the chief pathologist at the Sungai Buloh Hospital, along with Dr Pornthip are expected to carry out an X-ray examination on the body later.

The casket containing the body has been transported to the hospital, which will be the site of the second autopsy scheduled to run from 9.30am to noon tomorrow.

Teoh’s former employer, Selangor state executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, said at the cemetery: “I hope the second autopsy will reveal the truth.”

Yong also stated his desire to know how much the government spent hiring the UK pathologist Dr Peter Vanezis — one of two foreign pathologists, along with Dr Pornthip, who will be observing the second autopsy.

Dr Vanezis, who serves as a director at the Cameron Centre for Forensic Medical Sciences in London, has handled over 2,000 autopsy cases involving sudden death, of which 1,500 were found to be homicides.

“The fact that they hired a foreign expert shows they have no confidence in the local pathologists,” Yong added.

DAP’s Lim Kit Siang and Ronnie Lie were also in attendance. Both expressed hope that a fresh autopsy will reveal who or what “killed” Teoh.

Lim also added that Teoh’s death may have been a contributing factor towards Malaysia’s worst ever placing in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 21 November 2009, 1:45 pm and is filed under
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Malaysia, no pass marks in the corruption index

By
Tunku Aziz

About this time each year when Transparency International in Berlin releases its Corruption Perceptions Index, there are many in high places chewing their sticky, dirty fingers while keeping them crossed, hoping against hope, that the world would be kinder and Malaysia’s score on the corruption league table would come out more favourably than last year’s and all the previous years since the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index was first released in 1995. The prayers of the corrupt in government and politics have been ignored again. The predictability of it all is uncanny. The question is why are we continually perceived as corrupt, and are the perceptions justified?

The ambivalence of Tun Mahathir to corruption during his 22 year administration was never in dispute. In a perverse sort of way, he was charmingly honest and did not try to pretend that he was against corrupt practices. He was a great “in the national interest man” who saw corruption not in monochrome, but in glorious Technicolor which could even be made to look extremely attractive seen through his 20/20 Vision however sordid it is in reality.

I am sure the great visionary of all that is tallest, longest and biggest did not lose any sleep over the many shady deals involving Bank Negara and the Employees Provident Fund that, but for the grace of God and the beneficence of the milch cow that is Petronas, would have rendered us insolvent and a hostage of the IMF. He made no promises to fight corruption, and we did not expect anything from him in this respect. He was, by my definition, a corrupt man.

His successor, the one term wonder, affectionately known as Pak Lah of the “work with me and not for me” fame, was made from a different mould. A perfectly decent human being, he possessed impressive religious and moral credentials. When he declared that his top priority was to take the war against corruption into enemy territory, the country rejoiced, but it was to be short lived. A lot of white washing here and there, and a little tinkering around the edges did nothing to reduce corruption. If anything, the consensus was that corruption during Pak Lah’s watch was worse than when Mahathir held sway over us.

As Pak Lah himself admitted without saying so in so many words, there were other more pressing matters requiring his attention that it was only in the twilight of his stewardship that he woke up and realised that there was a little promise he had made that he had to fulfil. So in great haste, all he managed to do, bless the poor man, was to leave behind a less than useless legacy in the shape of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission which on present showing is useful neither to man nor beast. And that is being charitable.

The first anti-corruption public relations exercise was the setting up of the National Institute of Integrity Malaysia which, while trying its best to justify its existence, has achieved next to nothing because it is seen as being unable to focus on its mission. Institutions of themselves are not as important as what their people do inside their often magnificent buildings. Malaysia’s dismal failure to curb corruption as effectively as Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan, the cleanest in this region, has everything to do with the leadership in government, the Attorney-General’s chambers, the police and the MACC. It all comes down to people in the end. Mere institutions without people of honour and integrity to lead them do not amount to anything. Remember that saying about how you can fool some people some of the time, but not all people all of the time. It is a lesson that seems to have escaped our leadership.

With one scam after another swirling around their ankles on a daily basis, our leaders, no matter what tricks they try to come up with, have all but lost their high moral ground from which to sermonise on the evils of corruption. The country is mired in corruption and every level of the service has been touched by corruption, defined as the “abuse of entrusted power for personal gain, and official corruption in our country is escalating to enormous heights because there is no political will to begin with. The thing to remember about the Corruption Perceptions Index is that it reflects the views of the expatriate business community, resident in our country. They are the people who are sought to respond to questionnaires about corruption in our country. And they are not blind to what is going on in their dealings with the government. True, many have no direct experience of being subjected to official extortion, but they exchange stories which are the basis of their perceptions.

There were several countries that were written off as chronically and systemically corrupt and have succeeded remarkably in breaking out of the vicious cycle of corruption. Corruption is not part of our culture and yet we have allowed it to become our way of life. We are the product of our environment and the government has a responsibility for creating an environment that makes corruption a “high risk, low return business.” But to do that the Prime Minister must lead by example and must confront corruption in all its manifestation, no matter who commits it. A real challenge for Najib if he can find some time to drop his 1Malaysia and look at corruption in the face.

I am not at all sanguine at all about our future as a nation if, by default, we look the other way when disaster is heading straight at us. We will slide further and will have for company those countries that we used to look down upon because we were cleaner. Yes, there was a time, when Tunku Abdul Rahman was prime minister, when corruption only happened in other countries and when ministers and senior Malayan Civil Service officers lived well, well within their means.

Najib must shake off all traces of corruption within our system of governance if Malaysia is to reappear on the competitiveness radar screen of countries that foreign investors feel confident to park their money. Is Najib up to the challenge?

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 22 November 2009, 12:53 pm and is filed under
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What the Greater Unity Plan involves and implies:

By
Thomas Lee

(1) Ignoring and dismissing the majority will of the party central delegates in wanting to remove the top two leaders by claiming that they lack the two-third vote to effect the dismissal, but not acepting the fact that the top two lack the support of more than half of the grassroots delegates.

(2) The coming together of the two former enemies for the sole purpose of retaining power despite losing massive support from the grassroots members. One leader is a shameless person who has no intergrity and lost all credibility when he reneged on his pledge that he will resign even if he lost by a vote but shamelessly stays on and becoming the laughing stock of the country. Another leader has a soiled reputation the subject of ridicule and derision among the people, bringing disrepute to the party.

(3) The sacking of appointed central committee members who hold dissenting v?iews and/or who want the double-ten EGM decision of grassroots delegates respected and implemented. The irony of the so-called “Greater Unity” Plan involves the chopping of heads, causing further disunity and alienation among the party leaders and members. The hypocrisy of the whole fiasco has made the party the height of folly and mockery in the public eyes.

(4) The appointment of a young and immature political greenhorn and unfamiliar party lightweight, who is a son of the soiled leader, into the central committee as part of the horse-trading for “peace” reflects the immorality of the whole party power play. The fate and interest of the party have been made bargaining chips for the selfish personal agenda of two power-crazy individuals. Why is there no comment on this crony appointment by the party members?

(5) The removal of the women chief and youth leader from their legitimate positions as members of the presidential council is the height of authoritarian power practice as both are ex-officio vice-presidents. The derogatory and demeaning treatment of these two elected leaders is further debased by the appointment of their subordinates in their place. Such a detestable action, semblable to the fascism of  the tyrannical rule of Hitler, by a dictatorial president cannot be ignored and tolerated by the grassroots members.

(6) The interference and intervention of power forces from outside the party to effect the so-called Greater Unity Plan have shown the party to be a mere powerless puppet, a castrated political eunuch, in the national political arena and, hence, not worthy of support by the community it purportedly represents. The party has lost face and it will never recover from this current shameful episode. The beginning of the end of the party has started and the momentum of its dismantle is gaining strength, and the next general election will be its funeral and burial.

Quo vadis, MCA?

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 22 November 2009, 12:48 pm and is filed under
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No open tender for deal building RM628m Matrade Centre for RM15 billion 65-acre prime KL land – dare Tsu Koon raise in Cabinet warning of adverse KPI/NKRA combating corruption?

In his first month as Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak received praise and applause for his assurance that he would cut down on direct negotiations for government procurement contracts and instead adopt the tender system on efforts to curb corruption and restore public confidence in the government.

The award of the building-for-land deal to Naza TTDI Sdn Bhd involving 65 acres of prime land in Kuala Lumpur with a gross development value of RM15 billion for building a RM628 million Matrade expo centre has dashed public hopes and expectations that Najib is serious about open tenders, accountability, transparency and the war against corruption.

As combating corruption is one of the six National Key Result Areas (NKRAs) announced by Najib, is the Key Performance Index (KPI) Minister, dare Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon raise in Cabinet urging for a review and to ask for the Matrade building-for-land deal to be submitted to open tender to ensure that the government and the public obtains the best deal.

As KPI Minister, is Koh prepared to notify the Cabinet that the KPI and NKRA of the Najib administration  for combating corruption would be adversely affected if the deal exchanging RM628 million Matrade  centre for land worth RM15 billion gross development value is pushed through without being submitted to open tender – as well as a review of the need for another convention centre when available convention centres like the RM600 million Putrajaya International Convention Centre is grossly underutilized?

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 22 November 2009, 4:36 pm and is filed under
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Chief Secretary Sidek’s failure to carry out Cabinet decision of July 2007 to take action against  culprits responsible for RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal a factor why Malaysia has worst ranking and score in 15 years in TI CPI 2009

During the 2010 budget debate on 29th October 2009, I questioned the Cabinet decision to set up a super task force headed by the  Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan to take over all investigations into the RM12.5 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal as it represented a “major step backwards  in public accountability and good governance”, smacking of a super “cover up” instead of a demonstration of political will to get to the bottom of the “mother of all scandals”.

I argued that what is needed is a Royal Commission of Inquiry to conduct a comprehensive and no-holds-barred investigation into the “mother of all scandals” including relevant Ministerial and Cabinet aspects of the scandal instead of trying to sweep the whole issue back under the carpet.

I also posed the following question:

“In the first place, is Mohd Sidek the most appropriate person to head the super task force on the PKFZ scandal?

“Before Mohd Sidek takes up this appointment, he should explain to the Malaysian public why he had failed in the past two years to carry out the Cabinet decision in July 2007 when it resolved on the RM4.6 billion bailout of PKFZ, including giving retrospective approval to the four illegal Letters of Support unlawfully given by the two previous Transport Ministers, Tun Dr. Ling Liong Sik and Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy, that the Chief Secretary should conduct an inquiry as to how the four Letters of Support could have issued unlawfully and to take the necessary disciplinary actions against the culprits who have now landed the country with a RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal.

“Did Mohd Sidek carry out such an inquiry as not a single culprit had been identified, let alone penalised for the unlawful issue of the four Letters of Support in the past two years?

“Clearly, Mohd Sidek had not carried out the Cabinet instruction or there would not be today a merry-go-round of multiple investigations into the PKFZ scandal, but all without the necessary sweeping powers to get to the bottom of the scandal.

“Can Mohd Sidek succeed where he had failed in the past two years? I hope Parliament is given a specific answer to these questions in the ministerial replies.”

This is the reply that I have received from the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Nazri Aziz, by way of a written answer as he had promised Parliament during the winding-up of the debate on November 9, 2009 for issues he was unable to reply orally because of the constraints of time.

This is Nazri’s response to my budget speech on the PKFZ scandal:

YB Ipoh Timur mencadangkan agar ditubuhkan suruhanjaya diraja untuk menyiasat skandal Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ). Untuk makluman Yang Berhormat, Kerajaan belum bercadang untuk menubuhkan suruhanjaya diraja kerana satu pasukan petugas khas telah ditubuhkan bagi mengemukakan cadangan untuk tindakan susulan Kerajaan berhubung laporan audit PKFZ tersebut.

YB Ipoh Timur ingin tahu sama ada Y.Bhg. Ketua Setiausaha Negara telah melaksanakan keputusan Mesyuarat Jemaah Menteri pada Julai 2007 berkenaan 4 surat sokongan oleh Menteri Pengangkutan ketika itu. Untuk makluman Yang Berhormat, Y.Bhg. Ketua Setiausaha Negara telah pun melaksanakan keputusan Mesyuarat Jemaah Menteri yang dimaksudkan iaitu berhubung 4 surat sokongan daripada Y.B. Menteri Pengangkutan ketika itu.

Nazri’s answers are most unsatisfactory and unacceptable, in particular his answer that the Chief Secretary, Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan had carried out the Cabinet decision in July 2007 to  conduct an inquiry as to how the four Letters of Support were issued unlawfully and to take the necessary disciplinary actions against the culprits who have now landed the country with the  RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal.

If the Chief Secretary had carried out the Cabinet decision in July 2007, there would have been no need for him now to head any PKFZ special task force into PKFZ scandal,  as those responsible for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and malpractices would have already been brought to court to face the full force of the law.

Last Thursday, Sidek issued his first statement as Chairman of the PKFZ Special Task Force – more than two months after its formation by the Cabinet in early September – stating that it agreed that the Transport Ministry asked the Board of Directors of the Port Klang Authority (PKA) to consider the recommendations by the Corporate Governance Ad Hoc Committee on the PKFZ project created by the Ministry earlier.

Sidek said the recommendations could be implemented without involving any amendments to the law.

This was decided by the Special Task Force in its third meeting held on Nov 2.

Sidek said the meeting was also informed of the  action taken by the Royal Malaysia Police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) so far, with the MACC investigation into the PKFZ scandal expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The Cabinet Special Task Force appears to be acting like a postman or reporter than as an alternative to a Royal Commission of Inquiry not only to get to the bottom of the RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal but to bring to book the culprits for landing the country with the “mother-of-all-scandals”.

If Sidek had carried out the Cabinet decision of July 2007 to take all necessary action against the culprits responsible for the PKFZ scandal, including former Transport Ministers and Port Klang Authority officers, the PKFZ scandal would not have reached the present magnitude. Furthermore, there would be no need for the Cabinet to establish any Special Task Force to do what should  have been done under the Cabinet decision of July 2007.

Undoubtedly, one reason why Malaysia’s has suffered the ignominy of the worst ranking and score in 15 years  in Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2009 must be traced directly to the failure of the Chief Secretary in discharging the task entrusted on him by the Cabinet in July 2007 with regard to the PKFZ scandal.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 23 November 2009, 2:49 pm and is filed under
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Parliament question on DPM use of Nuri helicopter for Umno functions

Question:

To ask the Prime Minister the guidelines on the use of government aircrafts by Ministers for personal and political party purposes, and why no action has been taken against abuses of power in August by Deputy Prime Minister who had crash-land in Sabah when using RMAF Nuri helicopter for Umno functions.

Answer: (Dato Seri Mohd Nazri Aziz)

Mr Speaker, Sir,

The guidelines for the use of aircrafts are based on the Surat Pekeliling Am Sulit Bil. 1 Tahun 1987 Peraturan Peraturan Penggunaan Jet Eksekutif Kerajaan dan Pesawat-pesawat TUDM which allocates government executive jet aircrafts for the use of DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di Pertuan Agong, YAB Prime Minister and YAB Deputy Prime Minister.

Among the basic criteria for considering such applications are where there is no air services provided by MAS for these routes, and where it covers far-out areas which require the use of helicopters in order to arrive at such destinations at faster speed.

The MACC is still investigating the claims on the use of a Nuri RMAF helicopter by YAB Deputy Prime Minister to attend UMNO programmes in Sabah back in the month of August.

Thank you very much.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 23 November 2009, 5:52 pm and is filed under
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Lack of transparency in RM628 million Matrade expo centre deal for 65 acres of prime land in KL for Naza TTDI  with GDV of RM15 billion could further plunge Malaysia’s competitiveness and corruption perception rankings next year

Just spoke in Parliament on the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. I started by asking Parliament and government to give serious thought to a Malaysian Insider report today, and in particular its catchy headline “Malaysia’s next export: Maids?”

The
Malaysian Insider
report states:

The nation’s mismanagement of talent could have serious repercussions not only on its ambitions to become a high income economy on par with that of developed nations but could also lead it to fall further behind even its counterparts in the region.

Head of research at Corston-Smith Asset Management, Lim Tze Cheng, recently did a tour of South East Asian countries and came away sufficiently impressed that he feels Malaysia may soon be found lagging behind its neighbours that it was once ahead of.

He cited a recent visit to the Philippines, a current major supplier of maids, where he visited a company, International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI) and he drew comparisons to local port champions Westport and Port of Tanjung Pelepas.

He said that ICTS now draws 50 per cent of its revenue from eight profitable ports outside the Philippines, and noted that no Malaysian port company can boast of similar achievements.

“I give it a 70 per cent chance that Malaysia will be exporting maids in 20 years. I wouldn’t be surprised if that happens unless we get our act together,” he said.

Lim says that the issues plaguing Malaysia includes its “problematic” education system and distressingly low ability to retain talent.

“Whoever manages to excel in our education system will be courted by Singapore,” he points out.

Lim is not the only one who is worried about Malaysia’s talent issues and there has been warnings from other parties as well including the World Bank and the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF).

MEF executive director Haji Shamsuddin Bardan says that Malaysia is currently a net exporter of talent with outflows exceeding inflows.

I asked whether MATRADE (the Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation) might in future end up in having to deal with the export of Malaysians as maids to foreign countries because of our losing international competitiveness.

In my speech, I also warned that the lack of transparency in the building-for-land deal, viz RM628 million Matrade expo centre for 65 acres of prime land in KL with gross development value of RM15 billion to Naza TTDI  Sdn Bhd without open tender could cause a further plunge of  Malaysia’s competitiveness and corruption perception rankings next year – and demanding for the deal to be submitted to open tender as well as questioning the need for another mega convention centre when  several present convention centres are underutilised.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 24 November 2009, 10:31 pm and is filed under
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More answers from Minister in PM Department on Corruption

 (1) Jawapan Bertulis YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz, Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri semasa menggulung perbahasan Bajet 2010 peringkat dasar pada 9 November 2009

Tuan Yang di-Pertua

Berhubung kenyataan YB Ipoh Timur bahawa tiada political will (dengan izin) yang diperlihatkan oleh YAB Perdana Menteri dalam memerangi rasuah dan pembentukan SPRM serta pembaharuan lain bagi memerangi rasuah adalah tidak efektif, sebenarnya kenyataan YB mengenai perkara ini adalah tidak berasas sama sekali. Hakikatnya the record speaks for itself (dengan izin) telah membuktikan bahawa Kerajaan dan SPRM komited dan bersungguh-sungguh dalam menangani isu rasuah. Ini terbukti melalui perangkaan tangkapan dan pertuduhan terhadap ahli-ahli parti politik dan juga pegawai kanan Kerajaan yang telah saya bentangkan sebentar tadi.

Bukankah kesediaan Kerajaan pimpinan YAB Perdana Menteri untuk memperkenalkan Whistle Blower Protection Act (dengan izin) bagi menggalakkan pemberi maklumat untuk tampil membuat pendedahan jenayah rasuah merupakan satu contoh political will (dengan izin). Bukan setakat itu sahaja, Kerajaan juga akan menambah 14 buah Mahkamah Sesyen dan 4 buah Mahkamah Tinggi bagi mempercepatkan process perbicaraan sesuatu kes berbanding 4 buah Mahkamah Sesyen sedia ada.

Di samping itu, ketika negara menghadapi suasana ekonomi di mana hampir semua perjawatan tambahan di pelbagai agensi dibekukan, Kerajaan telah memperuntukkan lebih RM22 juta bagi membolehkan SPRM menambah seramai hampir 600 pegawai pada tahun 2010. Tambahan ini merupakan lebih 32% daripada keanggotaan pegawai suruhanjaya sedia ada. Langkah ini membuktikan komitmen Kerajaan dalam usaha memerangi jenayah rasuah dengan lebih agresif lagi. Saya tidak faham apakah lagi political will yang diinginkan oleh YB Ipoh Timur.

Inisiatif-inisiatif lain dalam memerangi rasuah khususnya yang dibentuk melalui NKRA akan diumumkan oleh YAB Perdana Menteri tidak lama lagi. Oleh itu, kenyataan YB Ipoh Timur yang mengatakan bahawa usaha memerangi rasuah tidak efektif adalah tidak tepat memandanfkan inisiatif-inisiatif tersebut masih belum dilaksanakan lagi. Harap YB Ipoh Timur dapat bersabar dan buatlah komen membina selepas inisiatif-inisiatif tersebut dilaksanakan.

(2) Jawapan Bertulis YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz, Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri semasa menggulung perbahasan bajet 2010 peringkat dasar pada 9 Novembner 2009

Tuan Yang di-Pertua,

YB Ipoh TImur ingin tahu bilangan laporan yang dibuat terhadap pegawai SPRM atas dakwaan menggunakan kekerasan semasa proses soal siasat. Untuk makluman YB, berdasarkan rekod dari tahun 2005 hingga 30 September 2009 sejumlah 58 laporan telah dibuat kepada pihak polis di seluruh negara berhubung dakwaan penggunaan kekerasan oleh pegawai-pegawai BPR/SPRM ke atas orang yang disiasat. Namun begitu, setakat ini tiada rekod menumjukkan pegawai BPR/SPRM pernah didakwa di mahkamah atau dikenakan sebarang tindakan tatatertib berikutan siasatan yang dijalankan.

Untuk makluman YB, terdapat kecenderungan apabila seseorang yang ditangkap atau disiasat oleh SPRM membuat laporan polis menyatakan mereka didera dan dipaksa membuat pengakuan kepada SPRM selepas dibebaskan dengan jaminan SPRM. Tindakan mereka ini bertujuan untuk mengelakkan pengakuan mereka dijadikan keterangan di mahkamah nanti. Ia juga mungkin bertujuan untuk meraih simpati serta memberi gambaran bahawa SPRM adalah agensi penguatkuasaan yang kejam. Saya menyeru agar SPRM dan pihak polis mengambil tindakan tegas termasuk mendakwa mereka yang dengan sengaja mebuat laporan palsu berhubung penggunaan kekerasan oleh SPRM kerana perbuatan mereka ini sebenarnya berniat jahat semata-mata untuk mencemarkan kredibiliti dan imej SPRM sebagai sebuah suruhanjaya yang bertanggungjawab dan professional.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 24 November 2009, 1:23 pm and is filed under
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Bumiputera contractors: A wasteful national mission to date

By
Koon Yew Yin

Wednesday, 18 November 2009 07:54

Centre for Policy Initiatives

It is an indictment of our system that IJM is able to compete internationally for contracts but yet is required to work as a sub-contractor to Bumiputera companies on the North-South Highway in Malaysia.

On Oct 25, 2009 our Second Finance Minister Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah said that government has vowed to cut down on wasteful spending to lower its budget deficit and all major public projects must go through the open tender system.

Earlier, the Auditor-General’s report for 2008 revealed continuing financial management weaknesses at every level of the government. Delays in project completion seem to be a perennial problem and the lack of oversight by various ministries and departments in the procurement of goods and services continue to cost the government hundreds of millions of ringgit.

These statements indicate perhaps that our Prime Minister Najib Razak may want to reverse his announcement on January 9 in Kuala Teregganu that the government would always look after Class F contractors. (Non- Bumiputeras cannot register as a Class F contractor).

The government had in fact already set aside RM900 million, which was RM300 million more than last year, for works to be undertaken by Class F contractors this year.

Producing competitive Bumiputera contractors

As reported on May 1, 2005, Malaysia had one contractor for every 614 persons. Most likely there are more contractors by now. This ratio is again likely to be amongst the highest in the world and is obviously costing the public a significant amount of money besides affecting our overall economic performance.

I would like to pose a few questions which may appear unkind or insensitive but nonetheless need to be asked.

Out of hundreds of high-rise buildings in Kuala Lumpur does anyone know of any Bumiputera contractor who has won any of the building contracts through an open competitive tender process? Out of hundreds of kilometers of highway in Malaysia, can any Bumiputera contractor who won any part of the highway contracts through open tender be identified?

The answer to the above questions unfortunately is in the negative. The evidence is that all the government’s well-intentioned efforts in trying to produce competitive Bumiputera contractors since 1957 have failed.

Why this has happened needs to be openly discussed rather than swept under the carpet. In this note, I share my experiences as a contractor and my knowledge of why Bumiputera contractors have failed in the past and what needs to be done by the government to correct this unhealthy situation.

Facts of life in the contracting business

Contracting is a very difficult business yet it is so easy to register as a contractor.

To register as a Class F contractor one has only to show that he has RM5,000. He does not even require a pass in Lower Certificate of Education (LCE). But it will take at least 10 years to learn how to overcome all the inherent difficulties and become competitive and efficient. Continuously giving out lucrative and over-priced contracts without open tenders will only make the recipients less competitive.

Secondly, studies have shown that there are more failures and bankruptcies in contracting than in any other business, and also almost all construction projects are NOT completed within the original scheduled time.

The delay will cost the contractor more and that is why you can often see uncompleted buildings and abandoned projects which have been undertaken by inefficient contractors. There are many reasons for this peculiar phenomenon.

1. Open tender system

Although this system is the best way to ensure completion of any project/contract at the lowest price, it is the most difficult obstacle any contractor has to face in the real competitive world. He must know his business very well and be efficient to face the open competition all the time. Like a good athlete, he has to keep fit and constantly be aware of the market conditions and his competitors.

There is a classic saying, ‘a cheap thing is not good and a good thing is not cheap’. But contractors always have to produce good work at the cheapest price.

In order to submit the cheapest tender, the contractor must be very optimistic in all his assumptions to get the cheapest rates. He must assume that he will not encounter any cash flow difficulties and that he will always get his progress payments on time to pay his creditors.

He must also assume that he will not encounter any difficulty in getting all the required materials on time to avoid any delay and also that there are ample workers for him to pick and choose from.

Furthermore, he must also assume that the heavens will be kind to him and he will not meet any inclement weather during construction. Invariably, many of these assumptions are proven wrong and thus completion delayed, and the infrastructure will cost more to complete than provided for in the contract.

2. The importance of teamwork

Teamwork is important in all business endeavours. It is more so in the contracting business. Every contractor must realise that his success is not going to be determined by his own knowledge, talent or abilities. It is going to be determined by his ability to develop a great team. Those who are closest to him will help determine the level of his success.

Every efficient contractor must have a reliable team comprising managers, sub-contractors, material suppliers, foremen and skilled workers. All the team players must cooperate with one another, bearing in mind that the main contractor’s survival depends on their contribution. Their main goal must be saving cost. If they cannot complete the contract within the tender price, all of them will also be affected.

3. Construction material pricing

There was no material price escalation clause in the conditions of contract before I became the Secretary General of the Master Builders Association. During the unprecedented oil crisis, building material prices shot through the roof. As a result, many contractors could not complete their contracts for schools and other projects. After several appeals the Public Works Department (PWD), now known as Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR), eventually allowed only cement and steel for price variation reimbursement.

This was only a partial solution as hundreds of other items were excluded.

Without a protective price fluctuation clause for the other items, contractors are exposed to risk. At the same time, knowing that they have to undercut their competitors during the tender process, contractors would normally under-price to achieve the lowest tender. Invariably, most materials would increase in price due to inflation and other reasons. Contractors require many years of experience to be able to anticipate such price changes and to make adequate provisions for them whilst at the same time not overpricing their tenders and losing the bid.

4. No contract is exactly the same

No two high-rise buildings in KL are the same.

Construction of a building, a bridge or a stadium is always akin to making a prototype. The process is much more difficult than manufacturing any product where there is repetition. For example in making cars, the first prototype and the initial few cars may be more difficult to make but once everyone gets used to the routine, the manufacturing process will normally proceed smoothly.

However, in the construction of buildings or any civil engineering works, there is very little repetitive work. Every construction site is different and most of the people involved have never worked together before.

On top of this, there may also be inexperienced supervisory staff that can create a lot of difficulties for the contractors. Invariably, by the time all parties get used to the routine, the scheduled time is over.

5. Financing

Most contractors do not have sufficient capital to finance their undertakings.

Contractors generally do not have fixed assets like most manufacturers. They usually do not have land and buildings but, instead, they have construction equipment. Unfortunately, banks do not accept these moving assets as collateral for a loan. Without bank financing, contractors will obviously find it more difficult to undertake their business.

Beginning at the bottom: The key to success

I have provided some insight into why contracting is not a business that is as easy or profitable as it is commonly perceived to be.

There are other factors explaining why or how some of the most successful tycoons associated with the building or construction industry have managed to get where they are.

Firstly, it should be noted that the majority of listed companies were started by Chinese merchants most of whom incidentally did not have tertiary education. For example, Lim Goh Tong of Genting began his working career as a scrap iron dealer and a contractor; and Yeoh Tiong Lay of YTL Corp. started off as a small contractor.

Generally, Bumiputeras are not interested in working long hours in managing small businesses earning marginal profit. Because of the NEP, many have hopes of securing permits or concessions for big deals so that they can become instant millionaires. There are relatively few Bumiputeras involved in small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs).

More Bumiputeras should follow the humble footsteps of the Chinese to become traders and merchants for building materials and similar goods. The business skill they can learn from these humble beginnings will carry them a long way. I am very sure some of them will eventually become good contractors and successful businessmen if they learn the trade at the bottom and not try to parachute into the contracting business.

The importance of skilled workers

Although there are already many Bumiputera engineers unable to find employment, most of the universities are still producing more and more engineers every year. But without a sufficiently skilled workforce, all the engineers in the world would not be able to complete a single project.

There are so few Bumiputera construction foremen, carpenters and other skilled workers. If you were to go into any building construction site, you would see the truth of what I am saying. How many Malay carpenters have you seen in KL?

Without skilled Bumiputera workers, it would be more difficult for Bumiputera contractors to succeed. In fact, most of the Chinese contractors started as apprentices and rose from the bottom to become successful contractors. More Bumiputeras should be encouraged to work as apprentices in construction sites. This is a necessary good practice to produce really good Bumiputera contractors.

The role of trade schools

There should be more trade schools and more Bumiputeras should be encouraged to learn construction skills like carpentry, welding, plumbing, bricklaying, etc. Very soon, skilled tradesmen will be able to earn more than degree holders as is the case in Australia or England.

The government should build more trade schools and not hesitate to offer scholarships to Bumiputeras to be trained in these trade schools. Presently, the construction industry is not short of engineers but it is very short of skilled workers and supervisors. If more Bumiputeras are properly trained in various crafts and blue collar skills, some of them will go on to become good contractors.

Time and more time

They say Rome was not built in a day. It is easier to produce engineers, doctors and other professionals than to produce efficient and competitive contractors who do not need government financial aid. Just giving out lucrative contracts to Bumiputeras is not the answer; in fact it is counter-productive as it simply makes them more inefficient and less competitive.

IJM Corporation Bhd has taken more than 40 years to attain a competitive level of competence. The record shows that IJM has secured on competitive tenders five toll road concessions in India. Three are currently in operation and two are under construction. The total length of the roads exceeds 1,000 kilometres, longer than our North-South Highway.

In addition, IJM completed a toll bridge in Kolkata and sold its interest for RM65 million profit after a short period of three years. IJM is also a very reputable LRT builder, having to date completed 15km of the elevated sections of the New Delhi Metro and it was recently awarded another 8km.

Based on open competitive tender, IJM won the contract to build the tallest building, a prominent future landmark for the Delhi Municipality, in New Delhi.

It is an indictment of our system that IJM is able to compete internationally for contracts but yet is required to work as a sub-contractor to Bumiputera companies on the North-South Highway in our own country.

Conclusion: Half-baked contractors are not in our national interest

Contracting is one of the most, if not the most, difficult business and it takes a very long time to produce competent contractors.

It is very dangerous to quickly produce half-baked ones as they will soon find themselves in financial difficulties and require bailouts. The bankruptcy record shows that a large number of debtors are Bumiputera contractors with many of them unable to pay back the loans given by government-controlled financial institutions.

The government must change its methods and policies which have proven unworkable. There is no urgency in producing more Bumiputera contractors as many of the key industries e.g. the banks, plantations, motor vehicles, taxis, rice etc are already under the control of Bumiputeras.

Our government must not be narrowly communalistic and should make use of all the groups, irrespective of race, that are more efficient in the contracting business.

Giving out contracts without a full tender process is akin to corruption. I urge the government to stop this corrupt practice and to utilize the savings from these enormous sums to implement the options suggested above.

Note on the Author

I am a 76-year-old chartered civil engineer and one of the founders of the three larger construction companies listed in Bursa Malaysia. These are Gamuda Bhd, Mudajaya Group Bhd, and IJM Corporation Bhd.

I was a member of the Board of Engineers, Malaysia for three terms. I was also on the Sirim Board responsible in writing the Malaysian standard specifications for cement and concrete. In addition, I was the Secretary General of Master Builders Association, Malaysia for nine years.

These days, I am completely retired. My intention in writing this article is honourable. Many people may not like reading what I have written and the truth may be difficult to accept. Nevertheless, this is my considered analysis for the benefit of my country, the Bumiputera contractors and the construction industry.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 25 November 2009, 5:34 pm and is filed under
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Matrade gets expo centre for ‘free’, says Mustapa

The Malaysian Insider

Wednesday November 25, 2009

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 — International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed today defended the proposed expo centre in Jalan Duta from controversy after the RM628 million project was given to Naza TTDI, saying the government was getting it for free.

Mustapa explained that building-for-land deal is good value for the Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade).

“The valuation of the land in 2007 is RM197 million and we are getting RM628 million’s worth building so we are getting value for money for us. We need a big centre,” he told reporters in parliament here.

The mammoth expo centre being built on a 13.1-acre site in Jalan Duta here is to be developed by Naza TTDI, a unit of the Naza Group, in exchange for 62.5 acres of state land at RM226 per square foot although the market value of the land could reach RM1.5 billion. The entire project will have a gross development value of RM15 billion.

The Matrade centre is estimated to be 90,000-sq-m and set to be completed in 2013.

Mustapa noted that the currently available exhibition centres in the Klang Valley were too small to lure major investors.

“We need this centre and to us it is value for money. What we have now is small in comparison with our requirements and is small in comparison to what other countries have.

“You must also understand that this is a comprehensive development, it is not just the centre but they will also be building hotels, apartments, shopping malls and parking space. So the gross development value will come to RM15 billion. The concept will be like KLCC except that this will be huge. It will be eight times bigger than KLCC,” he explained.

Mustapa pointed out that total area of the four major expo centres in Kuala Lumpur (Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, PWTC, Matrade Exhibition and Convention Centre, and Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang) is only 56,214- sq-m, lower compared to Singapore Marina Bay Sands’ 120,000-sq-m.

He also stressed that Matrade will be getting the expo centre for free, which will help the government save taxpayers’ money.

“Matrade is not putting up a single cent. Otherwise we have to beg and steal and borrow from the government. But maintenance is, of course, ours. That building, when it is completed in four years, is going to be ours. We are getting the building for free, otherwise we have to pay RM628 million, which is a big amount of money.

“This is nothing but a public-private partnership. We have land, we partnered with the private sector. We have this building for free and in return we give them a piece of land.

“We are in dire need of a big space for exhibition and we did not ask for any money from the government and the government is, of course, facing a very difficult period in funding,” the minister said.

Mustapa also revealed that there was no open tender because Naza TTDI was the company that proposed the project.

“In March 2007, we submitted a note to the cabinet informing of the proposal from Naza TTDI to put a Matrade trade centre near Jalan Duta on land which belongs to Matrade.

“On December 2007, the cabinet decided that we can proceed with the proposal by Naza TTDI. The total land area is 75 acres, 13 acres is for the Matrade center, 62.5 acres is for the company to develop,” he added.

Mustapa described Naza TTDI as a “reputable” developer and said it had put up a proposal that went through due diligence by the authorities.

“They are a reputable company and they were the only one to put the proposal to the government and we needed the building. They are Naza TTDI, they developed Taman Tun. They are a very experienced developer,” he explained.

The DAP has been urging Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to hold an open tender for the proposed Matrade expo centre.

Its leader, Lim Kit Siang, said that the government should declassify all ministerial papers relating to the project and table it in Parliament to show

necessary due diligence has been done to ensure costs and profits were not inflated if they persist with Naza TTDI as the contractor.

Earlier, Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua raised his concerns over cost of the proposed Matrade centre and was worried that project would become the next Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal.

“It does not make sense that Naza is asking for just a little less than RM200 million for the centre and it also seems like they have obtained the 75 acres of land for RM70 per sq feet when the current market price in the nearby Hartamas area is a lot more than that,” Pua said during the Supply Bill debate in parliament.

Mustapa refused to answer and instead accused Pakatan Rakyat (PR) MPs of complaining too much.

“They complain about the building of Subang Airport, about the construction of the second bridge and Putrajaya, but they now want to go to Putrajaya,” Mustapa said.

Pua argued that PR MPs were not complaining about the project but were questioning the escalating costs.

Mustapa ignored Pua again and insisted that the centre will become a “new growth centre in Kuala Lumpur.”

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 25 November 2009, 9:05 pm and is filed under
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Before telling the world the true Malaysian story, let Malaysians know the truth of what is happening in Malaysia – beginning with the story of  Altantuya C4 murder

In his recent visit to New York, the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said Malaysia’s message of reforms and transformation needs to be told to foreign investors consistently or risk being overshadowed by countries like China and other emerging economies.

First things first. Najib should allow the true Malaysian story to be told to Malaysians first or the credibility of the Malaysian story to global investors by Najib’s spin doctors would come under a great discount.

In the era of instant communications, it is both  imprudent and  self-defeating to believe that it is possible to mislead global investors about what is happening in the country.

Recently in less than three months, Malaysia suffered three grievous  blows undermining Malaysia’s international competitiveness, viz:

World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Global Competitiveness Report (GCR) 2009-2010 – dropping three places from 21st to 24th ranking;

World Bank’s Doing Business 2010: Reforming Through Difficult Times – falling two places from 21st to 23rd placing.

Transparency International Corruption Perception Index 2009 – worst ranking at No. 56 and score of 4.5, as well as the worst single-year drop in 15 years in CPI ranking by nine places from No. 47 last year and fall of 0.6 CPI score from 5.1 last year.

It is because “global investors” are privy to the “true Malaysian story” that the country has suffered these grievous blows to our international competitiveness.

A good start to tell the world the true Malaysian story is to let Malaysians know the truth of  so many dark secrets of the Malaysian story, stating with the true story of the C4 murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.

 The Prime Minister and the authorities concerned just cannot pretend that the re-appearance of private investigator P. Balasubramaniam after 18 months and his video explanation for his two Statutory Declarations contradicting each other within 24 hours in July last year  in connection with the Altantuya murder case, followed by the Malaysiakini interview with Bala’s lawyer, Americk Singh Sidhu, do not exist.

A response is warranted from the Prime Minister and the authorities concerned, for to continue to ignore the most damaging disclosures and allegations which have surfaced and  taken the Internet by storm would gravely impair the credibility, integrity and legitimacy of the office of Prime Minister and key national instutions in Malaysia – further causing the “true Malaysian story” to global investors to be taken with more than a pinch of salt.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 26 November 2009, 3:53 pm and is filed under
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PAC must act fast – prevent another multibillion-ringgit Matrade 2 scandal after the 10-year RM287 million Matrade 1 scandal

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) must act fast – prevent another multibillion-ringgit Matrade 2 scandal after the 10-year RM287 million Matrade 1 scandal.

The PAC had previously held several meetings on the Matrade 1 scandal, but they were of no practical relevance or consequence as what the PAC did was to lock the stable door after the horses had bolted.

As far as I know, not a single sen had been recovered by the government despite solemn assurances in Parliament by the Ministers concerned to pursue legal actions and penalties against the defaulting parties – with the Umno cronies laughing all the way to the bank with their ill-gotten multi-million ringgit NEP gains.

In the first Matrade scandal,  the 24-storey Matrade building took some 10 years to be completed at a RM120 million cost overrun resulting in a final cost of RM287 million, i.e.  at over 70 per cent of the original estimates of RM167 million.  For years, the cracked façade of the incomplete
Matrade Building stood as  shameful  symbol of Third World Mentality in a land of First World Infrastructures in the very  heart of the federal capital.

Now, a multi-billion ringgit Matrade 2 scandal is in the making.

The shocking claim by the Minister for International Trade and Industry Datuk Mustapha Mohamad in Parliament yesterday that the government was getting a RM628 million Matrade expo centre for free from Naza TTDI in a building-for-land deal, exchanging the centre for 62.5 acres of prime land in Kuala Lumpur for a project with a gross development value of RM15 billion.

Mustapha more than raised eye-brows when he said that the 62.5 acres of land were valued in 2007 at RM197 million or some RM72 per sq ft, when unconverted land for Hartamas/Duta areas in Kuala Lumpur  is already over RM100 per sq ft.

The Cabinet must stop the whole Matrade-TTDI Naza project until it gets full clearance by the PAC as complying with the Prime Minister’s commitment to transparency, accountability, integrity and good governance – in particular with regard to open tenders for mega government projects.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 26 November 2009, 4:45 pm and is filed under
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Close down Biro Tata Negara if Najib is serious, sincere and genuine about the 1Malaysia concept

When he became Prime Minister seven months ago, Datuk Seri Najib Razak came out with the slogan of 1Malaysia.

It was an admission of the failure of 52-year nation-building to create a Malaysian citizenry forged by a common Malaysian consciousness and identity, transcending their ethnic, religious, cultural and linguistic differences.

The Biro Tata Negara (BTN) is one important factor for this failure in Malaysian nation-building.

In Parliament in March this year, I read out an indignant email from a recent participant in BTN course, on how BTN operated as the propaganda arm of UMNO, pumping communal poison instead of spreading the message of national unity.

The complaints against the BTN included:

Their purpose is to convey THEIR Message to us but I think they are absolutely wrong. It made us more irritable towards BN government and make us more stronger to vote opposition.

Here are their messages:

Kontrak sosial about Kerakyatan and Hak Istimewa Orang Melayu Effects : Non Malay should appreciate and cannot expect more. They use Malay toleransi us and also “Terhutang Budi terhadap mereka”

The country is not safe after 308. The government is not strong enough to maintain the safety. The oppositions is creating chaos in the country . They give a lot of examples. If we continues like this, it might explode another 513 or war in Malaysia like in Iraq. They shows us the pictures and videos of Iraq. Therefore we need to vote BN for the peace

To protect Islam and Malay special rights Malays have to bersepadu for Ketuanan Melayu

Indians and Chinese contribute nothing to this country. It is the non Malays who wants to join the pakatan that time and we beg for that. Throughout the course they only emphasize on Malay’s contribution and say nothing on Non Malay.

their perpaduan means Ketuanan Malay and never sama rata because they said this is according to Kontrak Sosial. They conducted every facts on Chinese Malay and Indian and not mentioning Malaysian.

they claim oppositions is a spy from America and going to attack Malaysia soon

It is most shocking that the Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin could defend such communal poison in BTN courses as fostering “nationalism in line with 1Malaysia concept and instilling patriotism”, when responding to the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat government’s decision to bar its civil servants and students from state-owned institutions from the BTN’s racist “political indoctrination” and “brainwashing”.

Seven Selangor Pakatan Rakyat legislators have spoken up against the BTN courses for promoting hatred among the races, which is contrary to its original purpose as well as the Constitution.

Seri Setia Selangor State Assemblyman  Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, speaking from his own experience, said they were told that PKR members were Jewish agents, that DAP was a Singapore party, while PAS was labelled a deviant movement.

Batu Caves Selangor State Assemblyman Amirudin Shari said a big part of the programme had nothing to do with nation building or education but was an Umno and BN race-based programme where participants are indoctrinated with propaganda about “Ketuanan Melayu”.

If Najib is serious, sincere and genuine about the 1Malaysia concept, the first thing he must do is to close down the BTN as it is the biggest obstacle to 1Malaysia nation-building.

The BTN is the litmus test whether Najib’s 1Malaysia slogan is just empty rhetoric or whether he is really prepared to “walk the talk” of creating a united, harmonious and progressive Malaysia.

The BTN courses have been shrouded in great secrecy. Not only are participants not allowed their mobile phones and other electronic media gadgets, lectures and course notes are also not allowed to be taken away after the indoctrination.

Is the Cabinet prepared to order a full public inquiry into running of the BTN so that Malaysians can know the truth about the BTN courses and how it deviated from its original purpose to foster nationalism to become a great obstacle to national unity by pumping communal poison and promoting racial ill-will and hatred?

                This entry was posted on Friday, 27 November 2009, 11:31 am and is filed under
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Open Tender for all government procurements – most effective way to prevent corruption and ensure efficiency

by Dr. Chen Man Hin

Last year on August 5th the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was quoted as saying that open tender would be implemented for government procurements.  This was a very encouraging statement and gave the impression that he really intended to institute reforms to bring about better governance. Was this the signal that things are changing?

Later, when he was anointed prime minister, he announced further reforms to launch off his “1 Malaysia, People First, Performance Now” concept.  This was even more promising.

Unfortunately, the euphoria engendered so far has now vanished by the announcement in Parliament on Wednesday that MATRADE expo – the biggest and most comprehensive exhibition center – would be awarded to a private contractor  NAZA TTDI through private negotiated deal. The government procurement was NOT given out by OPEN TENDER.

This is a shocking development and has unravelled all the attempts by Najib to initiate a series of reforms for better governance in a “1 Malaysia”.

The latest shock has come after an earlier revelation that Malaysia’s Corruption Perception Index ranking has fallen sharply from 47th to 56th place. This was a big blow to the hopes for a cleaner and more efficient government.

OPEN PLEA TO PM NAJIB.  PLEASE PRACTISE WHAT YOU PREACH.  YOU CANNOT SAY GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENTS ARE BY OPEN TENDER AND IN THE NEXT BREATH YOU ALLOW THE GIANT PROCUREMENT OF MATRADE BY PRIVATE NEGOTIATED AWARD.

NEITHER CAN YOU CLAIM TO ERADICATE CORRUPTION WHEN AT THE SAME TIME THERE IS REPRESSION OF THE OPPOSITION, USING GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE MACC, THE JUDICIARY, THE ATTORNEY CHAMBERS AS THE INSTRUMENTS OF REPRESSION RATHER THAN FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE.

NEITHER CAN CORRUPTION BE ERADICATED IF THE CULTURE OF DEMANDING MONEY FROM THE PEOPLE BY MINISTERS AND DEPUTIES FOR ALL FORMS OF SERVICES CONTINUE TO BE PRACTISED CAUSING PAIN AND SUFFERING FOR THE PEOPLE.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 27 November 2009, 9:55 am and is filed under
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Abu Dhabi poised to throw lifeline to Dubai

From
Times Online

November 28, 2009

By Rhys Blakely in Dubai

Abu Dhabi is poised to come to the aid of Dubai’s debt stricken-businesses, but only on a “case by case” basis, senior bankers an officials said today.

The Dubai Government sent global markets into a tailspin this week after it asked creditors of Dubai World, the state-owned conglomerate behind the city state’s building boom, for a six-month standstill on $80 billion of debt repayments.

The move kindled fears that the world economy is yet to rid itself of toxic debt, and may even succumb to a fresh downturn in a “double dip” recession.

Oil rich Abu Dhabi, which has the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds, thought to be worth as much as $700 billion, could easily bail out Dubai, but is thought to be unwilling to pour more money into its neighbour’s beleaguered property sector, which has buckled under the weight of a series of half-finished grand projects.

“There is no such thing as a free lunch,” Yasser el-Mallawany, the chief executive of EFG-Hermes, Saudi Arabia’s largest investment bank, told The Times. “I think we will now see a welcome restructuring [of Dubai’s assets], done on a case-by-case basis.”

That view chimed with comments made by Abu Dhabi officials. Some analysts believe that a tailored rescue package is also likely to offer sweeter terms to foreign investors than to those based in the UEA.

It is widely thought that Abu Dhabi does not want to pour more of its petrodollars into companies whose business models have badly broken down in the wake of the global credit crisis, such as Nakheel, the property developer behind the partially-completed man-made Palm Islands in the Gulf, which is owned by Dubai World.

But Dubai’s portfolio of assets also concerns solid going concerns, such as DP World, the fourth-largest ports operator across the globe. DP World has said it is ringfenced from the debt crisis, but analysts say that the relations between Dubai Inc’s companies are hazy and that contagion could yet spread within the group.

However, with no official statement coming from Dubai or Abu Dhabi, investors were again fretting on Saturday.

With details emerging of the meetings between the two city states, there was speculation that Abu Dhabi was pushing Dubai to accept onerous terms in return for a bail out – possibly calling for it to give up control of a prized asset such as Emirates, the Dubai airline.

If Abu Dhabi were to overplay its hand, Dubai could still be forced to embark on a global firesale, analysts said. The first parcel of Dubai debt to mature is $4 billion in Islamic bonds issued by Nakheel, which was due to be repaid on December 14. It is understood to be in the hands of local banks, whose balance sheets have been already badly ravaged by a property market slump.

Bankers believe that fact will pile pressure on the Dubai and Abu Dhabi Governments to reach a resolution before the banks open after a four-day holiday, on Monday morning.

“The Governments can never allow a run on the banks,” Mr_el-Mallawany said.

Another local banker said: “It’s now all about perceptions. If a bank goes bust, the region will be a no-go area for years.”

Most of the December 14 maturity debt came into the hands of local banks after they increased positions under Government pressure when foreign banks, hedge funds and other investors retreated in the wake of the credit crisis, local market players said.

According toanalysts, they were ill-equipped to step into the breach. The health of Dubai’s banking system has been a matter of concern for some time, with some foreign analysts voicing concerns that balance sheets did not reflect the true scale of losses suffered because of property crash.

Some local bankers yesterday welcomed the prospect of a purge.

S&P has warned of possible credit downgrades to Emirates Bank International, National Bank of Dubai, Mashreqbank and Dubai Islamic Bank in the wake of the Dubai World standstill.

Mohamed Damak of S&P said: “The deteriorated economic environment,including the fall of real estate prices, has already started to weigh on the financial profile of these banks.”

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank is also thought to be heavily exposed to Dubai. Even if Dubai pays of the December maturity, there are serious doubts over how it will find the estimated $20 billion it needs to repay up to 2011.

Analysts are especially concerned that the Emirate has now destroyed its reputation among lenders, who had been led to believe the Government would honour “Dubai Inc’s” liabilities

Stuart Culverhouse, Chief Economist of Exotix, a boutique bank that specialises in the Middle East, said: “They have opened Pandora’s box and, no matter what happens next, have created a monster they may not be able to control.”

Credit Suisse, the investment bank, believes that European banks are exposed to half of Dubai’s $80 billion debt pile, with Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), which is 70 per cent owned by the taxpayer, believed to have invested heavily in the region.

In a recent note, JP Morgan analysts pegged Standard Chartered’s exposure to Dubai debt at $7.8 billion, HSBC’s at $17 billion, Barclay’s at $3.6 billion, RBS at $2.2 billon, Citigroup at $1.9 billion, and BNP Paribas at $1.8 billion.

However, JP Morgan said that worries over global banks’ exposure to Dubai had been overdone, since only a small amount of the total loans were set to mature in the near term.

The Daily Telegraph reported this morning that Rothschilds, the investment bank, had been appointed to help restructure the assets of Dubai World. Paul Reynolds, head of Rothschild’s Middle East advisory operations was asked to work for the Dubai government with Aidan Birkett of Deloitte, the accountants, who was appointed on Wednesday.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 28 November 2009, 10:58 pm and is filed under
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BTN — Between true education and indoctrination

By
Azly Rahman

I agree we must give credit to those working hard to “improve the psychological well-being of the Malays” and for that matter for any race to improve its mental wellness. This is important. This is a noble act. The question is: in doing so, do we want to plant the seeds of cooperation and trust– or racial discrimination and deep hatred? Herein lies the difference between indoctrination and education.  Herein lies what the work of Malaysia’s Biro Tata Negara is about.

These days, the idea of Ketuanan Melayu is going bankrupt, sinking with the bahtera merdeka. It works only for Malay robber barons who wish to plunder the nation by silencing the masses and using the ideological state apparatuses at their disposal. In the case of the BTN it is the work of controlling the minds of the youth. The work of BTN should be stopped and should not be allowed anymore in our educational institutions. It is time our universities especially are spared of counter-educational activities, especially when they yearned to be free from the shackles of domination. Look at what has happened and what is still happening to our institutions with the University and University Colleges Act and the Akujanji Pledge.

Over decades, many millions of Malays and non-Malays have not been getting the right information on our nation’s history, political-economy, and race relations. History that is being shoved to us or filter-funneled down the labyrinth of our consciousness is one that is already packaged, biased, and propagandized by our historians that became text-books writers. History need not be “Malay-centric”. Special rights for all Malaysians should be the goal of distributive and regulative justice of this nation, not the “special rights of a few Malays”. History must be presented as the history of the marginalized, the oppressed, and the dispossessed — of all races. We toil for this nation, as the humanist Paramoedya Ananta Toer would say, by virtue of our existence as “anak semua bangsa … di bumi manusia”. Malaysia is a land of immigrants.

 In this regard we can learn from the former British colony called America. Whatever the shortcomings may be, America is a land of immigrants and still evolving. Even a Black man or a woman can become president. This is what America conceives itself to be and this is what Malaysian can learn from.  Can a non-Malay become a Prime Minster is he/she is the most ethical of all politicians in the country?

No one particular race should stake claim to Malaysia. That is an idea from the old school of thought, fast being abandoned. Each citizen is born, bred, and brought to school to become a good law-abiding and productive Malaysian citizen is accorded the fullest rights and privileges and will carry his/her responsibility as a good citizen. That is what “surrendering one’s natural rights to the State” means.  One must read Rousseau, Locke, Voltaire, and Jefferson to understand this philosophy. A bad government will not honor this — and will fall, or will sink like the bahtera merdeka.

The history of civilizations provides enough examples of devastation and genocide as a consequence of violent claims to the right of this or that land based upon some idea of “imagined communities.” We must teach our children to make history — a history of peace amongst nations. This must be made into a new school of thought: of “new Bumiputeraism” that encompasses all and do not alienate any — because life is too brief for each generation to fight over greed.

The eleventh hour of human existence and our emergence in this world has brought about destruction as a consequence of our inability to mediate differences based on race, color, creed, class, and national origin. Each ethnic group thinks that it is more socially-dominant than the other. Each does not know the basis of its “self”. Each failed to realize its own DNA-make up or gene map.

Life is an existential state of beingness, so must history be conceived as such. Nationalism can evolve into a dangerous concept– that was what happened to Europe at the brink of the two World Wars. It happened in the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, and Indonesia when Suharto fell. I argue that we must live evolvingly in the “historical presence of historical constructions”.  The past and the future is in the present.

Back to BTN.

Courses devoid of critical treatment and sensibility and ones that retard student thinking — such as “Kenegaraan” — in our universities are designed to tell our mind to live in an imagined past. BTN is playing this dangerous game of blind nationalism still passing down packaged information that do not take into consideration the complexities of globalization and the promise of multiculturalism. We need to offer courses such as Multiethnic Malaysia that will have students aspire to think like multiculturalists and help this nation evolve better.

The ministry of education higher education combined has hundreds of experts — many overseas trained and have tasted the “spirit of multiculturalism” and the “beauty of intellectual freedom” in their classrooms abroad — who ought to have engineered a paradigm shift to help dismantle indoctrination agencies such as Biro Tata Negara.

But where are the voices in the wilderness of our public universities — those who should be speaking up against ‘Ketuanan Melayu or Ketuanan this or that race’? Why are many of these experts, instead of fighting for radical changes to affect radical-peaceful structural changes, are making big decisions to further advance the cause of racism? One-dimensional thinking prevails — the thinking that does not allow diversity of ideas and failed to develop cross-cultural perspectives. Ideas move nations but indoctrinations remove intelligence. Political masters– however corrupt to the core they are — dictates the work of our academicians.

Whoever writes history and turn that into say, BTN propaganda, controls the future (or at least they think they do). We must question what is taught during the sessions or during any history lesson; fundamentally:

Whose history are we studying?

Is it meaningful to me?

Who wrote this history? Why? Who benefits?

Who gets included and excluded in this history textbooks?

Who’s the hero — who’s the villain?

What I want to see is a stop to the systematic and ongoing stupefication of the Malays and the non-Malays and to let them be free from being run-down emotionally by boot camp facilitators who make a living humiliating people. We have a new generation of best and brightest Malaysians to educate. As an educator I have worked with thousands of them. These are extremely creative individuals who enjoy being challenged at the most respectable and intellectual levels — not through indoctrination methods such as those used in BTN camps. They want to be fed with more questions and not be shoved with BTN-type of answers. We cannot afford to turn term them into docile beings while at the same time we holler the slogan “human capital” or modal insan the world over. It will be a “modularly insane” human condition if we continue to capitalize on human docility.

The Biro Tata Negara as an indoctrinating institution was conceived by “intellectuals” who themselves are trapped in their own cocoon or glass coconut shell of “wrongly-defined” Malay-ness and in a paradigm that teaches a poor understanding of Malaysian history. These intellectuals are running around in our public universities promoting a more sophisticated and pseudo-intellectual version of racism. Inciting racial sentiments in classroom and boot camps is big business nowadays — profits made in the name of patriotism. But who’s monitoring the trainers?

Education is not about insulting one’s intelligence and instilling fear in our children. This is what the creators of BTN need to learn. In short, the indoctrinators need a good education on how not to indoctrinate. “Melayu ‘kan hilang di nusantara … ” if we allow the dumbing down of Malaysians to continue.

Progressive parliamentarians must discuss this serious matter concerning the organization’s deliberate attempt to promote disunity and to further fertilize the seeds of racism, at a time when we need to come together as Malaysians in order to face humanity’s greater problem such as the food, oil, and water crisis that will plague us as human beings — at a time when we must focus on constructing a new republic of virtue that will be founded on transcultural ethics, responsive and reflective politics, and a social-democratic-based economic system that do not tempt and feed human greed of the things they do not need. Our Asian despotic brand of capitalism continues to destroy the very foundation of our existence and our moral fibre. It is greed — big time — that brought down the National Front.

Through the work of the Rakyat, Divine intervention helped speed up the process of removal of Greed disguised as political parties in power. That’s the metaphysical interpretation of March 8, 2008.

We are not running Hitler Youth camps in Malaysia. We must not even come close to setting up one.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 28 November 2009, 10:21 am and is filed under
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Call on Cabinet to set up an independent public  inquiry into the BTN “brainwashing” to have public airing of its racist, anti-national and anti-1Malaysia courses over the years

Pretender Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir hit today’s  New Straits Times front-page headline:
“
‘Disclose BTN course syllabus’ – Perak MB: This will allay doubts about its objective
”.

Zambry said it is time for the government to make public the contents of the Biro Tatanegara syllabus to dispel suspicions by certain quarters about its objective.

Claiming that he had himself attended BTN or National Civics Bureau courses, Zambry said these courses were about educating public servants, students and other participating groups on their roles and responsibilities towards the country.

Zamry is creating a red herring. The issue is not so much the BTN syllabus, but the more than ample evidence that BTN courses pump communal poison and incite hatred in plural Malaysia.

In
Malaysian Insider
yesterday, a former BTN participant who was a student from a local public university Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani testified that he “learned the meaning of hate” from the BTN course he attended.

Asrul wrote that BTN brought in “intellectual” speakers who were supposed to enlighten the students about the meaning of being a Malaysian but instead it felt more like a communist propaganda camp brainwashing those attending about the importance of “Ketuanan Melayu”.

He wrote:

One speaker began with the history of Malaysia and how much the country had gone through, always emphasising the May 13 riots.

He stressed the point of how much the Malays had sacrificed and how the community should be united especially from outside threat — the Chinese community.

“He said that the Chinese community were “the Jews of Asia” and were just itching to take over when Malays were disunited and broken.

The speaker also revealed a greater Chinese conspiracy where the Chinese Malaysians were working together with Singapore to topple the Malay government.

“Do you want to become like the Malays in Singapore?” he asked.

He also went so far as to criticise Malay girls for dating boys from other races.

He added that they should not be cheap and embarrass their families.

The Cabinet should take a stand at its next meeting by setting up an independent public  inquiry into the BTN “brainwashing” to have a public airing  its racist, anti-national and anti-1Malaysia courses over the years.

Public outrage at the  defence of the racist BTN courses by the Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin  Yasin is matched by the thunderous silence of 1Malaysia PKI Minister, Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon, the four MCA Ministers and other Umno/BN Ministers on this issue.

The Cabinet should either close down the BTN or the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak should publicly acknowledge and announce the failure and abandonment  of his 1Malaysia slogan and programme, which becomes a total mockery with the continuation of the racist, anti-national and anti-1Malaysia BTN indoctrination courses.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 28 November 2009, 3:26 pm and is filed under
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Top Umno leaders should stop all double-talk, abandon race politics, be national leaders for all Malaysians or they should scrap and bury Najib’s seven-month-old 1Malaysia slogan and concept

Top Umno leaders should stop all double-talk, abandon race politics, be national leaders for all Malaysians or they should just scrap and bury Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s seven-month-old 1Malaysia slogan and concept.

Malaysians are shocked that the outrageous “defense” of divisive, racist and seditious Biro Tata Negara (BTN) courses by Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, was not the lone voice in Cabinet but represented the consensus of the top Umno leadership.

On my call for the closure of the racist BTN courses which go against everything Najib’s 1Malaysia could stand for, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said it was “just the opposition’s tactics to divert attention from their problems”.

He asked: “The BTN has been there for a long time; why should they raise the issue now? Maybe it’s because they are worried as the BTN has been successful in assisting the nation-building process and in upholding the 1Malaysia concept.”

Alleging that Pakatan Rakyat is using the issue to deflect its weaknesses, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar made the following charge on my call for the closure of BTN course: “Just like a blind man who does not know of what he does not see, how can Kit Siang talk of the BTN course when he has never attended it?”

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil claimed that the BTN course instills the patriotic spirit and that those who attended the BTN course love it.

Malaysians want to know whether all the other UMNO Ministers, and equally important, whether Ministers from the MCA, Gerakan, MIC and the Sabah and Sarawak Barisan Nasional component parties agree with these racist sentiments of these top Umno leaders, and if not, why they allow themselves to be dragged by their noses on an issue with such far-reaching consequences to the future of the nation.

Furthermore, what are the Ministers from MCA, Gerakan, MIC, Sabah and Sarawak BN component parties, as well as moderate Umno Ministers and leaders, if any, doing in Cabinet and outside to speak out and to demand an immediate end to the divisive, racist and seditious BTN courses which promote racial hatred and national disunity in the name of patriotism and nation-building!

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 29 November 2009, 2:52 pm and is filed under
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BTN should not only be revamped – heads must roll for the poisoning of a whole generation of Malaysian leaders, civil servants, university students

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz told reporters in Parliament this morning that the Cabinet has agreed to revamp the Biro Tata Negara (BTN) following national furore against the BTN’s divisive, racist and seditious course which pump communal poison, incite racial hatred and illwill which are no different from Nazi indoctrination camps.

Nazri is reported to have:

agreed that the divisive, racist and seditious BTN course is not in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s  1Malaysia concept;

that “the recent Cabinet meeting saw it necessary to do away with the BTN co-curriculum which government leaders, including the prime minister, saw was racially divisive and destructive”; and

the Chief Secretary to the Government has been instructed to oversee BTN’s revamp.

While I welcome Nazri’s announcement and any revamp of BTN, it would appear that many top Umno Ministers and leaders, including the Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Women, Family and Community Development Minister, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Ahmad Maslan, with direct charge of the BTN portfolio, seem to be unaware of this Cabinet decision.

Last Thursday, Muhyiddin had defended the BTN while Hishammuddin, Nor Omar, Shahrizat and Ahmad had defended the divisive, racist and seditious BTN course only over the weekend, condemning critical voices including my call for the closure of the racist and seditious BTN course as it makes a total mockery of Najib’s 1Malaysia slogan and concept.

Why is this so. Who is right, Najib or Muhyiddin, Hishammuddin, Nor Omar, Shahrizat and Ahmad?

In September last year, I had raised in my blog the trauma suffered by JPA scholars, Malay and non-Malays, at the communal poison and racial hatred they had to undergo from the BTN brainwashing course.

This was what an outraged parent wrote:

“As part of the course, which is mandatory before they are sent overseas, all non-Malays are segregated and given lectures on the history of the country and how the immigration of the Chinese and Indians had taken place. And finally how the Chinese and Indians were given citizenship. The Malays too had their own similar sessions.

“The instructors blatantly told them that they should not question the rights and privileges of the Malays as the non-Malays should be thankful that they were given citizenship status and a place to stay on their soil. My daughter together with the other non-Malay students was shocked and went back to their dormitories depressed. And to the Malay students, the instructors told them to be aware of this fact and not to mix too freely with the non-Malays.

“A Malay friend of my daughter came back crying to the dormitory saying that she could not take the racist position taken by the government authority. My daughter then began questioning the bumiputra policy and was disgusted with such blatant indoctrination. This incident has also made the students harbour anger and resentment. Their fear for the authorities and losing their scholarships made them keep their cool. I am not exaggerating here – ask all the JPA students to write in anonymously and you will know the truth.

“These are young minds being polluted with racism. Tens of thousands of students have gone through this programme and more will be attending it in the future. So can you blame them when they exhibit their racist tendencies when in authority? How could the JPA allow such a syllabus for the cream of the nation, who will one day be entrusted to implement government policies fairly?”

A revamp of BTN is not enough. Heads must roll for the poisoning of a whole generation of Malaysian leaders, civil servants, university students as what BTN did was a great disservice to plural Malaysia, Malaysian nation-building, the Merdeka social contract, the Malaysia Agreement, Rukunegara, Vision 2020, Bangsa Malaysia and now 1Malaysia.

The ball is now in Najib’s court on his return from CHOGM in Port of Spain – to let Malaysians know whether he is serious about 1Malaysia slogan and concept and why top Umno Ministers led by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Home Minister could defend the divisive, racist and seditious BTN indoctrination course.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 30 November 2009, 3:24 pm and is filed under
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DAP: No sense gaining RM1b from GST to lose RM28b to graft

By
Clara Chooi | The Malaysian Insider

IPOH, Nov 29 – DAP has urged the Federal Government to reconsider the proposed 4 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST), claiming it would do nothing to narrow the nation’s current deficit budget and would only further burden the poor and the middle class.

Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said that the Government should, instead, concentrate on fighting corruption and realising savings of at least RM28bil annually instead of a mere RM1bil in additional revenue from GST.

“This RM28bil was admitted by Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah as the cost of leakages from having closed tenders in government procurement or just failing to have open tenders for government contracts in an open manner.

“If the government focuses on changing this, there is no need to impose GST on the people to raise funds.

“But unfortunately, the Barisan Nasional is not brave enough to truly fight corruption,” he said in his opening address at the Perak DAP’sn 15th annual convention here today.

In fact, Lim pointed out the supposed RM28bil in losses to corruption annually may even be an under-reported figure.

“As Time Magazine had quoted Daniel Lian, a Southeast Asia economist at Morgan Stanley in Singapore, saying that Malaysia might have lost as much as US$100bil since the early 1980s to corruption,” he said.

Lim said that the proposed 4 per cent GST, which is set to be tabled in Parliament early next year, would not widen the tax base much, seeing as the present budget deficit was over RM50bil.

“So what is an additional income of RM1bil annually? In fact, this GST would only serve to affect 85 per cent of the working population who currently do not pay taxes because their incomes are below taxable levels.

“The impact would be most severely felt on the 38 per cent of the 5.6 million households with income levels of less than RM2,000 monthly or 2.12 million households,” he said.

Lim also voiced disappointment over the “unconditional support” for “Umno’s GST” by MCA Gerakan, SUPP and MIC.

“No MCA minister has defended public interest but has continued to perpetuate this national economic divide by burdening the poor and the middle-class instead of fighting corruption to get more money. Why fear fighting corruption so much?” he said.

Lim also called for the withdrawal of the 15 per cent preferential income tax rates given to professionals in selected areas on the Iskandar Development Region, saying that the benefit should be offered to all professionals in Malaysia.

“Why is it that professionals in other states have to pay 26 per cent? How can there be 1 Malaysia when we have one country and two systems with double standards and discrimination in tax treatment?” he questioned.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 30 November 2009, 5:14 pm and is filed under
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