KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 - Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has admitted that he had persuaded Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to supply water to Singapore when the latter was the Johor menteri besar.
"Tan Sri Muhyiddin spoke the truth about my persuading him to supply water to Singapore but Lee Kuan Yew did not threaten to go to war if we did not supply water. If he had done that, I think I would have stopped any further supply," Dr Mahathir said in an article posted in his blog today.
Dr Mahathir was commenting on Muhyiddin's statement on Aug 19 that he (Dr Mahathir) had summoned him to attend a meeting with the visiting Singapore prime minister then, Lee Kuan Yew, over gas pipeline and water supply issues in Kuala Lumpur.
Muhyiddin had said that during the meeting between Dr Mahathir, the then finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin, Lee and himself, Lee had pressed for adequate water supply to the republic from Johor.
"Lee said Singapore was ready to go to war if Malaysia did not want to supply enough water and expressed his regret over the stalled water supply project from Sungai Lingu. I said we did not have the money and Lee said Singapore was willing to bear the cost and, when completed, the assets will be owned by Malaysia, so Singapore had merely footed the bill," said Muhyiddin.
Muhyiddin said this at a ceramah in Tanjung Putus, Bukit Mertajam, during the campaign in the Permatang Pasir state by-election to clarify allegations by the opposition that he (Muhyiddin) had sold a piece of land to Singapore in connection with the water treatment plant in Sungai Lingu, Bandar Tenggara, Johor.
Dr Mahathir said in his article he did not know about the sale of land to Singapore but as it was agreed that a treatment plant be built by Singapore in Johor, land would have to be made available.
"We were at that time trying to be friendly with Singapore in order to solve several problems. Although raw water would be supplied at 3 sen per 1,000 gallons, the understanding was that in future only treated water would be supplied when our treatment plants would be ready.
"We would also not buy any more treated water from Singapore at 50 sen per thousand gallons when our new treatment plant in Johor is ready.
"When we no longer needed to buy treated water from Singapore we could raise the price of raw water to Singapore without Singapore being able to raise the price of treated water to us.
"However, when we concluded the water supply agreement, Singapore raised a lot of issues regarding our railway land, the CIQ (Customs, Immigration and Quarantine) at Tanjong Pagar, training flights by Singapore warplanes over Malaysia and the Central Provident Fund.
"At that stage, I realised that being friendly with Singapore did not pay," Dr Mahathir added. - Bernama
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Mahkamah putus Dr Hatta tidak bersalah, polis diarah bayar gantirugi
Oleh Nazri Abdullah
Wed | Aug 26, 09 | 10:55:14 am MYT
KEMASKINI: KUANTAN, 26 Ogos: Mahkamah Tinggi Kuantan hari ini mengesahkan tangkapan terhadap Bendahari PAS, Dr. Hatta Ramli bersama dua lagi ahli PAS sewaktu berceramah di premis persendirian pada tahun 2000 adalah tidak sah dan melanggar perlembagaan.
Pesuruhjaya kehakiman Datuk Mariana Haji Yahya dalam keputusannya pagi tadi meminta gantirugi ditaksirkan kepada ketiga tiga mereka dihadapan pendaftar mahkamah dalam masa terdekat.
Hakim pada penghakimannya juga memberitahu, perhimpunan pada ceramah terbabit adalah aman dan tindakan polis menyerbu dan membuat tangkapan adalah satu pencerobohan dan telah mengakibatkan kekecohan.
Pada sidang media siang tadi, Hatta memberitahu keputusan mahkamah dalam kesnya itu memberikan implikasi besar kepada semua pertubuhan khasnya parti politik bahawa sebarang bentuk himpunan di premis persendirian adalah dibolehkan dan tidak memerlukan permit.
Ianya juga memberi peringatan kepada pihak polis supaya tidak lagi bertindak sesuka hati menangkap mereka yang berhimpun dalam kawasan premis persendirian.
"Kes ini menjadi land mark (mercu tanda) dalam kes sivil dan memberi dorongan kepada petugas petugas PAS dan parti bahawa di mana mana premis kita, kita boleh buat ceramah dan tidak perlu sebarang permit dengan syarat ianya tidak mengancam keselamatan Negara," ujarnya pada sidang media di pejabat agung PAS siang tadi.
Pada 10 Jun 2004, Sepasukan anggota polis diketuai Ketua Polis Daerah Rompin, Hanafi B. Haji Daud telah bertindak menangakap Hatta dan dua lagi rakannya semasa mengadakan ceramah di Markas Pas Bandar Muadzam Shah kerana mendakwa ceramah berkenaan tiada permit.
Ekoran penangkapan itu, ketiga tiga mereka telah dibawa ke lokap Bandar Muadzam Shah sebelum dipindahkan ke lokap Rompin dan ditahan selama 12 jam.
Biarpun ditahan namun tiada sebarang pendakwaan dikenakan terhadap mereka. Image
Mereka yang diwakili peguam Hanipa Maidin dan peguam Fadhli Ramli kemudiannya telah mengemukakan saman terhadap Ketua Polis Daerah Rompin berkenaan.
Jumlah gantirugi bagaimanapun belum dipastikan, Namun ianya akan dibuat dengan mengambil kira penahanan mereka selama 12 hari dan gantirugi- gantirugi lain.
"Polis ni kadang kadang kita bagi penjelasan pun dia tak mahu dengar. Heret kasar, tarik tanpa kasut, gari tak benar pakai baju dalam lokap aibkan orang. Kita tak boleh biarkan semua ni berlaku atas benda yang belum tentu melanggar undang undang. Jadi polis perlu ambil pengajaran," ujar Hatta lagi.
Hanipa yang hadir sama pada sidang media tersebut memberitahu, beberapa kes pendakwaan seumpanya yang melibatkan petugas dan pemimpin PAS tidak pernah kalah.
Antaranya kes Pendakwaraya melawan Timbalan Pesuruhjaya PAS Johor, Dr. Dzulkifli Ahmad dan kes membabitkan ajk PAS, Mohamad Sabu pada ceramahnya di Kuala Kelawang beberpa tahun lalu..
Hakim bagi kedua dua kes tersebut juga memutuskan perkara sama iaitu tidak salah mengadakan himpunan atau ceramah di premis persendirian.
"Setakat ni kes melibatkan petugas dan pemimpin PAS yang didakwa melanggar perkara 27 akta polis semua kita menang. Saya harap polis tak kacau lagi lepas ni, tapi kalu dia kacau lagi pun bagusla, kita boleh kaya sikit," ujar Hanipa berseloroh
Wed | Aug 26, 09 | 10:55:14 am MYT
KEMASKINI: KUANTAN, 26 Ogos: Mahkamah Tinggi Kuantan hari ini mengesahkan tangkapan terhadap Bendahari PAS, Dr. Hatta Ramli bersama dua lagi ahli PAS sewaktu berceramah di premis persendirian pada tahun 2000 adalah tidak sah dan melanggar perlembagaan.
Pesuruhjaya kehakiman Datuk Mariana Haji Yahya dalam keputusannya pagi tadi meminta gantirugi ditaksirkan kepada ketiga tiga mereka dihadapan pendaftar mahkamah dalam masa terdekat.
Hakim pada penghakimannya juga memberitahu, perhimpunan pada ceramah terbabit adalah aman dan tindakan polis menyerbu dan membuat tangkapan adalah satu pencerobohan dan telah mengakibatkan kekecohan.
Pada sidang media siang tadi, Hatta memberitahu keputusan mahkamah dalam kesnya itu memberikan implikasi besar kepada semua pertubuhan khasnya parti politik bahawa sebarang bentuk himpunan di premis persendirian adalah dibolehkan dan tidak memerlukan permit.
Ianya juga memberi peringatan kepada pihak polis supaya tidak lagi bertindak sesuka hati menangkap mereka yang berhimpun dalam kawasan premis persendirian.
"Kes ini menjadi land mark (mercu tanda) dalam kes sivil dan memberi dorongan kepada petugas petugas PAS dan parti bahawa di mana mana premis kita, kita boleh buat ceramah dan tidak perlu sebarang permit dengan syarat ianya tidak mengancam keselamatan Negara," ujarnya pada sidang media di pejabat agung PAS siang tadi.
Pada 10 Jun 2004, Sepasukan anggota polis diketuai Ketua Polis Daerah Rompin, Hanafi B. Haji Daud telah bertindak menangakap Hatta dan dua lagi rakannya semasa mengadakan ceramah di Markas Pas Bandar Muadzam Shah kerana mendakwa ceramah berkenaan tiada permit.
Ekoran penangkapan itu, ketiga tiga mereka telah dibawa ke lokap Bandar Muadzam Shah sebelum dipindahkan ke lokap Rompin dan ditahan selama 12 jam.
Biarpun ditahan namun tiada sebarang pendakwaan dikenakan terhadap mereka. Image
Mereka yang diwakili peguam Hanipa Maidin dan peguam Fadhli Ramli kemudiannya telah mengemukakan saman terhadap Ketua Polis Daerah Rompin berkenaan.
Jumlah gantirugi bagaimanapun belum dipastikan, Namun ianya akan dibuat dengan mengambil kira penahanan mereka selama 12 hari dan gantirugi- gantirugi lain.
"Polis ni kadang kadang kita bagi penjelasan pun dia tak mahu dengar. Heret kasar, tarik tanpa kasut, gari tak benar pakai baju dalam lokap aibkan orang. Kita tak boleh biarkan semua ni berlaku atas benda yang belum tentu melanggar undang undang. Jadi polis perlu ambil pengajaran," ujar Hatta lagi.
Hanipa yang hadir sama pada sidang media tersebut memberitahu, beberapa kes pendakwaan seumpanya yang melibatkan petugas dan pemimpin PAS tidak pernah kalah.
Antaranya kes Pendakwaraya melawan Timbalan Pesuruhjaya PAS Johor, Dr. Dzulkifli Ahmad dan kes membabitkan ajk PAS, Mohamad Sabu pada ceramahnya di Kuala Kelawang beberpa tahun lalu..
Hakim bagi kedua dua kes tersebut juga memutuskan perkara sama iaitu tidak salah mengadakan himpunan atau ceramah di premis persendirian.
"Setakat ni kes melibatkan petugas dan pemimpin PAS yang didakwa melanggar perkara 27 akta polis semua kita menang. Saya harap polis tak kacau lagi lepas ni, tapi kalu dia kacau lagi pun bagusla, kita boleh kaya sikit," ujar Hanipa berseloroh
Ean Yong denies kickback claims - Malaysiakini
Andrew Ong Aug 26, 09 6:43pm
Selangor exco member Ean Yong Hian Wah has strongly denied allegations that his deceased aide, Teoh Beng Hock, was involved in any kickback scams as claimed by a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer today.
He said claims of taking commissions from several companies were false and funds received by those implicated - Teoh, DAP national headquarters, Serdang Aman and Sungai Long party branches - were legitimate.
"We have all the receipts to prove it," Ean Yong told reporters today at the State Secretariat building in Shah Alam.
Ean Yong said he was unable to furnish proof at this juncture because he was at Teoh's inquest this morning. However, he has promised to hold another press conference soon to clear the air.
Ean Yong was responding to MACC officer Mohd Anuar Ismail's allegations (mentioned this morning at the inquest) that the four parties had received commissions from certain companies.
The testimony was later expunged from the records by Magistrate Azmil Muntapha Abas, who is acting as coroner in the inquest, on grounds that the evidence was beyond the scope of the proceedings.
Reimbursements, not kickbacks
Questioned by MACC's counsel Abdul Razak Musa, Mohd Anuar detailed his findings based on his investigations on allegations that Selangor state reps had misappropriated state allocations for each state constituency.
Mohd Anuar who interrogated Teoh until 3.45 in the morning claimed that the deceased and his party DAP had been pocketing commissions from several companies that were granted small state projects.
Giving an example, Mohd Anuar claimed there were financial improprieties in a function organised to show support for Teresa Kok (right) who was at that time detained under the Internal Security Act.
Asked about Teoh's alleged kickback, Ean Yong vehemently denied the allegation, adding that the deceased was only claiming the cost for the banners that were printed for the function organised by the company.
He said that the money given to Serdang Aman DAP was also another case of reimbursement. In both instances, he said there are receipts to prove the innocence of both parties.
MACC-blog owner collusion?
Ean Yong also distributed copies of four invoices to reporters, referred in Mohd Anuar's testimony as invoices for non-existent projects.
He attached photographs to show that the projects were indeed completed and questioned the MACC's ability to gather proper information and assessed evidence.
"These documents and pictures are available at the land office. Why did they imply that some criminal act was involved? Is this a move to tarnish the DAP and Pakatan Rakyat?" asked Ean Yong.
He pointed out that the four invoices tendered at the inquest by Mohd Anuar were unsigned copies, said to be extracted from Teoh's laptop computer.
"They said these invoices were obtained from Teoh's laptop. The problem is, how did the 'black blog' obtain a copy?" asked Ean Yong, who stopped short of accusing the MACC of colluding with the blog.
Ean Yong was referring to the "Truth For Beng Hock" blog or commonly known as the 'black blog' among DAP circles, which has made a series of allegations that he and his exco colleague, Ronnie Liu, had a hand in Teoh's death.
The anonymous blog had also posted a series of confidential documents, including the accounts for the RM500,000 annual state allocation for each constituency.
Ean Yong and Liu (right) have both lodged police reports against the blog.
Allegations of Teoh and DAP branches receiving kickbacks were also published on the same blog several weeks ago.
Asked if legal action would be taken against Mohd Anuar and the MACC for the damaging allegations made at the inquest, Ean Yong said he would have to consult with his lawyers first.
Selangor exco member Ean Yong Hian Wah has strongly denied allegations that his deceased aide, Teoh Beng Hock, was involved in any kickback scams as claimed by a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer today.He said claims of taking commissions from several companies were false and funds received by those implicated - Teoh, DAP national headquarters, Serdang Aman and Sungai Long party branches - were legitimate.
"We have all the receipts to prove it," Ean Yong told reporters today at the State Secretariat building in Shah Alam.
Ean Yong said he was unable to furnish proof at this juncture because he was at Teoh's inquest this morning. However, he has promised to hold another press conference soon to clear the air.
Ean Yong was responding to MACC officer Mohd Anuar Ismail's allegations (mentioned this morning at the inquest) that the four parties had received commissions from certain companies.
The testimony was later expunged from the records by Magistrate Azmil Muntapha Abas, who is acting as coroner in the inquest, on grounds that the evidence was beyond the scope of the proceedings.
Reimbursements, not kickbacks
Questioned by MACC's counsel Abdul Razak Musa, Mohd Anuar detailed his findings based on his investigations on allegations that Selangor state reps had misappropriated state allocations for each state constituency.
Mohd Anuar who interrogated Teoh until 3.45 in the morning claimed that the deceased and his party DAP had been pocketing commissions from several companies that were granted small state projects.
Giving an example, Mohd Anuar claimed there were financial improprieties in a function organised to show support for Teresa Kok (right) who was at that time detained under the Internal Security Act.
Asked about Teoh's alleged kickback, Ean Yong vehemently denied the allegation, adding that the deceased was only claiming the cost for the banners that were printed for the function organised by the company.
He said that the money given to Serdang Aman DAP was also another case of reimbursement. In both instances, he said there are receipts to prove the innocence of both parties.
MACC-blog owner collusion?
Ean Yong also distributed copies of four invoices to reporters, referred in Mohd Anuar's testimony as invoices for non-existent projects.
He attached photographs to show that the projects were indeed completed and questioned the MACC's ability to gather proper information and assessed evidence.
"These documents and pictures are available at the land office. Why did they imply that some criminal act was involved? Is this a move to tarnish the DAP and Pakatan Rakyat?" asked Ean Yong.
He pointed out that the four invoices tendered at the inquest by Mohd Anuar were unsigned copies, said to be extracted from Teoh's laptop computer.
"They said these invoices were obtained from Teoh's laptop. The problem is, how did the 'black blog' obtain a copy?" asked Ean Yong, who stopped short of accusing the MACC of colluding with the blog.
Ean Yong was referring to the "Truth For Beng Hock" blog or commonly known as the 'black blog' among DAP circles, which has made a series of allegations that he and his exco colleague, Ronnie Liu, had a hand in Teoh's death.
The anonymous blog had also posted a series of confidential documents, including the accounts for the RM500,000 annual state allocation for each constituency.
Ean Yong and Liu (right) have both lodged police reports against the blog.
Allegations of Teoh and DAP branches receiving kickbacks were also published on the same blog several weeks ago.
Asked if legal action would be taken against Mohd Anuar and the MACC for the damaging allegations made at the inquest, Ean Yong said he would have to consult with his lawyers first.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
PAS wins Permatang Pasir - Malaysiakini
Aug 25, 09 6:34pm
PAS has won the Permatang Pasir state seat by-election in Penang today with a majority of 4,662 votes.
The majority however had decreased by more than 700 votes since the last general election which saw the party winning by 5,433 votes.
The Islamic party claimed that its 52-year-old candidate Mohd Salleh polled 9,712 votes while BN's Mohd Rohaizat Othman, 38, garnered 5,050.
Voter turnout had also decreased this time around which the Election Commission chief Abdul Aziz Yusof blamed on the A(H1N1) outbreak.
The by-election in the heart of Anwar Ibrahim's parliamentary stronghold of Permatang Pauh was held following the death of PAS state assemblyperson Mohd Hamdan Abd Rahman on July 31.
The EC is expected to announce the official result at 8pm.
This is the eighth by-election since the March 8 polls last year.
With this victory, Pakatan Rakyat has taken seven with BN only emerging victorious in Sarawak's Batang Ai contest.
More details at: www.malaysiakini.com
PAS has won the Permatang Pasir state seat by-election in Penang today with a majority of 4,662 votes.The majority however had decreased by more than 700 votes since the last general election which saw the party winning by 5,433 votes.
The Islamic party claimed that its 52-year-old candidate Mohd Salleh polled 9,712 votes while BN's Mohd Rohaizat Othman, 38, garnered 5,050.
Voter turnout had also decreased this time around which the Election Commission chief Abdul Aziz Yusof blamed on the A(H1N1) outbreak.
The by-election in the heart of Anwar Ibrahim's parliamentary stronghold of Permatang Pauh was held following the death of PAS state assemblyperson Mohd Hamdan Abd Rahman on July 31.
The EC is expected to announce the official result at 8pm.
This is the eighth by-election since the March 8 polls last year.
With this victory, Pakatan Rakyat has taken seven with BN only emerging victorious in Sarawak's Batang Ai contest.
More details at: www.malaysiakini.com
Mystery letter rejected as ‘case exhibit’ for now - Malaysian Insider
By Debra Chong and Shazwan Mustafa Kamal
SHAH ALAM, Aug 24 — The explosive mystery letter, said to be written by anti-graft officers and which led to a sudden halt in the ongoing inquest on DAP political secretary Teoh Beng Hock’s death last week, hit a brick wall today when it failed to be marked as a “case exhibit”.
Picture courtesy of Malaysiakini
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) director of legal affairs, Datuk Abdul Razak Musa, had stood up at the start of today’s inquest and asked magistrate, Azmil Muntapha Abas who is acting as coroner, to throw out the letter.
Abdul Razak, who is holding a watching brief for the national anti-graft body, pointed out that the letter did not carry any names but made many claims which could not be conclusively proven to be true.
He added that the court should not be influenced by such claims.
Abdul Razak had earlier advised the coroner to ignore the letter for the time being. He noted that the inquest should continue unhampered by unproven allegations.
But he stepped up his calls for the letter to be retracted when lawyers for Teoh’s family and the Selangor government pushed for the letter to be marked and recorded as a key item in discovering how the 30-year-old really died.
“There is no provision under the law to enter a document such as this. We cannot open the floodgates,” Abdul Razak stressed.
He noted that MACC viewed the letter as a “surat layang” or poison-pen letter and added that in previous courts, the letter would have been thrown into the dustbin.
The MACC lawyer’s words provoked an outcry from the other lawyers, especially Gobind Singh Deo, who had received the letter last Tuesday and brought it into court the next day.
Gobind told the coroner he could not “ignore” the letter as he had acted on it, ordering the police to carry out investigations based on it.
Azmil agreed.
While the magistrate decided that the court would keep the mystery letter for the record, it will not mark it for now.
Gobind, representing Teoh’s family, later told reporters that “it would not be wise” to jump to conclusions at this stage “without proper investigations”.
“It is still too early to set aside the contents of the letter,” the goateed lawyer explained.
Lawyer Tan Hock Chuan, acting for the Attorney General’s Chambers in aiding the inquest, had earlier recounted the police investigating officer, ASP Ahmad Nazri Zainal’s probe results.
The cop had been ordered by the magistrate on Aug 18 to immediately check into the letter’s many claims, including one accusing the Selangor MACC deputy director of having his DNA sample taken behind closed doors for testing to match the DNA profiles of two unknown men, which were found on Teoh’s clothes, raising public suspicion of possible foul play involved in Teoh’s death.
Tan added that a fresh swab test had been carried out by government DNA expert, Dr Seah Lay Hong, on the deputy director’s DNA sample on Aug 20 in the presence of a Malaysian Bar Council lawyer.
The results showed no match between the deputy director’s DNA profile and that of “Male 1” or the other unknown male person.
The letter, dated Aug 5 which Tan told the court today was from people claiming to be “MACC officers”, made four other claims directly related to Teoh's inquest.
Allegation 1 – That the Selangor MACC deputy director had instructed MACC officers involved in the operation not to to involve him in the case;
Allegation 2 – That the MACC officer in question had a certain “interrogation technique”;
Allegation 3 – That the Selangor MACC deputy director had ordered his subordinates to wipe clean fingerprint traces from a window believed to be where Teoh had plunged to his death;
Allegation 4 – That the Selangor MACC deputy director did not punch out his card on July 16, the day Teoh died.
Tan also told the court the cops had checked by recording statements from “relevant witnesses” and found no proof to back them up, except one — that the Selangor MACC deputy director, Hishamuddin Hashim, had failed to clock out.
“He did not punch out,” Tan said, but added that closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras had captured the senior officer leaving the building.
The lawyer also told the magistrate he could ask the man himself why he did not punch out when he was called to the witness stand.
Tan said eight to 10 MACC officers would be called to testify in the next few days.
Teoh Lee Lan, Beng Hock’s younger sister beseeched the public to look into the matter and help them in the ongoing investigations.
“We wish to appeal to anyone who has information about how Beng Hock had died to come forward and pass the information to our lawyer, YB Gobind Singh Deo,” the 28-year-old pleaded.
“Beng Hock’s death was most painful to us. Equally painful is the fact that the cause of his death is still not known. Every single day since July 16 has been a very tormenting day for each and every one in our family,” she added.
The Teoh family — father Hwee Leong, mother Teng Shuw Hoi, elder brother Meng Kee and Lee Lan — were present in court today with former DAP secretary general Kerk Kim Hock, a distant relative, when MACC investigating officer returned to the witness stand.
Teoh’s mother, who sat on the front row in the public gallery, held up a framed portrait of her son towards Mohd Anuar Ismail’s direction when he took the oath, but made no other gesture for the rest of the hearing.
The inquest continues tomorrow morning with Gobind leading the cross-examination of the soft-spoken Mohd Anuar.
SHAH ALAM, Aug 24 — The explosive mystery letter, said to be written by anti-graft officers and which led to a sudden halt in the ongoing inquest on DAP political secretary Teoh Beng Hock’s death last week, hit a brick wall today when it failed to be marked as a “case exhibit”.
Picture courtesy of MalaysiakiniThe Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) director of legal affairs, Datuk Abdul Razak Musa, had stood up at the start of today’s inquest and asked magistrate, Azmil Muntapha Abas who is acting as coroner, to throw out the letter.
Abdul Razak, who is holding a watching brief for the national anti-graft body, pointed out that the letter did not carry any names but made many claims which could not be conclusively proven to be true.
He added that the court should not be influenced by such claims.
Abdul Razak had earlier advised the coroner to ignore the letter for the time being. He noted that the inquest should continue unhampered by unproven allegations.
But he stepped up his calls for the letter to be retracted when lawyers for Teoh’s family and the Selangor government pushed for the letter to be marked and recorded as a key item in discovering how the 30-year-old really died.
“There is no provision under the law to enter a document such as this. We cannot open the floodgates,” Abdul Razak stressed.
He noted that MACC viewed the letter as a “surat layang” or poison-pen letter and added that in previous courts, the letter would have been thrown into the dustbin.
The MACC lawyer’s words provoked an outcry from the other lawyers, especially Gobind Singh Deo, who had received the letter last Tuesday and brought it into court the next day.
Gobind told the coroner he could not “ignore” the letter as he had acted on it, ordering the police to carry out investigations based on it.
Azmil agreed.
While the magistrate decided that the court would keep the mystery letter for the record, it will not mark it for now.
Gobind, representing Teoh’s family, later told reporters that “it would not be wise” to jump to conclusions at this stage “without proper investigations”.
“It is still too early to set aside the contents of the letter,” the goateed lawyer explained.
Lawyer Tan Hock Chuan, acting for the Attorney General’s Chambers in aiding the inquest, had earlier recounted the police investigating officer, ASP Ahmad Nazri Zainal’s probe results.
The cop had been ordered by the magistrate on Aug 18 to immediately check into the letter’s many claims, including one accusing the Selangor MACC deputy director of having his DNA sample taken behind closed doors for testing to match the DNA profiles of two unknown men, which were found on Teoh’s clothes, raising public suspicion of possible foul play involved in Teoh’s death.
Tan added that a fresh swab test had been carried out by government DNA expert, Dr Seah Lay Hong, on the deputy director’s DNA sample on Aug 20 in the presence of a Malaysian Bar Council lawyer.
The results showed no match between the deputy director’s DNA profile and that of “Male 1” or the other unknown male person.
The letter, dated Aug 5 which Tan told the court today was from people claiming to be “MACC officers”, made four other claims directly related to Teoh's inquest.
Allegation 1 – That the Selangor MACC deputy director had instructed MACC officers involved in the operation not to to involve him in the case;
Allegation 2 – That the MACC officer in question had a certain “interrogation technique”;
Allegation 3 – That the Selangor MACC deputy director had ordered his subordinates to wipe clean fingerprint traces from a window believed to be where Teoh had plunged to his death;
Allegation 4 – That the Selangor MACC deputy director did not punch out his card on July 16, the day Teoh died.
Tan also told the court the cops had checked by recording statements from “relevant witnesses” and found no proof to back them up, except one — that the Selangor MACC deputy director, Hishamuddin Hashim, had failed to clock out.
“He did not punch out,” Tan said, but added that closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras had captured the senior officer leaving the building.
The lawyer also told the magistrate he could ask the man himself why he did not punch out when he was called to the witness stand.
Tan said eight to 10 MACC officers would be called to testify in the next few days.
Teoh Lee Lan, Beng Hock’s younger sister beseeched the public to look into the matter and help them in the ongoing investigations.
“We wish to appeal to anyone who has information about how Beng Hock had died to come forward and pass the information to our lawyer, YB Gobind Singh Deo,” the 28-year-old pleaded.
“Beng Hock’s death was most painful to us. Equally painful is the fact that the cause of his death is still not known. Every single day since July 16 has been a very tormenting day for each and every one in our family,” she added.
The Teoh family — father Hwee Leong, mother Teng Shuw Hoi, elder brother Meng Kee and Lee Lan — were present in court today with former DAP secretary general Kerk Kim Hock, a distant relative, when MACC investigating officer returned to the witness stand.
Teoh’s mother, who sat on the front row in the public gallery, held up a framed portrait of her son towards Mohd Anuar Ismail’s direction when he took the oath, but made no other gesture for the rest of the hearing.
The inquest continues tomorrow morning with Gobind leading the cross-examination of the soft-spoken Mohd Anuar.
Bar says BN Speaker filed notice after deadline - Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 — The Bar Council has clarified that Perak Speaker Datuk R Ganesan had only filed a notice of cessation of practice as a lawyer on August 17, ten days after a statutory deadline for him to do so expired.
A letter to the Bar Council which was received on August 17 was however dated August 6.
The actual “Notice of Cessation of Practice as an Advocate and Solicitor” was only field on August 17, as was an accompanying statutory declaration.
Last week, former mentri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin revealed that the former Sungkai assemblyman had infringed Article 36A of the Perak Constitution by failing to relinquish his job as a lawyer within three months of his appointment.
Bar Council secretary George Varughese said in a statement today the Bar Council had acknowledged receipt of Ganesan’s letter dated August 6.
But he pointed out that the “Notice of Cessation” was dated August 17.
In the statement, Varughese said Ganesan had faxed a letter to the Bar Council on August 13, six days after the deadline expired, claiming that he had ceased being a lawyer on August 6.
But the notice of cessation remained dated August 17, ten days after the legal deadline.
The Bar Council statement appears to back Perak PR lawmakers in their argument that Ganesan had breached the state constitution and could no longer be Speaker.
In a joint media statement today, Perak PR lawmakers said that while they still maintain Ganesan had not been properly elected Speaker on May 7, he should be disqualified now even if his appointment was accepted.
“We all know that Dato’ R. Ganesan was never properly elected as the Speaker of the Perak State Legislative Assembly at the sitting on 7/5/2009 where the lawful and legitimate Speaker YB V. Sivakumar was illegally and forcibly removed from the State Assembly.
“The purported election of Dato’ R. Ganesan by the BN elected representatives holding a sub-assembly within the Assembly was carried out before the opening of the session of the Legislative Assembly i.e before the opening speech of his Royal Highness the Regent of Perak. How can a proceeding or a decision made prior to the commencement of a meeting be valid?” they said.
As such the PR lawmakers said Sivakumar should still be recognised as the legitimate Perak state Speaker.
A letter to the Bar Council which was received on August 17 was however dated August 6.
The actual “Notice of Cessation of Practice as an Advocate and Solicitor” was only field on August 17, as was an accompanying statutory declaration.
Last week, former mentri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin revealed that the former Sungkai assemblyman had infringed Article 36A of the Perak Constitution by failing to relinquish his job as a lawyer within three months of his appointment.
Bar Council secretary George Varughese said in a statement today the Bar Council had acknowledged receipt of Ganesan’s letter dated August 6.
But he pointed out that the “Notice of Cessation” was dated August 17.
In the statement, Varughese said Ganesan had faxed a letter to the Bar Council on August 13, six days after the deadline expired, claiming that he had ceased being a lawyer on August 6.
But the notice of cessation remained dated August 17, ten days after the legal deadline.
The Bar Council statement appears to back Perak PR lawmakers in their argument that Ganesan had breached the state constitution and could no longer be Speaker.
In a joint media statement today, Perak PR lawmakers said that while they still maintain Ganesan had not been properly elected Speaker on May 7, he should be disqualified now even if his appointment was accepted.
“We all know that Dato’ R. Ganesan was never properly elected as the Speaker of the Perak State Legislative Assembly at the sitting on 7/5/2009 where the lawful and legitimate Speaker YB V. Sivakumar was illegally and forcibly removed from the State Assembly.
“The purported election of Dato’ R. Ganesan by the BN elected representatives holding a sub-assembly within the Assembly was carried out before the opening of the session of the Legislative Assembly i.e before the opening speech of his Royal Highness the Regent of Perak. How can a proceeding or a decision made prior to the commencement of a meeting be valid?” they said.
As such the PR lawmakers said Sivakumar should still be recognised as the legitimate Perak state Speaker.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Kit Siang asks MACC: Is Muhyiddin above the law? - Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 22 – The DAP’s Lim Kit Siang demanded to know today why the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) did not appear to have started a probe into allegations that Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin abused his powers and used a military aircraft to attend an Umno party function.
It was reported last week by Bernama that a Royal Malaysian Air Force helicopter ferrying the deputy prime minister was forced to make an emergency landing in Sabah.
Bernama also reported that the helicopter was being used to transport Muhyiddin, who is also deputy Umno president, to attend party meetings there.
ollowing this, a PKR Youth delegation lodged a complaint with the anti-graft agency.
The DPM dismissed the allegations that he abused his power last week.
He said the complaint showed that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) had run out of ideas to attack the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.
But Lim pointed out today that former Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Ramli Yusoff had been charged for using a police aircraft to survey two plots of land in a flight that was not related to his official duties.
And despite the fact that Ramli was acquitted recently, an appeal has been filed by the prosecution.
“I want to ask the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) why it is practicing double standards as it has not even started investigations into the allegation that Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin had corruptly misused his position in having used RMAF Nuri helicopter to officiate Umno division meetings in Sabah last weekend totally unrelated to his official duties,” Lim said today.
PR parties in states in which they govern have come under severe pressure in recent months after numerous graft probes were launched.
PR leaders and Lim in particular have accused the MACC of being a tool of the BN in trying to destabilise and topple the governments held by the alliance of DAP, PKR and PAS.
So far the MACC has not charged any PR leader yet for corruption.
The MACC has also come under intense pressure following the controversial and mysterious death of DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock.
Teoh’s death is now the subject of a coroner’s inquest as he had died following hiours of questioning by MACC officers.
Lim’s statement today is designed to further entrench PR’s argument that MACC was bias.
“If Ramli is indicted for corruptly misusing a police Cessna Caravan aircraft for a purpose totally unrelated to his police duties, why is Muhyiddin spared for similarly misusing an RMAF Nuri helicopter for a purpose totally unrelated to his DPM or even Education Minister’s duties?
“Is there one law for the Umno Cabinet Ministers and another law for ordinary people, especially those whom the MACC’s masters in the Umno/Barisan Nasional government want to persecute and victimise?” said Lim.
It was reported last week by Bernama that a Royal Malaysian Air Force helicopter ferrying the deputy prime minister was forced to make an emergency landing in Sabah.
Bernama also reported that the helicopter was being used to transport Muhyiddin, who is also deputy Umno president, to attend party meetings there.
ollowing this, a PKR Youth delegation lodged a complaint with the anti-graft agency.
The DPM dismissed the allegations that he abused his power last week.
He said the complaint showed that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) had run out of ideas to attack the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.
But Lim pointed out today that former Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Ramli Yusoff had been charged for using a police aircraft to survey two plots of land in a flight that was not related to his official duties.
And despite the fact that Ramli was acquitted recently, an appeal has been filed by the prosecution.
“I want to ask the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) why it is practicing double standards as it has not even started investigations into the allegation that Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin had corruptly misused his position in having used RMAF Nuri helicopter to officiate Umno division meetings in Sabah last weekend totally unrelated to his official duties,” Lim said today.
PR parties in states in which they govern have come under severe pressure in recent months after numerous graft probes were launched.
PR leaders and Lim in particular have accused the MACC of being a tool of the BN in trying to destabilise and topple the governments held by the alliance of DAP, PKR and PAS.
So far the MACC has not charged any PR leader yet for corruption.
The MACC has also come under intense pressure following the controversial and mysterious death of DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock.
Teoh’s death is now the subject of a coroner’s inquest as he had died following hiours of questioning by MACC officers.
Lim’s statement today is designed to further entrench PR’s argument that MACC was bias.
“If Ramli is indicted for corruptly misusing a police Cessna Caravan aircraft for a purpose totally unrelated to his police duties, why is Muhyiddin spared for similarly misusing an RMAF Nuri helicopter for a purpose totally unrelated to his DPM or even Education Minister’s duties?
“Is there one law for the Umno Cabinet Ministers and another law for ordinary people, especially those whom the MACC’s masters in the Umno/Barisan Nasional government want to persecute and victimise?” said Lim.
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