The Age-Haris Hussein Onn spat continues
June 10, 2011
The Age-Haris Hussein Onn spat continues
In posting an earlier Baker-Mckenzie article on the controversy surrounding Securency, and trying to give Haris Hussein Onn space to present his views, I have been criticised by some of my blogger friends and readers of Malaysia Chroncile and The Malaysian Insider; my friends in particular have accused me of turning around 360 degrees,– and that hurts–that is, I have moved from being a critic of the Malaysian Government to being, for want of a better word, an apologist.
There is nothing further from the truth than this. I remain critical of policies and actions that I deem detrimental to our interest as citizens. Politicians on both sides will continue to receive my criticisms and praises in equal measure for the things they do. I am on nobody’s payroll.
Yesterday (June 8), both Liberal Technology directors and Haris Hussein Onn have written to The Age, a respected newspaper in Australia, clarifying Haris’ relationship to Securency, a company which is under investigation by the Australian authorities.
The directors have said that Haris has no interest in Liberal Technology, is no longer a director (since 2006), and has no dealings or contacts with Securency. Haris himself has said so in writing to the Editor of The Age. This is a fact. Other matters raised in Baker-Mckenzie article are extraneous to this core issue of the business ethics of Securency.
In stead of admitting that they have not done their due diligence to establish beyond any reasonable doubt about the relationship between Haris Hussein Onn, Liberal Technology and Securency, Messrs Baker and Mckenzie have written another article (dated June 9, below), which seeks to further validate their original article.
I find this disappointing as I had expected The Age to express regret and publish Haris Hussein
Onn’s communication with the Editor in its entirety. And that would have set the record straight and ended the matter. But not so, I afraid. It now leads me to wonder whether that there is a bigger agenda that the Australians are pursuing, and that Haris Hussein Onn is just a convenient target since his brother is Malaysian Home Affairs Minister.
I leave that to my readers and blogger friends to consider. But I hope Haris can be spared the agony of being dragged into a controversy which he never sought in the first place. To The Age, I say please do the right thing. –Din Merican
http://www.theage.com.au
Minister’s brother denies Securency link
Richard Baker and Nick McKenzie
June 9, 2011 – 8:58PM
THE brother of Malaysia’s Home Affairs Minister yesterday said he was not a shareholder of Kuala Lumpur company when it was hired two years ago Reserve Bank of Australia firm Securency.
Businessman Haris Onn Hussein said he sold his shares in Liberal Technology in September 2006 and had no dealings with Securency, which engaged the Malaysian firm as its agent in 2009.
However, Liberal Technology’s official records with Companies Commission of Malaysia had, until yesterday, listed Haris Onn Hussein as owning 180,000 shares.
“I had never dealt with and/or been engaged by Securency, at any time whatsoever, to influence… ‘Malaysia’s top politicians’,” Haris Onn Hussein wrote in a statement to The Age.
Haris Onn Hussein is the brother of Malaysia’s Home Affairs Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and the cousin of Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak.
Liberal Technology sent a document to The Age which it said showed Haris Onn Hussein divesting his shares on 4 September 2006.
Liberal Technology directors, Hafizuddin Bin Che Din and Mohamed Hanif Bin Che Din, told The Age that they had just discovered that their company secretary had forgotten for nearly five years to update shareholding records with the Companies Commission of Malaysia.
The Age asked Liberal Technology’s directors to explain their firm’s apparent close connection to another Malaysian company, Lembah Sari, which is largely owned and directed by Haris Onn Hussein.
The close link between Liberal Technology and Lembah Sari was referred to in the annual reports of another major Malaysian company associated with Haris Onn Hussein.
The 2006 and 2007 annual reports of Malaysian company SCOMI Marine, which Haris Onn Hussein was a director of until 2010, included a biography of the businessman.
It stated: “Haris Onn Hussein…(is) the chairman of Lembah Sari Sdn Bhd (formerly known as Liberal Technology Sdn Bhd).”
In 2005/06, Lembah Sari was granted a three-year concession by Malaysia’s finance ministry to sell security labels to tobacco companies to allow their products to be sold legally in Malaysia.
However, 2005 press release by British American Tobacco refers to security checks undertaken in Malaysia to detect illegal cigarettes. That release stated the checks were undertaken by “Royal Malaysian Customs, Liberal Technologies (sic) and Kod Efisien”.
Malaysian government documents from 2007 show the company providing the security labels for cigarettes to be Lembah Sari, suggesting a close link between it and Liberal Technology.
Companies Commission of Malaysia records show Haris Onn Hussein to be a major individual shareholder in Lembah Sari. Another of Lembah Sari’s shareholders is a company called Mellow Melody. Haris Onn Hussein owns 49,999 of Mellow Melody’s 50,000 shares, records show.
Asked about the links between Liberal Technology and Lembah Sari, Liberal Tecnology directors Hafizuddin Bin Che Din and Mohamed Bin Che Din said their company was a ‘‘different legal entity’’.
They were “not able to give any clarification” regarding the statement in the Scomi Marine annual reports that suggested Liberal Technology had become Lembah Sari.
Securency, which is half-owned by the RBA and has sold its polymer banknotes to about 30 countries, is being investigated by the Australian Federal Police and Britain’s Serious Fraud Office for allegedly bribing foreign officials in Malaysia, Nigeria, Vietnam and Indonesia.
Securency won banknote contracts in Malaysia in 2004 and 1998.It has previously hired as agents a former Malaysian politician and branch treasurer of ruling United Malays National Organisation political party, Hasnan Kamaruddin, and former UMNO official and arms broker, Abdul Kayum Syed Ahmad.
Liberal Technology cut ties with Securency on December 31, 2009.
The business dealings of UMNO cronies and family members are murky and clouded with suspicious connections all aimed at putting a smoke to hide their real identities.
There is a need for explanation on why another UMNO-crony run Malaysian company mentioned in its ANNUAL REPORTS ( not some other minor reports) on the following:
“…. The 2006 and 2007 annual reports of Malaysian company SCOMI Marine, which Haris Onn Hussein was a director of until 2010, included a biography of the businessman. It stated: “Haris Onn Hussein…(is) the chairman of Lembah Sari Sdn Bhd (formerly known as Liberal Technology Sdn Bhd).”
A simple explanation by Haris or those in Liberal Technology is NOT good enough to clear the air.
The Age is a respected paper in Australia.It has its own standards of investigative journalism.
I would not cast aspersions at The Age until the whole scandalous saga is cleared.
frank - June 10, 2011 at 5:32 am
Readers cannot be blamed for ‘misunderstanding’ Din.
It would have been wise of Din to stay clear of this issue until the protagonists clear themselves. The scenario is still murky and I reckon alot of evidence is still not available to Din yet.
In fact, I see no reason for Din to post the ‘apologist’ posting in his blog in the first place. He has already cleared Haris of any wrong doing!!! That speaks for itself.
Sam01 - June 10, 2011 at 8:11 am
I think this two Australian “journalists” are asinine . Instead of trying to solve the problem, they created another problem which is not related. Even as a non- journalist I could read between the lines of lies.
eiz_soil - June 10, 2011 at 8:16 am
The Age is playing cross border politics; could it be to pressure the Home Affairs Minister who is expected to be in Australia to cement a deal which the Australians are not happy about. That is a separate matter.Hishammuddin is a politician while his younger brother Haris is a businessman. Their orientation is different. He does his own thing while Haris deals with his business.
The Home Affairs Minister is not very popular because of the way he handles a number of issues like the production and distribution of the Datuk T-video on the so-called sex escapade of the now much discredited Anwar Ibrahim and other matters and because he is an UMNO man. The Minister is expected to come under heavy criticisms in July when Bersih 2.0 supporters converge on Kuala Lumpur, more so if the FRU mishandles the situation. These things have nothing with Haris. It will be up to the voters to decide whether or not they should elect Hishammuddin in GE 13.
Haris should be allowed to get on with his business. Linking him to his brother’s politics is grossly unfair. That is my point of view.
Gobala - June 10, 2011 at 9:22 am
Perception tends to stick. An Umnoputra is an Umnoputra whether he’s in business or in politics. Period.
Tok Cik - June 10, 2011 at 9:29 am
The only way you can have a clear conscience is to have a short memory. Sometimes we are confused about our conscience because we deliberately have a short memory. May be we have forgotten the word ‘proxy’. In Third World countries foreigners cannot invest in retail and food business. How do they overcome this? You get a local partner and give him your 95% share and you hold the monority share of 5%. Then you sign a seperate agreement with the local partner to say that he borrowed money from you and that the money will be repaid when his business is sold.
Anonymous - June 10, 2011 at 10:43 am
Like the Main Stream Media this blog no longer deals with main stream domestic issues.
——-
Tell me what is it in the main stream media that is interesting? Most of you can’t comment on the “thinking issues”. Very few are intelligent enough to discuss anything more than simple stuff. Go to your MSM and you would find what you are looking for— Din Merican.
Anonymous - June 10, 2011 at 10:45 am
Anonymous ,
I agree . This blog is becoming more and more like Datuk zaid Ibrahim , the frogs and the main stream media .
Sad ..
.
——
Don’t waste your time reading my blog or making silly accusations . I am NO Zaid Ibrahim nor RPK— Din Merican
moid - June 10, 2011 at 11:17 am
crux of the matter is that the aussies paid illegal monies to secure the contract. what is the govt and for the matter Bank Negara Malaysia doing? as usual, doing nothing? because of haris and hisha? you see, by doing nothing it gives a picture of a cover-up because BN minister and family are involved though it may not be true. thats the irony at times. innocent individuals get mired in the cesspool because the govt is not being open and going after real corrupt individuals, and in this case the recipient of the corrupt money. who is the beneficiary, BN/BNM?
haris, fret not, your name will be clear f you are not involved. and for merican, you have my support on this. an innocent man must not be solied just because he is the brother of a minister. although Hisham is not someone I like to be acquainted.
mmc - June 10, 2011 at 11:19 am
UMNO politics and UMNO business are murky and I cannot believe that Haris Hussein Onn is above board in trying to use his influence on his brother on this scandalous deals.
Let the issues sort themselves out. To support Haris Hussein Onn or not is TOO EARLY to tell.
At this point, I am on the side of The Age to exposure to the full extent for the truth. If by thrugh media scrutiny ,Haris Hussein Onn is cleared, he is innocent.There is no need for any apology on any side.
It is dumb stupid and infantile by some people on this blog trying to impart motives on The Age for exposing this scandal. So what is The Age decides to take on cross border issues. You think The Age is a parochial kampung newspaper of the like of Utusan Malaysia. Silly!!!
frank - June 10, 2011 at 11:26 am
eiz_soil ,
That is why you are not a journalist.Thank God for that. You have no inkling what journalism is about. Thus your comment is equally asinine.
frank - June 10, 2011 at 11:30 am
The Minister is expected to come under heavy criticisms in July when Bersih 2.0 supporters converge on Kuala Lumpur, more so if the FRU mishandles the situation. These things have nothing with Haris. – Gobala
What a naive analysis. How stupid can you be. Imagine Hishammudin says he does not know what his brother is doing.Don’t that talk.Don’t tell me Haris does not know what he does WILL affect his brother’s politics. Or Hishammudin is unaware of his brother’s business dealings as though the Home Minister is such a dumb fool. Or he is so?
frank - June 10, 2011 at 11:34 am
correction
Imagine Hishammudin says he does not know what his brother is doing.Don’t THEY talk to each other???
———
How often do you speak to your siblings? If they arey are not into the same interest. One is only interested to do business, the other one into politics! May be once in 3 months during a family gathering—- Din Merican
frank - June 10, 2011 at 11:35 am
22 years of Kuttyism has made the government seem like a circus . Just read the article above , especially the answers given by the directors of some of the companies mentioned .
They all sound like clowns who don’t know what they are doing !
moid - June 10, 2011 at 11:42 am
Moid – They sound like clowns? They are no clowns. These are thieves, and they do that best.
Malaysians should blame themselves for expecting leadership, patriotism, compassion, humility and public service from these BN thieves.
The whole country thrives on thievery, NEP, NEM, are all the tools that have been used. Of course the process have helped many Malaysians to have a better life, at the expense of others, and to the detriment of the country’s competitiveness. Of course the process have also helped many minorities to become rich by participating in Ali Baba deals and by people who use their families position of power to get licenses, permits, contracts, and anything else valuable in the sun. A tool of thievery, no matter how well used, or intended, leads to more thievery. It will never end.
Whether Hishamuddin knows or not is no longer an issue. Whether his brother peddled influenced or benefited from influence is not truly the issue. The real issue is that Malaysia has become so corrupted that anything politicians touched are perceived to involve corruption and bribery.
Din need not apologize. He cannot apologize and be responsible for the wrongs of our country. It is we, who are all collectively responsive for a government that partakes in wholesale looting of the country.
There are no doubt good people too in UMNO, but their association with leaders with tainted dealings and leeching to power for the benefit of a corrupted organization make these good apples thieves too.
It is obvious, that change can only come from the leadership of DAP and PAS. Both presents racial and religious barriers that most Malaysians still find not palatable. So, the path of least resistance is to support BN. We dare not cross these barriers, or dismantle them, yet we complain about thieves in government. It is our fault, not the fault of the thieves. It is us that put them there, support them, and take no action to remove them. To do nothing, is simply to support BN. Everyone can be a critic, but how many really do stand up and try to make our country a better one?
Why do you think Tunku Abdul Aziz joined DAP? Go figure it out. There is absolutely no point of me trying to push his ideals…………enough said………..
james - June 10, 2011 at 12:26 pm
Frank, I always respect your opinion in this blog. Together with CLF, Abnizar, Kathy , Tean and occasionally Mr. Bean.Speaking the truth at times hurts too, depend on your intelligence.
eiz_soil - June 10, 2011 at 12:39 pm
” Everyone can be a critic, but how many really do stand up and try to make our country a better one?” – James
I do James. That is why i am here .
As for the blog host , well he has been too hasty, apologising for the Home Minister and his extended family. All this seems to have something to do with RPK’s interview with TV3 and events that followed and maybe also the links this bloghost has with ” higher ups ” in the intelligence communities .
But all said and done , this is his blog . So what he says here and what he stands up for is his business . As a participant here , i have the same rights , although the blog host has his rights to delete my comments , if he is displeased. I got no qualms with that but I have qualms against inconsistencies , if unexplained.
__________
moid, I do not delete your comments if they are valid, not personal or profane. RPK implicated me for things I do not do. But I am glad I have been able to clear that. I am a responsible blogger. I read The Age from time to time. But when it has not been fair, I have to say so and raised questions.–Din Merican
moid - June 10, 2011 at 12:56 pm
moid, Haris should be allowed to get on with his business. Linking him to his brother’s politics is grossly unfair. That is my point of view. The blog host has NOT in any way been too hasty, OR apologising for the Home Minister and his extended family.
Do you want Haris to disown his family for their namesake ? Wake up ! Be a man moid ! I hope your children don’t find it is a liability to be associated with you or using your name behind theirs . This goes to Frank as well.
The Australian newspaper has done injustice to our fellow Malaysian , is it wrong for our bloghost to pick up this issue in the name of justice for all. If BN or Home Ministry can’t do it, let our bloghost do it !
Gobala - June 10, 2011 at 1:13 pm
Injustice to a fellow Malaysian?
The second installment seems pretty convincing to me.
Frank is right wrt to the nexus of crony business cum politics – Umno-BN style.
As to Datuk’s question as to the bigger agenda posed. Of course there is.
Besides the Lynas fiasco, their gomen is in ‘tahi hangat’ regarding the UNHCR and own MPs opposition to the illegal immigrant swap deal. Of course we won’t know what will happen to the monies reimbursed by the Aussies for that deal. Probably goes to another proxy broker.
Meanwhile, the French are starting to deal with Scorpene toxins. Any bets yet?
Yup, Malaysia Boleh!
C.L. Familiaris - June 10, 2011 at 1:30 pm
” If BN or Home Ministry can’t do it , let the blog host do it ! ” – Gobala
With due respect Gobala , you sound like a NUT.
moid - June 10, 2011 at 1:39 pm
How often do you speak to your siblings?- Dato Din
Of course you don’t have small talk with siblings all the time.But certainly,when it comes to BIG ISSUES where one’s interest will impact on the sibling’s career and interest,they WILL TALK.
It is inconceivable, a political royal family like the Hussein Onn’s do not meet more often than not to use one or the other as sounding boards on their plans and activities.
Unless of course,we believe that Haris Hussein Onn is a selfish sibling who don’t give a damn what happens to his brother with his own actions.
For crying out loud, your brother is a HOME MINISTER, and already a controversial figure in malaysian politics. Unless one lives in a dysfunctional family ( which I don’t thin the Hussein Onn’s family is one) that the siblings don’t get feedback or advice from each other.
Hishammudin’s denial of his knowledge of his brother’s business activities such as this scandalous one is too clever for the Malaysian public.
__________
Frank, I am quite exceptional in that I hardly meet and talk to my younger brother and sister. It is a triad situation, where I have been left out. They are close to each other even to this day, and I am out of the family loop. In that sense, I come from a dysfunctional family. My Dad passed on when I was 5 years old and my mom became a single parent who worked hard as a nurse to bring us up and it was tough for her since I was not easy to handle. –Din Merican
frank - June 10, 2011 at 1:42 pm
Imagine if his name is Haris Bin Somethingelse he would be just like me…no guangsi no doe ! The Age’s right all the way.
The Tank - June 10, 2011 at 1:47 pm
I think Din you should call Haris, Citizen Haris. Just like all of us.
Gobala - June 10, 2011 at 1:53 pm
I think Din you should call Haris, Citizen Haris. Just like all of us.- Gobala
Haris Hussein Onn is NO ordinary Citizen Haris. Where and how do you think he is a multimillionnare today and getting his 180,000 shares and sitting on more than companies.
You think he is Citizen Haris like the pakcik and makcik in rural Malay heartland.
Engage your brain before putting mouth into gear.
frank - June 10, 2011 at 2:15 pm
“Where and how do you think he is a multimillionnare today and getting his 180,000 shares and sitting on more than companies.’ frank
To put it bluntly, “Where and how do you think the UMNO Bumis become multimillionaire if not for their connections with UMNO and its leaders?”
How many of them have achieved wealth and greatness on their own merits, like say Lim Goh Tong or Robert Kuok, or Arumugam Pillai.
Haris would be nobody had he been a son of a PAS farmer or civil servant.
Sam01 - June 10, 2011 at 3:26 pm
Sam01,
Like James has said , they are all well connected theives. And that is my last word here as Moid.
And Din, thanks for allowing me space here . You won’t be hearing from me again.
moid - June 10, 2011 at 4:08 pm
How many of them have achieved wealth and greatness on their own merits, like say Lim Goh Tong or Robert Kuok, or Arumugam Pillai.- Sam01
Not true, these rich blokes use their political connections to enrich themselves too. They have lubricated their pipelines to richness by lubricating the hands of the politicians and political leaders of the day.
frank - June 10, 2011 at 5:39 pm
They are close to each other even to this day, and I am out of the family loop.- Dato Din
Many of us here too can relate your situation. The late Princess Diana was caught in the same situation.
I think your case is different from that of Hishammudin and Haris Hussein Onn. It is NOT good enough if either one of them says they do not talk to each other or left out on the cold on each other’s activities.
Then all the more they both, especially Hishamuddin as our Home Minister must come under deeper scrutiny and Haris’s business dealings must be flung out into the open for greater public scrutiny. Simply they are siblings and their actions in public office and in the commercial sector affect other peoples’ lives.
frank - June 10, 2011 at 5:45 pm
moid, you are coming in a different name nowons? or not at all ?
AND HOPE YOU HAVE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DAY TODAY AND EVERYDAY:-) !!!!!!! REMEMBER:
Life’s too short to wake up in the morning with regrets.
Love the people who treat you correctly.
Forget about the one’s who don’t.
Believe that everything happens for a reason!
Never take someone for granted.
Hold family close to your heart.
Because you might wake up one day,
And realise that you have lost a diamond,
While you were too busy collecting stones!!
eiz_soil - June 10, 2011 at 9:04 pm
Dear Owner of the Blog,
” Most of you can’t comment on thinking issues”
” Very few are intelligent enough to discuss anything more than simple stuff.’
With all due respect, please do not try to become like the people we are trying to replace . Thank You and may God belss you and youir family.
Anonymous - June 10, 2011 at 9:19 pm
Moid has had enough of swallowing and will come back in another name just like the last. Don’t swallow too much moid. It is bad for your health.
Mr Bean - June 11, 2011 at 1:14 am
There are other sources of protein.
Mr Bean - June 11, 2011 at 7:25 am
Its not fair to make prejudgements at the moment. The Aussie Fed Police & Brit Fraud Squad are still looking into the transfer-transactions of Harris’ shareholding in 2006 to somebody on record. In criminal liability, the nexus must be proved by evidence what was authentic, what was not… Often-times there a private treaties in shareholding transfers, still we cannot surmise or make conjectures )
No, what the AFP & Fraud Squads are looking into are the tens of miilions of RBA Bank’s monies being paid out through Securency ( Austr blokes ) to many countries, India, Indonesia, Vietnam & Malaysia etc… Why, of course to secure contracts & projects….
We should take off our hats to their authorities for wanting to uphold laws & principles of civilized nations : chiefly corrupt practices etc etc..
Abnizar7 - June 11, 2011 at 8:46 am