BN Ministers have no Common Sense, so let’s boot them out for good!

April 5, 2013

On March 22, Borders Bookstore won its judicial review against three recalcitrant government defendants namely JAWI, the Minister of Home Affairs and the Minister in the PM’s Department for Religious Affairs in the controversial case involving the book “Allah Liberty & Love” by Canadian writer Irshad Manji.

Nik Raina and her lawyer, En. Rosli Dahlan

I even hailed the Tudung Judge Dato’ Zaleha Yusof for her moral courage in making a bold judgment that I thought had restored some sense and sensibility into our government’s administration. See this link to my previous article: HERE

Malaysians were relieved that a senseless case had ended. That was what we all thought. But apparently not!

It now appears that JAWI, the Home Affairs and Religious Ministers and the Attorney-General do not have any common sense nor any sensibility. I am told that despite receiving a polite letter from the Malaysian premier legal firm of Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill for the case to be withdrawn, JAWI has not done so.  See the letter below:

And the most scandalous thing is that A-G Gani Patail is instigating JAWI not to respect Judge Zaleha’s decision. The Syariah criminal charge against Nik Raina is still not withdrawn. Contrary to what we think, Nik Raina is still an accused person in the Syariah case. She is still the enemy of Islam. That is how vindictive JAWI, the BN Minister for Home Security and BN Minister for Religious Affairs and A-G Gani Patail have become towards Nik Raina. They want to drag her life into hell through eternity. That is why A-G Gani Patail filed an application to stay the Order given by Judge Zaleha. See below the application filed by AG Gani Patail:

What is most laughable in that application is to see JAWI saying- “Kami akan mengalam¡ múdarat yang serius dan seterusnya mengalami ketidak-upayaan untuk menempatkan semula kepada kedudukan yang asal” which means JAWI, the Home Minister and the Religious Ministers are saying that they will suffer if they cannot be allowed to prosecute Nik Raina, the poor victimised Malay manager.

JAWI akan mengalami múdarat yang serius dan seterusnya  ketidak-upayaan untuk menempatkan semula kepada kedudukan yang asal jika gagal melakukan sesuatu terhadap kes Nik Rania.

Hello! What is wrong with you people? Are you suffering from brain damage to say that in a formal court application? Obviously, A-G Gani Patail is taking the court process as a joke to be saying that. They should all be punished for contempt of court!

To make it worse, that was not how A-G Gani Patail behaved when Razak Baginda was acquitted for the murder of the Mongolian beauty Altantuya Sharibbu. In that sense, Nik Raina is treated worse than a murder accuse. So the saying that everyone is equal before the law is not true. In the Malaysian criminal justice system, you are treated according to who you are. So, if you Razak Baginda who is a close confidante of the Prime Minister, you will get preferential treatment.

Razak who hired the UTK Police sharpshooters to blow up Altantuya was freed while the UTK personnel were convicted. A-G Gani Patail did not appeal against Razak Baginda and Razak is now living in absolute luxury in London from the billions of ringgit commissions that he made from the Scorpene submarines sold to the Royal Malaysian Navy.

We have always suspected that the Scorpene submarines cannot dive, remain submerged nor defend our coastal line. And now all our suspicions are proven true. How do we know that? Well, in the invasion of Lahad Datu by the Filipino terrorists, we have seen that these terrorists can enter and leave our territories and waters at will. They can enter undetected and leave despite a sea blockade. And throughout the whole battle episodes, we have not once seen the Scorpene in action.

That is how the BN Defence Ministers have fleeced the public coffers in the name of buying sophisticated weaponry to protect the country. When the time comes to defend the country, it is the “tulang empat kerat” of our brave soldiers that are defending the motherland and not the sophisticated weaponry bought to line the pockets of these politicians!

The same goes for our internal or homeland security. The inept Home Minister said that these terrorists were harmless and toothless sarong clad old men. Believing that what the Home Affairs Minister said was true, our Policemen put their guard down and treated these foreign terrorists more kindly than they treated the BERSIH 3.0 rally goers. And in the end, it cost horrifying deaths to our Policemen who were brutally killed and mutilated by these harmless toothless old men.

So I say – let us honor our fallen heroes. Let us honor our fallen soldiers and policemen. But Never shall we honor or give credit to the BN politicians and Ministers who have caused these unnecessary deaths. We weep for the families of these fallen heroes, their wives and children. But we must also hold those who caused these wanton deaths accountable. We must!

Now that Parliament has been dissolved on April 3, these politicians will have to go back to the ballot box to seek the people’s mandate. It is time that we tell them who is master. It is time that we shape the fate of this country for the next 4 years. It is time that we, the People of Malaysia tell these inept leaders that they are no longer wanted.

It will be the job of the political parties to tear each other to pieces during their political rallies. But we too can play a role. It is time that we hold all these politicians and the Ministers to be answerable for the deaths of Teoh Beng Hock, Kugan, Ahmad Sarbaini and many others. The persecutions of Anwar Ibrahim, Rosli Dahlan, Datuk Ramli Yusuff and many other innocent Malaysians can happen to anybody when you have morally depraved politicians in power and an A-G beholden to them.

Whatever your status in the country, whatever your race, whatever your religion, your enemy is the one who is turning your country into a disaster zone and the sooner you vote those crooks out of power the sooner you can save your nation and get something better.

We can influence the political parties to offer to the people not only winnable candidates but also candidates whom have seen in the public domain to display impeccable strength of character and moral uprightness.

Gen (Rtd) Md Hashim Hussein is currently is the PKR’s candidate for Johor Baharu parliamentary seat.

The outcome of Lahad Datu could have been different if former CCID Chief Dato’ Ramli Yusuff gets elected into parliament and becomes Home Minister and former army chief Gen (Rtd) Md Hashim Hussein becomes Defence Minister. These are the people that we should get PAS, PKR and DAP to put into Parliament and boot out the BN Ministers who have no common sense to run the country !

Datuk Ramli  was charged by Musa Hassan for using the Police Cessna while he was conducting the aerial survey and boarder patrol to prevent Filipino infiltration which could have avoided the Lahad Datu incident !

GE-13: Read, Think and Vote Wisely

April 5, 2013

Since I posted this piece (below) on May 26, 2012, I wonder whether things have changed. I afraid  it has not. In fact, I can say that we have slipped further down the slippery road to political retardation. With elections soon, I thought we should revisit it.–Din Merican

May 26, 2012

I received this via e-mail from a Malaysian friend who is residing in the Land of the Free (US of A). He told me that he is sick to his inner core about our politics and feels very frustrated with the current administration and its so-called transformation agenda. “It is not transformation. It is retrogression, back to the Age of Ignorance and Barbarism”, he says.

It is Truly 1Malaysia, Uniquely Malaysia, One of a Kind Malaysia. We have allowed it to be that way. We, not just Badawi, were asleep for for 55+ years. Are we awake now?

I thought, I should  share this with you. I am also very sick knowing that law and order has broken down and the Police and other agencies are part of the ruling kleptocracy.–Din Merican

From Mahathir to Badawi to Najib (1981-2012…?)

Never in the history of any country has a government been as hypocritical, deceptive, dishonest and destructive as this government in question.

Which country has had only one political party in government for more than half a century?

Which country allows the government to use public funds for political purposes?

Which country uses the Police to beat up peaceful protestors and corner them when they have already dispersed?

Which country has a Prime Minister linked to murder?

Which country has a Prime Minister linked to corruption and his colleagues don’t bother?

Which country uses Islam as a political tool to destroy other Muslims?

Which country practices racial discrimination in its policies like South Africa?

Which country gives money to the rich to buy houses cheaper because of their race?

Which country gives money to ministers so they get very rich while the poor suffer?

Which country punishes honest former top Custom and Police officers who whistleblow?

Which country allows its government to rob the poor and fill the pockets of the rich by unreasonable road tolls?

Which country bails out cronies in business with public money into billions of ringgit?

Which country forces religion down people’s throats while the political leaders live in sin?

Which country has an anti-corruption agency accused of murder?

Which country has a Police system that sees so many Indian youths die in police lock-ups?

Which country has former soldiers take part in politics and act like thugs against a clean and honest lady?

Which country has a ‘First Lady’ who spends the people’s money when the country does not even have a president?

Which country builds a costly palace when many people do not have proper housing, water and electricity?

Which country denies the Opposition time to speak freely yet claims to be the world’s best democracy?

Which country allows the Police to beat its journalists doing their jobs without mercy?

Which country forces its young into national youth programmes and see many die in freak accidents?

Which country has its Prime Minister say something and the DPM disagrees. Remember 1Malaysia and “Aku Melayu”.

Which country has a Prime Minister who runs away while important things happen in his country?

Which country allows dirty videos and other slanderous material to be published against others freely?

Which country has conspired against its Opposition leader in a sex scandal that we know is a conspiracy?

Which country has a retired Prime Minister and No 1 Ass-Hole who can’t keep his mouth shut and creates disharmony?

Which country has someone like former Premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad whose word cannot be trusted – who has said he has retired from politics but is still blabbing?

Which country has a Royal Commission  which exposes mismanagement and corruption in the Police force but nothing is done to correct the shortcomings?

Which country has a Royal Commission to expose judge  fixing and yet still no one is charged?

Which country has the NEP but sees many Malays denied of opportunities because they belong to the wrong political party?

Which country sees the non-Malays discriminated against and deprived of the constitutional rights  while the corrupt take the lion’s share of their prosperity?

Which country makes a car and sells it at a higher price in the country but charges less for it in other countries?

Which country sees the people divided into bumiputera and non-bumiputera and practises apartheid policies?

Which country has gone so backward in its political culture and stays in power by bribing others with money?

Which country has a farmers’ cooperative and short changes  its members not giving them their due money?

Which country has seen so many abuses of power and yet  the government can still stay in power because of electoral irregularities?

Which country has punished its honest citizens for calling for democracy and clean and fair elections?

Which country controls all the country’s mainstream media and spreads propaganda?

Which country punishes media producers who merely want to promote a free country, what’s wrong with that?

Which country spends money on 1Malaysia but promotes racial hatred and disharmony?

Which country allows a politician like that white snake in Sarawak to be filthy rich and rob the natives of their lands and trees?

Which country allows a politician to spend public money to promote himself overseas?

Which country has been censured by the BBC for censoring their news we see?

Which country but Malaysia!

Many Malaysians and I have had enough. I can go on and on forever but I don’t want the UMNO-Barisan political coalition to govern our country and lead us to extinction while their sons and daughters party and drive around in Lamborghini and Ferrari cars while the majority of us live in poverty.

The Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Mahathir are masters of hypocrisy and their deeds expose their forked-tongues, because they say one thing and do something else, and they are able to trick the blind and impressionable who they know how to keep in check with money and illiteracy but not with intelligence, whether they are Malays, Indian, Chinese, Sarawakians or Sabahans.

What happened to Rosli Dahlan, Datuk Ramli Yusuff,  Anwar Ibrahim, Teoh Beng Hock, Ahmad Sarbani, and Kugan and many innocent Malaysians can happen to anybody when you have morally depraved politicians in power.

Whatever your status in the country, whatever your race, whatever your religion, your enemy is the one who is turning your country into a disaster zone and the sooner you vote those crooks out of power the sooner you can save your nation and get something better.

No one can do worse than what has been done to Malaysia. Only those who are on the BN’s political payroll or get the kickbacks will disagree when there is the mounting evidence of corruption and abuses of power. The UMNO-MCA-MIC and their Sarawak and Sarawak cronies have sold out their people and traded their interests for their own selfish power and positions.

I am not a member of the Opposition, just a citizen sick of the situation and only a fool will want the same government. If I can, I will vote for change of government for the sake of the nation.

ROSLI DAHLAN’S DEFAMATION SUIT: NST JOURNALIST ADMITS “WE COLOR THE STORY!”

March 14, 2013

ROSLI DAHLAN’S DEFAMATION SUIT: NST JOURNALIST ADMITS “WE COLOR THE STORY!”

by Din Merican

Modern technology is so wonderful. You don’t have to be present at the scene of an incident to know what happened.The internet has ensured that information can no longer be the monopoly of a few. Thus, government leaders and those who hold public offices have to be very careful in their public conduct. If they misbehave, the world will know.

Another badly misbehaved case, by the DPP and MACC.

Similarly, mainstream media can no longer claim dominance in reporting news, or whatever propaganda they call news. If in the past the mainstream media can report lies and hope not to be caught out, or when they are caught out, they bury the news about how they have lied, now the mainstream media can no longer do that. There are now alternative media that will report the lies perpetrated by the mainstream media. Thus, everyone must tell the truth. No one must lie, especially not in court because court proceedings are now electronically recorded.

In my piece on February 28, 2013 entitled “THE LIES AND DECEIT BY THE NST: SUE THE BASTARDS ROSLI!”, I told readers that all the shenanigans in court proceedings are now caught on camera. So, Judges, private lawyers and government lawyers have to behave themselves when conducting cases. That was how the Malaysian Anti Corruption Agency (MACC) Legal Director, Dato Razak Musa, was seen trying to strangle himself to death in the Teoh Beng Hock Inquest. That is also how I knew that the Attorney General Chambers’ Team defending the Malaysian Anti Corruption Agency (MACC) in the defamation suit brought by Lawyer Rosli  Dahlan was led by one short Senior Federal Counsel (SFC) by Tuan Hj Azizan. That was how I knew that the said SFC spoke not only bad English but also displayed bad behaviour in court.

Apparently that trial continued yesterday, 13.03.13. Again none of the mainstream media reported this trial. This must be an auspicious date for Rosli because what I saw in the cd recording blew my mind. It exposed the lies perpetrated by The NST against Rosli .

The cd recording showed The NST senior journalist V Anbalagan in the witness box proudly admitting that it was The NST that broke the RM27m Cop story which was then picked up by the other media. NST was eager to publish the story without verifying it because it was afraid other newspapers would steal the scoop.

Anbalagan also made a startling revelation that he and other NST reporters were fed with information about the investigation by an ACA officer who was involved in that investigation despite knowing that it is an offence to leak such information.This caused the SFC Tuan Haji Azizan to dispute Anbalagan’s witness testimony because the ACA had been denying Rosli’s accusation that there was a breach of the law when the ACA deliberately leaked information on the investigation in order to smear his name. Now the ACA is caught doing exactly what they have been denying in the past.

Rosli’s counsel, Chetan Jethwani had a field day cross examining Anabalagan who admitted that he wrote the story implicating Rosli in hiding assets of a Senior Police Officer in order to “add color” to make it more interesting for readership! In another part, Anbalagan shifted blame to his editors by saying that it was his editors who wrote the title “Cop RM27m assets: Lawyer Held” and not him.

Then the blame game started between lawyers for The NST and the A-GC team. They started pointing fingers at each otherfor the erroneous and false stories that were published about Rosli. On the one hand, NST pleaded privilege and justification because they published the story based on information provided to them by the ACA. On the other hand, the A-GC is saying that the NST created their own stories and not based on any information provided by the ACA or its officers. This reminded me of the title of an African novel by Chinua Achebe – “Things Fall Apart”.

Things were falling apart for The NST and Anbalagan  because when asked to provide his journalist notes of the meetings and conversations that he had with the ACA source, Anbalagan said he did not keep any of these notes and had destroyed them despite knowing in 2008 that Rosli was already suing The NST and other major newspapers for all lying.

Watching the cd of these court proceedings are very entertaining. It is also very telling that these newspapers- Utusan Malaysia, The Star and The NST have a pact not to report these court cases because it really showed`how they have lied in their report about Dato Ramli Yusuff and Lawyer Rosli Dahlan. And yet, while Utusan Malaysia  and The Star have publicly and unreservedly apologised to Rosli, The NST and MACC remained adamant not to do so.

I now understand why Rosli is so angry. I now understand why Rosli is seeking vindication by filing these civil suits . There is a Malay proverb-  “Terlajak perahu boleh diundur, terlajak kata buruk padahnya”.

In this case, the things done by The NST was not “terlajak” or inadvertent. These were deliberate lies to “colour” the story to excite readership, to increase sale and to destroy a man’s reputation. We saw that in Anwar Ibrahim’s Sodomy I and Sodomy II trial. As we approach the last days of Parliament before G-E 13 is announced, there will no doubt be more of such smear campaigns.

We must, therefore, be clear in our minds not to be coloured by these lies as we cast our ballot papers!

Singapore: Softer Part of Nation Building

November 19, 2012

By Seah Chiang Nee (11-17-12) @www.thestar.com.my

For decades, the government had regarded chasing after gross domestic product and accumulation of reserves as the supreme objective, done at the expense of other developments. However, it still lacks the “graces of a civilised society” such as music, culture and the arts.

WITH the foreign population topping a historic two million mark, materialistic Singapore is seeking to turn more towards values it was rarely famous for.

“We can’t just measure our success by GDP growth…but also by the growth of our values: compassion, empathy, altruism, love for our fellow citizens,” said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

This is the second time in three months Lee has referred to the softer part of nation-building, something not often emphasised in 47 years of independence.

It comes at a time when division in this over-crowded city is growing between locals and foreigners as well as between Singaporeans themselves.

In his National Day Rally in August, Lee dwelt on how Singapore could become a home with heart, where people become more gracious.He also set up a “national conversation” in which values became a regular theme.

Society is undergoing a period of transformation as more foreigners continue to be admitted to fuel its economic growth and make up for a low birthrate.

At end of 2011, the number of foreign workers, including permanent residents, reached 1.926 million, but by mid-2012, it totaled 2.027 million – 38% of a population of 5.3 million.

For decades, the government had regarded chasing after gross domestic product and accumulation of reserves as the supreme objective, done at the expense of other developments.

The result has been a “golden era” of economic growth. But as Lee Kuan Yew, then Senior Minister, himself admitted eight years ago Singapore was every bit a First World nation.

However, it still lacked the “graces of a civilised society” such as music, culture and the arts.

“The generation now in their 30s to 50s can take Singapore there in the next 15 to 20 years. The best is yet to be,” Lee added. It implied he was leaving the problem to the current leadership under his son to resolve, and could be the cause of PM Lee to start emphasising on “compassion, empathy, altruism, love for our fellow citizens.”

The pursuit of the dollar – from the government and corporations downwards to the ordinary citizens – has become so strong that it has clouded some Singaporeans’ sense of ethics and morality.

This money preoccupation stems from many of the young to senior citizens who flock to 4-D shops and casinos.It includes employers who exploit foreign workers before packing them home and girls traded into prostitution by boyfriends, all under the influence of making money.

I have heard cases of kids expressing shame at their father’s small Japanese car “when their friends were being driven in luxury vehicles”.One child reportedly told his father not to pick him up in his old car too close to his school gate.

Some teachers commented that it began with the schools and the choice of studies. For most students acquiring knowledge or serving society is the last thing on their mind.

“By and large students choose subject they can easily score distinctions rather than what they like or need,” said a retired school principal.

As a result few readily choose to study literature or history, which are useful to learn but hard to score good grades, she said.They are also shunned by parents because they don’t make money.

Yet these subjects often teach young people about humanity about what is right and what is wrong about life.

I remember the occasion when (then Deputy Prime Minister) Dr Goh Keng Swee called for a wider teaching of Humanities not only for individuals but society as a whole.

Books like Shakespeare, the Three Kingdoms or English literature are not only interesting, but are a treasure cove on ethics and morals.Science, Math and Engineering are useful, but just as important to any society is the old wisdom or values.

In Singapore we have too many who choose to study finance, medicine and law where the money is.

The habit of sitting quietly to read a literature book or the humanities helps to moderate temptations of modern times and provides a balanced sense of right and wrong.It teaches us to express ourselves and articulate well.

“We learn what we should do or not do, what we should say or not say.Literature is not a popular subject among Singapore’s students. Our education system as everyone well knows places a huge emphasis on scores and grades,” wrote Elaine Ee.

Holding a masters degree in Comparative Post Colonial Literature from the University of London, she said: “Waxing lyrical about the benefits of studying literature doesn’t address the issue that Singapore schools face either.As long as grades remain what makes or breaks a student in our system.”

A local DJ, Anna Lim commented to Lianhe Wanbao that Singaporeans are well educated but have poor upbringing.

“Singaporeans reserve seats with tissue paper packets and they leave trash behind after gatherings”, she said.

“On the MRT, they do not give up their seats to the needy, neither do they allow alighting passengers to get off before squeezing their way into the carriage.”

Students compete both academically and in the sporting arena, she said. “It certainly makes us afraid and it saddens their teachers,” she said.

Read,Listen and Decide for our Country’s Future

May 26, 2012

Good Morning, Malaysia

I received this via e-mail from a Malaysian friend who is residing in the Land of the Free (USofA). He told me that he is sick to his inner core about our politics and feels very frustrated with the current administration and its so-called transformation agenda. “It is not transformation. It is retrogression, back to the Age of Ignorance and Barbarism”, he says.

It is Truly 1Malaysia, Uniquely Malaysia, One of a Kind Malaysia. We have allowed it to be that way. We, not just Badawi, were asleep for for 55+ years. Are we awake now?

I thought, I should  share this with you. I am also very sick knowing that law and order has broken down and the Police and other agencies are part of the ruling kleptocracy.–Din Merican

From Mahathir to Badawi to Najib (1981-2012…?)

Never in the history of any country has a government been as hypocritical, deceptive, dishonest and destructive as this government in question.

Which country has had only one political party in government for more than half a century?

Which country allows the government to use public funds for political purposes?

Which country uses the Police to beat up peaceful protestors and corner them when they have already dispersed?

Which country has a Prime Minister linked to murder?

Which country has a Prime Minister linked to corruption and his colleagues don’t bother?

Which country uses Islam as a political tool to destroy other Muslims?

Which country practices racial discrimination in its policies like South Africa?

Which country gives money to the rich to buy houses cheaper because of their race?

Which country gives money to ministers so they get very rich while the poor suffer?

Which country punishes honest former top Custom and Police officers who whistleblow?

Which country allows its government to rob the poor and fill the pockets of the rich by unreasonable road tolls?

Which country bails out cronies in business with public money into billions of ringgit?

Which country forces religion down people’s throats while the political leaders live in sin?

Which country has an anti-corruption agency accused of murder?

Which country has a police system that sees so many Indian youths die in police lock-ups?

Which country has former soldiers take part in politics and act like thugs against a clean and honest lady?

Which country has a ‘First Lady’ who spends the people’s money when the country does not even have a president?

Which country builds a costly palace when many people do not have proper housing, water and electricity?

Which country denies the Opposition time to speak freely yet claims to be the world’s best democracy?

Which country allows the Police to beat its journalists doing their jobs without mercy?

Which country forces its young into national youth programmes and see many die in freak accidents?

Which country has its Prime Minister say something and the DPM disagrees. Remember 1Malaysia and “Aku Melayu”.

Which country has a Prime Minister who runs away while important things happen in his country?

Which country allows dirty videos and other slanderous material to be published against others freely?

Which country has conspired against its Opposition leader in a sex scandal that we know is a conspiracy?

Which country has a retired Prime Minister and No 1 Ass-Hole who can’t keep his mouth shut and creates disharmony?

Which country has someone like former Premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad whose word cannot be trusted – who has said he has retired from politics but is still blabbing?

Which country has a Royal Commission  which exposes mismanagement and corruption in the Police force but nothing is done to correct the shortcomings?

Which country has a Royal Commission to expose judge  fixing and yet still no one is charged?

Which country has the NEP but sees many Malays denied of opportunities because they belong to the wrong political party?

Which country sees the non-Malays discriminated against and deprived of the constitutional rights  while the corrupt take the lion’s share of their prosperity?

Which country makes a car and sells it at a higher price in the country but charges less for it in other countries?

Which country sees the people divided into bumiputera and non-bumiputera and practises apartheid policies?

Which country has gone so backward in its political culture and stays in power by bribing others with money?

Which country has a farmers’ cooperative and short changes  its members not giving them their due money?

Which country has seen so many abuses of power and yet  the government can still stay in power because of electoral irregularities?

Which country has punished its honest citizens for calling for democracy and clean and fair elections?

Which country controls all the country’s mainstream media and spreads propaganda?

Which country punishes media producers who merely want to promote a free country, what’s wrong with that?

Which country spends money on 1Malaysia but promotes racial hatred and disharmony?

Which country allows a politician like that white snake in Sarawak to be filthy rich and rob the natives of their lands and trees?

Which country allows a politician to spend public money to promote himself overseas?

Which country has been censured by the BBC for censoring their news we see?

Which country but Malaysia!

Many Malaysians and I have had enough. I can go on and on forever but I don’t want the UMNO-Barisan political coalition to govern our country and lead us to extinction while their sons and daughters party and drive around in Lamborghini and Ferrari cars while the majority of us live in poverty.

The Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Mamak Mahathir are masters of hypocrisy and their deeds expose their forked-tongues, because they say one thing and do something else, and they are able to trick the blind and impressionable who they know how to keep in check with money and illiteracy but not with intelligence, whether they are Malays, Indian, Chinese, Sarawakians or Sabahans.

What happened to Rosli Dahlan, Datuk Ramli Yusuff,  Anwar Ibrahim, Teoh Beng Hock, Ahmad Sarbani, and Kugan and many innocent Malaysians can happen to anybody when you have morally depraved politicians in power.

Whatever your status in the country, whatever your race, whatever your religion, your enemy is the one who is turning your country into a disaster zone and the sooner you vote those crooks out of power the sooner you can save your nation and get something better.

No one can do worse than what has been done to Malaysia. Only those who are on the BN’s political payroll or get the kickbacks will disagree when there is the mounting evidence of corruption and abuses of power. The Umno-MCA-MIC and their Sarawak and Sarawak cronies have sold out their people and traded their interests for their own selfish power and positions.

I am not a member of the Opposition, just a citizen sick of the situation and only a fool will want the same government. If I can, I will vote for change of government for the sake of the nation.

More on Che Det: Looking Back on his Legacy

March 2, 2012

http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com

by Nawawi Mohamad and Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle (01-03-12)

Former premier Mahathir Mohamad has criticized every prime minister of Malaysia from the late Tunku Abdul Rahman to the current leader Najib Razak, sparing no one except of course, himself. Mahathir has also criticized other world leaders including UK’s Tony Blair and of course George W Bush, the 43rd President of the United States.

So far none of his local peers have swung back at him, which is not surprising considering that several are already dead and only Najib and 5th prime minister Abdullah Badawi are alive. As for the international leaders, they have largely ignored Mahathir’s existence, which only adds to his frustration, but there is nothing he can do to them. However, he can make life miserable for his successors here, and this he is already doing.

When Mahathir retired in 2003, after 22 years as Prime Minister, there was talk about his ‘great’ legacy and he was even called Bapa Pemodenan or Father of Modernization. Some 9 years after his retirement, the excesses and sheer ill-judgement of his economic, social and political decisions have come back to wallop the nation with a backlash stronger than the ferocious tsunami of 2006 that devastated much of South Asia.

At 86, Mahathir is now reviled by most Malaysians, blamed for the massive corruption that may soon bankrupt the country if no remedial economic action is taken, and for the apartheid-scale racial fissures amongst the various ethnic groups in the country.

New Economic Policy (NEP)

Just pick the NEP, which was the brainchild of the policymakers of the 1960s but which he abused to the maximum. This abuse alone is enough to ensure that he will stay in the Malaysian Hall of Villains rather than in the Hall of Fame which he still thinks he belongs in.

His peers with better memories including former Finance minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said last week that the NEP was never meant to create or to be used to incubate a class of Malay capitalists, but to address poverty and  raise the level of Malay participation in the economy. It was never meant to be abused by the government of the day to handpick a select group of Malay entrepreneurs, load them with sharply-discounted government deals and then expect them to prosper and create enough economic ripples to help lift the rest of the community.

This was Mahathir’s first and major mistake. But was it really a mistake? Doubters and critics point to the enormous wealth he accumulated for his cronies and proxies through the money-making schemes hatched under the guise of the NEP, and by privatizing government assets to favored Malay entrepreneurs, one of whom is the disgraced former MAS chairman Tajuddin Ramli. Not able to deal with the ‘instant success’ or the stress of big time business, many succumbed to debt during the 1998 Asian financial crisis. Tajuddin and friends like Halim Saad fell from hero to zero, losing enormous amounts of money and requiring massive government bailouts.

Cronies but the masses get nothing

The second mistake Mahathir, in his foolhardiness, made was to pool the major part of the nation’s wealth in the hands of a few. This time he included non-Malays millionaires such as Vincent Tan, Robert Kuok and Ananda Krishnan. Tan has just announced his retirement, Kuok unhappy with the worsening racial system in the country has chosen to stay Hong Kong, while Ananda is wanted by the Indian authorities for allegedly having corruptly wangled a telecoms licence to buy into Aircel.

This pooling of wealth in the hands of a few inevitably left the ordinary Malays and Malaysians with just a few crumbs to share amongst themselves, a slow-boil situation that has blown up to today’s red-hot disputes about social and economic fairness. Not only is there not enough money for scholarships, education, healthcare, employment and welfare for everyone, even the Malays who have been repeatedly told by Mahathir’s UMNO party that they will get priority, have left in the lurch.

Malays now form 96% of the poorest 40% lowest income earners in the country. As for the non-Malays, of course, they have felt the pinch more. Many have been forced to go overseas to work and to study. That’s right, educational and employment opportunities are scarce for the non-Malays in the country. Again, the only group that benefited were the elite in the Umno party, their families and cronies. So Mahathir – despite his self-praise – was in fact rather shortsighted. Money was far more important to him than he cared to admit.

Trusting the wrong people

The third mistake that Mahathir made was choosing the wrong people for the wrong jobs. He also trusted the wrong people. All of the Malays tycoons that he picked had no real business savvy but were merely the trusted aides of former Finance minister Daim Zainuddin. That is why guys like Tajuddin, Halim, Rashid Hussein of RHB Bank, Mohd Noor Mutalib and Abdul Rahman Maidin of MRCB fared poorly in the end. Some have even been hauled to court to settle debts.

Only Daim Zainuddin remains ‘filthy’ rich. His nominees ended up owning all the various banks and business enterprises meant to be transferred into UMNO Baru. Somehow, as the UMNO legend goes, Daim managed to secure these for himself. This was obviously a huge letdown for Mahathir. Instead of ‘tricking’ people over to his point of view, for once, he had been had!

Set Malaysia off on the borrowing habit

Mahathir did not foresee that the National Debt could be as high as it is today, having ballooned to over RM450 billion. Despite several ‘begging’ trips to Singapore and Brunei, he was politely rebuffed. In the end, he borrowed from overseas by issuing bonds and ‘stealing’ every spare sen from Petronas and the other Government-Linked-Companies to fund his mega projects. Throughout his 22-year rule, Mahathir never saved a sen for Malaysia for a rainy day. And this was his fourth mistake.

Weak grasp of economic principles

Mahathir is just an ordinary doctor; a general practitioner and not a specialist. His understanding of economics is as rudimentary as the average Malaysian. His idea of increasing the equity of the Malays is so simplistic – use the GLCs. Mahathir’s vision of doing business is by profiteering through controlling shares in as many companies as possible without considering the possibility of losing money. Sad to say, real life businesses involves losses, not just profits.

Mahathir’s economic policy was not based on any solid foundation and had never been tested in any country before. It was based on his opinions and viewpoints. If these had been any good or worked, many countries would have already implemented similar ideas centuries ago. Even established capitalist and communist economic systems have come under fire and economic collapse is a norm these days, part of a man-made boom and bust cycle. Several economists have even urged nations to revert back to gold-based currencies, an ancient and established type of monetary system, so what are Mahathir’s child-like economic concepts by comparison? His fifth mistake is therefore his skewed understanding of the economy. It led to the controversial de-pegging of the ringgit from the US dollar and the overnight closure of the CLOB share market trading in 1998 – two events that investors have still not forgiven Malaysia and Mahathir for.

Dictator syndrome

Mahathir’s ego and unconscious desire to be a dictator is his sixth mistake. He amended the constitution to weaken the Agong and the Sultans and then made sure that the law and enforcement bodies obeyed him. He sacked the Chief Justice Tun Salleh Abbas and closed both eyes when judges were openly bought by those who had money. It would be tough for Malaysians and their investors to fully trust the judiciary system again. This is why the UMNO-BN has lost its integrity and the people their faith in the coalition. Malaysians will always distrust whatever UMNO-BN does even if it may be well-intentioned.

Racist policies

To prevent the disintegration of his policies and his misdeeds from being exposed, Mahathir had to resort to his favorite racial politics. He had to convince the Malays that what he had done was necessary and in their interests. He kept for himself the great jewels and gave out the small chips so as to convince the Malays that the war against the other races was real. The non-Malays had to be kept back. Thus the budget allocations for places like BTN (Biro Tata Negara) or the National Civics Bureau where Malay graduates and civil servants were openly taught to be suspicious of the other races.

But not all the Malays bought it. Such teachings were against Islam and also against universal values. The Malays were left confused, while the non-Malays totally sidelined. So being racist is Mahathir’s seventh mistake.

Corruption

If Mahathir and UMNO have been successful in making sure Malaysia achieves developed nation status by 2020, why does the record show so many serious faults to date. There are only eight years to go but the economy is still in a shambles with the national debt soaring, racial and religious harmony in disarray, and the political situation worsening with UMNO-BN now openly resorting to physical violence to stop the opposition from holding their rallies.

The education system is also leading nowhere, healthcare is getting worse and more expensive, the much-touted and corrupt 1Care already rejected before it can even come on-stream, law and order is still questionable, mismanagement and graft more entrenched than before in the UMNO-BN government. Instant of all cylinders kicking in, and culminating into the realization of Vision 2020, Malaysia may go bankrupt instead. Not fighting corruption, but perpetuating it is Mahathir’s eighth mistake.

Meddling with the running of the country

The majority of the Malays are poor and still need government help despite 55 years of UMNO “successes“ (read failures). The non-Malays have been patient enough and have given UMNO enough chances. They have waited until the third generation after the nation’s independence in 1957 and they are now fed-up with UMNO-BN. The same too is happening with the Malays. Those not in the direct line of the UMNO gravy train, and this would be the great majority, are getting fed-up too. More have voted for the opposition and will continue to do so.

When Mahathir realized that things were turning sour, he handed over the baton to Abdullah Badawi, thinking that he could still control the running of the government by ‘remote control’. But when things were not carried out as he had wished, Mahathir forced an ouster and replaced Badawi with Najib. Granted, the disorganized Badawi was in no capacity to lead Malaysia but Najib is just as incapable too. All through, instead of giving a helping hand, Mahathir continued to meddle with the running of the country. Interfering with the running of the country and disallowing the current leaders to put in solutions that suit the era is Mahathir’s ninth mistake.

Causing trouble in UMNO and pushing Mukhriz up the ladder

Yet Mahathir stubbornly refuses to accept or to admit to his mistakes. This is one man who refuses to face up to reality. He is not really interested in the welfare of Malaysians at all, not even the Malays or UMNO. He only wants to save his face and to make sure that his son Mukhriz will become prime minister no matter what deals he has to execute with the current batch of UMNO warlords to effect this.

Ruthless and completely selfish, Mahathir would think nothing of creating chaos just to fulfill that ambition. After all, he could de-register UMNO just to stay in power. Imagine what he won’t dare to do to get Mukhriz in as UMNO president. But it is this incessant interfering and trouble-making in UMNO that will be his tenth and last mistake.

Mahathir will doom UMNO, and in imploding, UMNO will very likely take Mahathir down for the count.

Malaysia Chronicle

Robert Phang Slams AG Gani Patail – Remove Him!

December 11, 2010

by Din Merican

I have said it before and I say it again- AG Gani Patail is a liability to this government!

AG Gani Patail is a liability to this government!

I am so disgusted reading the second open letter from Dato Mat Zain Ibrahim, former KL CID Chief, to the IGP, Tan Sri Ismail Omar. Mat Zain accuses AG Gani Patail of being a LIAR, FABRICATOR and MANIPULATOR.

LIAR, FABRICATOR and MANIPULATOR.

Mat Zain’s contempt for AG Gani Patail and former IGP Musa Hassan is so without bounds. That these two have destroyed the criminal justice system and have brought total disrepute to PDRM and the A-G Chambers. And only a few hours ago, Tan Sri Robert Phang had issued a scathing press statement slamming the AG as being the root cause that will discredit the whole government’s efforts to eradicate corruption. I can do no better than to reproduce the most damaging part of Robert Phang’s statement below:

“The root cause of all this suspicion is the credibility of the A-G Chambers, in particular of the personal integrity of AG Gani Patail himself. As a public officer, the AG’s conduct, both public and personal, must be beyond reproach. That is the root problem. For so long as there is suspicion about the personal conduct of AG Gani Patail as described above and it is not addressed, all sincere efforts by the Government and the MACC will be futile. It will be regarded as mere public relations exercise or slogans.  It will be unfortunate if the AG himself becomes a stumbling block to the Government’s and the MACC’s efforts to portray a Bersih. Cekap, Amanah Government. It is like the saying “Ketam cuba mengajar anaknya berjalan lurus”.

Gani Patail is the problem. He is mired in controversy . He is vindictive. He victimizes the innocent and protects the crooks. His insistence to persecute Lawyer Rosli Dahlan is frowned upon by the MACC’s own Advisor, Tan Sri Robert Phang. His personal conduct is unbecoming of an Attorney General in consorting with dubious characters and persons of ill-repute.

As a public officer he has breached the Tata Kelakuan Pegawai Awam. The MACC should investigate him. The toothless and kaki ampu Ketua Setiausaha Negara,(KSN) should but does not suspend him. If the former Chief Justice, Eusoff Chin , was subjected to a Royal Commission of Inquiry, Gani should too.

Gani Patail is the problem. He is mired in controversy . He is vindictive. He victimizes the innocent and protect the crooks. His insistence to persecute Lawyer Rosli Dahlan- the family man!

The government should just remove him!

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————

The PRESS STATEMENT BY TAN SRI DATUK ROBERT PHANG MIOW SIN, Justice of Peace and Chairman-Social Care Foundation is reproduced to remind us what is at stake in our effort to fight corruption and abuse of power:

“On Tuesday 30th November, I gave a Press Conference  touching on the public perception of the MACC and A-G Chambers especially about selective prosecution. I mentioned the failure, at that time, to take action in Dato’Seri Khir Toyo’s case and in the Malaysian Airlines case which involved losses of RM 8 billion. I also expressed concern about public outcry over the conduct of A-G Gani Patail consorting with En Shahidan Shafie in a manner that give rise to grave suspicion. There has been public exposure that En Shahidan is the proxy of former Malaysia Airlines Chairman, Tan Sri Tajudin Ramli.

My statement was received badly by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Y.B. Dato‘ Seri Mohd Nazri Aziz who blasted me for raising the concerns of the lay public. The Senior Minister had used very harsh words on me and called me “a man in the street”.

My response on Thursday December 2 reminded YB Dato Seri Nazri to be circumspect and not to be arrogant. As God would have willed it, on Sunday 5th December, Prime Minister Dato‘ Seri Najib Tun Razak cautioned the 13 BN party components about the four “political diseases” – delusion, amnesia, inertia and arrogance – which he said could crush the ruling coalition.

The PM’s reminder that Ministers and BN leaders must not be ARROGANT is very timely. Government leaders who feel they are not accountable to the ordinary man in the street would make the citizenry have not only disdain for the government but that would also sow the seeds of hatred towards the BN Government. In the end the BN Government will be alienated from the people and that can only spell disaster at the ballot box.

On Monday December 6 , former Selangor Menter Besar, Dato Seri Khir Toyo, was charged by the MACC for an offence under s. 165 of the Penal Code. The public saw that none less than the AG Tan Sri Gani Patail himself turned up in court. This public display of firmness in taking action without  fear or favour is certainly commendable.

On Thursday December 9, 2010, the Prime Minister assured the public that the prosecution of Dato Seri Khir Toyo is not just a public gimmick (sandiwara). As Chairman of Social Care Foundation and Panel Adviser to the MACC, I fully support the Prime Minister’s assurance. I urge the public not to doubt the government’s seriousness in combating corruption. I urge the opposition not to play politics in such matters. The public must have faith that the MACC is doing its best in eradicating corruption against the big fish and the small fry. The public must therefore support the MACC’s efforts instead of running them down. I commend the MACC Chief Commissioner, Dato‘ Seri Abu Kassim Mohamed, who has shown resolve and consistency in this regard.

Unfortunately, public perception is also important. I am therefore compelled to  voice out the public skepticism why Khir Toyo was charged under the Penal Code and not under the MACC Act, since the investigation was made by the MACC ,and not the Police. The public has not forgotten that the MACC Act was passed specifically to facilitate easier investigation and prosecution for corruption offences. Foremost in the public’s mind is why was Khir Toyo not charged for corruption.

The public must not be left with a lingering mind especially since the MACC and the A-G Chambers had invoked the more draconian corruption provisions in the  predecessor act to the MACC Act when charging Dato‘ Ramli Yusuff and Lawyer Rosli Dahlan. Dato‘ Ramli has since been acquitted. It is now shown that En Rosli was just a lawyer needed as a witness. Strange enough, it is an open secret that MACC’s recommendation to withdraw the charge against Rosli Dahlan, yet the A-G has not responded. The public is asking – Why is that the case? There is widespread public suspicion that Rosli is being persecuted for his role in the Malaysia Airlines case.

This is fueled by the reluctance of AG Gani Patail to institute prosecution for the RM8 billion losses suffered by Malaysia Airlines during the time of Tan Sri Tajudin Ramli. The public is concerned with allegations surrounding A-G Tan Sri Gani Patail’s personal conduct in consorting with the proxy of Tan Sri Tajudin Ramli during a recent Haj pilgrimage. The photographs and documents that have been in the public domain seem very convincing. The AG’s silence has further fuelled this suspicion. The AG cannot continuously stonewall the public. The consequences can be adverse on the Government.

The root cause of all this suspicion is the credibility of the A-G Chambers, in particular of the personal integrity of AG Gani Patail himself. As a public officer, the AG’s conduct, both public and personal, must be beyond reproach. That is the root problem. For so long as there is suspicion about the personal conduct of AG Gani Patail as described above and it is not addressed, all sincere efforts by the Government and the MACC will be futile. It will be regarded as mere public relations exercise or slogans.  It will be unfortunate if the AG himself becomes a stumbling block to the Government’s and the MACC’s efforts to portray a Bersih. Cekap, Amanah Government. It is like the saying “Ketam cuba mengajar anaknya berjalan lurus”.

Therefore, AG Gani Patail must heed the PM’s call not to suffer delusion, amnesia, inertia and arrogance. In that regard, I invite the AG to respond to all my earlier calls that he respond and answer these allegations. The public needs to be satisfied in order for the Government to regain the public trust that it is serious in the eradication of corruption and in achieving Justice for All.

“HUMBLENESS IS GOOD VIRTUE, ARROGANCE SHALL FALL, THE MEEK WILL RULE THE WORLD.”– Tan Sri Datuk Robert Phang Miow Sin

Footnote: MACC Act : Section 16
“Any person who is found guilty of an offence under section 10, 11, 13, 14 or 15 shall on conviction be liable to:
(a) imprisonment for a term of not less than
fourteen days and not more than twenty years; and
(b) a fine of not less than five times the sum orvalue of the gratification which is the subject-matter of the offence where such gratification is capable of being valued or is of a pecuniary nature, or ten thousand ringgit, whichever is the higher.”

 

Malaysian Public Officials of the 21st Century

Bar Ragunath from the Bar!

December 6, 2010

BREAKING NEWS: Mahathir’s Political Crony, Al-Toyol was charged at Shah Alam Sessions Court

Former Selangor Menteri Besar and Mahathir political crony, Dr Mohd Khir Toyo (Al-Toyol) has been charged with corruption, alongside Ditamas Sdn Bhd director Shamsuddin Haryoni. Al-Toyol was charged under Section 165 of the Penal Code, with knowingly accepting a bribe, in form of two plots of land in Section 7, Shah Alam, for his mansion  at a substantial discount from Shamsuddin.

Istana Toyol with the help of Ketok Magik

Judge Azhaniz Teh Azman Azhanis then set bail at RM750,000.Can we expect more to come ? In PKFZ, where some UMNO big wigs are involved in a scandalous land acquisition deal, and in Tourism Malaysia, for example.–Din Merican

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/150062

December 5, 2010

Bar Ragunath from the Bar!

by Din Merican

On  November 24, Raja Petra Kamarudin (RPK) exposed the Haj pilgrimage  scandal involving Attorney-General (AG) Gani Patail and the former Malaysia Airlines Chairman Tan Sri Tajudin Ramli’s proxy, Shahidan Shafie.

And after doing all these evil deeds, they purport to repent and put on a public show of visiting God’s house in Mecca to seek forgiveness.

ACT 1: Enter Robert Phang

On November 30, Tan Sri Robert Phang Miow Sin, a member of the Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) gave a press conference demanding AG Gani Patail to explain his conduct as exposed by RPK. Phang also accused AG Gani of selective prosecution and mentioned several cases including that of Lawyer Rosli Dahlan.

The alternative media has created the perception that Rosli has been victimised as a result of his professional role in pursuing civil and criminal action against former Malaysia Airlines chairman Tan Sri Tajuddin Ramli.

Phang said that Rosli had been victimised because he pursued civil and criminal actions against Tajudin Ramli. MACC’s apparent reluctance to take any action against Tajuddin and Shahidan raised a lot of suspicions, especially since report by the MD of MASKargo, Shahari Sulaiman, specifically mentioned Shahidan Shafie as Tajuddin’s proxy who orchestrated the police closure of the MAS case. Shahidan has his wheeling dealing tentacles everywhere in the law enforcement agencies. He is Mr Fixit.

Shahidan Shafie is known as Mr. Fixit

The AG refuses to drop the case against Rosli Dahlan

Yet, AG Gani refused to allow MACC to withdraw the case against Rosli. According to AG Gani, he has absolute discretion under Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution and there is nothing anyone can do about it. AG Gani flatly rejected the recommendation by MACC’s Chief Commissioner, Dato Seri Abu Kassim, to withdraw the charge against Rosli. Abu Kassim knew that the MACC is flogging a dead horse in Rosli’s case. Abu Kassim told Tan Sri Robert Phang, former  Senator Dato William Lau and several others that the MACC did not want to drag Rosli’s case any further. But AG Gani Patail said  NO. He wanted to teach Rosli a lesson as a signal to everyone else never ever to go against him.

AG Gani flatly rejected the recommendation by MACC’s Chief Commissioner, Dato Seri Abu Kassim, to withdraw the charge against Rosli.

 

ACT 2: Minister Nazri Aziz and the Mainstream Media

When Tan Sri Robert Phang gave his press conference on  November 30, he was concerned that the MACC was being seen as a rubber stamp to all the wrongs committed by AG Gani Patail as accused by Dato’ Mat Zain Ibrahim, formerly OCCI KL, in his public letters. But the main stream media (MSM) -  The Star, The NST, Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian were extremely quiet, as if there was a news embargo to report against anything about AG Gani or Shahidan. The same MSM selectively chose not to report on Robert Phang‘s press conference. Those that reported, picked Phang‘s quotes very selectively.

Selective Reporting and Spin by Mainstream Media (MSM)

Yet, the next day, the MSM widely publicised Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, YB Dato‘ Seri Mohd Nazri Aziz, slamming Phang for that press conference. Feeling hurt that Nazri had used some unMinisterial language on him, Phang responded with a biting press statement. Again, the MSM embargoed Phang’s press statement, which you can see in my previous posting. Phang is no old coot who only whines. To take on Nazri Aziz, a person has to be a “real jantan“. Those are not my words. Those are Nazri’s words whenever he challenges anyone. Now that Phang has retorted, we will wait and see whether Nazri barks and bites to see who is the real jantan between them!

Nazri had used some unMinisterial language

To be fair to Phang, his retort to the Minister is legitimate. There was no necessity for Nazri to be over defensive by being offensive. The public has a right to know if AG Gani is compromised by his relationship to Tajuddin’s proxy. The public is entitled to know if AG Gani’s decision not to pursue action against Tajuddin is tainted by his close relationship with Shahidan. Is that an innocent social relationship? If it is, since when have they known each other? Did they know each other when the AG Chambers decided to close the MAS case?

Shahidan Shafie: Mr Fixit and Tajuddin’s Proxy

As for Shahidan, he has a chequered and dubious past. He was charged for bribery when he was the OC Secret Societies in Johore. It would be unbelievable for the AG if he claims he did not know this. The MACC has this record on Shahidan. Shahidan’s cousin and adopted sister, Rizana Daud, is married to Tajuddin’s brother, Bistamam Ramli. Tajuddin made Rizana the Company Secretary of MAS when the plunder of MAS occurred. When Tajuddin left,  MAS had accumulated debts amounting to RM8.8 billion.

As for Shahidan, he has a chequered and dubious past. He was charged for bribery when he was the OC Secret Societies in Johore. It would be unbelievable for the AG if he claims he did not know this.

Is the AG about to say that he did not know all that about Shahidan? Earlier on, RPK had produced eye witness accounts and photographs of AG Gani being beside Shahidan throughout his bereveament over his son’s death– from daylight to sunset. If that is not close relationship, what is then?

The AG: A Public Official?

That brings us to this issue – isn‘t the Attorney General a public officer? Isn‘t there a code of conduct that governs him as a public officer that the MACC should apply against him in evaluating the appropriateness of his conduct in consorting with Shahidan? If the MACC wants to take action against the AG, they can resort to Perintah Am Bab D (Tatakelakuan dan Tatatertib) Pegawai Kerajaan. But I am not going to teach the MACC to do their job. I pointed that out because there is a Malay proverb -“ Hendak seribu daya, tak hendak seribu dalih“ ( where there is a will, there is a way.)

ACT 3: Sudden Appearance of Ragunath Kesavan, Malaysian Bar President

What I really wanted to say in this piece is about the behavior of the President of the Malaysian Bar, Ragunath Kesavan.  He is a strange creature. Instead of focusing on his mandate to serve the interest of his legal fraternity, he dabbles in politics. coming from the President of the Malaysian Bar. His recent statement in defence of AG Gani’s conduct  is echoing Minister Nazri’s statement. Why is that coming from the President of the Malaysian Bar?

He is a strange creature. Instead of focusing on his mandate to serve the interest of his legal fraternity, he dabbles in politics. 

In case you wonder what is the Malaysian Bar, let me explain. The Malaysian Bar is a body, like an association, that represents all lawyers in the country. To be a lawyer, you must be admitted to the Bar. The Bar is managed, governed and regulated by a  committee that is elected by lawyers called the Bar Council, which is established under the Legal Profession Act. Ragunath Kesavan is the President of the Bar Council , which means he is supposed to voice out and protect the interest of his members – the lawyers in this country. Is he doing that?

We are now seeing a public spat between Robert Phang and Nazri Aziz. Phang wants AG Gani to explain his conduct, but Nazri says AG Gani owes no explanation to Phang whom Nazri regards as someone ordinary from the street. Phang has openly slammed AG Gani for victimizing Lawyer Rosli Dahlan. And Phang is not even a lawyer. He is not an office bearer in the Bar Council and he has nothing to do with the Bar. He is a social activist fighting for the cause of justice, and he sees injustice in the way Lawyer Rosli was treated.

Now should not that be the role of the Ragunath, President of the Malaysian Bar? Do we hear Ragunath issuing any statement to support Rosli as a member of the Bar? When an opportunity is created by Robert Phang, did Ragunath show his leadership of the Bar by articulating the misconducts of the AG with Shahidan? Sadly No!

Instead, we have the President of the Bar, Ragunath Kesavan, sounding apologetic, sympathetic and even defensive of AG Gani Patail. I am repulsed by the comments made by Ragunath to Malaysiakini’s Hafiz Yatim on December 3. When asked whether AG Gani should be made answerable, Ragunath said: “I am not sure whether Abdul Gani should answer them, but we feel it would depend solely on him to respond.”

Ragunath also said that he was aware of the photographs of AG Gani’s visit to Shahidan’s house posted on the Malaysia Today website, but then apologetically added  that “There were many other people there, not only Abdul Gani, and this should not be an issue.” The AG spent more than a normal visiting hours at the funeral too !

Shahidan Shafie (his hand slightly covering his face) consoled by the Attorney-General

When Ragunath was asked about any possibility of a relationship between AG Gani and Shahidan that would have prompted the “no action” against Tajuddin, Ragunath dismissed it as just a rumour. A rumour?! What is wrong with this man?

Ragunath also question that the situation between AG Gani and Shahidan : Still there is no proven link  ?

Ragunath also said that the situation between AG Gani and Shahidan differed from the VK Lingam/CJ Eusoff Chin affair and then added that – “In the present case, there is no proven link and that without such evidence, the Bar Council would not be critical about the allegations made against AG Gani.”

I was aghast upon Ragunath’s answers. This man is an embarrassment to the Bar, which had gained so much respect during the tenure of its previous President, Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan. Either he is a political moron, or he has a personal agenda. There are so many things that he could say about as to the proper conduct of a public officer like the Attorney General. He could refer to the Perintah Am Bab D (Tatakelakuan dan Tatatertib) Pegawai Kerajaan which is clearly applicable to  AG Gani Patail:

BAHAGIAN II TATAKELAKUAN

4.(2)Seseorang pegawai tidak boleh—

(a)       membelakangkan tugas awamnya demi kepentingan peribadinya;

(b)       berkelakuan dengan sedemikian cara yang mungkin menyebabkan kepentingan peribadinya bercanggah dengan tugas awamnya;

(c)       berkelakuan dengan apa-apa cara yang mungkin menyebabkan syak yang munasabah bahawa—

(i) dia telah membiarkan kepentingan peribadinya bercanggah dengan tugas awamnya sehingga menjejaskan kebergunaannya sebagai seorang pegawai awam; atau

(ii) dia telah menggunakan kedudukan awamnya bagi faedahnya sendiri;

(d)   berkelakuan dengan sedemikian cara sehingga memburukkan nama atau mencemarkan nama perkhidmatan awam;

(e)       kurang cekap atau kurang berusaha;

(f)         tidak jujur atau tidak amanah;

(g)       tidak bertanggungjawab.

All Ragunath had to do was to tick any of the above limbs that would apply to AG Gani Gani in his relationship with Shahidan. In case his frozen brain is still uncertain which limb is applicable to AG Gani Patail, now let me help him – tick “All of the above“. Truly, AG Gani Patail’s conduct breeds more than just suspicion that he had been compromised.

Ragunath could also have alluded to the fact that the AG’s post is that of a Federal Court Judge as provided for under Art. 145(1) of the Federal Constitution. That would subject AG Gani to some analogy to the Judges’ Code of Ethics as provided for in Art.125(3B) of the Federal Constitution where a Judge can be removed for conduct unbecoming or for causing disrepute to the judiciary. This would include consorting or fraternizing with people of ill repute or disrepute or people of dubious reputation :This Code of ethics may be cited as the Judges’ Code Of Ethics 1994

Judges’ Code Of Ethics 1994 (amended in 2000)

2. 2. (1) This Code of Ethics shall apply to a judge throughout the        period of his service. (1) This Code of Ethics shall apply to a judge throughout the period of his service.

(2) The breach of any provision of this Code of Ethics may constitute aground for the removal of a judge from office.

3. 3. (1) A judge shall not –

(a) Subordinate his judicial duties to his private interests’ ;

(b) Conduct himself in such manner as is likely to bring his private interests into conflict with his judicial duties;

(c) Conduct himself in any manner likely to cause a reasonable suspicion that:

- He has allowed his private interest to come into conflict with his judicial duties so as to impair his usefulness as a judge; or

- He has used his judicial position for his personal advantage;

(d) Conduct himself dishonestly or in such manner as to bring the Judiciary into disrepute or to bring discredit thereto;”

Look Ragunath, I am not a lawyer, but I am not too lazy to read or too dishonest to say things just to please certain people. I say to you, stop playing politics when it affects the life and well being of the people you are sworn to protect. You are the Bar’s President, yet you behave so shamelessly in defence of AG Gani instead of defending your fellow brother at law, Rosli Dahlan. There is a Malay proverb to describe your betrayal of your brother lawyer- “Harapkan pagar, pagar makan padi”.

I have been attending Rosli Dahlan’s trial from Day 1.

Let me say this to you also. I have been attending Rosli Dahlan’s trial from Day 1. In the beginning there was not even a representative from the Bar Council. After I started writing and after RPK publicized the shenanigans in court, then only the Bar started sending its representative. I suspect Ragunath did not want to miss out on a great show. Yet, not a single statement has been issued by  Ragunath Kesavan on the matter. And now he comes to AG Gani’s defence. Now he echoes Nazri Aziz’s stand. What game is Ragunath playing? This Malay proverb aptly applies to Ragunath – “ Sokong membawa rebah”.

This man is playing politics and one day I will tell you why. For the time being, I  urge that lawyers bar Ragunath from the Bar! He should be put on the carpet for his indiscretion.

 

 

Musa Hassan must be accountable for his statement and misdeeds

September 11, 2010

by Din Merican

Muslims in Malaysia concluded Ramadan on  September 9 and  they celebrated Eidil Fitri  yesterday. Muslims know Ramadan is a very special month.

The Takbir Raya which began since maghrib (evening prayer on September 9) is always so poignant and bring tears to most Muslims.

The Takbir Raya which began since maghrib (evening prayer on September 9) is always so poignant and bring tears to most Muslims. Many would feel sad reflecting the events of the past year. And so it was with my dearest wife, Dr Kamsiah. She misses her two children who cannot not celebrate Eidil Firi with her for the third year in a row. She feels sad that her aged mother cannot not be with her grandchildren. She has been denied her rights by someone who lacks compassion and understanding of the importance of Ibu (Mother) to a Muslim.

Kamsiah has been denied her rights by someone who lacks compassion and understanding of the importance of Ibu (Mother) to a Muslim.

There was little I can do except to comfort her, and that in turn makes me sadder because Dr Kamsiah remains as calm as ever even going through such a stormy domestic matter. When I suggested some legal measures to gain her rights, she could only say that God works in mysterious ways and that she redha.

Dr. Kamsiah said to me “Din, this is not about civil rights, this is personal. So please don’t use your mighty pen over personal issues, everyone will eventually be held accountable.” That made me more sad still until I went for solat Edil Fitri this morning. You may ask why.

Eidil Fitri Khutbah (sermon)

It is because I am dumbfounded when the theme of the Eidil Fitri Khutbah (sermon) is about accountability. The Imam of the mosque that I attended recited the cautionary last two verses from Surah Zilzal (The Convulsion) about the Day of Judgment as follows:

“Then shall anyone who has done an atom’s weight of good, see it! And anyone who has done an atoms weight of evils, shall see it! “

The Imam Khatib read the commentary so emotionally that he cried and so did many others of the jemaah (congregation) including myself. I went back very contemplative over my wife’s own personal tragedy. Then when I started  to reflect on current events, I became  agitated again over the ills that pervade this great country.

Latest Musa Hassan Outburst

I am able to relate the khutbah to the present events surrounding Polis DiRaja Malaysia (PDRM) and its outgoing IGP,

It seems Musa wants to be the IGP in perpetuity, and he considered Hishammuddin’s decision as an interference

the despicable Musa Hassan. Only last Sunday I wrote about  Musa Hassan’s revolting interview with Mingguan Malaysia during which he made innuendoes of interference by third parties. Then on Wednesday (September 8), I wrote again about Musa’s boldness in openly stating that the third party that he was referring to  is the Ministry of Home Affairs, thereby  implicating the Minister, Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Hussein Onn (see- Musa Hassan Should Just Shut Up and Vamoose).

It is clear now that Musa is very upset that Hishammuddin had rightly refused to grant him another extension. It seems Musa wants to be the IGP  in perpetuity, and he considered Hishammuddin’s decision as an interference.

Musa went as far as to say that he only knew about  the  decision not to extend his contract on the very day that Hishammuddin gave his interview on  September 1. The Ministry’s Secretary-General, Dato’ Seri Mahmood Adam has since refuted Musa’s claim and said that Musa was informed one week before that interview and again on the day of the interview. So who is lying now? If we believe the Secretary-General –and there is no reason not to– that would mean Musa was informed twice.

Musa Hassan has track record of lies and fabrications

Can we ever believe Musa? Already we know that Musa lied in Sodomy I when, as investigator, he identified a building not yet constructed as the scene of the sodomy. Musa also lied when he carried a mattress into court daily which was eventually thrown out as incredible evidence.

Then in the Black Eye incident, Dato’ Mat Zin, the former OCCI KL, filed an affidavit accusing Musa of lying and fabricating evidence. Musa’s own ADC had sworn a Statutory Declaration exposing Musa as a two-faced Pengkhianat Bangsa who would lie to portray himself  differently in public.

Musa also lied about his academic qualifications which was a point raised by Tan Sri Robert Phang. Then very recently, Judge Supang Lian of Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court wrote a damning judgment about Musa “being an incredible witness, whose evidence is not to be believed”. That is just legal jargon for saying that Musa is a LIAR!

Musa still wants to strut around as IGP although he has already surrendered his duties and powers to the DIGP, Tan Sri Ismail Omar. Lim Kit Siang has thus called for Musa to be suspended, and unless he can explain himself, Musa should be given a dishonourable discharge. Apparently, Kit Siang knows something more that we don’t.

Apparently, Musa is using his father to lobby to the Yang Di Pertuan Agong (YDPA) for another extension by delaying or not approving Ismail Omar’s appointment. That accounts for the Ministry’s vague statement that “the approval of the YDPA for the new IGP will be sought”. Musa is in fact using the YDPA to interfere with the Executive prerogative on its choice of IGP.

Musa is using his father to lobby to the Yang Di Pertuan Agong (YDPA)

Three Extensions Not enough

That is why Tan Sri Robert Phang  criticised Musa in the strongest terms as being ungrateful and unprofessional. The much respected and admired Robert Phang reminded the public and the Ministry that Musa enjoyed three extensions, something never before granted to previous IGPs.

Rosli was visited by Tan Sri Robert Phang of the MACC at his home on the 1st day of Eid Fitri

What makes it so revolting is that in 2007, in the midst of some highly charged controversy between IGP Musa Hassan and Deputy Minister Johari Baharom, ex-PM Abdullah Badawi  extended Musa’s service on a two year contract. This was at a time when crime was at an all time high and despite the press conference given by Dato’ Ramli Yusuff, former Director CCID, warning of the clear and present danger facing the Police Force when Dato’ Ramli discovered Musa’s involvement with the illegal money lending Ah Long syndicate.

once a thief forever a thief, worst if it is a 'religious thief'

Mr Clean Badawi not sleeping when it involves his family business

Because Abdullah was always sleeping on the job, Malaysians forgave him  in the belief that it was just an error in Abdullah’s judgment. But now the public knows better when Raja Petra Kamarudin (RPK)’s  Malaysia Today revealed that Abdullah’s family was  partaking in the plundering of Malaysia Airlines (MAS). That was why Dato’ Ramli together with his lawyer friend Rosli Dahlan ended up facing trumped up charges .

Abdullah’s family was partaking in the plundering of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) catering business

Abdullah  capitalised on the fact that his father was an ulama to promote his “Mr Clean” image. Musa also rode on his father’s popularity as a TV guru mengaji to propagandise that he too is a Mr Clean. The uncanny resemblance in these two characters just demonstrates the dangers of judging a book by its cover. In the end, they are just like the Malay  proverb “Harapkan pagar, pagar makan padi.” Badawi dreamt of being Imam Ghazali and Imam Shafii, not money; Musa too of being  a model IGP.

Abdullah had capitalised on the fact that his father was an ulama to promote his “Mr Clean” image. Musa also rode on his father’s popularity as a TV guru mengaji to propagandise that he too is a Mr Clean.

I have now strayed quite a bit from what I originally wanted to write about. My original intention is not to write about politics or civil causes today. In the mood of Ramadan which just ended and Eidul Fitri, I want to write about human tragedies and man’s relationship with God in administering the worldly affairs.

During the Khutbah Eidil Fitri, the Imam also mentioned about God’s 99 attributes (Asma ulHusna) and that other than the attributes of being compassionate and merciful, God is also “Al Hasib”, that He will make us account for even an atom’s weight of good or evil that we do. Over these recent events, already God is showing that Musa is being judged here and now, and  he will have not to wait until the hereafter.

During the Khutbah Eidil Fitri, the Imam also mentioned about God’s 99 attributes (Asma ulHusna) and that other than the attributes of being compassionate and merciful, God is also “Al Hasib”, that He will make us account for even an atom’s weight of good or evil that we do. Over these recent events, already God is showing that Musa is being judged here and now, and will not wait until the hereafter.

Divine Intervention

Despite all that the MACC is doing to lawyer Rosli Dahlan, God is  shielding him from the full impact of their cruelty. Malaysians are now aware that Rosli was professionally  pursuing those who plundered MAS. Rosli was also assisting Dato’ Ramli’s CCID in the Goh Cheng Poh @ Tunku Goh’s case. For doing that “national service”, the MACC brutalised and charged him. On  September 7, Malaysiakini reproduced Rosli’s statement about being persecuted, on the day he was charged in court exactly at this same time three years ago:

“The timing to prosecute me on the eve of Hari Raya is calculated to humiliate me. The intention is clear. I think I have suffered enough.”

Reading that, my heart felt for Rosli. But today, on the facebook network, I saw a picture of Rosli getting ready to go for Solat Eidil Fitri. I thought I should share that with you, a picture of an innocent man whom the MACC is still refusing to drop the charge against him in a case that they are doomed to lose. When I was in court for Rosli’ case, I managed to get a copy of his written representation to the MACC. Rosli’s letter to the MACC  is very sad, but I will skip that part. The part that displays his clarity of mind and strength of character is as follows:

“  Secara peribadi, saya menyokong kewujudan dan peranan SPRM sebagai satu Institusi keramat yang diperlukan demi membanteras gejala rasuah di Negara ini. Namun, akan menjadi satu kedukacitaan  jika institusi ini dianggap oleh masyarakat awam sebagai telah disalahgunakan sehingga memangsakan orang orang yang tidak bersalah.

Andaikata sahutan hati saya menyentuh naluri insaniah Dato’, saya yakin kita dapat berkerjasama memainkan peranan masing-masing demi menegakkan kebenaran dan perlaksanaan undang-undang dengan tulus dan ikhlas mematuhi ‘Rule of Law’.

These are powerful words coming from a man seeking closure to a painful episode in his life. Unfortunately, I am told that the MACC has ignored his passionate plea to settle the case amicably. Yet again God has shown His mysterious Hands. On the same facebook network, I saw that Rosli is receiving many well wishers and supporters to his house on this Eidil Fitri, one of whom is Tan Sri Robert Phang who sits on the MACC Panel. Now that is truly heart warming.

Rosli leaving for Solat Eidilfitri

To Tan Sri Robert Phang, I say you are a courageous man to give comfort to a man being persecuted while holding IGP Musa Hassan accountable for his misdeeds!

For Rosli Lawyer: Justice delayed till September 30

Rosli’s fate still hangs in a suspense. His Eidul Fitri is denied for  4th time as the MACC drags its case. Fortunately, he does have to wait for ever. Both the prosecution and defense will be present their written submissions to the presiding judge by September 30. I hope and pray that DPP Zulkarnian will not in the 11th hour seek a further extension to time to enable him to complete his magnum opus. He is known not only for court antics and dramatics, but also for taking leave whenever it suited him.

I also wish to remind Rosli’s counsel to ensure his submission to the presiding judge should be coordinated with that of the prosecution.  Both submissions should be presented on the same day and time. We will never know what can happen in this day and age of zerox and fax machines. It has happened in this case of project proposals and tenders and it can easily be the case if Rosli’s defense counsel does not err on the side of caution.

Like Man on Wire: We can never know what can happen in this day and age of zerox and fax machines.

Justice thwarted is Justice Denied: Badawi must resign as MAS Adviser

August 29, 2010

by Din Merican

When I met Tun Abdullah Badawi in the corridors of Parliament a few months ago, we hugged each other (I have known him since our student days in Penang since 1958). “Let bygones be bygones” I said to him, ”I am only disappointed that as Prime Minister with absolute executive powers, Tun did not take on  Tun Dr. Mahathir and failed to ensure that you kept your promise to Malaysian voters in 2004 who gave you a resounding mandate”.He responded, “Din, I would destroy UMNO, if I did that”.

Badawi is my friend and a likeable, kind man, but when he became Prime Minister (his public relations team with the help of the ever compliant media labelled him “Mr. Clean”), I judged him not as a friend but as my Prime Minister and leader of our country.I expected great things to happen under the Badawi administration, given the mainstream media blitz he was receiving in 2003 when Tun Dr. Mahathir handed over the reins of power. I also thought Dr. Mahathir did the right thing when he promised not to comment on his successor.

As Prime Minister, Abdullah Badawi let Malaysians down, especially men and women of my generation, and generally also the current generation, by his NATO (No Action Talk Only) approach to managing the affairs of state. His laid back approach enabled his son, Kamaluddin Abdullah and his son-in-law, Khairy Jamaluddin, the present UMNO Youth Leader and the 4th Floor boys, to meddle in the affairs of state and do deals which made them very wealthy.

His laid back approach enabled his son, Kamaluddin Abdullah and his son-in-law, Khairy Jamaluddin, the present UMNO Youth Leader and the 4th Floor boys, to meddle in the affairs of state and do deals which made them very wealthy.

A Tragic Prime Minister with Promises unkept

Have I changed my assessment of Badawi as Prime Minister? Is he really “Mr Clean”? I think, he did one thing right and I told him that. He gave us democratic space to express our views and criticise him. I said to him, “Tun, if  Dr. Mahathir had been in power and I wrote about him as I did about you, critically and brutally, I would have, in all probability, landed in Kamunting”. He gave me his wry smile. He too thought that democratic space was the best of his legacy. But overall, I rated his administration poorly – a D-minus! He did not “seize the moment” (to quote the title of Richard M. Nixon’s book) to make a difference. Tragic indeed for him and more importantly for our country.

Overall, I rated his administration poorly – a D-minus!

Badawi rejected by Malaysians in 2008

So Malaysians returned him a favour in 2008. In 2004, Malaysians gave him a strong mandate because they wanted change and truly believed his election manifesto to reform the country from the authoritarian rule that they had to endure under his predecessor for 22 years. When Badawi failed to deliver, his “work with me, not work for me” administration was rejected in the 2008 General Elections when the UMNO-Barisan Nasional lost its 2/3rd majority in Parliament. As a result, he had to step down in 2009 and hand the reins of power to his Deputy, Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak. Dr. Mahathir (known to some of my friends as “Bomoh” –Medicine Man) claimed credit for Badawi’s exit as Prime Minister. As a result, the 4th Prime Minister is now emboldened to think that he can also do the same thing to Najib should the incumbent Prime Minister fail to meet his expectations. But all this is a sideshow.

Not “Mr Clean” after all

What about his “Mr. Clean” image? Well, it is a figment of the media’s creation rather than reality. I gave him the benefit of the doubt because, let us face it, he appears and paints a picture of being a devout Muslim and is the father of Islam Hadhari. He is perceived by all Malaysians as a very nice, cultured and incorruptible kind man. Having read Raja Petra Kamaruddin’s piece entitled “Now Let’s See Who Else Plundered MAS” in Malaysia Today (August 28, 2010), we can now safely conclude that the “Mr. Clean” image was just that — an image, created by the mainstream media (MSM). Foremost amongst the spin masters of the MSM was undoubtably Dato’ Kalimullah Hassan until even Dr Mahathir found it necessary to denounce him.

I would like to quote RPK : “Tajudin Ramli, however, was not the only one who plundered MAS. Abdullah Badawi himself had done the same thing back in 2002 when he was still only the Deputy Prime Minister. And what Abdullah Badawi did was – he forced MAS to give the right of privatising MAS Catering Sdn Bhd to his family company, Fahim Capital Sdn Bhd.

LSG Sky Chefs Brahim’s Sdn Bhd (“LSGB”) is a joint venture between Malaysia Airline System Berhad, which holds 30%, and Brahim’s-LSG Sky Chefs Holdings Sdn Bhd (“BLH”), which holds 70%.

It appears like Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad knew this but he nevertheless allowed it to happen, probably so that he had something to hold against Abdullah Badawi in case the latter reneged on his promises to the former. Maybe Mahathir thought that this would be his trump card against Abdullah Badawi when the former relinquishes power to the latter in 2003.

But, regardless of all that, Abdullah Badawi still betrayed Mahathir. And he also betrayed Ramli Yusuff when he (Ramli), instead of Tajuddin Ramli, ended up in the dock. Why did Abdullah Badawi allow them to go for Ramli Yusuff instead of going for Tajudin Ramli?… Initially, it was quite perplexing as to why the head of the CCID was arrested and charged instead of the person he was pursuing, Tajudin Ramli. But when you see that the Prime Minister himself also had his hands in the MAS cash-box then it begins to make sense.

If the dirt (RPK used a different word that is taboo in my blog) in MAS were to hit the fan then some of this dirt would splash onto the Prime Minister. So better this dirt remains buried and those who were trying to bring it to the surface get sent to jail on fabricated charges. The courts have since ruled unfounded. And Abdullah Badawi demanded that he be made the MAS adviser in 2009 as part of his ‘retirement package’ so that he can continue to keep the dirt hidden.

Did the court not acquit Ramli Yusuff without his defence being called? And did the judge not chide the IGP, Musa Hassan, for this unreliable and untruthful testimony? What more proof do you need that Ramli Yusuff is a victim of persecution and that one of the reasons for this is his relentless pursuit of Tajudin Ramli.

What more proof do you need that Ramli Yusuff is a victim of persecution and that one of the reasons for this is his relentless pursuit of Tajudin Ramli.

And, to add icing to the cake, they also went for the lawyer for MAS, Rosli Dahlan. They alleged that he is an accomplice to Ramli Yusuff. But the court has ruled that Ramli Yusuff did not commit a crime. Can Rosli now still be found guilty of being an accomplice to a crime that the court says never happened? Let’s wait and see what happens because Rosli Dahlan’s trial will be decided very soon, about ten days more to be exact (6th-8th September 2010).”

Dato Ramli Yusuff and Lawyer Rosli Dahlan victimised for doing their job

I have written extensively about both Ramli and Lawyer Rosli Dahlan. Both were professionals in their respective fields, perhaps the best guys to have on my side, should Lady Luck turns against me. It seems to me that in our BolehLand professionals be it in the public sector or in commerce and industry are always victimised for doing their job. To prevent them from standing for and doing what is right, Ramli and Rosli were given a public lynching. They were humiliated in the eyes of the Malaysian public and the world, charged in court just on fabricated evidence and lies and made to suffer emotionally. That was precisely what the MACC, the PDRM (Royal Malaysian Police) and the Attorney General did (he should read and understand Article 145(3) of the Malaysian Constitution) to Ramli four times in Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur. Ultimately Ramli was acquitted without his defence being called.

Attorney General should read and understand Article 145(3) of the Malaysian Constitution)

Lawyer Rosli’s track record

Throughout my attendance at Rosli’s trial, I have seen many lawyers, senior and junior, coming up to him giving words of support . I have seen the Bar Council representatives vouching for Rosli’s integrity and professionalism as a lawyer. I have seen even DPPs walking up to wish him the best and assuring him that he would be acquitted. I have also previously received an email from an Indonesian from Makassar, Mr Fredinand Lisardy, talking about how Rosli negotiated the release of the Malaysian accountants from KPMG who were detained by the corrupt KAPOLDA (Kepala Polis Daerah) Makassar in 2005. He was practically the country’s ambassador at that time when Dato’ Zainal had yet to receive his accreditation as our Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia. I verified this fact with Tan Sri Robert Phang who is now on the MACC Advisory Panel and all that I have heard  about him is true.

Tan Sri Robert Phang who is now on the MACC Advisory Panel verified how Rosli negotiated the release of the Malaysian accountants from KPMG who were detained by KAPOLDA (Kepala Polis Daerah) Makassar in 2005. He was practically the country’s ambassador at that time when Dato’ Zainal had yet to received his accreditation as Ambassador.

As for service to MAS, Bernama reported in 2009 that the MAS legal team led by Rosli succeeded to defeat a claim by a a German company called ACL, and reduced MAS’s liability from €63mil (RM300million ) to just €5mil (RM25million), which is less than 10% of the full claim. Then earlier this year Bernama again reported that Rosli secured MAS to be released from an ICC Arbitration claim by Air Maldives for US$90 million(RM315million). Both these liabilities were the just some of wrongdoings of Tajudin through his corporate vehicle, Naluri Berhad. And yet Tajudin walks away still a filthy rich man living in a horse ranch residence named AlRaudah (Garden of Heaven).

That Rosli acted so ably in negotiations with the Attorney-General of Maldives and Ministers of the Government of Maldives, showed that he did his best not just for a GLC but also in acting for the country. While Tajudin plundered MAS and totally depleted the RM600mil cash in MAS’s kitty, eventually leaving it with a deficit of RM8billion, this unassuming lawyer had actually saved MAS from a RM600mil liability over just two ventures. There may be many more that are yet to be disclosed.

Lawyer Rosli should be acquitted in the interest of Justice

Lawyer Rosli was made to suffer all that because the Unholy Trinity of the IGP, the AG and the MACC wanted him to squeal on Ramli and to serve as a warning to other professionals not to go against them.

With all the above good deeds, does Rosli deserve to be treated as he is now? Did he deserve to be brutalised, arrested and charged like a rapist or a murder? Lawyer Rosli was made to suffer all that because the Unholy Trinity of the IGP, the AG and the MACC wanted him to squeal on Ramli and to serve as a warning to other professionals not to go against them. They wanted Lawyer Rosli to betray his client and classmate, a friendship formed since their days at the International Islamic University. But Rosli is not Abdullah Badawi who would betray his oath of office. Rosli is not Dato’ Nordin Hassan, the MACC Director of Prosecution, who was also Rosli’s and Ramli’s classmate, but who would betray them and sell them down the river just for his career and his Dato’ship. But Rosli refused to be compromised just to save himself. Rosli stood steadfastly by what is right and true and defended Ramli’s innocence till the end. Now we know why both Ramli and Lawyer Rosli were brought down.

If these two professionals were allowed to finish their job, the scam that the Badawi family was doing to MAS would also be revealed. RPK’s expose` had shown the Badawi’s family interest in the extremely lucrative MAS catering contract.

As of now, Ramli is a free man. Logically Lawyer Rosli should also be freed. His case which will resume a few days before Eid-Mubarak should be a clear cut one and the verdict is obvious to me that he should be acquitted without his defence being called. The MACC witnesses like Kevin Morais and others are not only incredible in their testimonies but they have also been shown to have lied out rightly. I should know as I have been attending his trial and have been writing about Rosli’s case on this blog.

Badawi should be removed as MAS Adviser

It has become common practice for former Prime Ministers to be made Advisers to GLCs. Tun Hussein Onn was Adviser of PETRONAS. Tun Mahathir is Adviser to PETRONAS and PROTON. Not to be left out, Badawi too insisted to be made an Adviser to MAS. Isn’t this a clear conflict of interest when his family is having a vested interest in MAS Catering? In analysis, only Tunku Abdul Rahman, the father of Malaysian Independence, retired from his post without any advisory role. Therein lies the difference between these men. I think we should discontinue this practice. It appears that Badawi wants to be MAS Adviser just to enjoy First Class travel, to enjoy First Class perks and to protect his family’s interest. That is very repulsive.

It appears that Badawi wants to be MAS Adviser just to enjoy First Class travel, to enjoy First Class perks and to protect his family’s interest. That is very repulsive.

Both Mahathir and Badawi who are already well compensated for their services (more of a disservice, I think) to our country must be asked to step down  or removed if they are not prepared to do it of their own accord. Prime Minister Najib should remove them to avoid conflicts of interest or risk inciting public anger.

In a few days we will celebrate Merdeka and then Malaysia Day. On behalf of all Malaysians, I ask Najib to unshackle himself from the baggage of his predecessors. Najib must “merdekakan” (liberate) himself from their shadows. Najib must do what is right, less Malaysians will teach him a lesson in GE13, the way they did to Badawi in GE12 in 2008. The question is: will the Prime Minister do it?

MACC’s Appeal Dismissed in Sabah – Dato Ramli Yusuff is vindicated for the Third Time

March 18, 2010

MACC’S APPEAL IN DISMISSED IN SABAH -  DATO RAMLI VINDICATED THE 3^rd TIME

By Din Merican

There was suspense this morning at the Kota Kinabalu High Court, when High Court Judicial Commissioner Dato’ Abdul Rahman Sebli refused to adjourn the hearing of the MACC’s appeal against the acquittal of Dato’ Ramli  Yusuff for the charge of abuse of power in using a police Cessna purportedly to view land that Dato’ Ramli was said to have interest in.

The adjournment was sought because Dato’ Shafee Abdullah had to attend to another appeal in the Court of Appeal. Assisting counsel, James Tsai, had no choice but to proceed after DPP Ahmad Bache said that he was ready with his written and oral submission. After hearing the submissions, the JC took a short adjournment. More suspense.

At 11.30 am, when the Learned JC pronounced his judgment, it brought tears of joy to Dato’ Ramli and his family, mostly his wife’s who are Sabahan’s This is Providence. A reward from heaven for the patience and resilience that Dato’ Ramli had shown throughout this nightmarish episode.

Dato’ Rahman Sebli has also now redeemed the honour and pride of the Malay members of the Bench, by showing that he is independent minded just like Judge Supang Lian and Judge Gunalan who both  had earlier acquitted Dato’ Ramli in two separate trials at the Sessions Court in Sabah and in Kuala Lumpur.

Since the day he was dubbed the “RM 27 Milliion Cop”, Dato Ramli had to endure suspicion, public scorn and humiliation. It is now clear that the mainstream newspapers have publicly lynched an innocent man.

I have been following Dato’ Ramli’s trial. Last Friday I was in court when Judge Gunalan acquitted Dato Ramli. I heard Dato’ Ramli say how his life had been destroyed and he now needs to rebuild it again. I heard him express his gratitude to his very supportive wife, the charming Dato’ Anita Harun. I heard him express regret that his mother had died without seeing him vindicated of all the false accusations leveled against him. May his mother’s soul rest in peace because Muslims believe that the prayers and good deeds of a filial son will always be rewarded.

I heard Ramli expressing regret that what happened to him showed that the spirit of camaraderie and espirit-de-corps is dead in the Police Force and of his concern that if this could happen to him, then it could happen to anyone else within the force and to the public. He lamented that once morale is dead in a uniformed organization, it will disintegrate and be dysfunctional . That is the state that the PDRM is in today.

I checked all my previous reports and other sources which showed that Ramli had made 35 asset declarations to his department over 33 years of service. It was only when Musa became IGP in 2006 that Ramli’s troubles started. IGP Musa Hassan withheld a police medal that he coveted most – the Pingat Gagah Pasukan Polis (PGPP), more than the 6 Datukships awarded by the various states.

I reviewed all previous postings and it showed that in 2007, when Ramli’s CCID moved in on the illegal money lending Along syndicate and detained one Goh Cheng Poh @Tengku Goh, Ramli became the subject of an MACC investigation. The mainstream media ran to town with the “ RM27 million Cop” story and quoted sources from within the MACC. That story ran on for months until Ramli was charged. And then it went quiet when the charges were not for corruption but for failing to declare some small change and for taking a joyride. That the whole machinery of PDRM was used to demolish this man surprised not only the public but also Ramli himself. It was as if he had committed an unforgivable sin that cannot be atoned.

For now, I propose to flash back only on the Sabah case since the MACC’s appeal has now been dismissed. I will not touch on the Kuala Lumpur cases because the MACC’s Head of Prosecution, Dato’ Razak Musa had announced that the MACC will appeal against that acquittal. Apparently, that is an order from A-G Gani, while Dato’ Razak Musa himself is reluctant to proceed with the appeal. So much for MACC’s independence.! An appeal would be a big mistake as I am sure Judge Gunalan would, as was done by Judge Supang Lian, write a more damning judgment regarding the MACC’s role in fixing Ramli.

The court records in the Sabah trial showed that the trial took 59 days involving 75 prosecution witnesses. The charge alleged that Ramli had used a police Cessna to conduct an aerial tour of Sabah to view his land. Yet the two pilots were only introduced as the 69^th and 73^rd witnesses, almost at the end of the case. Why? Because the case would have no leg to stand on if the two pilots had testified at the beginning. They needed to drag the case so that Ramli can never return to the Police Force to haunt them later.

The charge was amended twice during the trial and once before the verdict was delivered. Sounds familiar like Sodomy I? Yes! That is the SoP  (standard operating procedure) whenever A-G Gani and IGP Musa Hassan are involved.

The court transcript showed that DSP Chew Kam Soon from Polis Tatatertib came all the way from Bukit Aman KL to this remote village in Sabah with greetings -“IGP Musa Hassan sampaikan salam” to court a villager named Roslan Abdul Hamid. Two weeks later, this dubious Roslan purportedly called the MACC office to make various allegations against Dato’ Ramli for disturbing the villagers’ land. The mainstream media then screamed that Ramli was a “Godfather”, as an attempt to camouflage the real god father of the crime syndicate.

During cross examination, this villager admitted that he never mentioned Ramli’s name and that no incident happened in his village. He also admitted that he could not type the long complaint letter that was presented to the MACC office. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that DSP Chew Kam Soon must have prepared the complaint.Yet MACC Superintendant, Sok One a/l Esen lodged a report that made specific mention of Ramli’s name, This was after he was made to admit under cross examination that he had destroyed  a piece of paper that contained the first information report. Ramli has lodged a police report against Sok One for destroying evidence and for fabricating the first information report.

For so long as Musa Hassan is IGP and Gani Patail is A-G, is at any surprise at all that reports against them will be buried? That is what Anwar Ibrahim said against them. Former Police Assistant Director CID, Dato’ Mat Zin also accused these two of fabricating evidence. That is the credibility of the two highest law officers of this country.

Eventually the charge against Ramli had nothing to do with any abuse affecting land in that village. They charged Ramli for taking a joy ride on a Cessna, the stuff of a school truant! And yet over two years, covering 59 days and 75 witnesses, the MACC made Ramli to sit in the “caged- dock” in Kota Kinabalu like an animal or a freak show ( in Kota Kinabalu the dock is caged up with prison bars). That Ramli is to be publicly humiliated is so clear to everyone who followed that trial.

In actual fact, Ramli was on official duty in full uniform at that time and was accompanied by several other police officers. They were conducting an aerial survey over several known “hot-spots” along the coastal line of Sabah which Ramli had successfully prevented infiltration by the Abu Sayaf  militants and illegal immigrants when he was Commissioner of Sabah. Yet, all these were blacked out by the national newspapers during his trial. The mainstream, newpapers were conspirators in the public lynching of this man.

The court transcript showed that IGP Musa Hassan himself appeared as the 75^th witness in order to rebut the evidence of the other prosecution witnesses. This invited a damning remark in the judgment of Sessions Court Judge Supang Lian when she stated that “ the evidence of PW75 (Prosecution Witness 75) ) was “contrariwise” to the testimony of other senior officers and found that IGP Musa Hassan’s testimony was not reliable”. It is as good as saying Musa Hassan is a liar!

I heard Ramli blaming himself for being a poor judge of character when he mentioned several times that he had treated Musa Hassan like a brother. Musa had directly served under Ramli for 6 years and  Ramli had given Musa Hassan two promotions. After Sodomy I which made Musa famous as “the Mattress Carrier”, Musa then had a mercuric rise and overtook Ramli to become IGP, Malaysia’s worst ever. Ramli refused to be drawn into that topic and said that it was Musa’s rezeki. Yet, he never imagined that Musa would use his powers as IGP to treat him so badly. After all, Musa Hassan is the son of a prominent Ustaz, and religious people are expected to have some compassion.

Despite all that had happened, Ramli did not seem overly bitter over what had befallen him. He was philosophical and said that a Muslim must accept qada’ and qadar (fate) and that when God test a man, it is a chance to show God’s hikmah and compassion. I have been personally following Dato Ramli’s trials and tribulations because it is an interesting story of a man’s life, of tragedy and how one deals with the fall from grace. Dato’ Ramli’s is one of those inspiring story.

Ramli obtained his LLB from the IIU (International Islamic University) in 1987 and was the first batch from that university together with Lawyer Rosli Dahlan, who suffered a lot more throughout this tragic episode. Rosli’s office was stormed, he was shouted at, roughly handcuffed till he bled and thrown into the MACC dungeon overnight before he was charged one day before Hari Raya Puasa of 2007. That this could happen to a respected senior lawyer is very frightening.

It is more bewildering when one considers that Dato’ Nordin Hassan, who was at that time the Head of Prosecution of the MACC, was also their classmate. That this could happen to Ramli and Rosli while their classmate is the Head of Prosecution in the MACC devastated both of them. It seems that camaraderie is dead not only in the Police Force but also amongst the IIU brotherhood.

The contrast between these people becomes more stark when one considers that Ramli saved Anwar Ibrahim from being beaten to the pulp by former IGP Rahim Noor, while Nordin Hassan prosecuted Anwar in Sodomy I and now Sodomy II. Nordin Hassan also had a mercuric rise and he is today the Deputy Head of Prosecution over the whole of Malaysia, next only to Tun Majid. It appears that jockeying for post and position is also a preoccupation amongst this first batch of  IIU graduates even if it means bringing down your own friends and Muslim brothers. To Dato’ Nordin Hassan, I say to him – beware of divine retribution.

Now that Judge Gunalan has found that there is no predicated offence, is there any reason for the MACC to still want to proceed against Lawyer Rosli Dahlan? After all, the MACC have already admitted that Rosli was never the subject of any investigation and was  only needed as a witness. It seems that the MACC witnesses either end up dead like Teoh Beng Hock or bloodied and beaten like Rosli.

While we are euphoric that Justice has prevailed, I want to remind Malaysians that the case against Rosli will be continued on 31^st May 2010. Rosli was charged before Ramli but is now still having this case hovering over his head.

I call on the Bar Council to make representation to the MACC and the A-G to withdraw this charge against Rosli. Until Rosli is released from this trauma, I will keep reminding that no innocent man should ever be subjected to the abuses that this man had been subjected to.

I want Malaysians to believe and have faith that change can come if we all work together towards it. God is watching us.

Support Rosli Dahlan’s Fight Against Arrogance of Power

December 18, 2009

Also Top Posts on Dec 19, 2007, Blogs of the Day- Rank 51 WP worldwide

http://botd.wordpress.com/2009/12/19/top-posts-1331/

Fight to allow Appeal against Abdul Razak Baginda’s Acquittal for the Murder of Mongolian Model and Stand By Rosli Dahlan

The Ramli trial ends and Rosli Dahlan’s trial begins on Monday December 21, 2009 at the Special Criminal Sessions Court 10, Jalan Duta  Courts Complex Kuala Lumpur (specially created for MACC cases). What is in issue in the Rosli case is the victimisation of a lawyer who has the courage and conviction to stand up for his client , Dato’ Ramli Yusuff, and for his own rights which are also our fundamental rights as citizens of Malaysia.

En Rosli has sued the MACC, Bank Negara and the Government of Malaysia for various abuses of powers and laws, assault and defamation by its office bearers. En Rosli also sued the mainstream media - Utusan Malaysia, The Star and The New Straits Timesfor colluding and conspiring with those in the corridors of power to disparage and damage him. Already Utusan Malaysia had made an apology but is still sued. It is unprecedented for a professional or any citizen to take on the whole establishment in this manner.

In his 3 legal suits, En Rosli narrated the conspiracy to eliminate Dato’ Ramli from the the PDRM after investigations by Dato’ Ramli’s CCID officers revealed that IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan had links to the Along syndicate. The criminal Goh Cheng Poh @ Tengku Goh was eventually released at the advice of the A-G .

The fall out resulted in several junior officers being charged, presumably to discredit them for having uncovered IGP Musa Hassan’s misdeeds. En Rosli has accused the main stream media of false and sensational reporting in making it out that Dato’ Ramli had assets worth RM 27 million.

The eventual charges against Dato’ Ramli was not for having wealth illegally or for any amount near the RM 27 million. Instead, Dato’ Ramli was charged for abuse of power and for his family’s ownership of property worth nowhere near the RM 27 million reported by the newspapers. En Rosli had also featured prominently in the civil and criminal action that the national airlines, MAS, had pursued against its former chairman, Tan Sri Tajuddin Ramli (TR) for losses in excess of RM 8 billion. Dato’ Ramli’s CCID (Commercial Crime Investigation Department) also investigated this case.

To this date, TR has not been charged despite the reccomendations made by Dato’ Ramli that several offences have been committed. Instead Dato’ Ramli and En Rosli were charged. These “Mickey Mouse” charges against Dato’ Ramli and En Rosli were clearly for a collateral purpose which showed the collusion between the IGP, the AG and the ACA/MACC to stop all these investigations that would be embarrassing to the Government.

In his legal suits, En Rosli provided an account how officers of ACA/MACC ambushed his office to make an unlawful arrest on him (Read RPK’s posting below). They stormed into his office, shouted and roughened him up before his staff, handcuffed him so tightly that his wrist bled. They then kept him in the ACA underground cell overnight and refused him medical treatment and also his request to lodge a police report, so that the injury and swelling could subside.

Yes, all this is very reminiscent of what happened to Anwar Ibrahim 10 years ago where the Police had kept Anwar unseen for weeks hoping to let the black eye heal. Ironically, Dato’ Ramli was also the person who “rescued” Anwar from being bludgeoned to death by then IGP Rahim Noor.

Fortunately for En Rosli, the MACC did not kill him like they did to Teoh Beng Hock probably because the ACA/MACC Putrajaya cell is an underground dungeon and not on the 8th Floor like Plaza Masalam where the Selangor MACC has its office.

En Rosli’s suit also recounted how his request to pray in the surau was refused and instead he had to pray next to the toilet wc bowl in the cell. The food brought by his wife for buka puasa was refused and he coud not meet his wife and children who kept vigil that night. Even his request to meet his lawyers was refused. The next day, the ACA handcuffed him all the way from Putrajaya to the court and paraded him in that condition from the public car park through the court corridors.

The objective was clear – Humiliate him to the max. That’s what you get for stepping on the toes of those in the corridors of power. Such arrogance by these demi-gods who were mostly muslims and yet gave little regard to the fact that they did all these to En Rosli in the holy month of Ramadan. Not a little bit of Islamic charity.

That is why we applaud and support En Rosli for his steadfastness and resilience to bring this matter to court; to see that the Rule of Law is applied; to put a stop to these abuses and to signal an end to such arrogance of powers. But Monday 21st December is his criminal trial and we hope that En Rosli will get fair treatment from the court, the last bastion of justice that he still believes in.

Tourism Malaysia’s Dato Mirza a victim of Injustice

Do we know that the Attorney- General has lodged an appeal filed out of time against Dato Mirza of Tourism Malaysia to cover up for the appeal that the A-G had earlier made against Dato’ Ramli Yusuff in his acquittal by the Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court, just to be seen as being fair? Poor Mirza, who had been acquitted, but now suffers the agony of going through another display of the arrogance of the AG and the MACC.

Pakatan Rakyat: It is not too late to appeal against Abdul Razak Baginda

The issue is not so much about Mirza in regard to Ramli’s case, but the issue is why did the A-G not appeal  against  Abdul  Razak Baginda’s acquittal? Was it because Gani Patail received a telephone from an earthly political God? Since, in Mirza’a case, the court granted the A-G an extension of time to only now file the appeal, therefore by the same logic, it is still not too late to appeal against Razak Baginda.

Is it not time that we, as members of civil society and  political activists in Pakatan Rakyat, push the A-G on that and see what silly answers he can come up with? It is my fervent hope that at tomorrow’s Pakatan Rakyat First convention, delegates will renew their efforts and make a resolution to the effect that given the precedent shown in Dato’ Mirza case, the Attorney-General will appeal against the acquittal of Razak Baginda for the murder of Altantuya Shaarribu, the Mongolian model who was brutally killed and then C4ed to pieces.

We are a nation of the Rule of Law, but we are now witnesses to the Rule by Men with unchecked powers to inflict emotional trauma and physical pain on those who dare to defend their fundamental rights and fight against selective prosecution.—Din Merican

What the Rosli Dahlan case is really all about

The ‘mistake’ Ramli made was that he engaged a solicitor to draft the official reply to the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA). The ACA then pounced on the solicitor and asked him to declare his assets as well. The solicitor wrote back seeking further clarification but the ACA did not respond to the query. Instead, they arrested him.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

On this Monday, December 21, 2009, prominent lawyer Rosli Dahlan will be in court to face a charge of not responding to an ACA (now MACC) letter. They have made it look like Rosli has violated the law by not declaring his assets when asked to do so. The question is: why should Rosli declare his assets when he is merely the lawyer acting for former Commercial Crimes Investigation Department Director Datuk Ramli Yusuff?

This was never explained. The MACC went for Rosli without explaining why they are doing so. They just sent him a letter asking him to declare his assets without any explanation as to why he needs to declare his assets. When Rosli responded to their letter by asking for further clarification, instead of replying, they came to arrest him on the eve of Hari Raya. And they arrested him in his office in front of his staff. And they roughed him up when they handcuffed him resulting in injury.

Okay, they did not throw him out of the window like they did Teoh Beng Hock. But was all this necessary?

This is what The Star reported:

Lawyer charged with hiding information on his assets

Lawyer Rosli Dahlan was charged at a Sessions Court here with not disclosing all information on his assets in his sworn statement last month.

Mr. Rosli Dahlan

Rosli, 46, a partner in Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill, was alleged to have not complied with the terms of a notice dated July 17, 2007, issued by the Prosecutor under Section 32(1)(b) of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997, to give full information relating to his assets.

Under the notice, the date of which had been extended to Aug 16, he was required to disclose all information, written under oath. (Read more here:http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/13/courts/19161639&sec=courts)

Of course, the real issue is they wanted to get Ramli Yusuff. And why do they want to get Ramli Yusuff? Because they want to eliminate any possible successor to the IGP. You see, the IGP was supposed to retire in August 2007 so that would make Ramli his possible successor. But if they can get rid of Ramli then there would no longer be any ‘suitable successor’. And this would mean the IGP could get an extension of service for an indefinite period of time.

The issue is simple. Musa Hassan must stay. And for him to stay then Ramli has to go. But there is a small problem getting rid of Ramli. They had already fixed him up with allegations of not declaring RM27 million in assets (not for acquiring those assets but for not declaring them). But along came Rosli who presented a brilliant defence that threatened to thwart their plan to get rid of Ramli.

They therefore had to come out with a new game plan. To get rid of Ramli and make sure he goes to jail they must first bring down Rosli. And that was the beginning of Rosli’s problems, added to the irritation Rosli and Ramli posed by digging up the losses of RM8 billion suffered by MAS that we talked about earlier.

And as follows was what was written about the matter two years ago:

The Land of Walt Disney

Today, after many months of ‘rumours’, Datuk Ramli Yusuff, the Director of the Commercial Crimes Investigation Department (CCID), is finally being charged. And he is facing four ‘Mickey Mouse’ charges that would make even Walt Disney proud.

Initially, it was ‘leaked’ that Ramli is being investigated for accumulating RM27 million in assets which he did not declare. He was then given a month to submit his full statement of income and expenditure over 37 years since 1970. Understandably, it is humanly impossible for anyone to account for his or her last 37 months income and expenditure, let alone the last 37 years. Nevertheless, Ramli managed to submit his full statement of accounts prepared by no less than a qualified accountant.

The ‘mistake’ Ramli made was that he engaged a solicitor to draft the official reply to the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA). Being a man learned in law, Ramli decided not to do what Raja Petra Kamarudin had done, and that is to represent himself — as the court would normally say, “a man who represents himself has a fool for a client”. He decided instead to engage a solicitor to handle what appeared to be the beginning of a very messy legal tangle.

The ACA then pounced on the solicitor and asked him to declare his assets as well. The solicitor wrote back seeking further clarification but the ACA did not respond to the query. When the deadline expired, the ACA came to the solicitor’s office two days before Hari Raya and arrested him for non-compliance to the order that he declare his assets. The solicitor was roughed up and handcuffed in full view of the entire office as one would to a child rapist-killer. The ACA retorted that they are not obliged to reply to any query but those ordered to declare their assets are obligated to do so. It was a beautiful trap and the solicitor walked right into it and got snared. Let this be a lesson to the rest of us. When the ACA keeps quiet then that is bad news, as this solicitor found out the hard way.

The solicitor tried to talk to the ACA officers to allow him time to volunteer his presence at the ACA office but he was told that he needed to be arrested there and then and be brought in immediately. The matter just cannot wait, Hari Raya or no Hari Raya. On reaching the ACA office, the matter suddenly lost all urgency and the solicitor was locked up overnight in the lockup only to be attended to the following day. It appears like all they wanted to do was to lock him up for the night and not allow him to go home. The next day, they charged him for non-compliance to the order to declare his assets. So it was not really that urgent after all and his arrest could have waited until the next day.

Was the solicitor a government servant? Was he involved in corrupt practices? Had he received bribes for dishing out lucrative government contracts to Chinese businessmen? Was he on the payroll of the organised crime syndicates and had received millions as an inducement to turn a blind eye to the prostitution, loan sharking, drugs and illegal gambling rackets? No, this particular solicitor made the mistake of acting on behalf of the Director of the CCID.

Okay, the Federal Constitution of Malaysia says that every citizen is entitled to legal representation. And Ramli, being a citizen of Malaysia, is also entitled to legal representation. But any solicitor who represents him runs the risk of arrest. And this did happen to Rosli Dahlan who was stupid enough to think that it is the right of all Malaysians to defend themselves against criminal charges and who was stupid enough to actually act on behalf of Ramli.

Anyway, Rosli has since made a police report alleging that he was injured during his arrest. He has also launched a civil suit against the ACA. The ACA responded by making a counter police report alleging that Rosli was abusive during his arrest and therefore the reason to rough him up and injure him. This was the same reason given by one-time IGP Rahim Noor in explaining why he needed to beat Anwar Ibrahim to a pulp and leave him unconscious on the floor of the police lockup with no medical attention until the following day. And to add icing to the cake, Rosli’s case has been transferred to Bukit Aman where for sure this time they are going to nail his balls to the wall, side-by-side with Ramli’s balls.

Malaysia Today has been saying for a long time now that there are serious problems in the judiciary. The response from the government was that Malaysia Today spreads lies. Today, that ‘lie’ is a proven fact, which will be recorded in the history books. Since June this year, Malaysia Today has been saying that there are also serious problems in the police force. A series of 12 articles were published with Affidavits, letters, and other documents to support this allegation. Again, this was denied by the Deputy Minister of Internal Security and the IGP. And today, one of the more senior officers in the police force slotted to become the next IGP if the present one retires is facing four criminal charges.

But is he really guilty? Is he really a criminal as they say? One ex-IGP said, going just by their lifestyles alone, it can be assumed that 40% of the police force is corrupted. One ex-Deputy IGP, in turn, said that if they want to clean up the police force then at least 90% of the police officers will have to be sacked. And he is being kind, he said, if not then the figure would be close to 100%. That is what the ex-IGP and ex-Deputy IGP said and they should know.

Is this matter really about whether Ramli is a crook? Time will of course tell whether he is and we shall all soon enough know once the trial gets underway. But will it be in the form of the Altantuya murder trail or in the form of the Anwar Ibrahim corruption-sodomy trial? — if you know what I mean, and if you don’t then I will not waste any time explaining as this would mean you are living the life of a frog under a coconut shell. Unfortunately, in Malaysia, a trial is not the correct reflection of guilt or innocence. The innocent can be sent to jail while the guilty walks free, even in cases such as murder. And this is why we need massive judicial reforms and this is also why the people profusely oppose the extension of the tenure of the Chief Justice — who according to the Rulers’ wishes should have retired yesterday.

Ramli was initially investigated for not declaring RM27 million in assets. The four charges that he faces, however, make no mention of the RM27 million. Instead, he is alleged to have failed to declare small change. What was all this RM27 million about then? Why was this figure bandied about these last many months? And who leaked this figure? Somehow the press got wind of this figure so someone must have leaked it to the press. And it was certainly not Ramli because he had no inkling how this figure came about. We must therefore assume that it was the ‘other side’ that leaked it.

This one fact alone gives an impression that there is more than meets the eye here. This is not about a corrupted police officer. If it was, then Parliament would have to set up a special court like they did for the Rulers and about 50 new judges would have to be employed so that all the cases can be settled before all the judges, the accused, the AG and all witnesses die of old age. Yes, that would be how many police officers who will be put on trial.

Anyway, as I said earlier, this is not about whether Ramli is innocent or guilty. We will allow the court to decide that, as I am sure they will dispense justice now that they will be having a new boss (at least I am crossing my fingers and hoping that pigs can fly). What we want to know is whether this is a simple and cut-and-dry case of corruption or failure to declare assets or is this actually fallout from a turf war in the police force with two sides fighting for control of the very lucrative drugs, prostitution, illegal gambling and loan sharking business?

I am prepared to bet ten jugs of beer that this is not about cleaning out the police force or about eradicating corruption but is in actual fact a turf war to control the very lucrative drugs, prostitution, illegal gambling and loan sharking business. And I further bet that no one will dare take my bet. Yes, there is more than meets the eye. There is a sleight of hand, which even the great David Copperfield would find awesome. Malaysia Today is not about reporting the news. Malaysia Today is about telling the untold story. Malaysia Today is about exposing the shenanigans, excesses, transgressions and abuses perpetuated by those who walk in the corridors of power. Malaysia Today speaks without fear or favour. And Malaysia Today is going to get to the bottom of this charade and spill the beans for whatever it is worth. So stay tuned as there is more, much more, to come.

Until we next ‘talk’, adios muchachos!

(The ex-Victorians Community Blog Forum, 1 November 2007)

Ex-CCID chief Ramli acquitted of abuse of power

Former Bukit Commercial Crimes Investigation Department director Datuk Ramli Yusuff was acquitted by the Sessions Court here of abusing his public office two years ago.

He was accused of ordering and using a Royal Malaysia Police Cessna Caravan aircraft to take him on an aerial surveillance of two lots in Ulu Tungku, Lahad Datu, in which his real estate company Kinsajaya Sdn Bhd had a personal interest, on June 2007.

Judge Supang Lian in her ruling Monday held that Ramli had no case to answer as the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against him.

“The accused thus deserves to be acquitted,” she said and ordered the RM20,000 bail and all evidence to be returned.

The 56-year-old Ramli was charged under Section 15(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act for abusing his public office through the unauthorised use of a police Cessna Caravan aircraft for pecuniary gain. The charge provides for imprisonment not exceeding 20 years and a minimum fine of RM10,000 upon conviction.

The offence was allegedly committed at 7.50am on June 15, 2007, at the Sabah Police Air Unit in Tanjung Aru, here.

At Monday’s hearing, Ramli was represented by counsels, Datuk Mohd Shafie Abdullah and James Tsai while the prosecution team was headed by Deputy Public Prosecutor Kevin Morais. Among those who had testified during the trial was Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan. – The Star, 27 July 2009