Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA): Revisit this case against Rafidah Aziz
| posted by din merican–november 20, 2008
www.malaysiakini.com Rafidah’s AP past revisited |
| Rahmah Ghazali | November 19, 2008 |
| PKR vice-president Azmin Ali (Gombak) accused former minister for international trade and industry (Miti) Rafidah Aziz (Umno-Kuala Kangsar) of giving Approved Permits (AP) to family members even after it was explicitly forbidden.
However APs were approved for Autostadt Asia Sdn Bhd – sole importers of Volkswagen to Malaysia. “And the Autostadt shareholders are Zulkifli Ishak and his wife Annie Tajol Arus, who is the niece to the former minister of Miti,” said Azmin. He also alleged that the same company was also given franchise APs for Kleemann cars under the name of Emiritus Equities Sdn Bhd before the business came to a halt in 2006. Azmin added that Autostadt failed to set-up showrooms as required by the permit. “But until now, there is no showroom but only car-dealers,” claimed Azmin. He then shifted his focus to Amira Venture Sdn Bhd, a car company awarded with 150 APs in 2007 and 225 APs in 2008 – who also failed to have showrooms. “And the company also has a family relation with the former minister,” he added. According to business newspaper The Edge Daily’s report in 2006, Autostadt’s Volkswagen business made-up for the loses in importing Kleeman tuned up Mercedes Benz cars via Emeritus Equities Sdn Bhd. But their businesses ceases after the government decided to stop the APs for tuned-up cars effective that year.
Presently there are much speculation on whether she could hold on to her Umno wanita chief post if challenged by her deputy Shahrizat Jalil. Rafidah is currently away in Hong Kong on holiday. ‘Why only 77 companies?’ Azmin also questioned the government awarding the 45,000 open APs to only 77 companies between 2004 and 2006, alleging they were only given to “certain individuals”.
“If multiplied by RM50,000 for each AP sold, every company would receive a cashback of RM300 million without any risks,” he added. The problem he said with the problem was that it was not given out equally. “For example, Naza Konsortium Sdn Bhd received 8481 open APs in three years. Multiply that by 50,000 and they would have received a cash profit of RM424 million without any risks,” said Azmin. He further suggested the government should review its policy in order to be transparent and fair when it comes to issuing open and franchise APs. “I believe for the past years, there has been billion of ringgit obtained especially by these companies who are related to ministers. This should be stopped and replaced it with a new policy,” stressed Azmin. |
The committee set to deal with APs – chaired by Miti secretary-general Sidek Hassan – ruled against giving out franchise APs for 2005.
Rafidah held the Miti portfolio between 1986 till early this year, and earned the moniker ‘Iron Lady’ for her strong and aggressive leadership of the minisrty. Towards the end of her tenure even former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad 
“Now the question is, why only 77? If the APs were given equally to these 77 companies, one company would receive 600 APs.
Some years earlier in the 90s, FEER published a report about her role in the award of shares to her son-in-law when she was Minister with MITI. She doesn’t have to be a lawyer to know that her presence at any meeting convened to award shares to individuals which include relatives or parties known to her personally would put her in a breach of trust situation. That case involved her son-in-law. Supporters who say that there is no undue influence, that their decision would go the same way with or without her presence, are missing the point.
The point is this fat lady is corrupt to the core! I heared too many stories over the years to ignore. A friend told me his uncle sent her diamond necklaces which were not returned to sender!
Mr Bean - November 20, 2008 at 11:30 am
ooops heard
Mr Bean - November 20, 2008 at 11:32 am
She has come a long way from being a tutor at UM in the late 60s with an address at Old PJ Jln. Aman, a single storey two bedroom house which she shared with her parents to a bungalow at Bukit Damansara – and more.
Mr Bean - November 20, 2008 at 11:38 am
Bro Din,
Simple Math would send these rougues to jail with so very questionable governance. Ask how they not be bloody filthy rich with easy money under the pretext of NEP’s AP to help the Malays. Have the Malays being helped with such high stakes of moneies going to these bunch of crooks for so long?
And with these AP(Abused Permits) that were(are) not fairly allocated to all importers, only to selected ones, they can continue to give kickbacks to those in authority in order to have questionable quota of AP to themselves.
How they(APs) would have benefitted the Malay and all Malaysian if they had been properly spread and managed after which they should have be discontinued after the last two years of billion raking for the nation, unfortunately it went into these few.
By now we should be openning up. ceaase APs and allow the Rakyat to enjoy the benefit of quality cars and proton can marry off with a good match to emerge for international market instead of protecting the domestic for less factual reason.
Why Malaysia is still stuck in the same spot for the last 10 years after we were so proud to declare her own car? Just what car are they assembled from? Look at our Thai counterpart, the detroit of the east! Malaysia seriously need to undo all these in order to cure herself!
panca - November 20, 2008 at 1:58 pm
How many rural schools can you build or maintain with that? How many double sessions school classes can you reduce? How many mollars can Health Ministry save with those dollars?
Salak - November 20, 2008 at 2:25 pm
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/93435
Sabah politicians see red on green ICs
Joe Fernandez | Nov 20, 08 2:04pm
Politicians in Sabah across both sides of the divide are extremely unhappy with the Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar’s ad hoc approach to documentation in the state – especially in light of the green identity card (IC) furore.
Syed Hamid acted ultra vires
‘Are employers legitimate?’
This is PROJECT UMNO to unseat the CHANGE we are all fighting for, to draw in phantom voters?!
Si Botak must be put in ISA to endanger MALAYSIA!
panca - November 20, 2008 at 3:28 pm
this was sent to me by my sister in UK. watch out for the part on election and politics. are we the same as the italians?
The Europeans & Italians
http://www.infonegocio.com/xeron/bruno/italy.html
asiseesit - November 20, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Fellas, the good news is that she is on the way out, if Shahrizat wins in March, 2009, and in good time too. But unfortunately that won’t stop people like Shahrizat—now it is her turn to rake in loads of money— and others in UMNO from pillaging our country. That is the sad truth.
All systems of checks and balances have broken down, rules and procedures are cast aside and ministers and officials are doing things with impunity.And the ACA, that toothless agency, is just unable to act against them. Power corrupts and without controls, it does so absolutely. —Din Merican
dinobeano - November 20, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Yeah, what we are seeing is the game of musical chair. The music is the same.
Mr Bean - November 20, 2008 at 8:25 pm
” what we are seeing is the game of musical chair. The music is the same.” Mr. Bean.
The music is the same; but Shahrizat will also walking in with her husband, a known figure for additional commission.Hooray..happy Tango anak mami….oooop expired anak mami.
Tean - November 21, 2008 at 4:07 am
what would a girl ask for if not for a diamond necklace, diamond necklaces would always impress a girl.-~
Computer Fan : - October 28, 2010 at 9:48 am