WHAT DR M SAY ABOUT ….

STRONG MANDATE

“I say a strong government is necessary if we are going to do unpleasant things. We cannot be pleasant all the time.

MAN CLAIMS TRIAL FOR CORRUPTION

Man claims trial for corruption

KOTA KINABALU: A businessman accused of accepting and asking for money as an inducement to help with the issuance of titles to two land applications claimed trial at the special corruption court here today.

Suaidin @ Shuhaiddin Langkab @ Langab, 62, who is also a  politician, pleaded not guilty to the two charges under the  Anti-Corruption Act 1997.

On the first charge, he is alleged to have asked for   RM400,000 from another businessman, Chew Ai Wah, 56, as  payment to an officer at the Lands and Survey department at  the Tang Dynasty Hotel at about 9.30am on Aug 28, 2008.

VIDEO WACANA SINAR HARIAN KE-12 : RASUAH POLITIK: PERSEPSI ATAU REALITI?

Wacana Sinar Harian ke-12 : Rasuah Politik: Persepsi atau Realiti?

• Wacana Sinar Harian ke-12 : Rasuah Politik: Persepsi atau Realiti?
• Wacana Sinar Harian ke-12 : Rasuah Politik: Persepsi atau Realiti? Part 2
• Wacana Sinar Harian ke-12 : Rasuah Politik: Persepsi atau Realiti? Part 3
• Wacana Sinar Harian ke-12 : Rasuah Politik: Persepsi atau Realiti? Part 4
• Wacana Sinar Harian ke-12 : Rasuah Politik: Persepsi atau Realiti? Sidang Media

SABAH POLITICIAN ON THE RUN AFTER SPRM RAIDED OFFICE

Sabah duo on the run

KUALA LUMPUR: A 41-year-old Sabah politician, who is a Datuk and an Umno division assistant chief, has fled the state after learning that his office was raided over false claims involving a RM43mil contract for mechanical and electrical maintenance work with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).

A department director at the university is also being investigated and his office was raided as well by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers.

He is also said to have fled the state.

SOROK WANG RASUAH DALAM TELEKUNG

RM4j dalam akaun keluarga

BERTIMBUN...pegawai SPRM mengira wang hasil suapan yang dirampas, semalam.

IPOH: Seorang pegawai Jabatan Perhutanan Perak dikesan menyembunyikan wang tunai lebih RM700,000 disyaki hasil suapan diterimanya di merata lokasi di kediamannya termasuk dalam kain telekung, selain di bilik tidur, ruang tamu dan dapur.

Suspek yang berusia dalam lingkungan 50-an dikatakan turut mengagihkan wang suapan yang keseluruhannya dipercayai melebihi RM4 juta di dalam beberapa akaun bank milik anggota keluarganya, berdasarkan buku bank yang turut ditemui di rumahnya.

DATUK DIDAKWA MENIPU PENGERUSI NFC RM1.755 JUTA

Datuk Shamsulbahrin Ismail Didakwa Atas Dua Pertuduhan Menipu Pengerusi NFC

KUALA LUMPUR: Ahli Perniagaan Datuk Shamsulbahrin Ismail (gambar atas) didakwa pada Jumaat atas dua pertuduhan menipu Pengerusi Pusat Fidlot Nasional (NFC), Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh Ismail (gambar kiri).

SAILING INTO A SEA OF CORRUPTION

Sailing into a sea of corruption

In one of my conversations with The Oracle of Syed Putera- we talked about the subject of corruption. Corruption is the number one problem of our country. When leaders are corrupt, they can’t transform the country. It sends the wrong signals to society. It says you can get rich easily and crooked ways are rewarding. In the longer run- it destroys the one important ingredient that makes for a progressive society- the acquisitive mindset through hard and honest work. With corruption, people can cut corners. It turns our society into marauding groups of shysters and hustlers. Already we are now experiencing some sort of a perverted Stockholm syndrome. Kidnapped victims get syok with the kidnappers. In our case, captive minds get captivated with our captors through their hustles.

STUDENT CLAIMS BEATEN UP BY TEACHER FOR NO REASON AND OFFERED RM200 TO FORGET THE INCIDENT?

Student claims beaten up by teacher for no reason

Kota Belud August 28, 2011: A Form Two student of SMK Arshad here claimed to have been beaten by his teacher for no reason on Thursday (Aug. 25).

Mohd Shafiq Johari, accompanied by his parents, came to the Kota Belud SAPP office to demand justice against the teacher.

His father also lodged a police report and obtained a medical report regarding the incident.

"My son was beaten by the teacher for no apparent reason.

This has caused him to be worried and depressed as well as afraid of going to school," he said, adding that his request for a meeting with the school principal for an explanation was ignored.

BEKAS MENTERI PERDAGANGAN DIPENJARA 5 TAHUN

Bekas Menteri Perdagangan Mesir dipenjara 5 tahun

KAHERAH 26 Jun - Mahkamah Mesir menjatuhkan hukuman penjara lima tahun ke atas bekas Menteri Perdagangan, Rachid Mohamed Rachid dalam satu perbicaraan tanpa kehadirannya, semalam atas kesalahan mengaut keuntungan dan membazirkan dana awam.

Agensi berita Mena melaporkan, Rachid, ahli tetap Forum Ekonomi Dunia kehilangan jawatannya pada Januari lalu dan telah melarikan diri ke luar negara, sehari selepas kebangkitan rakyat secara besar-besaran yang akhirnya menyingkirkan Hosni Mubarak.

Sebagai bekas Menteri Perdagangan, beliau merupakan orang penting Mesir dalam pasaran komoditi bagi mengawasi harga gandum di negara ini yang merupakan pengimport gandum terbesar dunia.

ILLEGALS GREASING PALMS OF IMMIGRATION OFFICERS TO GAIN ENTRY INTO COUNTRY

Illegals greasing palms of Immigration officers to gain entry into country

KUALA LUMPUR: Bribes given to civil servants, especially law en-forcement personnel, range from RM3 to RM35,000 in one transaction, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said.

Between April and December last year, 414 people 125 of them foreigners had been arrested, the MACC said.

According to the MACC's 2010 Annual Report, corruption and other wrongdoings by enforcement officers, including Immigration officers at entry points, were among the reasons why some foreigners could enter the country illegally.

There were cases of Immigration officers who lived a luxurious life on ill-gotten money, believed to be bribes of about RM2,000 a day for facilitating the entry and exit of illegals, as uncovered at the Pulau Ketam passenger jetty, the report said.

The bribes were meant to clear the way for illegal immigrants to enter the country without valid travel documents.

Based on the Selangor MACC's intelligence work, the report estimated that 1,000 to 1,500 illegals entered the country daily with about 35% of them giving bribes of RM70 to RM100 each to avoid going through proper Immigration procedures.

The annual levy on foreign workers is between RM360 and RM1,800, depending on the job sector, while the processing fee for social visit passes is RM60 to RM110.

Based on these figures, it was estimated that the country could lose RM86.4mil in annual revenue due to corrupt practices.

MACC's operations led to the arrest of 11 Immigration officers with RM231,608.36 in cash or saving accounts.

Assets worth RM117,400 were frozen.

This led to a major revamp of the department including the transfer of 20 officers and staff from the Port Klang Immigration office, to other branches.

The revamp was to sever the link between Immigration officers and the culprits involved in bringing illegal immigrants into the country.

The report also highlighted a diesel subsidy leakage, where a number of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry officers were said to have been offered bribes so as not to take action against misappropriation of the subsidies.

Apparently, fishermen's associations were behind the misappropriation of subsidies amounting to millions as they acted as the go-between for jetty operators, boat owners, owners of illegal fuel storage tanks or fuel depots.

It said the diesel subsidy leakage was detected from government depots which sold the fuel to fishermen's associations, factories, storage tank owners, fishing boat owners, smugglers at the border areas and others.

The report said the Government could have lost RM257mil over a period of five years due to the abuse.

The Government approved the subsidy for 5.1 billion litres of diesel for fishermen between 2006 and 2010. - Bernama

RM108 BILION LESAP SETIAP TAHUN - SPRM

RM108 bilion lesap setiap tahun

PUTRAJAYA 2 April - Dianggarkan RM108 bilion yang sepatutnya menjadi pendapatan negara setiap tahun lesap manakala lebih RM10 bilion lagi dipindahkan secara haram ke luar negara.

Kerugian itu dikesan hasil siasatan Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) ke atas kegiatan rasuah dan penyalahgunaan kuasa melibatkan pegawai Jabatan Kastam Diraja Malaysia (JKDM) di seluruh negara.

Pengarah Bahagian Siasatan SPRM, Datuk Mustafar Ali berkata, angka kerugian itu dianggarkan akibat aktiviti pemindahan wang secara haram melalui beberapa cara termasuk taksiran kurang, transaksi tanpa rekod serta penyeludupan wang.

"Akibat tindakan 'tangan-tangan kotor' ini, negara mengalami kerugian apabila hasil pendapatan lesap manakala wang rasuah yang diperolehi mereka dipindahkan secara haram ke luar negara.

"Berikutan itu, SPRM mengadakan 'Operasi 3b' iaitu sasaran kita mengembalikan semula RM3 bilion hasil pendapatan negara yang lesap," katanya pada sidang akhbar di sini hari ini.

Mustafar berkata, hasil operasi itu, sebanyak 62 orang pegawai JKDM telah ditahan dan sejumlah RM602 juta wang dibekukan, selain RM382 juta disita manakala RM31.2 juta dilucut hak harta.

"Kita siasat semua kes dan tangkapan ini di bawah Akta Pencegahan Pengubahan Wang Haram dan Pembiayaan Pengganas 2001 dan kes-kes yang telah dibawa ke mahkamah melibatkan wang berjumlah RM1.2 bilion," katanya.

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62 pegawai JKDM ditahan - SPRM

Beliau berkata, SPRM turut menemui wang simpanan sebanyak RM850,000 dalam sebuah akaun serta simpanan Amanah Saham Bumiputera bernilai RM200,000.

"Selain pegawai yang menerima RM10,000 setiap bulan, kami turut mendapati ada pegawai yang memakai kenderaan mewah Toyota Estima walaupun gaji mereka tidak tinggi.

"Turut dijumpai dalam operasi adalah lima ketul jongkong emas bernilai RM50,000, jam tangan mewah yang dibuat daripada emas, dua pucuk pistol tiruan dan 241 butir peluru," katanya.

A THIRD OF STUDENTS IN THE COUNTRY DO NOT THINK IT IS WRONG TO OFFER A BRIBE !!!

Students who see nothing wrong in offering bribes

March 02, 2011 Kota Kinabalu: A third of students in the country do not think it is wrong to offer a bribe.

Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) Deputy Chief Commissioner (Prevention) Dato Sutinah Sutan said this came to light in the latest studies conducted by the MACC and UTM.

"For me this is alarming, Bribes are an indicator of the lack of integrity.

Perhaps corruption and bribes has become so much a way of our lives that we don't feel it is a crime," she said at the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Integrity Day programme on Tuesday.

She said bribes can come in many forms and gave examples such as receiving or giving bribes as a reward or influence for some help in connection with official business, passing up a document containing fraudulent claim to a department with intention to receive profit, making decisions and misuse of power such as taking action where relatives or friends of the officer have interests.

Sutinah, in this instance, spoke of the need to be ethical and to stay away from corruption.

She said the integrity issue in the public sector can take many forms such as slow service, wasting expenditure, putting one's self interests first, being involved in outside business, loafing, wasting time, being late, being saddled with debts, inferior quality of work, a lavish lifestyle exceeding one's earnings, receiving gifts without consideration and wrongful use of power and authority.

Sutinah said Malaysia has ranked "not so good, not so bad" in Transparency International's Corruption Transparency Index (CTI) over the years but since 2008 the ranking has dropped more towards bad.

"The World Bank estimates that corruption worldwide has led to losses worth more than USD10 billion."

Sutinah said the best way to prevent corruption is a holistic approach and managing it at the source.

"As such the strategy used by MACC to prevent graft is based on education, enforcement and prevention," she said.

Meanwhile UMS Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Amran Ahmed in his speech on behalf of the Vice Chancellor Prof. Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Kamaruzaman Ampon said that the university emphasises the importance of integrity in each staff and student in the university.

"Integrity covers things such as individuals who keep their word and promises, are ethical and hold true to truth and justice, not compromising with unprofessional conduct and not jeopardising the name and honour of the university through their actions.

"For undergraduates, the university also places an importance on the role of integrity in their holistic development.

"Other than enforcing the existing laws such as the Universities and Colleges Act, university constitution and the boarding regulations, various activities that promote the element of integrity among undergraduates are encouraged.

"Individuals who have integrity are able to control their negative emotions and are also able to be highly productive and dedicated to their work.

"We are committed to integrity in UMS and as such, I urge that March 1 each year be the official day to celebrate Integrity Day in UMS." he said.

Also present at the seminar were UMS Registrar Mej. (K) Abdullah Mohd Said and Sabah MACC Director, Jalil Jaafar.

MUBARAK LEBIH KAYA DARI PENGASAS MICROSOFT BILL GATES?

Harta Presiden Mesir AS$70 bilion?

SEBUAH rumah Presiden Hosni Mubarak berhampiran Terusan Suez di Mesir.

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KAHERAH - Lebih kaya daripada pengasas bersama Microsoft, bilionair Bill Gates, malah manusia terkaya di dunia, Carlos Slim Helu pun tidak setanding dengannya.

Ketika Mesir terus dilanda konflik politik, Presiden negara itu, Hosni Mubarak dan keluarganya dilapor memiliki anggaran kekayaan mencecah AS$70 bilion (RM213 bilion) sepanjang tiga dekad era pemerintahannya.

Jumlah harta Presiden Mesir itu melebihi kekayaan Gates dari Amerika Syarikat (AS) dan Slim Helu dari Mexico, yang masing-masing memiliki aset AS$53 bilion (RM161 bilion) dan AS$54 bilion (RM163 bilion) pada tahun 2010, menurut senarai majalah Forbes.

Anggaran kekayaan Hosni juga hampir setanding dengan Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar Guatemala, negara rantau Amerika Tengah yang bersempadan dengan Mexico.

Mengulas mengenai perkara tersebut, beberapa pakar kewangan Asia Barat berkata, sebahagian besar kekayaan Hosni, 82, disimpan di bank-bank Britain dan Switzerland.

Sebahagian lagi kata mereka, telah dilaburkan dalam sektor hartanah di London, New York, Los Angeles serta kawasan peranginan pesisir Laut Merah termasuk hotel-hotel di Sharm El Sheikh.

KEDIAMAN mewah enam tingkat berharga AS$13.6 juta (RM41.6 juta) milik anak Hosni, Gamal Mubarak di barat London.

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Rangkaian berita ABC menyatakan, kebanyakan harta Hosni diperoleh menerusi kontrak usaha sama ketenteraan, yang bermula semasa beliau berkhidmat sebagai seorang pegawai Tentera Udara Mesir.

Semasa beliau memerintah Mesir, Hosni terus memperoleh pendapatan besar dipercayai melalui amalan rasuah dan penyelewengan wang rakyat di samping keuntungan pelaburan yang mencecah ratusan juta dolar.

Namun, kebanyakan harta itu didepositkan ke dalam beberapa akaun bank asing termasuk bank UBS dan Bank of Scotland atau dilabur dalam dalam sektor pembinaan seperti hotel.

Menurut laporan sebuah akhbar berbahasa Arab, Al Khabarpada tahun lalu, Hosni memiliki hartanah di Manhattan, New York dan di Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, AS.

ANAK kedua Hosni, Gamal Mubarak dan isterinya, Khadija El-Gamal.

---

Dua anak lelaki presiden berkenaan, Gamal dan Alaa, bertaraf bilionair dengan anggaran kekayaan kedua-duanya melebihi AS$25 juta (RM76 bilion).

Gamal turut memiliki dua kapal pesiaran mewah berharga sekitar AS$81 juta (RM248 juta).

Seorang profesor sains politik Universiti Princeton, AS, Amaney Jamal berkata, anggaran kekayaan Hosni adalah munasabah kerana rata-rata pemimpin rantau Teluk memiliki kekayaan mencecah AS$40 (RM122 bilion) atau lebih besar.

"Usaha sama perniagaan semasa beliau (Hosni) berkhidmat dalam tentera dan pentadbiran negara melonjakkan kekayaan peribadinya," kata profesor berkenaan.

Seorang lagi pakar politik Asia Barat, Christopher Davidson dari Universiti Durham, Britain, memberitahu, Hosni dan isterinya, Suzanne mengumpul harta menerusi usaha sama dengan para pelabur dan firma asing sejak beliau memegang jawatan tinggi dalam tentera Mesir.

Menurutnya, kebanyakan negara Teluk mewajibkan warga tempatan memiliki sehingga 51 peratus kepentingan dalam sesuatu projek usaha sama. - Agensi

DUA ANGGOTA POLIS CEDERA KETIKA DITANGKAP OLEH SPRM

Dua Anggota Polis Cedera Ketika Ditangkap Oleh SPRM

GEORGE TOWN, 10 Jan (Bernama) -- Dua anggota polis mengalami kecederaan ringan ketika cuba melarikan diri daripada ditangkap oleh pegawai Suruhanjaya Pencegah Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) di Persiaran Gurney, di sini, hari Isnin.

Dalam kejadian pukul 1.30 tengah hari itu, kedua-dua anggota polis itu berjaya ditahan selepas berlaku pergelutan dengan pegawai SPRM di tempat kejadian.

Menurut sumber, SPRM sebelum itu menerima aduan dari orang awam mengenai kegiatan dua anggota polis itu meminta rasuah daripada pesalah trafik di kawasan itu.

Katanya dua anggota SPRM kemudian bergegas ke kawasan itu dan menyamar sebagai orang awam dan melakukan kesalahan trafik di hadapan anggota polis terbabit sebelum mereka ditahan dan diminta rasuah sebanyak RM800.

Setelah kedua-dua anggota SPRM itu memberi rasuah seperti yang diminta, dua anggota SPRM lain menyerbu dan menangkap anggota polis terbabit, katanya.

Sumber itu berkata kedua-dua anggota polis itu kemudian dibawa ke Hospital Pulau Pinang untuk menerima rawatan pesakit luar sebelum ditahan mengikut Seksyen 17 (A) Akta SPRM.

Pengarah SPRM Pulau Pinang, Datuk Latifah Md Yatim, ketika dihubungi mengesahkan kejadian itu dan enggan mengulas lanjut.

KHIR TOYO HADAPI TUDUHAN BERHUBUNG PEMILIKAN TANAH DAN BANGLO

Khir Toyo Hadapi Tuduhan Berhubung Pemilikan Tanah Dan Banglo

Bekas Menteri Besar Selangor Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo pada Isnin dihadapkan ke Mahkamah Sesyen di sini berhubung pemilikan dua lot tanah dan sebuah banglo di Seksyen 7.

Mohamad Khir, 45, mengaku tidak bersalah dan minta dibicarakan selepas pertuduhan dibacakan terhadapnya di hadapan Hakim Azhaniz Teh Azman Teh pada pukul 12 tengah hari.

Beliau didakwa telah mendapatkan untuk dirinya dan isteri Datin Seri Zahrah Kechik, 45, suatu barang berharga dengan suatu balasan yang beliau ketahui tidak mencukupi iaitu dua lot tanah dan sebuah rumah yang terletak di alamat no. 8 & 10, Jalan Suasa 7/1 L, Shah Alam, daripada Ditamas Sdn Bhd melalui pengarah Ditamas, Shamsuddin Hayroni, dengan harga RM3.5 juta, sedangkan hartanah itu telah dibeli oleh Ditamas pada 23 Dis 2004 dengan harga RM6.5 juta.

Mohamad Khir didakwa melakukan kesalahan itu di kediaman rasmi Menteri Besar Selangor, di Jalan Permata 7/1, Seksyen 7, Shah Alam, pada 29 Mei 2007.

Anggota Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Sungai Panjang merangkap Ketua Pembangkang DUN Selangor itu didakwa mengikut Seksyen 165 Kanun Keseksaan yang memperuntukkan hukuman penjara sehingga dua tahun atau dengan denda atau kedua-duanya sekali, jika sabit kesalahan.

Pendakwaan dijalankan oleh Peguam Negara Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail yang dibantu Ketua Unit Pendakwa Raya Jabatan Peguam Negara, Datuk Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah, Ketua Unit Pelucuthakan Harta, Bahagian Pendakwaan Jabatan Peguam Negara, Dzulkifli Ahmad dan Timbalan Pendakwa Raya C.Vignesh Kumar.

Mohamad Khir diwakili peguam M.Athimulan dan Mohd Afifuddin Hafifi.

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Kes Khir Toyo: Terserah Pejabat Peguam Negara – Najib

PUTRAJAYA, 6 Dis (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak menyerahkan kepada Pejabat Peguam Negara berhubung tindakan selanjutnya terhadap bekas Menteri Besar Selangor Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo atas tuduhan memiliki dua lot tanah dan sebuah banglo di Seksyen 7 di Shah Alam, Selangor dua tahun lepas.

"Saya tidak boleh nak komen. Ini proses biasa, maknanya SPRM (Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia) akan buat siasatan dan hantar (laporan) kepada (pejabat) Peguam Negara.

"Kalau (pejabat) Peguam Negara kata ada kes, terpulang kepada Peguam Negara untuk membuat keputusan," kata Perdana Menteri ketika melancarkan Talent Corporation di pejabatnya di sini Isnin.

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Khir Toyo Lepas Jawatan Ketua Pembangkang Selangor Serta Merta

SHAH ALAM, 6 Dis (Bernama) -- Bekas Menteri Besar Selangor Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo, yang dihadapkan ke mahkamah hari ini kerana dituduh berhubung kesalahan dalam pemilikan dua lot tanah dan sebuah banglo, akan melepaskan jawatannya sebagai ketua pembangkang di Dewan Undangan Negeri Selangor berkuatkuasa serta merta, demikian menurut laman web www.drkhir.com hari ini.

Mohamad Khir, 45, anggota jawatankuasa Badan Perhubungan Umno Negeri, turut berkata beliau menyerahkan kepada pucuk pimpinan berhubung jawatannya dalam parti.

"Jika ia menjadi masalah besar kepada parti, saya rela mengundur diri. Namun sebagai wakil rakyat, saya akan terus berkhidmat walau atas platform manapun sehingga mahkamah membuat keputusan," katanya laman webnya itu pada pukul 5.18 petang ini.

Mohd Khir, yang juga Ketua Umno Bahagian Sungai Besar, berkata apa yang diharapkan ialah perbicaraan itu didapat dijalankan secepat mungkin.

UMS SHOULD "ASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT EVERY DECISION MADE IN RESPECT OF ANY TENDER EXERCISE IS ABOVE-BOARD AND DONE IN COMPLIANCE WITH EXISTING FINANCIAL PROCEDURES". - MASIDI

Sabah contractors and UMS on a warpath

KOTA KINABALU: The battle for the RM1-billion Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) project contracts is about to turn nasty as USM is in danger of being dragged through the mud over the way it doles them out.

Local contractors, who have been sidelined by a dubious arrangement between UMS and a company owned by an employee, have made known their grievances.

They are planning to take the matter a step further after the university authorities dismissed their complaints.

UMS yesterday denied allegations by local contractors that one of its employees was the owner of the company that has a stranglehold on projects being tendered out by the university.

Vice-chancellor Kamaruzaman Ampon said an internal investigation conducted following the allegation found nothing amiss.

"This is a serious allegation. After carrying out our internal auditing, we have found that the allegation is baseless," said Kamaruzaman.

He described the allegation that the USM officer was also operating a company that is undertaking projects for UMS as "untrue".

"The officer concerned resigned from the company before joining us, so there is no conflict of interest as reported in the papers recently," added Kamaruzaman.

The local contractors, many of whom are close to the government and Sabah Umno, however, dismissed the vice-chancellor's claim.

Two of them said they had found out that the officer concerned has a 70% stake in the private consultancy company, which has a contract with UMS.

According to one contractor, a check with the Companies Commission of Malaysia on June 16 revealed that the UMS employee was still the majority shareholder of the company.

Kamaruzaman said the employee in question is a contract officer, adding that UMS' central board committee is authorised to find contractors to carry it out all projects within the university.

"I do not understand why such matter was brought up by these contractors as they have been awarded projects (in the university), too.

"We have done our internal audit and a special task force was also set up to carry out a thorough investigation into the case.

"We will know the truth once their investigation is over. If there is any hanky-panky in the university, we will take action," he said.

MACC looking into allegations

Kamaruzaman said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had also visited UMS following the allegations and UMS had given its full cooperation.

"This whole issue has caused a minor distraction but it will not detract us from our core business (providing education).

"I will be meeting the Higher Education Minister (Mohamed Khaled Nordin) to brief him on the progress of the investigation," he said.

The controversy came to light after several local contractors alleged that a senior UMS official, who was tasked with monitoring the implementation of the projects, also owned a private consultancy firm doing contract works for the university.

Contractors said this was a clearcut case of a conflict of interest and had put them at a disadvantage.

Meanwhile, a check with the Social Security Organisation found that despite what Kamaruzaman's preliminary investigation has revealed, contributions were still made to the officer by the company in 2009 and 2010.

State minister in charge of education affairs in Sabah, Masidi Manjun, has also stepped in, saying UMS should "assure the public that every decision made in respect of any tender exercise is above-board and done in compliance with existing financial procedures".

He said UMS should make public the results of its investigation.

“JIKA RASUAH MASIH MENJADI BUDAYA DI SINI, ADALAH SUKAR BAGI MEMBANTERAS KEGIATAN PENYELUDUPAN …” - MASIDI

Rasuah Cabaran Utama Tangani Jenayah Hidupan Liar

KOTA KINABALU, 22 Jun (Bernama) -- Rasuah merupakan cabaran utama dalam memerangi jenayah hidupan liar seperti pemburuan dan penyeludupan hidupan liar yang eksotik dari sini yang menunjukkan kurangnya kesedaran untuk melindungi haiwan-haiwan ini.

Menteri Pelancongan, Kebudayaan dan Alam Sekitar Negeri Datuk Masidi Manjun berkata walaupun keadaannya tidak serius di Sabah tetapi terdapat beberapa kejadian di mana hidupan liar Borneo tiba-tiba direkodkan atau dirakamkan di negara lain, yang menunjukkan perbuatan khianat berlaku.

"Kami kata tidak serius tapi tiba-tiba kita lihat gambar-gambar dalam 'Youtube' atau dalam mana-mana online mengenai haiwan-haiwan Borneo yang kini duduk selesa di negara lain, sebagai contoh kucing hutan ... Bagi kami adalah mustahil kucing hutan ini dapat diseludup tanpa diketahui tapi satu hari kita nampak gambar di suratkhabar atau di 'Youtube' di satu tempat di luar Sabah.

"Ini bermakna sesetengah orang membuka pintu kepada orang-orang ini (penyeludup).. saya hanya boleh kata ia melibat kos tertentu kepada orang ini untuk membolehkan pintu dibuka, kerana tentu anda tidak membuka pintu tanpa sebab dan saya hanya boleh nampak rasuah sebagai sebab utama," katanya kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Kursus Pengenalan Spesies dan Peraturan Dagangan Hidupan Liar 'Heart of Borneo (HoB) di sini Selasa.

Oleh itu, beliau berkata walau seketat mana peraturan yang dikenakan, jika rasuah masih menjadi budaya di sini, adalah sukar bagi membanteras kegiatan penyeludupan binatang eksotik.

Masidi berkata walaupun jenayah berhubung hidupan liar tidak serius, beliau berharap masyarakat perlu bersama-sama membantu menangani masalah ini sebelum terlambat.

"Akhirnya, pelindung sebenar atau penguatkuasa adalah orang ramai sendiri, bukan setakat kerajaan sahaja.. Jika mereka rasa mereka perlu melindungi warisan hidupan liar, mereka mesti bertindak bagi memastikan tiada yang dibawa keluar (dari sini)," katanya.

Bagi menangani jenayah hidupan liar, beliau berkata kerajaan mengambil beberapa langkah seperti memastikan tiada pemburuan haram di kawasan larangan dan dengan itu menghapuskan kemungkinan penyeludupan hidupan liar eksotik.

"Kedua, saya fikir kita harus sentiasa meningkatkan kemahiran penguatkuasaan, bagaimana kita mengenali kaedah penyeludupan yang terbaru.

"Oleh kerana perkembangan sains dan teknologi ini, penyeludup nampaknya lebih pintar tapi dalam konotasi yang negatif, dimana mereka boleh melalui kastam dan imigresen barangkali dengan hanya membawa satu bagasi yang nampak polos, sebenarnya mempunyai atau berisi dengan barangan hendak diseludup," katanya.

Ketiga, mereka juga perlu memantau penggunaan khidmat kurier bagi penghantaran binatang-binatang ini, kata Masidi.

"Kita berdepan dengan pengeksport haiwan liar yang licik, kadang kala bukan mudah untuk mengesan mereka, mod pengangkutan juga canggih, dan hari ini anda boleh memiliki jet peribadi dan tiada siapa ambil peduli," katanya.

MALAYSIAN VOTERS HAVE MIXED VIEWS ON GOVERNMENT KPIs - SURVEY

 

Malaysian voters have mixed views on government KPIs - survey

BANGI, 8 June 2010 – Peninsular Malaysia voters showed wide-ranging views on the government’s key result areas but at the same time the Prime Minister’s approval rating remained steady in positive territory as found in the opinion poll released by Merdeka Center for Opinion Research today.

With respect to the National Key Result Areas (NKRA), the survey showed that a majority still find the efforts to fight corruption and crime to be lower than expected:

• 61% of respondents were dissatisfied with the performance in fighting corruption
• 57% of respondents were dissatisfied with efforts in reducing crime;

On the other hand, the survey found:

• 52% were satisfied with efforts to improve living standards of those in rural areas;
• 54% were satisfied with efforts to render assistance to those that need it;
• 56% were satisfied with efforts to improve public transportation; and
• 63% were satisfied with efforts to improve the quality of education in primary and secondary schools.

Public remains split over national direction

When provided with a list of issues, 53% of the voters chose ‘fighting corruption’ as the most important issue that the government should pay attention to.

The survey found that Malaysians for the most part remained split over the direction of the country with 52% saying it was on the “right direction” while 34% said “wrong direction” while 14% were uncertain or could not tell.

Poll Report

"IF THEY DON'T USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CAPITALISE ON THE ADVANTAGE, THAT MEANS OUR LEADERS ARE NOT INTERESTED IN SOLVING SABAH'S PROBLEMS AND ARE ONLY INTERESTED IN MONEY."

Jeffrey seeks talks with PM on new 20-point deal

By Joseph Bingkasan

KOTA KINABALU: Maverick politician Jeffrey Kitingan wants to renegotiate the Malaysia Agreement, the founding document of federation, and is seeking a meeting with the Prime Minister to do so.

He hopes to strike a renewed agreement on the rights of Sabah and Sarawak as members of the Malaysian federation.

He said the two states were in an advantageous position because the federal administration depended on the bloc of MPs from the two states to remain in power. (There are 56 parliamentary seats for the two states out of a total of 222 in the Dewan Rakyat; all but four are held by Barisan Nasional members.)

"Sabah and Sarawak control the Parliament. We control the government. Without Sabah and Sarawak, the present government would have collapsed," he said, in a reference to the crucial importance of the Barisan Nasional's eastern seats underpinning the party's current 61-seat majority in the Dewan Rakyat.

"We can capitalise on this situation and actually bring the federal government to the table and negotiate a new deal, a renewed Malaysia Agreement, a renewed 20 Points,” he said.

However, he would need the backing of Sabah's BN leaders to make such a meeting happen.

"If they don't use this opportunity to capitalise on the advantage, that means our leaders are not interested in solving Sabah's problems and are only interested in money."

He said the proposed meeting should include veterans with some knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the formation of Malaysia.

Suspicious observers

He would not go into more detail about his plans, saying: “It's better to go direct and discuss rather than talk about it publicly.”

Anticipating attacks from suspicious observers, he said the proposed meeting had “nothing to do with politics or plans to start a new party”.

Earlier this month, Jeffrey, who is PKR's chief for Sabah and Sarawak, led a delegation from the so-called Common Interest Group of Malaysia on a visit to London where they met members of the British Parliament to present the East Malaysian states' grievances over the Malaysia Agreement, to which Britain was a signatory.

"We consider the British government still responsible for our welfare, our interests and our rights in the Federation of Malaysia as Britain was the one which had handed us to the federation," he said when announcing the visit last month.

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Change or be forever on the margin, Sabahans told

INTIPATI PELAN HALA TUJU PROGRAM TRANSFORMASI KERAJAAN (GTP) UNTUK MEMBANTERAS RASUAH

Sembilan Inisiatif Utama Untuk Banteras Rasuah

Berikut adalah intipati Pelan Hala Tuju Program Transformasi Kerajaan (GTP) untuk membanteras rasuah:

• *Meningkatkan Skor Indeks Persepsi Rasuah Transparency International (TI) dari 4.5 kepada 4.9 tahun ini

• *Meningkatkan peratusan yang menjawab "berkesan" dalam Kajian Global Corruption Barometer TI terhadap tindakan kerajaan dalam membanteras rasuah dari 28 peratus sekarang kepada 37 peratus tahun ini.

• *Meningkatkan jumlah kes didakwa berbanding jumlah tangkapan pengedaran dan pemilikan dadah di bawah Akta Dadah Berbahaya dari 75 peratus ke 80 peratus tahun ini
  

• *Meningkaktan jumlah saman yang diselesaikan berbanding dengan saman yang dikeluarkan polis dari 50 peratus kepada 61 peratus dan oleh Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan dari 60 peratus kepada 78 peratus

• *Meningkatkan jumlah kes didakwa berbanding jumlah tangkapan dan tahanan di bawah Undang-undang Imigresen dari 53 peratus ke 60 peratus tahun ini

• *Meningkatkan cukai yang diperoleh semula daripada barangan yang diisytihar di bawah harga sebenar daripada RM9 juta kepada RM21 juta tahun ini

• *Jumlah penemuan audit terhadap salah urus perolehan setiap kementerian daripada 11.2 kepada 10.6 tahun ini.

• *Meningkatkan peratusan perbicaraan diselesaikan dalam setahun daripada 8.5 peratus kepada 30 peratus

• *Mesasarkan sebanyak 80 jumlah individu dalam pangkalan data pesalah daripada sifar pada tahun ini.