NFC whistleblower hands evidence to MACC

Businessman Shamsubahrin Ismail says the evidence will prove that NFC Corp chairman Mohamad Salleh had asked him to bribe the police.

PUTRAJAYA: Businessman Shamsubahrin Ismail handed over evidence that allegedly proves that National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp) chairman Mohamad Salleh Ismail asked him to bribe the police to “close” the controversial National Feedlot Centre case.

He arrived at the Putrajaya Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters around 12.15pm accompanied by four lawyers, including PKR vice-president N Surendran and PKR legal bureau head Latheefa Koya.

He came out at around 3.10pm and spoke to reporters. He had handed over to MACC a handphone, some documents including transcripts of SMSes and had a brief statement recorded as well.

“The reason I came to MACC is just to hand over the evidence of what transpired between me and Mohamad Salleh. The evidence will show that I have not cheated him. So now I will leave it to MACC to do a fair and good investigation,” Shamsubahrin, sporting a shaved head, said.

“I am innocent. If not, I will not reveal all the evidence (today),” he added.

Asked if he could reveal more details of what happened, such as whether money was actually handed to the police, Shamsubahrin replied:”I think you wait for MACC’s investigation. I don’t want to say things here while they work on the case.”

Meanwhile, Surendran said that the evidence surrendered today was “clear and solid proof of attempts to bribe the police” and supported his client’s earlier police report made in Klang.

Surendran said the case, which he considered as an attempt to give gratification, should be swiftly acted upon, and MACC should not drag its feet.

“They actually had the phone with them previously. Why instead of taking action then, the whistleblower, Shamsubahrin was slapped with not one but three charges?

“This shows the continuous abuse of prosecution and enforcement powers in this country. The whistleblower is penalised, the real culprits walk free,” he said.

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NFC whistleblower hands evidence to MACC
March 7, 2012 – FMT

MACC revamp doesn’t need two-thirds parliamentary majority

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 — The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) does not need to win two-thirds control of Parliament to improve the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) as such plans would not necessarily be opposed by Pakatan Rakyat (PR), say its lawmakers.

Opposition lawmakers told The Malaysian Insider that any steps to improve the efficiency and accountability of the anti-graft body should be welcomed, and that they will be open to debating the matter in Parliament at its next sitting.

Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee said there should be no reason why MPs “across the floor” would not vote in favour of amendments to the Federal Constitution if it was done in the interest of the nation.

They were responding to Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who pledged yesterday to give more freedom to the MACC in the appointment of its officers if BN wins two-thirds control of Parliament in the next general election.

Liew said there was no question of needing a two-thirds majority.
DAP international secretary Liew Chin Tong rubbished the prime minister’s remarks, saying that there should be a proper level of consultation with opposition lawmakers on the matter.

“This is nonsense. In principle we agree on empowering the MACC for the betterment of the public. There is no question on needing a two-thirds majority.

“In principle we agree, and think that the MACC should be placed under the jurisdiction of Parliament, and not the Prime Minister’s Office,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

The Bukit Bendera MP said that in any mature democracy where laws are made, proper consultation on all levels needs to take place.

He said Najib was presumptuous to think PR lawmakers would not agree to some of the recommendations of the advisory panel.

“The opposition is happy to be consulted,” he added.

PAS central committee member Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa stressed that past amendments to the purpose and function of the MACC had already “empowered” the commission, and that the real problem was ensuring the anti-graft body was free from “political interference.”

“You don’t need two thirds. Issue is not about strengthening, but more of allowing autonomy to MACC to carry out its duties,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

“Pakatan Rakyat has agreed to reform measures for the MACC, based on proposals by the advisory panel,” the PAS leader added.

PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar told The Malaysian Insider that Najib’s remarks were an admission that the MACC did not have enough clout to tackle corruption in the country.

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MACC revamp doesn’t need two-thirds parliamentary majority, says Pakatan, Bar chief
February 28, 2012 – TMI

More bite for MACC, only if BN gets two-thirds?!

Is it a bribe, threat or extortion? It is outrageous for the PM to make such an idiotic statement saying that he would give more bite to the MACC only if BN gets two thirds majority in the next general elections.

As one online reader puts it, “Well, wouldn’t it be easier for us to vote Pakatan into power and push them to reform, not just the MACC but also police, judiciary, Attorney-General’s Chambers, Election Commission and many others.”

Other comments are more blunt:

“His latest public statement must go into the annals of the nation for its sheer defiance of logic and intelligence.”

“The chances of MACC being given more bite is zero as long as BN is in power.”

“To ask for more power as a precondition to fight corruption is ridiculous, more so for the government of the day. Najib is indirectly admitting incompetence or/and lack of political will to fight corruption. Malaysians should know what to do with Umno-BN.”

The following are some of the comments by indignant Malaysians.

Reforming MACC: Tickled by PM’s two-thirds poser

Aliran is tickled by the Prime Minister’s so-called pledge that he would give more bite to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) if voters hand the Barisan Nasional its coveted two-thirds parliamentary majority in the coming general election.

We’re bemused because the federal government does not need a two thirds majority to give teeth to the MACC as it does not require a constitutional amendment. What it does need, though, is political will and commitment from the federal government to ensure that the MACC is fully and fiercely independent.

A truly independent anti-corruption watchdog would not only catch ‘ikan bilis’ but also the elusive ‘sharks’, many of whom have connections with people in high places. This also means that the MACC would be empowered to catch people at, for instance, ministerial level, if need be, without fear or favour.

Additionally, the “pledge” appears to be a thinly veiled threat to voters, thereby making it sound more like a bargaining chip.

Anyway, even if the BN proposal to make the MACC truly independent requires that the existing law pertaining to the MACC be amended, we are confident that Pakatan Rakyat parliamentarians, who have been clamouring for an independent watchdog all along, would fully support the amendment.

Indeed, the rakyat as a whole would give their wholehearted support to this noble endeavour to put a stop to taxpayers’ money being abused by certain individuals.

We therefore call upon the Prime Minister to take immediate steps to unleash the MACC before the next general election.

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Reforming MACC: Tickled by PM’s two-thirds poser
By Aliran, on 28 February 2012

Let me tell you why some BN leaders fear to declare their assets

In the last few weeks, I have openly condemned the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency’s (MACC) inaction over the NFC Scandal and the blazen shameless admission of acceptance of gratification by Awang Adek. Since then, Malaysians have witnessed another “rejected” Minister, Azalina Othman Said, making a similar admission.

It seems that instead of being embarrassed, apologetic and standing down from public office, these shameless BN ministers are being emboldened to use the propaganda tools of their party and the mainstream media to make their misconducts look innocent. Like most Malaysians, I am appalled and find this most repulsive.

An echo in the PM’s Department

My call for Shahrizat Jalil and Awang Adek to resign from all posts in the party and the government is exactly to prevent what is happening now. I knew they would use all their resources to spin fabulous stories of how they have been victimized and how the whole fiasco is a misunderstanding.

You can clearly see that happening when Perkasa’s Ibrahim Ali comes to Shahrizat’s defence and tries to make the Auditor-General a political scapegoat. You then see the jantan or macho minister in the PM’s office, Nazri Aziz, explaining why there cannot be a public declaration of assets by those holding high public office.

To make it appear that the Chinese community also share this “aspiration” for secrecy, Nazri’s deputy, VK Liew, echoes his boss’s sentiments by saying that that it is inappropriate for the MACC to keep records of properties of ministers and deputy ministers.

That to me amounts to abusing the 1Malysia concept to cover up for wrong doings by government leaders. That is against the Islamic principles of “Amr Ma’aruf Nahy Mungkar” i.e. encourage righteousness and discourage evil. That it is done by the highest echelons of our government leaders is public display of arrogance of the highest order.

VK Liew, please break wind in your own home!

Let us remind ourselves that Teoh Beng Hock died over allegations of a mere RM 2,400-00. Ahmad Sarbaini died because of similar minor allegations which until today have just gone silent. Yet, when the riches of the powerful are involved, the MACC either drag its feet or behave like eunuchs emasculated of all their powers. I ask the MACC – why the discrimination?

But I cannot stomach it if so called Chinese leaders like VK Liew speaks with a forked tongue just to please his political masters. Let me say this to VK Liew – “IF YOU HAVE TO FART, PLEASE DO IT IN THE COMFORT AND PRIVACY OF YOUR HOME. IF YOU HAVE MUCH TO HIDE, THEN QUIT”

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Let me tell you why some BN leaders fear to declare their assets – Robert Phang
Written by Robert Phang
31 January 2012 – MC

Could the PM please tell us when the Beng Hock case will be given due attention?

Press Statement by Teoh Lee Lan

(The Sister of The Late Teoh Beng Hock)

18-1-2012

It’s already 2012, could the PM please tell us when the Beng Hock case will be given due attention?

We, the family of Teoh Beng Hock, will be in Putrajaya at 9 a.m., 2 February 2012 for a Court of Appeal decision on the Teoh Beng Hock case judicial review.

In 2012 we are about to usher in the third Chinese New Year without Beng Hock and with the truth nowhere in sight.

We should like to ask: What actually happened on 16 July 2009 at the scene of Beng Hock’s death? Why have the various doubts we raised gone unanswered? For the past few years, we have asked such questions not once, not twice, but more than a thousand times at the courts, in the media, and at various forums, but every time silence was the answer. At this festival, when families are supposed to have reunions and everyone get together for celebration, we still have to be faced with these questions that frustrated us for thousands of times. The heavy clouds of doubt and specious “presuppositional” answers did not in any way help to give a true picture of what happened on the day of the incident except for throwing the truth into an even more dubious haze. Some would say, hasn’t a coroner’s court examined the case? Wasn’t a Royal Commission of Inquiry already set up? Hasn’t a report come out? It is true that all this the government has done. But do we have any idea who the people most responsible are? Have we heard any agency publicly give any hint of regret? Have we seen the suspects investigated? Have our doubts and suspicions been cleared up? Has the truth come to our knowledge?

Others would say, we should leave our grief behind and move on. In the face of an unconvincing criminal judicial system that has disappointed over and over again, however, we cannot but remind and question over and over again: “Where is the truth that we want?”

We still remember the waves of questioning voices that surged among the common people when the Royal Commission of Inquiry report came out. From that we have no problem discerning that Beng Hock actually carries the expectations of so many members of the public for the truth. Such expectations illustrate the concern of all for a society free from torture and violence in law enforcement as much as it does the importance of the truth. If the truth is regarded as unimportant, violence that escaped condemnation and punishment under the law may come back at any time to haunt all of us and the defence of other social values will all the more be out of the question.

The only thing we are asking for is to at least know the truth and have those responsible held responsible. Without this, can an ambiguous answer really comfort our hearts as the victim’s family? Can it really lay to rest the soul of a victim whose life was prematurely ended at the tender age of 30?

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Could the PM please tell us when the Beng Hock case will be given due attention?
January 18th, 2012 – teohbenghock.org

Whistleblower names ex-minister in graft scandal

Blogger TheWhistleblower711 this time names a former cabinet minister, who is a sitting MP, of having allegedly received RM300,000 from a contractor.

PETALING JAYA: A former minister has been accused of receiving money from a Johor businessman in the latest allegation by blogger TheWhistleblower711. The blogger recently caused a stir by implicating two aides of the country’s top leaders and a deputy minister of graft.

In this latest exposé, TheWhistleblower711, the pseudonym of the anonymous writer, posted that the former minister, a female member of parliament from Umno, had allegedly received RM300,000 from the same businessman who had channeled thousands in monthly contributions to the other three government officials.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commision (MACC) has previously named the businessman as Advance Maintenance Precision Management Sdn Bhd and Gerbang Perdana managing director Yahya Abd Jalil in their investigations in the earlier accusations.

A copy of what appears to be a cheque amounting RM300,000, dated April 7, 2011, addressed to the former minister was published in the blog. This was “proof” of the blogger’s claim.

“The mode of the transaction is pretty straight forward. Perhaps it is meant for social programs in the MP’s constituency. Who knows for sure except for the giver and the receiver,” said TheWhistleblower711.

TheWhistleblower711 asked that the former minister to explain herself and urged the MACC look into this accusation as well.

TheWhistleblower711 also urged people reading his writings to “stop and think” to put an end to all corruption by exposing corrupt practices.

Stressing that it was immaterial if his blog was “politcally motivated” or aligned to any political parties, TheWhistleblower711 said facts remain facts.

Advising others to be whistleblowers too, the blogger said:“Gather evidence as my sources and informers has. Be vigilant. Be safe. Disregard any political motive and alignment, as corruption does not knows any political ideology. Let us all work together with the authorities and should the authorities failed, then there is always another way, expose it publicly.”

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Whistleblower names ex-minister in graft scandal
January 11, 2012 – FMT

Should NFC chairman be charged for attempted bribery?

PKR claims that NFC chairman Mohamad Salleh Ismail was aware of the attempts to bribe MACC and police investigators to halt probe into the NFC.

PETALING JAYA: PKR wants the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) to charge National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) chairman Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail for attempting to bribe those investigating NFC.

Last Friday, businessman Shamsubahrin Ismail, 45, claimed trial at the Sessions Court to the charge of cheating Mohamad Salleh of RM1.755million over the failed promise to provide “negotiation and consultation service”.

While the charge did not actually specify what the “service” was, PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli today claimed that he has information that this was clearly an attempt by the NFC supremo to bribe and influence the MACC and police investigators .

Mohamad Salleh is the husband of Women, Family and Community Development minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

“PKR is disappointed with the authorities as it is obvious that they are still protecting Shahrizat and Salleh when he is clearly involved in corruption in trying to cover up the bigger corruption of the NFC,” said Rafizi at a press conference at the PKR headquarters here.

“The real case is that Salleh tried to bribe investigators, but it was a middleman who had become the fall guy,” said Rafizi.

“This is an insult, a mockery, to our intelligence. Not only he and his family have defrauded taxpayers’ money, despite all the limelight, he still had the audacity to attempt to bribe the authorities, this is ridiculous. And the authorities are trying to deflect the blame onto Shamsubahrin. I’m wondering if this is just a public relations exercise,” he said.

Rafizi said based on information from reliable sources, Mohamad Salleh had intended to pay investigators through Shamsubahrin, whose “job” was to hand over the bribe to investigators.

“What happened was, two, three weeks ago, comes a person who sat down with the NFC chairman and worked out this plan to camouflage this as a consultancy course and pass the money to investigators. Shamsubahrin had actually approached investigators and the police was honest enough to arrest him,” he said.

Rafizi said based on the information from a police report lodged against Shamsubahrin, PKR also found that Mohamad Salleh himself had prepared the cheque and signed it.

“He had the intention to bribe the police and he was working together with Shamsubahrin, who apparently told him that he knew some of the investigators. The parties to benefit from this bribe was NFC and himself, because the RM1.755 million was to influence the investigation of MACC and police,” said Rafizi.

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PKR: NFC head attempted to avert probe
January 4, 2012 – FMT

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

1. In the past few weeks, the MACC has been very prolific. Many advertorials have been published in the main stream newspapers of the MACC’s achievements in eradicating corruption. The conviction of former Selangor MB Dato Seri Khir Toyo to 1 year imprisonment seems to boost the MACC’s image.

2. The MACC blazed the trail again when on the 21st December 2011, the MACC announced the arrest of five (5) civil servants for bribery in separate places in Kedah. On Tuesday 27th December 2011, the husband of the ex-CEO of the Iskandar Investment Board (IIB), Mohd Amin Suhaimi, was charged in Johor Bharu for corruption. It seems strange that the ex-CEO herself was not charged. Then on Wednesday 29th December, a former IIB senior V-P, Rostam Razali, was fined RM20,000 after he pleaded guilty for abuse of power in disclosing confidential tender price information.

3. Meanwhile in KL, the Permanent Chairman of Malaysian Muslim Welfare Organisation (Perkim) Selangor branch who was also the former International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Deputy Rector, Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Ariffin Suhaimi, was charged with two other Perkim members, Dato’ Baharin Baba, 58, and Abas Adam, 60 for Criminal Breach of Trust (CBT) by the MACC. The offence was alleged to have happened in the early 2000s.

4. While all these seem to show that the MACC would have the stamina and resolve to dig at old records to uncover corruption, abuse of power and CBT, the public has not forgotten the persecution of Dato’ Ramli Yusuff, the former Director CCID, and his lawyer, Rosli Dahlan. The public considers this as a fix-up job by former IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan and A-G Gani Patail achieved with the collusions of the MACC. Musa Hassan was exposed as an incredible witness which is a legal euphemism for calling him a liar. Because of that, the public considers the MACC as a tool of oppression that would do the biddings of A–G Gani Patail and their political masters.

5. Thus, some skeptics say that these recent events are merely to allow the MACC to end 2011 on a high note. It is as if the MACC is trying to erase all the bad publicity for causing the deaths of Teoh Beng Hock and customs officer Ahmad Sarbaini while in the MACC’s custody. The outcome of the Royal Commission of Inquiry and the Inquest have not satisfied the public’s thirst for the truth and justice. Rightly or wrongly, that is the public perception. And perception counts if the government of PM Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak is to lead BN to a successful GE 13.

6. In that regard, I feel compelled to raise the two blatant cases involving YB Senator Dato’ Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Minister for Women and Family Development, in the NFC episode and YB Senator Datuk Dr. Awang Adek Hussein, Deputy Minister of Finance, for admitting he received cash into his private accounts but justified it as for political donations towards social program.

7. Like the rest of the Rakyat, I am astounded and appalled by the reasons put up by both these two politicians who were rejected by the Rakyat in GE 12 and had to be smuggled into the Cabinet by back door appointments through the Dewan Negara. Their mere presence as Ministers in the Government betrays everything that PM Najib has been saying about winnable candidates. These two were rejected by the Rakyat in GE12 and their involvement in these two scandals will certainly not endear them any closer to the electorates in GE 13.

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ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
Robert Phang
31 December 2011 – MT

MACC urged to fully probe Alstom allegations

Transparency International today called for a thorough probe by Malaysian authorities into alleged bribery by French industrial group Alstom, in a scandal involving several countries.

Malaysian media had reported yesterday that anti-corruption officials last week “visited” the office of a power firm amid allegations a former official took kickbacks from Alstom related to a power project in the 1990s.

Several executives at Teknologi Tenaga Perlis Consortium (TTPC) also had been questioned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), The Star newspaper said.

“Transparency International Malaysia calls upon the MACC to leave no stone unturned in the investigations on Alstom’s business dealings in Malaysia,” a statement by the anti-corruption group said.

The Swiss attorney general’s office last month ordered Alstom to pay 31 million euros (RM130 million) in fines over the scandal, in which Alstom is alleged to have offered bribes and kickbacks in Malaysia, Latvia and Tunisia.

The bribes were offered to middlemen and officials with the aim of securing government contracts to build power plants.

The Malaysian investigation of TTPC was triggered by the Swiss attorney general’s actions, The Star said, quoting an unnamed source.

It said Abdul Hamid Pawanteh, the former Perlis menteri besar and a former top official with TTPC, allegedly took 7.5 million Swiss Francs (RM25.5 million) to help Alstom secure a contract for a power plant project in Perlis in the 1990s.

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MACC urged to fully probe Alstom allegations
Dec 7, 2011 – Malaysiakini