Kampung Buah Pala Update

Teng dares Lim to declassify minutes on Buah Pala
Himanshu Bhatt

Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan	Lim Guan Eng

GEORGE TOWN (Sept 24, 2009) : The blame game over the demolition of Kampung Buah Pala looks set to continue.

A day after Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng came out with a statement blasting the former Barisan Nasional state government for complicity in the disputed land deal, Penang Gerakan Chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan today challenged Lim to declassify minutes of the Pakatan Rakyat state executive council meetings on the matter.

Teng said Lim’s administration had abetted in the transfer of the village land by not taking any action even though it had called the transaction a “fraud”.

“I challenge him to declassify all exco minutes after (Pakatan took power in) 2008. Let everybody know. What is there to hide?” Teng said today.

“Why declassify only the minutes of previous state government? Why can’t he declassify decisions they (Pakatan Rakyat state government) had made?”

On Wednesday, Lim challenged Teng, a former Barisan Nasional state executive councillor, to show proof of his claim that the Pakatan Rakyat state administration had finalised the deal and accused the previous BN state government of selling the Kampung Buah Pala land at cheap rates and without consulting the residents.

Teng noted that the villagers had met Lim in his office soon after he took power in 2008 to brief him about the situation, but the title was still issued later on March 27.

“He should have taken steps … If he felt that whole deal was illegal and fraudulent, he should have done something,” Teng said.

“Instead he abetted and allowed the deal to go through.”

Teng also said Lim should have stopped the village’s demolition last week as the matter of compensation had not been settled.

Teng was speaking at a press conference at the Gerakan headquarters here where he urged the state government to allocate at least 8ha of Batu Kawan land for the new Chung Ling College project.

He said Lim had in June 2008 announced that the state would allocate eight pieces of land for Chinese and Tamil schools as well as for religious purposes.

He noted that Penang Development Corporation was developing Bandar Cassia in Batu Kawan on 2,560 ha and could alienate the land for the college .-The Sun

Guan Eng: Only federal government can declare Buah Pala heritage site

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 – Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng continued his offensive over the Kampung Buah Pala controversy today by pointing out that only the federal government had the power to declare the village a heritage site.

In a statement today. He said that the federal government had the sole right under the National Heritage Act 2005 to designate any site a heritage.

“The State Legal Advisor Datuk Faiza binti Zulkifli and the Penang Town and Country Planning Department have stressed that the Penang state government has no powers to accord any site such status.

“Unlike other states such as Malacca, Penang has no heritage laws. Accordingly, to declare any site a heritage site, the National Heritage Act holds sway.”

He said that only the Heritage Commissioner under the Minister of Information, Communications, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim, could designate any site to be a heritage site under Section 24.

Section 30 requires the consent from the relevant state government before any designation can be made.

“Clearly BN or Gerakan and its allies were barking up the wrong tree when they tried to blame the state government for refusing to designate certain sites such as Kampung Buah Pala as a heritage area,” said Lim.

Yesterday, Lim challenged former Barisan Nasional (BN) state executive councillor Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan to show proof of his claim that the Pakatan Rakyat state administration had finalised the deal to acquire Kampung Buah Pala.

He also accused the previous BN state government of selling the Kampung Buah Pala land cheaply and without consulting the residents.

Lim and Teng have been trading barbs over which party is responsible for the land transaction which resulted in a standoff between residents and the state over the issue of compensation.

In his statement today, Lim said “there was nothing for me to sign as the previous BN administration led by Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon had signed away all the rights of the Kampung Buah Pala residents.”

“BN, Gerakan and its allies have spread lies claiming that I have signed documents, finalised the deal and transferred the land to the cooperative. Until today I have not signed a single document in favour of the developer or the cooperative. The deal was finalised by the previous BN administration.”

He added that his government was powerless to legally stop the transfer of the land as this was a consequential administrative action following the approvals given by the previous BN administration.

The only recourse left was to improve on the offer of a RM75,000 flat unit offered to the residents by BN on the basis that they were illegal squatters, he said.

Lim said the PR government had succeeded in compelling the developer to offer a double-storey house worth RM600,000 on the basis that they had a right to a 99-year legally-binding lease to own land in Kampung Buah Pala.-MalaysianInsider

国际透明组织建议立法 企业政治献金须公布

南洋商报

刘胜权在记者会上，展示全球同步公布，以“贪污及私人界”为主题?009年全球贪污报告

（吉隆坡23日讯）国际透明组织马来西亚分会主席拿督刘胜权建议政府通过立法，规定企业捐献政治献金给政党，必须一清二楚公布款项去向，以铲除贪污风气。

“政党接受企业界的政治献金，最终将付出代价，伴随之而来的将是不透明的招标或采购。”

他指出，金钱政治有别于政治献金，不过，不先解决这方面的问题，就甭谈铲除贪污之风。

刘胜权今日配合国际透明组织即将公布的2009年全球贪污报告召开新闻发布会时，提及政治献金课题。

国际透明组织马来西亚分会执行总监谢文杰也出席新闻发布会。

立法要求企业公布款项

刘胜权说，我国是时候认真看待政治献金来源，每个政党都需要外来资助，但政治献金来源必须是透明的。

“或者政府可考虑通过立法，要求提供政治献金的企业公布款项去向，目前许多企业都没有透露款项的去向。

“政府应该在这方面着手，以警惕施与受的双方。”

刘胜权说，制定法律只是一项防范措施，当中依然存在避开法律的违法问题。

刘胜权在今年6月3日公布2009年全球腐败变化表（Global Corruption Barometer）时指出，铲除金钱政治及公布政党资金来源，是其中两个可消除一般人士认为政党是最腐败的负面印象。

他说，人民普遍认为政党的资金来源不明，缺乏透明度，社团注册局或许可以要求政党注册时，必须遵守一些条件，譬如提呈常年财务报告。

张庆信“捐献”千万献金

巴生港口自由贸易区主要承包商Kuala Dimensi私人有限公司总执行长拿督斯里张庆信上个月语出惊人，声称本身曾在2008年“捐献”1000万令吉的政治献金予拿督斯里翁诗杰。

张庆信也是国会国阵后座议员俱乐部主席，他向媒体指出，本身是在翁诗杰的要求下，在去年以现金方式，把1000万令吉分三次交给后者“以充作马华区会的活动基金”。

民意要依沙上阵峇眼槟榔 马哈迪和拉沙里不要他！

【本刊记者撰述】森美兰州峇眼槟榔州议席补选在即，一份针对森州子民进行的民调显示，59.6%回应者要前森州大臣依沙（Mohd Isa Samad）代表国阵出战。但是，巫统前主席马哈迪和元老东故拉沙里都纷纷以直接或间接方式不要依沙上阵。

根 据《哈拉卡》报道，一家民调中心Ilham Centre分别于9月15日和16日在峇眼槟榔州选区内的八个投票区——Ladang Atherton、Pekan Siliau、Ladang Bradwall、Sua Betong、Taman Eastern,、甘榜峇眼槟榔（Kampung Bagan Pinang）、Si Rusa和直落甘望（Teluk Kemang）进行访问。

民调结果显示，59.6%应答者认为，应该让依沙（左图）上阵，尽管如此，大部分应答者都认为，依沙曾涉及巫统金钱政治、朋党主义等，可能会是一个包袱。

此外，民调中心也是依据选区内八个投票区的种族比例挑选应答者。应答者种族比例为马来人占53.0%、华人占30.8%、印度人占12.1%。不过，报道中并没有提及应答者的人数。

民调是以访谈和在地观察的方式进行。

国阵或失去年轻选民支持

调查结果显示，为了赢得补选，48.5%的应答者认为候选人因素比较重要，41.8%应答者认为政党实力比较重要，而8.1%应答者则表示不确定。

除此之外，45.9%年轻选民有信心巫统会失掉年轻人选票。

共有34.8%的应答者认为巫统是个种族主义政党，仅有32.8%应答者不不认同，32.3%应答者不确定。此外，52.0%应答者认同国阵巫统是个贪腐的政党，并涉及道德丑闻，可能导致该党失去年轻选民的支持。

但是有22.2%来自第一和第二通道的选民不认同此说法，他们是国阵巫统的中坚支持者。

至于邮寄选票，47.0%应答者认同，国阵非常依赖邮寄选票取胜、11.1%应答者不认同，41.9%不确定。大部分受访的军人都认为现有的邮寄选票制度不透明，国阵因而占了优势。

“不要派依沙上阵！”

尽管民调显示半数的应答者要依沙上阵，但是巫统前主席马哈迪和元老东故拉沙里都分别直接和迂回地方式，促请巫统不要委派依沙上阵。

马哈迪昨天表示，若巫统委派曾涉及金钱政治的依沙上阵，将被视为并未致力打击金钱政治，巫统的名声将受到影响，“巫统已裁决依沙罪成，如果巫统派他上阵，这意味着巫统并不认真打击金钱政治。就算他当选，我们也要考虑整个马来西亚人民怎么看待巫统。”

东姑拉沙里今天发表文告表示，国阵在半岛的六场补选皆落败，这多赖于人民对国阵的当权者贪污和傲慢的印象。而且，当在槟州峇东巴西委派一个失去律师资格的候选人上阵时，更加强了此印象。

他也不点名非议巫统青年团长凯鲁（Khairy Jamaluddin）指只要委派可当选的候选人即可的言论。他认为，恰恰是这种短视的思维，导致巫统和国阵走回异于选民要求的道路。

他认为，若巫统继续委派存有污点的候选人上阵，公众会认为，如果巫统输掉对国家更好。

他说：“在这个日益分歧的社会中，我们不但要赢得选举，也要赢得有尊严，并由由尊严的人赢得。易言之，这将得到人民的相信我们的《宪法》以及法治精神。只要这样选举的成绩才会凝聚我们。这才是我们更大的挑战。”

Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM) to be unveiled soon

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 14, 2009) : Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM), the new political party that came under the spot light following speculation that it is linked to expelled MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek as well as suspended Gerakan vice-president Huan Cheng Guan, says it will introduce itself to the public soon.

PCM secretary Loo Kien Seang said details regarding the party, including the direction it will take, will be unveiled by party president Tang Weng Chew at a press conference when the latter returns from overseas, Sin Chew Daily reported today.

Loo, who said the party will not respond to public comments about the party, denied that it is linked to any political party.

He reiterated that PCM is a neutral and independent party which has nothing to do with the MCA infighting, Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club chairman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing or Gerakan's Huan.

He said PCM was set up in view of the current political situation in which political parties have strayed from their objectives of serving the people, pushed aside the bread and butter issues as well as compromised the interests of the public.

He said it is time for PCM to come to the fore to serve the people and to bring about changes.

Expressing surprise at the PCM's "premature exposure", he said the party had intended to announce its formation after all the details, including the member application form, are in place.

He said the party is open to all Malaysians. -The Sun

民联年底办大型会议 失联议员已回函解释

作者／本刊黄书琪 Sep 14, 2009 03:30:54 pm

【本刊黄书琪撰述/苏晓枫摄影】人民联盟三党将在12月12日在雪兰莪州召开一个大型会议，以商讨各项政治议题。

民联领袖今天在人民公正党位于雪兰莪州丽阳镇的总部开会，并在会议结束后召开记者会宣布上述消息。各党领袖议决各党派出500名代表参与这项大型会议，届时将有约1500名民联党员参与其盛。

这项会议原订地点为吉兰丹州首府哥打峇鲁（Kota Bharu）的国际会议中心，不过却在今日会议后决定更改至雪州，详细地点未定。这场从早上11时进行到下午1时许的会议，除了讨论如何巩固民联三党关系，也将论及民联雪州政府问题，包括之前喧腾一时的禁酒令课题。

今日的会议由安华、民主行动党国会领袖林吉祥及回教党总秘书慕斯达法阿里（Mustapha Ali）共同主持，回教党主席哈迪阿旺（Hadi Awang）因孩子入院，不克出席这场会议，由慕斯达法阿里代表。

巴德鲁已回信解释

安华透露，早前失联的人民公正党籍雪兰莪州州议员巴德鲁（Badrul Hisham）已回信解释他为何疏于职守，雪兰莪州务大臣卡立依布拉欣（Khalid Ibrahim）将在本周三召见他，以了解他疏于走访选区的原因。

无论如何，根据《马来西亚局内人》今天的报道，安华（左图左）昨天专程到巴德鲁的选区巴生港口造访巴德鲁，可是却白跑一趟，没有见着巴德鲁本人。

森 美兰州峇眼槟榔（Bagan Pinang）州议席补选日期提名日落在10月3日（星期六），投票日则为11日（星期日）。安华今天揶揄选举委员会的投票日纯粹为了配合国阵（巫统）， “假设补选的选区是回教党的强区，他们就把投票日订在工作日，但如果是国阵（巫统）的区域，那就一定落在假日。”

这个补选是去年3月8日全国大选以来的第九场补选，也是第三个必须举行补选的原国阵选区。

要回青团呈禁酒策划书

回教党青年团之前提出禁酒建议，要民联雪州政府慎重考虑，安华今天在记者会上表示：“我们尊重大家的意见，但我希望民联领导层可以充分了解大家在各项议题上的意见，我并非阻止大家发表意见，只是希望他们可以呈上政策计划书，我们可以在下次会议中讨论。”

雪州州务大臣卡立依布拉欣（Khalid Ibrahim，右图左）也在记者会之后告诉媒体，现阶段一切依照原有政策实行，即要求便利商店、商家自律，将酒品下架不展示，只有非回教徒消费者要求购买时，才能出售。

卡立强调，商家也有成本计算概念，有需求才有供应，如果某一地区以回教徒为主，他相信在酒品售卖的利润无法支撑成本的情况下，商家也不会想要售卖酒精饮料。

MCA Terengganu Tidak Galak Anggota Turun Tandatangan Sokongan

KUALA TERENGGANU, 8 Sept (Bernama) -- MCA Terengganu tidak menggalakkan anggotanya untuk memberi sokongan atau menurunkan tandatangan kepada mana-mana pihak sebagai tanda sokongan sehinggalah mesyuarat agung luar biasa (EGM) diadakan.

Pengerusinya, Toh Chin Yaw berkata Terengganu sebagai sebuah negeri yang tidak mempunyai anggota parti yang ramai, sokongan secara terbuka itu di sini akan hanya menimbulkan kesulitan kepada mereka.

"Jadi kami berharaplah, anggota parti di Terengganu tidak menyebelahi mana-mana pihak sehingga menjadikan keadaan anggota di sini menjadi tidak harmoni dan stabil," katanya kepada pemberita selepas menyampaikan topeng muka bagi mencegah wabak Influenza A (H1N1) kepada orang ramai di sini pada Selasa.

Toh yang juga Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Perindustrian, Perdagangan dan Alam Sekitar negeri berkata beliau memberi kebebasan kepada anggotanya untuk membuat pilihan apabila EGM MCA diadakan nanti.

"Kami percaya semua perwakilan cukup matang dan mereka mampu membuat keputusan yang betul pada mesyuarat yang akan diadakan itu nanti," katanya.

MCA ketika ini sedang menunggu tarih untuk diadakan EGM, dengan keputusan untuk mengadakan hanya satu atau dua EGM masih belum dimuktamadkan; selepas pihak yang menyokong Timbalan Presiden yang dipecat Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek berkata mereka mungkin akan meneruskan dengan EGM mereka sekiranya tidak berpuas hati dengan agenda EGM yang diusulkan oleh Presiden parti Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.

-- BERNAMA

牛头示威十二人被控上庭 巫统莎亚南领袖被控煽动

【本刊黄书琪撰述 / 苏晓枫摄影】12人因参与反对搬迁兴都庙的 “牛头示威”，而被控参与非法集会，其中六人还在《1948年煽动法令》下被控。被控煽动罪的六人包括巫统莎亚南23区支部主席莫希丁 （Mahyiddin Manaf）、署理主席依布拉欣沙比里（Ibrahim Sabri），以及巫统莎亚南区宣传委员阿兹米（Azmir M. Zin ）。

这12人今天被控上雪兰莪州莎亚南法庭，其中七人是莎亚南第23区的居民。六名被控煽动的集会者皆不认罪，法官允许每人缴付4000元保释，并订在10月21日过堂。

8月28日，以当地巫统领袖为首的约50名马来人回教徒携着一个血淋淋的牛头，到雪兰莪州政府大厦前示威，以抗议雪州政府决定将莎亚南第19区一座已有150年历史的兴都庙迁到莎亚南第23区。他们且在集会上恫言流血抗争。

由 于牛是兴都教徒的圣物，这群人的作法遭到人民公正党、民主行动党、马华公会、民政党、社会主义党和超过70个民间团体的强烈谴责。雪兰莪州行政议员塞维 尔、刘天球、回教党莎亚南区主席卡立沙末（Khalid Samad）、社会主义党总秘书阿鲁茨万（S.Arutchelvan）、兴都权利兴都力量（HINDRAF）等个人和团体皆到警局报警，要警方调查这起 事件。

Rakyat makin muak dengan MCA

Oleh ; Lim Hong Siang

"Tiada kena-mengena dengan kami... itu perebutan kuasa dalaman parti semata-mata," demikianlah luahan rakyat biasa terhadap kemelut MCA ketika ditemuramah Mandarin 7 (buletin ntv7), semalam.

Kemelut MCA diberi liputan yang luas dalam media bahasa Cina, dari imbasan sejarah pergelutan kuasa MCA, hinggalah analisa senario politik terkini, misalnya sokongan siapa yang mendahului.

Namun, andaian bahawa seluruh masyarakat Cina berprihatin tentang MCA nyata tidak tepat, apabila temuramah ntv7 yang tersiar semalam menunjukkan sebahagian besar komuniti Cina semakin muak dengan apa yang berlaku dalam MCA.

Dari sinis ke alpa

Demikianlah perubahan sikap masyarakat Cina sebelum dan selepas tsunami politik 8 Mac 2008. Masyarakat Cina walaupun bersifat kritikal, sinis terhadap MCA selama ini, tetap akur kepada realiti bahawa MCA merupakan parti komponen utama dalam kerajaan, yang kononnya "memperjuangkan kepentingan orang Cina".

Namun, selepas PRU ke-12, segala-galanya berubah. Masyarakat Cina merasakan kepentingan kaum tersebut juga terbela, walaupun tanpa kehadiran MCA. Malah, apabila Pakatan Rakyat mengambil alih kuasa kerajaan di beberapa negeri, misalnya Perak, komuniti Cina merasakan hak mereka lebih terbela berbanding zaman pemerintahan Barisan Nasional.

Perubahan psikologi ini telah diterjemahkan ke dalam undi pada pilihan raya kecil Bukit Gantang, memperlihatkan 85% pengundi Cina mencurahkan undi mereka kepada seorang calon PAS, Mohd. Nizar Jamaluddin. Malam 7 April 2009 ini merupakan petunjuk yang paling nyata, bukan sahaja penolakan komuniti Cina terhadap UMNO, tetapi juga terburainya propaganda daripada MCA terhadap PAS.

Kewujudan MCA semakin hilang relevannya, malah kehadirannya kadang-kala mencungkil rasa "jijik" dari komuniti Cina sendiri, misalnya Timbalan Ketua Pemuda MCA, Mah Han Soon yang terlibat dalam rampasan kuasa kerajaan Negeri Perak. Mah Han Soon menjadi sasaran kedua yang dipersalahkan masyarakat Cina selepas Hee Yit Foong, bekas ADUN DAP yang melompat parti.

Chua dakwa Ong panggilnya "anjing"

Pergelutan MCA berlanjutan setelah "dinasti Ong Ka Ting" menutup kedai, apabila Presiden barunya, Ong Tee Keat berbalah dengan timbalannya, Chua Soi Lek. Dalam detik saat MCA meronta-ronta untuk memberi nafas baru kepada parti yang hampir lemas itu, letupan diledakkan Ong sendiri dengan memecat Chua dari partinya.

Namun, apa pula alasan sebenarnya pemecatan ini? Dalam persepsi kebanyakan orang, Chua dipecat hanya kerana terlibat dalam skandal seks yang terdedah pada akhir tahun 2007. Tetapi, Chua adalah Timbalan Presiden yang dipilih oleh 1,115 orang perwakilan, selepas mengetahui keterlibatan Chua dalam skandal tersebut.

Tohmahan dilemparkan secara liar sebermulanya perbalahan ini. Chua digelar sebagai "doktor oral seks" dalam laman web yang dilihat pro-Ong, malah semalam Chua mendakwa bahawa Ong memanggil dirinya "anjing" di depan perwakilan MCA. Ong pula tidak terlepas dari cemuhan, dikaitkan dengan skandal yang bukan sahaja melibatkan wang, tetapi juga seks.

Gagal menggarap imaginasi bukan-Cina

Jadi, laporan ntv7 semalam mungkin tepat, apabila rakyat biasa semakin muak dengan kemelut parti ini. Secara terus-terang mereka mengaku bahawa pergelutan ini tidak kena-mengena dengan kepentingan diri mereka, memandangkan masalah yang paling mendesak sekarang ialah krisis ekonomi, dibebankan pula dengan kenaikan harga minyak baru-baru ini.

Jikalau masyarakat Cina turut muak dengan MCA, apa pula masyarakat bukan Cina?

Daripada reaksi pemimpin parti komponen BN, misalnya UMNO, nyata MCA hanya penting untuk menjaga kepentingan BN. Sekiranya dihalusi hujah mereka, tiada penyelesaian yang disyorkan, cuma berharap "diselesaikan secepat mungkin agar tidak menjejaskan BN".

Dengan kata lain, MCA hanya penting untuk mereka yang mengambil berat kepentingan BN, tanpa mengambil kira siapa yang dinobatkan atau siapa yang digulingkan. MCA begitu "asing" untuk mereka kerana kejatuhan Ong mahupun Chua tidak memberi apa-apa makna untuk kebanyakan bukan Cina.

Senario sedemikian merupakan krisis yang lebih besar untuk MCA, kerana tiada pemimpin dari kalangan MCA yang mampu menggarap imaginasi bukan Cina. Tiada pemimpin MCA yang betul-betul diterima semua kaum, dan diiktiraf sebagai pemimpin rakyat Malaysia.

Berbanding dengan pemimpin kaum Cina dalam PR, misalnya, imej Tian Chua sebagai pejuang reformasi terpahat dalam ingatan masyarakat Melayu sejak tahun 1998 lagi. Malah, Lim Guan Eng antara pemimpin DAP yang paling disenangi masyarakat Melayu setelah beliau dipenjara kerana "membantu" seorang anak gadis Melayu bawah umur 15 tahun.

Bukan itu sahaja, lapisan pemimpin muda berkaum Cina PR semakin menonjol selepas PRU ke-12, antaranya speaker DUN Selangor Teng Chang Khim yang berjaya memartabatkan DUN dan mereformasikan sistem legislatif. 【Reformasi Sistem Legislatif】

Relevan MCA terhakis

Lebih-lebih lagi, model politik baru yang dianjurkan PR telah memberi ruang yang secukupnya, bukan hanya untuk memperjuangkan kepentingan orang Cina, tetapi penggubalan dasar yang mengambil kira semua kaum, dan pemantapan sistem demokrasi. Justeru itu, kepercayaan terbina bukan sahaja antara pemimpin dalam PR, malah antara rakyat dengan pemimpin.

Memandangkan kelebihan sedemikian yang dikongsi bersama PR, MCA semakin tidak relevan bukan sahaja kepada komuniti Cina khususnya, malah masyarakat Malaysia pada keseluruhannya. Ong Tee Keat mungkin terkenal dengan ketegasannya dalam siasatan skandal Zon Bebas Pelabuhan Klang (PKFZ), namun apakah pemimpin seperti Liow Tiong Lai, Kong Cho Ha, Ng Yen Yen, Wee Ka Siong dan lain-lain tertonjol sebagai pemimpin Malaysia?

Maka pergelutan ini memperlihatkan bagaimana gelanggang politik MCA semakin mengecut, berbanding dengan parti komponen dalam PR yang semakin berkembang luas. Pengecutan gelanggang politik ini masih tidak disedari sesetengah pemimpin MCA, dan apabila dicelarukan pula dengan pergelutan kuasa yang bersinambungan, maka kita dapat menjangkakan penonton akan beredar, sebelum pentas dipenuhi dengan sampah-sarap yang bertaburan.

*Lim Hong Siang ialah Editor MerdekaReview, edisi Bahasa Melayu.

Kit Siang wants former ministers probed over PKFZ

By Leslie Lau

Consultant Editor

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 6 — The DAP’s Lim Kit Siang urged the government today to investigate Cabinet-level abuses of power in relation to the RM12.5 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ).

Calling it the mother of all scandals, he expressed concern that a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) probe appeared to be leaning towards putting the blame for cost overruns on poor management, with former Port Klang Authority chairman Datin Paduka OC Phang being singled out.

“It (PAC) is not prepared to probe to a higher level to ascertain the extent of ministerial or Cabinet responsibility,” he said in a statement today.

The current Cabinet, he said, should establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry to conduct a “no-holds barred” probe into the scandal.

“This is to unearth all the abuses of power and criminal breach of trust even at ministerial level, right from the beginning of the project.”

Lim’s remarks come as the PKFZ project has taken centre stage in the ongoing factional fighting within MCA.

MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, who is also transport minister, has been facing accusations levelled at him by the PKFZ contractor Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB) after the company was blamed for the cost overruns by a special task force.

KDSB boss Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, who is also BN backbenchers’ club chairman, has alleged Ong took RM10 million in cash from him, which Ong has disputed but the allegation is being used against him in his party battle with rival Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

Kit Siang has called for the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry to probe the PKFZ scandal. — Picture by Choo Choy May

While KDSB was under probe, Ong also took free rides on the company’s private jets, suggesting he had cozy ties with the company that was facing a probe from his ministry.

But Ong is now trying to portray himself as a man who is determined to expose all wrongdoings in the PKFZ project.

Lim appeared to suggest today, however, that Ong should push harder to investigate the previous Cabinets and his predecessors in the Transport Ministry.

A previous BN Cabinet, Lim said, had taken the decision in July 2007 on a RM4.6 billion bail-out of PKFZ by giving retrospective approval for the four illegal Letters of Support issued by the two former Transport Ministers, Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy.

“What is needed is a no-holds-barred inquiry into the RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal to unearth all the abuses of power and criminal breach of trust not just at the PKA and PKFZ levels, but all the way to ministerial and Cabinet stages right from the beginning of the sorry saga of the PKFZ scandal a decade ago when the PKFZ proposal was first mooted with Liong Sik as the Transport Minister under the premiership of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad,” Lim said.

Ong briefed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak last week on the PKFZ probe. During the same meeting it was also announced that KDSB’s bank accounts had been frozen.

Najib said the Cabinet would discuss the PKFZ scandal this Wednesday and decide on the next course of action.

Jui Meng finds things very different in opposition

IPOH, Sept 6 — After decades of politics MCA-style, the experience of just over a month of fiery Opposition politics has been nothing short of a major culture shock for former party stalwart Datuk Chua Jui Meng.

For once, he is finding his oratory skills can be put to good use and people actually listen to him in rapt attention during ceramahs.

Those who turn up also do not seem to expect free handouts like transportation, food, money or goodie bags.

In fact, many appear willing to travel some distance to attend such rallies.

This was evident during the ceramah at the Tow Boo Keong hall here on Saturday night where more than 1,000 supporters gathered to listen to a star-studded line-up of speakers, which included Chua himself, Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, PKR vice-president R. Sivarasa and Parti Keadilan Rakyat strategic director Tian Chua.

In his speech, Chua, who not too long ago had adamantly said he would never leave the MCA for PKR, said such a sight was enough to convince him he had indeed made the right move to leave.

“I woke up on Merdeka morning and told my wife who was lying down beside me — I feel good and so young today — and I knew what made me feel that way.

“When I joined the PKR, it was after a long struggle for me. It was not easy to leave and join a new pathway.

“But after that decision, I suddenly began to feel…like how you felt when you voted for the Opposition… I felt free,” he said, to thunderous applause.

The former MCA man claimed he had never before experienced such “heart-warming” and overwhelming response for any political function in his political career until the day he joined PKR.

“I was in Permatang Pasir, helping with the by-elections and it was so amazing, so overwhelming to see the crowd come together.

“It is so heart-warming to see people of different races actually sitting together and working together and getting along — and they all want change,” he said in a press conference after the function.

His eyes lit up when reporters asked if he would be instrumental in the coming by-election for the Bagan Pinang state seat in Negeri Sembilan.

“Yes, yes, I will be there to contribute. Definitely,” he firmly said.

In fact, Chua is also confident that more would follow in his footsteps and leave the MCA to join a Pakatan Rakyat component party.

During the function earlier, a total of 600 applications for PKR memberships, signed by Barisan Nasional members, were handed over to Anwar.

Of the lot, at least 400 were from MCA, and officials claimed they comprised a former elected representative, a former division deputy chairman, scores of central delegates, divisional party post holders and members.

“It is no surprise that so many would join us from MCA. We expect that this wave is only just the beginning,” said Chua.

He added that the crossovers only mirrored the fact the party members were finally waking up to see that MCA was only a space-filler in the Barisan Nasional structure.

“We are only there to say yes and to take up some spots in the Cabinet and in the Government.

“MCA does not rule the nation. In the end, it is Umno that leads Malaysia, under the name of the BN,” he said.

Chua said that MCA could probably stand a better chance of survival if it abandoned the coalition and stood on its own.

During the function, Umno strongman Datuk Dr Abdul Malek Md Hanafiah, who is a former Perak state executive councillor, former Kamunting assemblyman and former Taiping Umno division chairman, was also seen confidently strolling into the temple hall shortly after Anwar’s arrival, to loud applause from the people.

Anwar however said that Abdul Malek was “yet to make any crossover announcement.”-MalaysianInsider