One step forward for Indonesia, one step back for Malaysia

October 21, 2014 - 12:15AM

Peter Hartcher

Sydney Morning Herald political and international editor

View more articles from Peter Hartcher

While Indonesia marked another democratic advance on Monday, democracy in neighbouring Malaysia goes backwards.

Indonesia inaugurates the man that most voters chose to be leader, while Malaysia concludes a sham trial to destroy the man that most voters chose to be leader.

Indonesia is conducting the first transfer of power from one directly elected president to another.

Illustration: John Shakespeare

And Malaysia? It remains under the control of the same party that has ruled continuously since independence in 1957.

"While Indonesia is making huge progress, we are rewinding and the democratic space is going back to the Mahathir era of the 1990s," says Malaysia's opposition treasury spokesman, Rafizi Ramli, during a visit to Australia on Monday. "We have not recovered from last year's election."

There is more than democracy at stake. A professor of political science at Monash University's Malaysian campus, James Chin, says: "In Malaysia, politics is being hijacked by political Islam. It really worries me. They are putting Malay supremacy together with Islamic supremacy."

The foundation stone of the perennially ruling party was always racial discrimination – special favour to native Malays over all other citizens, including the country's sizeable Chinese and Indian minorities.

But now it's pursuing policies of religious discrimination as well, says Mr Chin: "Previously, they tried to regulate the body and behaviour of Muslims; now, they are trying to regulate the body and behaviour of non-Muslims too."

He contrasts this with Indonesia, where a secular state does not impose Islamic standards on other faiths. It's one thing to fine Muslims for drinking alcohol, says Mr Chin, but now there are attempts to penalise non-Mulsims taking part in Oktoberfest in Malaysia.

The authoritarian nature of the Najib government will be on display to the world next week when it renews its courtroom persecution of the opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar was the subject of one of the world's most ridiculous political persecutions, an effort by the then prime minister, Mahathir Mohammed, to ruin him by accusing him of sodomy. And now, a ruling on the sequel: Sodomy 2.

He was the deputy prime minister to Mahathir when they had a falling out in 1998. The foolish and farcical pursuit of Anwar failed to ruin him, but it did turn him into a formidable leader of the opposition.

Anwar spent six years in jail before a court overturned his conviction. He emerged to lead an energised campaign at the 2013 election. So the Malaysian people delivered their own verdict on Anwar and his Pakatan Rakyat, or People's Pact party.  

The opposition under Anwar won 51 per cent of the vote at the 2013 election, but only 40 per cent of parliamentary seats.

It was a record result for an opposition and it shook the government. Even in a manipulated system, the ruling party, for the first time, had failed to win a majority of votes.

The result scared the government of Najib Razak into reviving its favoured tactic for repressing Anwar:  the charge of sodomy. Sodomy 2 had been running for a while, but after the High Court knocked out the latest sodomy charge against the married father of five, the government took its trumped-up case to Malaysia's Court of Appeal.

The Court of Appeal overturned the High Court. It gave Anwar a five-year jail sentence. He is free on bail pending appeal. On the weekend he flew home from London to Kuala Lumpur for final appeals. His supporters fear the outcome: "Quite a few of my friends have tried to persuade me to stay away," Anwar told British media just before boarding the plane home.

The prosecution is asking for an even longer jail term.

In an extraordinary illustration of the government's contortions in its manic determination to get Anwar, the prosecution will not be led by the a lawyer from the prosecution system but a private lawyer hired by the state. Experts say there is no precedent in Malaysian jurisprudence.

In fact, the prosecution is to be conducted by the personal lawyer for Mr Najib.

The political crackdown is much wider than Anwar. Human Rights Watch has detailed at least 14 cases this year where the government has brought spurious charges against political opponents and activists under the 1948 Sedition Act. One opposition politician faces the prospect of five years in jail for saying "damn UMNO". UMNO is Najib's political party.

The Najib government has two options, according to the opposition's Rafizi Ramli: "It can reform and allow more democratic space. Or they can go for the crackdown, and risk an even worse backlash from the public."

He has personal experience of the crackdown. Before entering politics he ran a corruption-busting NGO that exposed a Najib government minister misusing a $A90 million taxpayer loan. Instead of setting up a cattle farm, she was using the money to buy luxury apartments.

The expose forced the minister to resign. But now Mr Ramli is the one facing jail. He's facing the risk of three years in jail for breaching banking secrecy laws in disclosing the corruption. Mr Ramli, the man who busted the scam, is the only person charged over it.

Mr Ramli, also the secretary-general of the opposition party, is in Canberra on Tuesday, leading a delegation. He's hoping to convince Australian politicians to help coax Mr Najib  from authoritarianism to democratic openness.

Professor Chin says Mr Ramli has no hope of support from the Australian government: "The Abbott government loves Najib."

Australia favours the Najib government based on a long-standing view that Malaysia is a modern, Western, secular, like-minded power in a region fretting about a backward Indonesia, he says.

But Indonesia is modernising and it is Malaysia that is going backwards. "The romantic view of Malaysia," says Chin, "is based on a country that hasn't existed for the last ten years."'

Peter Hartcher is the international editor.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/comment/one-step-forward-for-indonesia-one-step-back-for-malaysia-20141020-118vq6.html

UiTM ‘piratisation’ to hand Umno men RM8.6b, claims Rafizi

By Syed Jaymal ZahiidJune 12, 2014UPDATED: June 12, 2014 02:59 pm

KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 ― Putrajaya intentionally privatised the construction of six state-owned Universiti Teknology Mara (UiTM) campuses nationwide to allow Umno-linked firms to rake in RM8.6 billion of public funds, PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli alleged today.

The Pandan MP said the move meant the government must pay RM375 million in rent annually for 23 years, according to concession agreements revealed in a parliamentary reply by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on April 10 this year.

Rafizi today alleged that the six concessionaires have ties to Umno, the leading party in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

“These concessionaires are all linked to Umno. Some are Umno leaders. As if it is not enough that they have gotten rich (from other contracts) now they are getting billions from UiTM,” he told reporters in Parliament lobby here.

“This is the continuation of the 'piratisation' of public funds by the Umno-Barisan Nasional government,” he added.

The Pandan MP noted that the government could have saved more than RM6 billion if it had built the campuses instead of leasing it to the concessionaires.

“In the case of the six campuses, the rakyat will have to bear the cost burden five times more expensive (the cost of building the campuses is only RM1.8 billion but the rakyat have to pay RM8.6 billion to the concessionaires)”.

Each campus is estimated to cost between RM280 and RM315 million, according to the same reply given by Najib on April 10.

Rafizi also noted that the total amount of rent paid to the concessions will eat up a whopping 11 per cent of the total amount allocated to UiTM by the federal government.

Rafizi said he will reveal the names of those behind the concessionaires next week.

“They are Umno leaders or popular cronies that hold positions in Umno,” he said.

UiTM is owned by MARA, a Bumiputera fund set up to boost the economic standings of Malaysia's ethnic majority as part of the race-based affirmative action New Economic Policy conceived in the 60s.

Until recently, more progressive Malay opposition leaders have suggested a revamp in MARA's direction ― that the fund be used to help the poor regardless of race including the opening up of UiTM to poor non-Malay applicants.

The idea met fierce opposition from Umno's hardliners who labeled the proposition as an attempt to undermine Malay special privileges.

Rafizi said today the revelation that Umno cronies were profiting MARA projects were proof that the Malay party was “never interested in safeguarding Malay interest but is using it to enrich their cronies instead”.

Source: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/uitm-piratisation-to-hand-umno-men-rm8.6b-claims-rafizi

Election officer arms PKR’s Rafizi with another dart for Election Commission

BY YISWAREE PALANSAMY
JULY 05, 2013

PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli said the call by a senior election officer in Sabah to re-register voters was further proof that the electoral system was flawed.

"I want to hear what the Election Commission chairman and his deputy have to say to this," he said.

Rafizi was commenting on the on-going Royal Commission of Inquiry on illegal immigrants in Sabah where the state's election director Datuk Md Idrus Ismail, when giving evidence, said the 13 million voters nationwide must be registered again as the electoral roll was tainted.

Rafizi, who is also Pandan MP, said this clearly showed that the organisation and execution of the 13th general election was highly questionable.

"There are many questions being raised on the ballot paper, the ballot boxes and the indelible ink.

"All these have resulted in the public losing confidence in the electoral system and in the conduct of the polls," he told reporters at the PKR headquarters in Tropicana, Petaling Jaya.

At the same event, PKR candidate for the Tapah parliamentary seat K. Vasantha Kumar said the fact that the presiding officer at the Tapah seat was a MIC division chief is also grounds to question the contest.

"According to election laws, a presiding officer must not hold any political positions but this was not the case in Tapah." he told The Malaysian Insider.

He has also listed, among others, the murder of his former political aide, K. Murugan, 36, as another reason to petition to nullify the result.

Vasantha lost to Barisan Nasional's Datuk M. Saravanan, a MIC vice-president.

He claimed that three ballot boxes which contained early and postal votes for the constituency were removed three days before polling day from the Tapah police station.

"The boxes are for the Tapah parliament seat as well as for the Chenderiang and Ayer Kuning state seats which amounted to 2,195 votes," Vasantha said.

He said that his campaign workers who happened to be at the station questioned the removal of the boxes but were told not to interfere.

"There were six people who loaded the boxes onto a lorry." he said.

Vasantha alleged that the Tapah police station chief had also allowed for the boxes to be removed.

"We have facts and photographs to prove our case."

According to election law, the boxes can only be taken from the police station on polling day. – July 5, 2013.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/election-officer-arms-pkrs-rafizi-with-another-dart-for-ec/

‘Zahid is proof BN’s demise has begun’

Anisah Shukry | May 16, 2013

Zahid Hamidi is ignoring the voice of almost half a million people to his own detriment, warns PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli.

PETALING JAYA: Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s call for Malaysians unhappy with the political system to leave the country has kick-started Barisan Nasional’s demise in the country, PKR’s Rafizi Ramli warned today.

“Instead of looking in the mirror and asking themselves why they lost the popular vote, these senior ministers are arrogantly telling Malaysians to leave the country.

“Because of this, I have no confidence that BN is capable of reform. Their attitude will get worse and worse, and that’s why I feel the demise of BN has already begun because of their arrogance. And that arrogance will help cement support for Pakatan,” he added.

The PKR strategy director was responding to Ahmad Zahid’s opinion piece in Utusan Malaysia today titled “Perhimpunan haram sebab tak terima hakikat gagal kuasai Putrajaya” (Illegal gatherings due to refusal to accept failure in taking over Putrajaya).

Ahmad Zahid, who was appointed Home Minister just yesterday, wrote: “Leaders of the opposition, particularly PKR and DAP, have confused Chinese youths and politically blind followers to dress in black as a sign of protest towards the general election 2013 results which they say favour them based on popular votes.

“If these groups wish to use the list system of single transferable vote system used by republican countries, they should emigrate to those countries to practice their political beliefs.”

BN had won 5,237,699 votes on election day, as opposed to Pakatan Rakyat’s 5,623,984 votes.

But BN managed to retain its hold over Putrajaya due to the fact that it won 133 federal seats, compared to Pakatan’s 89 seats.

‘Stop being in denial’

However, Rafizi pointed out that hundreds of thousands of Pakatan supporters had taken to the streets since the results were announced, and this was not a matter that BN leaders should take lightly.

“Our rallies have been unprecedented – we gave notice one or two days just to see the response, and it continues to attract hundreds of thousands. This means that the people’s anger and dissatisfaction over election results is real.

“We expect the number of rally-goers to surpass half a million by the end of the week, and if Zahid wishes to ignore the voice of that many people, he is doing that to his detriment,” warned Rafizi.

He added that Zahid’s remarks did not bode well for the latter’s future as home minister.

“He is home minister, issues of nationality is under his purview, so he should be more careful. I am worried that the arrogant statements he is making could affect our country’s democracy.

“But what is certain is that he should not be in denial. He should not try to deny the call of electoral reforms, which is real and strong,” stressed Rafizi.

“If they ignore that, it is to their own detriment.”

Source: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/05/16/zahid-is-proof-bn%E2%80%99s-demise-has-begun/

Astacanggih buyout to silence Deepak, claims Rafizi

UPDATED @ 03:47:43 PM 29-12-2012

By Zurairi AR

December 29, 2012

Rafizi said PKR will now attempt to derail Boustead’s acquisition of Astacanggih. — File pic

PETALING JAYA, Dec 29 ― Boustead Holdings Bhd’s acquisition of an 80 per cent stake in Astacanggih Sdn Bhd is an attempt to silence controversial carpet dealer Deepak Jaikishan, PKR’s Rafizi Ramli alleged today.

The PKR strategy director also accused Defence Minister Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi of abusing his power by spending public money through government investment fund Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT), which owns Boustead, to acquire the loss-making property development company.

“This is worse than a bailout ... this is outright bribery to practically pay off and silence (Deepak),” Rafizi told a press conference here.

The politician added that if the recent allegations made by Deepak over the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu had not been considered serious, it was unlikely that LTAT would have proceeded with the buyout.

Deepak recently also exposed an alleged deal between Awan Megah Sdn Bhd, the company owned by Selangor Wanita Umno chief  Senator Datuk Raja Ropiaah Abdullah, and the federal government for the a parcel of land involved in the acquisition by Boustead.

He said that Deepak’s allegation had likely “frightened” the Barisan Nasional (BN) government so much that it had instructed Zahid to proceed with the move.

Rafizi claimed that acquiring Astacanggih was not a sound investment, and Zahid was being irresponsible by jeopardising the contributions of armed forces members through Boustead and its subsidiary, Bakti Wira Development Sdn Bhd, which financed the deal.

“As the minister responsible for this deed, Zahid must be careful in making sure that the investment made by Bakti Wira will be in the best interest of members of the army,” Rafizi said.

He argued that Astacanggih is a company with poor track record and had failed to file any of its financial statements. It was also burdened with RM98 million of outstanding debt with banking institution Kuwait Finance House.

He also disputed the RM30 million valuation for the stake in Astacanggih,  explaining that the price was achieved through a “willing buyer, willing seller” agreement.

The same type of agreement was used in valuing the price of land going to acquired by Bakti Wira from Awan Megah, which Rafizi claimed was double the price of the land plots adjacent to it.

He referred to report by Utusan Malaysia in December 2005 that said another subsidiary of Boustead, Jendela Hikmat Sdn Bhd, had acquired a 236ha land for RM230 million, or RM390,000 per acre, compared to RM650,000 per acre for the land Bakti Wira is acquiring.

Rafizi further claimed that the government will be paying Awan Megah RM130 million for a piece of land that is yet to be transferred to the company.

“I echo Deepak’s claim ... that it is akin to the federal government paying RM130 million to Awan Megah for land that does not exist,” he added.

Rafizi also stressed that PKR will be concentrating on this issue in coming days, and will use any means possible to stop the deal from going through.

Yesterday, Deepak had said that he was forced to sell his company to cover the losses incurred in a deal with the Selangor Wanita Umno chief that went sour.

On Thursday, the controversial businessman withdrew his lawsuit  against Putrajaya for an alleged breach of agreement over land in Bukit Raja, Selangor on the same day Boustead reported it bought an 80 per cent stake in Astacanggih for RM30 million.

Deepak has made various allegations about the deal that involved Raja Ropiaah, but has disappeared from public view since December 13.

But he resurfaced yesterday to explain the sale of his firm to Boustead.

“My shareholders and me have sold our shares in Asta Canggih for RM30 million which is our actual cost price. RM13 million (for) Raja Ropiah, RM8 million political contribution, RM7 million financial cost, RM2 million legal and miscellaneous cost, as this ultimatum was forced upon us,” Deepak said in a text message.

State news agency Bernama reported that in a filing with Bursa Malaysia, Boustead said its wholly-owned unit, Bakti Wira Development Sdn Bhd, acquired the shares from Prestige Dimension Sdn Bhd and other minority shareholders of Astacanggih on December 20.

Bakti Wira Development and Astacanggih also signed an agreement with Awan Megah to acquire 80.94ha of freehold land in Klang, Selangor, for RM130 million.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/astacanggih-buyout-to-silence-deepak-claims-rafizi/

Rafizi prosecution wrong move, Singapore daily suggests

August 06, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6 — Putrajaya’s move to charge Rafizi Ramli has only served to raise the PKR strategy chief’s public stature in the run-up to key national polls as it appears to run counter to the federal government’s pledge to combat corruption, a Singapore paper suggested today.

Rafizi was charged on August 1 with violating the Banking and Financial Institutions Act (BAFIA) in exposing confidential banking details related to National Feedlot Corporation Sdn Bhd (NFCorp), in a case that has put whistleblower protection laws under greater scrutiny.

“Transparency International Malaysia has urged for whistleblowers to be protected as they ‘put themselves at great risk to their livelihood and career and also to their work, family and community relationships’,” Singapore’s Business Times reported today.

File photo of Rafizi (right) being led in handcuffs when he was charged with violating the Banking and Financial Institutions Act on August 1, 2012.

The anti-graft watchdog has stressed that public perception of selective prosecution would prove damaging to Malaysia’s enforcement agencies in the fight against corruption, as well as being inconsistent with the purpose of the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 despite Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s denial of double standards, the paper reported.

The paper highlighted the different treatment the authorities accorded Rafizi when they handcuffed him during a pre-dawn arrest at his home before taking him to court and the man whose company he had exposed for alleged corruption in a RM250 million cattle farming scandal, NFCorp chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Salleh Ismail, who was left uncuffed to walk into court.

“Already, the prosecution of Mr Rafizi has only served to raise his stature in the eyes of the public,” the paper said in its article titled “Govt may be making the wrong move in charging Rafizi” published today.

Apart from his NFCorp expose, Rafizi has gained additional prominence after he went public with confidential Treasury documents showing an allegedly less-qualified consortium led by engineering firm George Kent, which he has linked to Najib, weeks before the government announced it as the winning bid for a lucrative RM1 billion rail expansion project in the Klang Valley. 

Rafizi has also accused Najib of interfering in the bidding process by awarding the contract to a close associate who owns George Kent.

The paper noted that Rafizi’s role in exposing financial mismanagement in companies linked to the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government has raised his profile as among the young up-and-coming politicians in the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact that could see a regime change in Malaysia for the first time since the nation gained independence 55 years ago.

“Should the 35-year-old accountant be fielded in the coming general election, he is expected to be a formidable opponent,” the paper said.

Rafizi has told The Malaysian Insider that despite the legal hurdles he will continue his revelations on alleged corruption in the government.

He faces two court charges for his exposes that could land him in jail and set him back millions of ringgit and a shot at a Parliament seat.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/rafizi-prosecution-wrong-move-singapore-daily-suggests/

Is cowing a whistleblower a good idea?

AUG 1 ― If not for his arrest today, one would only remember that Rafizi Ramli has been going at the Ampang LRT line extension project with hammer and tongs over its systems contract, insisting for months that it would go to the George Kent joint-venture despite the consortium failing both the technical and commercial evaluation.

And, of course, Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd confirmed the contract said to worth more than RM1 billion has been given to George Kent, a water meter- and tank-maker whose biggest deal before was just RM40 million.

But that was up to yesterday.

Today, Putrajaya reminded us of Rafizi’s first explosive exposé ― that RM250 million in public funds was used to buy luxury condominiums and other properties instead of being fully invested in its intended use for a national cattle farm project.

This morning, the PKR strategy director was arrested and later brought to court over charges of violating the Banking and Financial Institutions Act (BAFIA) for exposing financial details of the National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp), which runs the National Feedlot Centre (NFC).

The NFCorp is owned by the family firm of Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

Only a court can decide if Rafizi has broken any laws when exposing the scandal that led to Shahrizat losing her Cabinet post after her senatorship was not renewed earlier this year.

But a few questions come to mind. The authorities took their time to investigate the NFC scandal despite alarm bells rung by the Auditor-General in his report last year.

The authorities have only charged Shahrizat’s husband, Datuk Seri Dr Mohamed Salleh Ismail, with criminal breach of trust (CBT) and cheating nearly RM50 million.

But what about the others involved? Or even allegations of money laundering in their quest to buy properties in Kazakhstan and Singapore rather than cattle from Australia?

Why the gentle treatment for the NFCorp owners and the witch hunt for whistleblowers who have exposed how public funds were abused?

For that matter, what use are whistleblower protections laws if those who provide information are instead hunted down and later charged in court?

Wouldn’t such action cow future whistleblowers? Or is this a warning to those in the civil service and government agencies to keep their mouth shut and not reveal the chicanery in their respective units?

This government is going down slippery slope by pursuing whistleblowers, especially a credible whistleblower like Rafizi, whose exposés in the NFC and Ampang LRT contracts have shown how public funds have been wasted for the benefit of the few. Especially with the prevailing view that the NFC culprits have been treated with kids gloves.

Rafizi became a hero today, thanks to Putrajaya’s missteps in handling the NFC and Ampang LRT extension project and, now, prosecuting him.

It would be little surprise if he wins the Pandan federal seat in the next general election, barring a quick judgment that he is guilty of the BAFIA offences.

And it would be even less a surprise that those who run Putrajaya now feel the anger of voters upset that a whistleblower is treated as a criminal.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/is-cowing-a-whistleblower-a-good-idea-the-malaysian-insider/

George Kent clinches lucrative Ampang LRT deal

The result shows how the Najib government doing things without transparency. All the while we saw the spirit of denial. The Bible says the Devil lies from the beginning.
-------------------------------

UPDATED @ 08:32:04 PM 31-07-2012

July 31, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 — A consortium led by George Kent, the company at the centre of repeated opposition allegations that it received preferential treatment from the government, was announced today as the winner of the lucrative deal to build the Ampang Line LRT extension, confirming earlier reports that it would be the recipient of the contract.

Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad (Prasarana), the project and asset owner for the LRT Line Extension Project (LEP), said in a statement today that the contract for “Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Testing and Commissioning of System Works” for the Ampang Line Extension Project has been awarded to a George Kent-Lion Pacific joint venture.

Prasarana did not say how much the George Kent deal was worth, but pointed out that the entire project would come in below the original budget of RM7 billion.

PKR’s strategy chief Rafizi Ramli has repeatedly accused the prime minister of allegedly interfering in the tender bid and granting the multimillion contract to George Kent, which he claimed was controlled by a “close associate” of the prime minister and which also scored one of the lowest points in the technical and commercial evaluation for the project.

Prasarana didn’t directly address PKR’s concerns over George Kent’s lack of a track record in rail projects and its allegedly higher costs but said in its statement that the winning joint venture (JV) “is well supported by reputable local and international multi-disciplinary technical partners all with proven track records in their respective field of systems implementation expertise.”

It added that some of the key sub-systems proposed also have synergy with Prasarana’s current operations, allowing it to reduce operating expenditure.

Little is known about George Kent’s JV partner, Lion Pacific.

A search using the Companies Commission of Malaysia’s online information service turns up two possible companies — Lion Pacific Sdn Bhd and Lion Pacific Engineering but it is unclear if these two are involved in the JV.

According to documents provided by the Companies Commission, Lion Pacific had a revenue of RM15.7 million for the 2010 financial year with a profit of RM100,279.

Lion Pacific Engineering, meanwhile, reported no revenue for the 2010 financial year and a loss of RM1,000.

According to George Kent’s annual report, its major shareholders are the husband-and-wife team of Tan Sri Tan Kay Hock and Puan Sri Tan Swee Bee, who together hold a combined direct and indirect stake of about 70 per cent in the company.

The annual report further states that it is an engineering company whose core expertise was in water infrastructure projects but that it was looking to expand into rail and green technology sectors in line with the Najib administration’s Economic Transformation Programme.

For the 2012 financial year ended January 31, the group reported a profit of RM19.3 million on the back of RM152.2 million in revenue.

Rail projects have increasingly come under the spotlight due to the billions of ringgit that are involved, as the country embarks on a rail expansion drive that not only includes the extension of KL’s LRT system but also the new Klang Valley MRT, the southern rail double-tracking project and a possible high-speed rail line to Singapore.

The MRT project tender process was also recently hit by criticism after several multi-national vendors reportedly decided not to participate in the bid to supply rolling stock for the project, citing concerns over favouritism.

Financial weekly, The Edge, also reported in April that the high financial stakes involved in the massive boom in rail infrastructure in the country could lead to a shift in the country’s political landscape and the carving up of the Transport Ministry with MCA losing control of the rail and road sectors.

Prasarana has now awarded all works contracts under the LEP, except for the access card system, which has yet to come up for tender.

Following the completion of the LEP, the Ampang Line will be extended by an additional 17.7-km elevated track; starting from the current Sri Petaling Station and serviced by 11 new stations and two future stations.

The project also includes the purchase of new six-car trains for Ampang Line.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/george-kent-clinches-lucrative-ampang-lrt-deal/

Bersih urged to sue Putrajaya over ‘witch hunt’

By Clara Chooi

July 24, 2012

Bersih 2.0 led tens of thousands to demand for free and fair elections in the capital city on July 9 last year. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 — Electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 should sue the federal government for its “witch hunt” last year against those sporting the group’s signature yellow, DAP MP Tony Pua said today after a High Court here declared it a lawful society.

The authorities became the “butt of international jokes” at the time, Pua added, when premises and vehicles were searched for “illegal” yellow shirts and other Bersih 2.0 paraphernalia.

“The civil society group and its associated organisations will have a legal basis now to claim redress from both the Home Ministry and the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) for damages, harassment, embarrassment and loss of property,” he told The Malaysian Insider via Blackberry Messenger.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein had last year declared Bersih 2.0 unlawful, citing Section 5 of the Societies Act 1966. — file pic

He was responding to the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision today to quash Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein’s order last year and declare Bersih 2.0, a coalition of over 84 non-governmental organisations, a legal entity.

“The declaration that Bersih is a legal entity will also hopefully bring to an end one of the ugliest episodes of the Najib administration,” Pua said, adding that Hishammuddin and the police should also apologise to Malaysians.

Speaking at a separate press conference here, PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli said he was not surprised at today’s court ruling as it was “ridiculous” in the first place for the government to have declared Bersih 2.0 illegal.

He pointed out that the associate members of the coalition were, in their own right, legally registered entities.

“It was just a matter of time that the court would validate this. Unfortunately, throughout the entire discourse on Bersih, the Umno-owned media were allowed to politicise and demonise the group without any basis or facts,” he said.

The minister’s order is quashed because Bersih is a lawful society. — Datuk Rohana Yusof

PKR deputy information chief Sim Tze Tzin called the court ruling a “people’s victory” for Malaysians who backed the polls watchdog’s fight for free and fair elections.

He urged the group to continue pressuring the government to meet its demands and warned the Barisan Nasional (BN) government against continuing its attacks against those who support the movement.

In her ruling today, High Court judge Datuk Rohana Yusof said the coalition of civil societies known as Bersih 2.0, though not officially registered, can be considered a society under the Societies Act.

“The minister’s order is quashed because Bersih is a lawful society,” Justice Rohana said.

Prominent lawyer and former Malaysian Bar president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and 13 of her colleagues in Bersih’s steering committee had in July last year filed a judicial review seeking that the BN government’s July 1, 2011 ban against the movement be lifted.

DAP MP Tony Pua today said he hoped the ruling will “bring an end to one of the ugliest episodes of the Najib administration.” — file pic

Hishammuddin had last year declared the movement unlawful, citing Section 5 of the Societies Act 1966 as investigations had shown that Bersih 2.0 was not a registered organisation and that it was creating unease among Malaysians.

Bersih 2.0 had led tens of thousands to demand for free and fair elections in the capital city on July 9 last year, which resulted in some 1,600 arrests but ultimately resulted in the government agreeing to set up a bi-partisan parliamentary polls panel.

The group held a similar rally on April 28 this year, coining it “Bersih 3.0”, and is currently being sued by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall for some RM351,000 in damages.

The government’s statement of claim lists 15 vehicles, mostly belonging to the police, that had to be repaired at a cost of RM122,000.

The government also wants general damages, interest and a declaration that Bersih breached Section 6(2)(g) of the newly-passed Peaceful Assembly Act 2011.

Ambiga has countersued the government for allegedly violating her constitutional rights over the April 28 rally, saying the Najib administration had abused its power by ordering the police and DBKL to block the event from taking place at Dataran Merdeka.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had said when tabling the law in Parliament last year that it would be “revolutionary” and allow Malaysians to participate in public gatherings “in accordance with international norms.”

PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli said it was “ridiculous” in the first place for the government to have declared Bersih 2.0 illegal. — file pic

The April 28 rally that saw tens of thousands gather at six different locations before heading to Dataran Merdeka was peaceful until about 2.30pm when Ambiga asked the crowd to disperse.

But her call was not heard by most of the crowd who continued to linger around the historic square, which the courts had already barred to the public over the weekend.

Just before 3pm, some protestors breached the barricade surrounding the landmark, leading police to disperse the crowd with tear gas and water cannons.

Police then continued to pursue the rally-goers down several streets amid chaotic scenes that saw violence from both sides over the next four hours.

The Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) and an investigative panel set up by the government are currently holding separate inquiries on Bersih 3.0, following reports of the excessive use of force by police to disperse protesters.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/bersih-urged-to-sue-putrajaya-over-witch-hunt/

George Kent denies already won Ampang LRT job

Thanks to Rafizi for exposing the scandal. Hope this will settle the unfair tender. You have saved Malaysians billions!
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UPDATED @ 01:54:23 PM 18-07-2012

July 18, 2012

Rafizi alleges that George Kent was given the contract because of its political connections. — File pic

PUCHONG, July 18 — George Kent, the company accused of being favoured by the government for the billion ringgit Ampang LRT extension contract, has denied that it has already won the bid.

This comes after PKR's strategy chief Rafizi Ramli's repeated accusations against the prime minister for allegedly interfering in the tender bid and granting the multimillion contract to George Kent, which he claimed was controlled by a "close associate" of the prime minister and which also scored one of the lowest points in the technical and commercial evaluation for the project.

"It (the LRT contract) is still under evaluation," George Kent chairman Tan Sri Tan Kay Hock told reporters after the company's AGM here. "It may come to us, it may not come to us."

Tan also declined to comment if the political storm surrounding the tender could hurt his company's chances.

"We are a business group," he said. "We don't talk about politics. I am not a politician. Just wait. Once it is awarded, we will make a statement."

Rafizi had in recent weeks applied pressure on the prime minister for the alleged interference in the Ampang LRT extension tender, claiming that not only was George Kent's bid more expensive than others, but the company, which is best known for making water meters lacked sufficient track record for a major rail transit project. 

In a recent press conference, Rafizi showed copies of what looked like Ministry of Finance approval letters dated June 25 2012 agreeing to appoint George Kent for the job at a cost of RM1.18 billion, which Rafizi said was RM167 million more than the bids put in by other parties. 

PKR officials had also showed copies of what appeared to be official documents to the press indicating that the MOF's Acquisition Committee, which met this January 25, had decided to award the contract to Balfour Beatty-Invensys Consortium, which bid RM1.01 billion for the job.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak chairs the acquisition committee and is also finance minister. 

According to the company annual report. George Kent's major shareholders are the husband-and-wife team of Tan,64 and his wife who together have a combined direct and indirect stake of about 70 per cent in the company.

George Kent's annual report states that it is an engineering company whose core expertise was in water infrastructure projects. 

The report added that it was expanding to rail and green technology sectors in line with the Najib Administration's Economic Transformation Programme. 

For the 2012 financial year ended January 31, the group reported a profit of RM19.3 million on the back of RM152.2 million in revenue.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/george-kent-denies-already-won-ampang-lrt-job/