August 12, 2012
RCI on Project IC could implicate both Mahathir and Anwar
by Nigel Aw@http://www.malaysiakini.com
While all eyes are set on former Premier Mahathir Mohamad for his role in the alleged illegal granting of citizenship to immigrants in Sabah for votes – dubbed ‘Project IC’ – Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim may find himself on the same firing line.
Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) chief executive officer Wan Saiful Wan Jan said while the recently announced Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate the matter could prove damaging to Mahathir’s legacy, Anwar was similarly part of that legacy when he served as Deputy Prime Minister.
“Some people still blame Anwar for bringing UMNO into Sabah before this. The damage will be to the legacy of Mahathir’s administration that influenced all senior ministers at that time and if Anwar is involved then he will be tarnished,” he said when contacted.
If any evidence emerges from the RCI implicating Anwar, he added, the damage would be serious for the Opposition coalition’s chief. 
“Anwar is still an active political player but Mahathir has retired… So while it may be damaging to UMNO under Mahathir which is the older generation, it will be the current generation (of Opposition) who suffers if Anwar is implicated,” he said.
Wan Saiful (left) added that while Najib may have been forced into announcing the RCI as damage control due to the defections in Sabah, it would be an opportunity to break away from Mahathir’s shadow if he is able to manage the damage inflicted to UMNO.
However, political analyst Ong Kian Meng when contacted said while Sabahans may still resent Anwar for bringing UMNO into the state, most of the details of ‘Project IC’ were already in the public domain and did not implicate Anwar.
“The key would be what the RCI reveals but a lot of these things have already been out there except that they are not officially documented,” he said.
Anwar had last year claimed that he was “kept out of the loop” when he 
was Deputy Prime Minister under Mahathir’s watch.Mahathir himself had dismissed that the RCI would serve no purpose and warned that its outcome, either way, would harm the BN.
Najib safe
Ong said even though the RCI may hurt UMNO and Mahathir, Najib would remain in a comfortable position.
“To a certain extent, Najib is quite safe but the damage to the past leadership will be obvious when the findings come out,” he said. Ong added that even though it will do some damage to BN in Sabah as the investigation begin, it would not dramatically sway voters as the idea that immigrants were illegally granted citizenship was already public knowledge in Sabah even though there were no official admission.
The main backlash, Ong said, would come if Najib succumbs to internal pressure from UMNO against taking any action once the RCI findings are published.
He noted that the premier had on several occasions delayed the announcement of the RCI since February due to pressure from UMNO.
‘Culprits will inevitably be revealed’
Asked about criticism that the RCI’s term of reference did not include the need to identify the culprits or proposed solutions if it was proven true that immigrants were illegally granted citizenship, Ong said the implications were too serious to ignore even though it were not in the commission’s scope.
“It would be difficult for them not to at least say something (on those matters), the press will certainly ask about it and the people who come in to testify would touch on it.
“Even if the RCI does not recommend anything (on solving the problem) they can make the evidence clear and that it is a serious problem and pass it to the government’s court,” he said.
Echoing this, IDEAS’ Wan Saiful said if the commissioners attempt to avoid going near the culprits or solutions to the problem altogether on the basis that it is not part of the RCI’s scope, its credibility would come into question.
“For example if a witness is called and they say a certain leader told me to do this (give out identity cards), if the commissioners say ‘no you can’t touch on this because it is not in our scope’ they will lose all credibility.
“While the RCI will be investigating the blue identity card problem, the public will be judging its credibility,” he said.
There are so many Malaysians of my generation in government service who were born after World War II who could speak and write in Bahasa Malaysia with equal skill. But they were denied promotions and to rub salt into our wounds those who were promoted over us were 5 years our junior. And YAA Tun alludes to the ability of those given citizenship because they could converse in Bahasa Malaysia at the wet market level. Well that is history. I hope that the people in Putrajaya will not continue to repeat their error.
Mahathir’s legacy ? What legacy ? He lost it all when Bumburing called him a TRAITOR – ONE GUILTY OF TREASON.
Then there are many others who have called him a thief and he himself has called himself a racist. So what legacy is there to speak of.
Anwar was “kept out of the loop”? Naah … he was actually doing “loop the loop” w/ Mahathir. Look at that picture of ‘marital bliss’. The cat was out of the bag. If you know Mahathir you’d know the old goat trusted no one and had a network of spies and was aware of the Ides of March as Net-0 would no doubt rush to draw the parallel.
I bet this ktemoc gonna have his hands full on this article proving that anwar & azmin must be obliterated for common good. What say you guys? Clf?
Let us hope the RCI Chairman who excused himself from the Hanif panel for health reasons is able to remain healthy when the work of the Commission commences. The Terms of Reference should enable the Commission to identify and name those involved in this IC Project scam. It is time we hold Mahathir to account. And if Anwar is implicated, he too should get what is coming to him. –Din Merican
Thumb,
Let’s hope pakatan would keep their words when come to power.
Bean,
What you mean loop of the loop with mahathir? For some bloggers, anwar is guilty as charged & must be sent to the guillotine. Would clf come to defence of anwar?
Din,
What’s next if anwar found guilty? Resigned from leadership of pakatan? Hahaha, somebody is baying for anwar’s blood. Let me tell him. Hahaha
It is a known fact when Mahathir decides on something no one, I mean not one soul, is allowed to go against him.
Be it currency speculation, Proton, bailing out his son using Petronas funds or building Putrajaya/Cyberjaya. He decides, the others follow meekly, without a whimper.
Being the sitting PM then, fingers should point at him. Projek IC was his baby.
Anwar and the other cabinet ministers cannot be held accountable. Perhaps the Sabah state government is also to be blamed.
It is time we hold Mahathir to account. And if Anwar is implicated, he too should get what is coming to him. –Din Merican
I’m sorry Dato but I think your feet are a little off the ground. Time to get your feet back on the ground. Because it ain’t gonna happen as we say it over here.
” The terms of reference should enable the commission to identify and name those involved in this IC project scam “. – Din.
Din,
Can this commission , after identifying those guilty of this treasonous crime , also recommend that these traitors to the nation be hanged – as is the sentence for treason?
Or will they too be allowed to go the way of our bowler – because these clowns have a great future as thieves, traitors etc?
______________
Treason is a serious charge. At best, we can put them behind bars, if we can prove they are mea culpa.But we must ensure that they are given their right to defend themselves.–Din Merican
Consti,
Hang for treason! Can somebody call ktemoc from Australia? He would be jubilant over. Dancing & singing just as David did while entering Jerusalem. Ooops! He’s an atheist or supergod. Sorry!
Bean,
Good enough to nail anwar’s trouser to the mast.
Treason? What treason? Define ‘teason’.
Does NFA after whatever RCI, sound correct, correct, correct?
You guys are dreaming untoward wet dreams. What are the functions of dreams?
Let the Sabahans do their due diligence and decide at the polls. With a six month timetable, my puppy hasn’t even lost it’s milk teeth.
This RCI will not do anything constructive – except radicalize rogue and fringe elements. Who knows? Perhaps Sabah will end up like Bosnia. What is needed is an honest inquiry – like in the Hague. For that, i’ll ask Mr Bean to represent us as an uninterested party. Pro bono of course.
This political charade is a knee-jerk response to the loss of fixed deposits and to bide for time. The funny thing is that most commentators just woke up with a start and are baring their pet peeves with fangs dripping with venom for their self gratification.
Anwar? He’ll survive. Octo? Alzheimer’s. Even so, I think the first thing to do is to disinter the graves of the people responsible for the “List”.
Bean suk,
Need explanation one meh! Anwar charged for treason la for allowing illegal immigrants got iCs in exchange for votes.
One blogger has demonstrated anwar the only person responsible in bringing in kataki culture into Sabah. That’s only one reason
Treason is when you work with the enemy against the state — yours. These are self serving politicians working to advance their own political agenda. Are his accusers saying Anwar Ibrahim is part of a foregin conspiracy to take over Sabah and Sarawak?? These guys have got their brains located in the wrong end.
UMNO Incorporated or Inc for short is a criminal enterprise. Anwar was part of that enterprise. I don’t know what Najib seeks to achive with another RCI on an issue like that. He is opening a can of worms involving the role of his own party leadership in a criminal conspiracy.
Checkmate, Bean. That’s what Najib wants to tell Apanama, but remember the Queen control the board.
Clf,
We are mocking it. How I wish if Jon Stewart, Seth macfarlane or even media corp folks to come here to make comedies. Too many materials for laughing matters. Patrick teoh & comedy court folks can chip in
In fact, I am looking forward to gladiatorial fight between you & the other blogger. That’d be beri beri fun. It’s getting very boring over here.
You know what this guy says we are rid of umnoism in pr especially anwar Ibrahim.
Clf,
Agree or disagree?
Bean,
Ask din if Philippines has given up Sabah. Sabah illegal immigrants most of them are from where? Ah so bean
Treason? It is treason , illegals from the philipines and indon are allocated instant citizenship and in view of their religious affiliation qualifies automaticaly for bumiputera-ship… Numerous in numbers , these legalize aliens will if not have already overtaken the indigenous tribes in grabing all aspects of state privileges and livelihood… More alarming is the fact that the Philipines via its central leadership has yet to denounce its long standing claim over North Borneo… With the influx of PTIs , a bulk of them dangling their most treasured prize of legal documents sealing their right to Sabah , a reverse takeover of the state has already begun…if this ‘lame duck’ RCI achieves what it is set out to do then Kutty boy who was once the chief executive of the nation when this particular covert mission was engineered deserves to be made to walk the plank for the treacherous crime of treason..
Bean,
Good enough to nail anwar’s trousers to the mast. He may be able to wriggle out of it because he was a smaller player then. I am talking about Sabah
Semper fi,
The show is not over till the fat lady sings. Not rosey la
Daud,
What if another confrontasi? Then how, bean
Scotland in Great Britain and Quebec in Canada had an open, honest & fair national referendum on cessation/separation…Sabah & Sarawak are a total tragedy, swindled and sucked dry by Putrajaya. Not even a proper trunk road! The natives lack electricity and drinking water while Criminals bought submarines and built twin towers costing multi-billions for kick-backs. Outrageous!
Weakening almost all institutions of governance including the legislature, judiciary, police, ACC/MACC, the Election Commission, and the Attorney-General’s Chambers; reducing mainstream media to mere microphones of UMNO/ BN; using ISA numerous times on political opponents; and the list goes on. Actually MM was far worse than dictators; while dictators act in obvious ways he was a surreptitious, self-aggrandising and evil plotter. He has done more damage to M’sia than Mubarak & Gaddafi combined. He has entrenched apartheid and destroyed the foundations of good governance. The Global Financial Integrity (GFI) reported in Jan that RM930 bil flowed out of Malaysia from 00 to 08. An economist at Morgan Stanley Singapore: Malaysia might have lost as much as US$100 bill since the early 80s to corruption (RM300 billion = 300,000 million).
When Pakatan Rakyat forms the gov’t, a special tribunal must be set up to inquire into how Mahathir and his sons accumulated so much wealth. If it can be established that they had brazenly stolen from the nation, then he and his sons must be caned in public and their wealth seized and returned to the people of M’sia.
Some people commands zero respect from the transparent, democratic parts of the world. Often the mere appearance or utterance of someone can be nauseating, especially someone detested in the international community; self-aggrandizing, super-racist, boosts apartheid, with no consideration for human-rights & equality. How can one race have special privilege? All citizens are equal in a democracy and in the eyes of God. Corrupt Malaysian leaderships cannot attract men of integrity; neither can they enact & foster laws to maintain high moral standards, transparency, performance & success in governments. What has the ex-Malaysian PM got, to be proud of? Has he left a Malaysian legacy respected, successful and uncorrupted like his next door Singapore? True religion, humanity and morality have no room for plunder & racism. It’s only him glorifying himself, the World Community hasn’t a rice grain of respect for him. The blacks are only 14% of US population, if Obama can be US President, a Chinese or Indian can be a Malaysian PM…think about it! How tragically you’ve been treated.
“Checkmate, Bean. That’s what Najib wants to tell Apanama, but remember the Queen control the board.” — semper fi
This ‘Queen’ has her hands on Najib’s tool and is not about to let go. He has to do her bidding or lose his nuts. A man without his nuts is useless to the ladies.
Bean,
I thought Nixon says that if you have him by his nuts, his hearts & minds will follow. Gosh! I miss my yes prime minister. Jibby looks like jim hacker, doesnt he?
Whoever involved in this IC project should be punished, especially its mastermind. These people are traitors for this country.