'Political contributions graft if there's no transparency'

Are political donations done discreetly and not in a transparent manner a form of corruption?

Or could the controversial RM40 million allegedly channel from Hong Kong to Sabah Umno be a form of money-laundering?

One of the lingering questions that emerged at the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA) conference that ended last week, and iremains a bone of contention, is whether political contributions can be considered a form of corruption.

This question was posed to the panel during the ICACC by a member of the floor during the conference, way before the same matter was answered by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and de facto law minister Nazri Abdul Aziz in Parliament.

The question whether the Malaysian arrested in Hong Kong for having a RM40 million, which was allegedly to be channelled to a Sabah political party, was considered as a form of corruption was posed to MACC deputy head of prosecution Anthony Kevin Morais and Hong Kong director of prosecution Kevin Zervos. The moderator for the panel was former Federal Court judge Abdul Kadir Sulaiman.

Experts: MACC's procedures flawed, not the law

Legal experts have disagreed with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) assessment that some laws should be amended before it can be more effective in nabbing top corrupt politicians.

On Wednesday, Kubang Kerian MP Salahuddin Ayub, a member of the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on corruption, revealed that the MACC had argued it was hampered by "archaic provisions" in existing laws.

Salahuddin (left) had cited a case raised by the MACC to the PSC in which a wealthy state leader could not be prosecuted because of flaws in the law, despite six investigation papers being opened on the said individual.

Among others, Salahuddin said that the MACC had told the PSC that it wanted section 23 and 50 (see below) of the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 amended.

Senior lawyer Baljit Singh Sidhu, who also teaches law, disagreed with the need for amendments in the two sections.

"In fact, section 23 is taken from, and similar to, the Hong Kong law. Hence, I do not understand why the MACC is claiming the law is archaic, whereas it had only been recently legislated (three years ago).

"Furthermore, you have the Prevention of Corruption Act 1997 provisions under the Penal Code and the Emergency Order. What other legislation does the MACC need?" he told Malaysiakini.

Graft confab a sandiwara, says Robert Phang

KUALA LUMPUR: A former MACC adviser has poured scorn on the international anti-corruption conference that begins here tomorrow, calling it a waste of time and an occasion for the Malaysian government to pretend that that it is serious about fighting graft.

Robert Phang, who resigned from the MACC advisory panel last year, said today that the sixth conference of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities would be worthwhile only if the Malaysian delegation were to use it as an opportunity to address long-standing allegations against Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail.

The conference “looks good on the macro scale”, he told FMT. “But when it comes down to the real deal, the micro, it doesn’t address anything. It will put on a good show, pretending that the MACC and government mean business in combating corruption.

“The message from Malaysia has to be clear. Under current practices, the AG’s powers seem absolute. There are corruption allegations against him, but how can MACC act properly when prosecution powers lie solely with the AG’s Chambers?”

MCPF MELAWAT POLIS MANGSA TEMBAK

PETALING JAYA, 29 Sept -- Naib Pengerusi Yayasan Pencegahan Jenayah Malaysia (MCPF), Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye (tiga kiri) bertanya khabar kepada Koperal R. Subramaniam, 51, mangsa kes tembak sekumpulan penjenayah ketika mengadakan lawatan di Pusat Perubatan Universiti Malaya (PPUM) di sini hari ini.

Mangsa merupakan anggota polis unit peronda (MPV) dari Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Brickfields yang cedera di bahagian perut dan rakan setugasnya Koperal Nor Azlan Abu Bakar, 41, cedera di leher dalam kejadian kira-kira 6.45 petang pada 27 September lepas, dua anggota berkenaan ditembak ketika cuba melakukan pemeriksaan ke atas sebuah kereta yang dinaiki empat lelaki di persimpangan lampu isyarat di kawasan Lebuhraya Kuala Lumpur-Putrajaya berdekatan Kuchai Lama di sini.

Turut hadir isteri mangsa, P. Jiverege, 45, (dua, kanan), Ahli Exco MPCF, Tan Sri Robert Phang Miow Sin (dua kiri) dan Datuk Wong Pui Lam (kiri).


Source : Bernama

Cheras MP not allowed to query AG's 'misconduct'

Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia has rejected a parliamentary question from DAP’s Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai on the status of police investigations into allegations of professional misconduct by Attorney-General (AG) Abdul Gani Patail.

Tan, who is also DAP national vice-chairperson, had submitted a question as to the outcome of investigations into the book, ‘Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail Pemalsu, Penipu dan Penjenayah’.

Parliament secretary Roosme Hamzah wrote to Tan explaining that the question has been rejected under Standing Order 23(1)( c) ‘as it contains argument, interference, opinion, imputation, epithet or misleading, ironical or offensive expression, frivolous or seeking answers on trivial matters’.

A copy of the letter dated Sept 21 was made available to Malaysiakini.

Former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission advisory panel member Robert Phang had last month lodged a police report about the book, written and self-published by lawyer Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

Phang had also challenged the police and Gani to respond the accusations and to sue the author for defamation if these are false.

“The AG must seriously address the issue made in the public domain and should not be a liability to the government,” he said.

Phang, who was questioned for two hours following the report, told Gani not to be a stumbling block to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's reforms.

Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/209920

Invitation to non-Malays

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Armed Forces Ex-Servicemen's Association has called on more non-Malays to join the armed forces.

Its president, Datuk Muhammad Abdul Ghani, said the country should have more non-Malays in the armed forces, which was 90 per cent filled by Malays over the years.

He said a minimum quota of 30 per cent for non-Malays should be enforced to gain a balance. "The percentage is not impossible to achieve if all quarters take the effort to promote uniformed civil services to the younger generation."

He said parents and community leaders played a role in encouraging the younger generation to join.

"Instil the patriotic spirit in the younger generation and make them realise how important it is to serve the country. Don't just look at the financial aspect, but consider the speciality, image and identity which come with the job," he said.

Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation executive council member Tan Sri Robert Phang said the government should work towards changing the mindset and perception of non-Malays serving in uniformed agencies, especially the Chinese.

"The image of armed forces' jobs, mainly in terms of operations and promotions, has been badly sensationalised over the years. Now, the government is in the process of gaining the reputation back."

Referring to the recent turnout at the Territorial Army selection in Ipoh, he said: "Now that the non-Malay numbers are looking better, I think the government and Home Ministry must put their participation to good use."

An ex-policeman, M. Saravanan, 59, from Seremban, said the armed forces should improve the benefits they provided to attract more non-Malays. "Both the financial and service terms must be improved at all levels, including for the rank and file.

 Easy loan approvals and public sector services alone are not good enough to attract today's younger generation. "They look for stability and sustainability when choosing a field for their career."

 A former soldier, Mohd Salleh, 49 said the lack of non-Malay personnel in the armed forces was mainly because of the negative impression given to the public in the past.

 "Though everything is systematic and organised now, most people still have doubts about the so-called 'double standards' that are rumoured to be rife in those departments," he said.


Source : http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/invitation-to-non-malays-1.147169#

MoU to give chosen heart patients free medical service

PUTRAJAYA (Sept 13, 2012): Social Care Foundation Malaysia (SC Foundation) and Taipei Medical University (TMU) Hospital today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to provide free medical services for qualified cardiology patients from Malaysia with acute heart diseases.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said under the MoU, TMU Hospital agreed to provide 10 free medical services for qualified heart patients from Malaysia yearly, for a three year period (30 patients for three years).

"This was excellent services from TMU Hospital to provide free of charge services (operation, treatment, meal and accommodation for patients and their accompanying relatives).

"We also appreciate SC Foundation to take care of the transport fees that will reduce the cost of Malaysians going overseas for operation.

"Not only we reduce congestion in the country but we can strengthen our working relationship with the hospital," he told reporters after the MoU signing ceremony here today.

Liow and SC Foundation Chairman Tan Sri Robert Phang witnessed the MoU signing ceremony.
Liow said in the past Malaysia had been sending about 100 heart patients to Narayana, India per year to reduce congestion and waiting time in the country.

"However, we are actually reducing the number as we have increased the facilities in the country. We have 10 heart centres in the country, four cardio thoracic centres and six cardiology centres.

"We are planning to expand the National Heart Institute's pediatrics’ heart centre as well as another unit of pediatric heart centre in the Serdang Hospital," he added.

Meanwhile, Robert Phang said SC Foundation patients with chronic hearts diseases can apply to the foundation with referral from their attending doctors and submit their application together with their medical history and report.

SC Foundation will pay for the return airfare to Taipei and meal expenses for two accompanying immediate family members of each heart patient receiving treatment in Taipei, he added.


Source : http://www.thesundaily.my/news/488911