No inconsistency in position: If guilty, they should be punished to full extent of the law.

That said, I thought I’d point to some gossip. I’m afraid that’s all it is at the moment, I have no way of verifying the contents, but it does seem interesting. Does anyone have any insight or way to ascertain the veracity of the following content?

Tulang Besi and Tranungkite have an article each that give some context to the arrest and cast some aspersions as to the integrity of the arrests.Thanks to the reader who sent the first article by.

Again, I don’t know where the truth it just yet, I hope it’s not too long before its revealed.

Tags: Integrity by Nathaniel Tan
14 Comments »

Two quick points. I’m as disturbed as anyone else regarding the latest allegations against two Perak state exco members. Seems like quite a scandal, what with sexual bribery and all.

Although I am suspicious of the timing and the speed at which action was taken after a report (as compared to other cases), I will wait to see what further details and/or evidence emergences from this. I hope for the best.

Coincidentally, I also came across this article somewhat randomly today, detailing a possible story of how another Director-General (Tourism) got implicated in allegedly trumped up corruption charges. The article paints the story as a vendetta by Minister Azalina.

I have no idea if its true, but it’s quite a story; I was a bit piqued when I read earlier that someone had been supposedly bribed by way of… dental services?

On the recent arrest of a PKR leader in connection with the photographer’s assault: I say unequivocally that violence against the press is utterly inexcusable.

Now, from my experience with the party, one such incident getting out of hand is not necessarily impossible, but still unlikely. A systematic campaign of violence against members of the press however? I think that’s a bit of a stretch.

Hopefully, in all these cases, the truth will out.

Tags: Integrity, Law Enforcement by Nathaniel Tan
5 Comments »

I was disturbed no end to read that the Executive Director of Grand Saga is none other than a former Dang Wangi police chief (incidentally a station I know about than I wish I did).

I’ve experienced enough to know that networks between former and present cops run pretty deep, and strongly suspect a person like Zainal Abidin can exert a lot of undue influence within the force.

That would certainly account for such excessive use of force in attempting to pursue corporate interests in Bandar Makhota Cheras.

I wish I was still doing the kind of analysis I used to do in the Kg Berembang case - I’m sure there are more worms to investigate in this distressing saga.

Anyone out there willing to take up the mantle? Checking out their company reports is a great place to start unravelling what all the connections are.

Tags: Integrity, Law Enforcement by Nathaniel Tan
18 Comments »

Madam Chui’s invitation to a debate is a fair one, and I hope we can see the truth come out.

I’m not sure how a ‘debate’ is all that helpful though - this is not a policy or philosophical issue requiring great intellectual surgery; what we need are facts and proof. I certainly look forward to conclusive documentation by either side.

I note however, some of the figures from the same article:

In earlier statements, Chui said remaining funds amounting to RM590,665 were distributed to the Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) (RM350,000), the Bureau on Learning Difficulties-PBT centre in Seberang Prai (RM220,000) and three other charitable organisations.

The extremely high figure given to Bakti, whose integrity should also be examined in light of the Balkis saga involving lawatan sambil belajar and all sorts of extravagances, is rather suspect.

Donating some is better than what Balkis did, but note that the sum transfered is more than 150% of the sum donated.

Tags: Integrity by Nathaniel Tan
3 Comments »

Malaysiakini’s Q/A with Khir Toyo:

So what is the problem? Why is it that the party top leadership did not get the right information? It was impossible for Umno to predict the election outcome. You managed to identify eight hot seats in Selangor and MCA disagreed with you.

Perhaps the reports given to the leadership came from only one party, for example, the Special Branch officers.

These officers are often Malays and can only provide information regarding Malay voters and not the other races. So it’s hard for us to get real information.

Hey, wait a second. Why are the police providing Umno/BN with information on voting trends?

Is that part of their job? If those policemen had been tracking Nurin’s killer instead of advising Umno about where they were winning or losing, perhaps Sharlinie would still be with us?

Sounds like abuse of power to me.

Tags: Integrity, Law Enforcement by Nathaniel Tan
12 Comments »

I note what might be an interesting trend. In both Suhakam and ACA (soon to be ‘MCAC’), we see staff members - who I believe are technically civil servants, as opposed to their appointed bosses - starting to find a braver voice in stating their vision for the future directions of their respective institutions, and beginning their own calls for reform and change.

Suhakam:

 “In countries like Australia and New Zealand, the human rights commission makes it clear that a commissioner should not stay for more than five years,” said an officer.

Another high-ranking officer echoed the sentiment, saying it is a common feeling among the 70-odd officers that they want a “complete change”.

“If I had my way, I would not mind seeing all of them replaced, especially those who will soon entering their 10th year at Suhakam. Even Parliament has changed half of faces but we’re still getting old faces here,” she said.

“We really need new blood in Suhakam and I hope the decision-maker knows this is coming from us - the officers.”

ACA:

A happy ACA director-general Ahmad Said Hamdan today welcomed Abdullah’s decision to restructure the agency.

“It’s very good. It is what you want and what people want,” he told reporters.

He said that though the commission would remain a part of the civil service and had to report to the government, it would have more freedom and power.

“You have to report to the government. Just to report. What you want is for us to be free during investigation, no interference; that’s what we are going to do,” he said.

Last week, Ahmad and his deputy Abu Kassim Mohamad had submitted a proposal for the agency to be completely independent and not just an arm of the government.

It should not come as a surprise that there may be many, many good souls within the civil service who want nothing more than to uphold integrity. Let’s hope their finding their voice is only the first of many steps towards genuine reform.

Tags: Integrity by Nathaniel Tan
2 Comments »

So many issues today, and haven’t done a “little points” style posting in a while. All about variety eh?

I have to say that Karpal Singh taking a swipe at the Kelantan royalty, while perhaps in some ways justified, is not the most strategically sound thing to do. In Singapore, I spoke a lot about the need to craft messages that are likely to garner results - not those that are nice to hear coming out of our mouths, but hurt our ultimate goals.

The reason for this is encapsulated in my obsessively linked post about how the best community to speak out against Malay supremacy is the Malays. This doesn’t mean the rest of us should be stopped from saying what we think, but I think we should think very strategically about this, and the best use of our resources is to defend and advocate across racial and religious lines, and not fall prey to the stereotype of Chinese defending Chinese, Muslims defending Muslims, etc. Yeah, it may sound like a lot to achieve, but so did March 8 :)

YB Karpal puts me in the mind of YB Nik Aziz. Both older, great men who ooze integrity, but whose public relations (Pakatan Rakyat Public Relations - PR PR? :) … sometimes leave something to be desired. Of course, KeADILan has its fair share of politicians with their foots in their mouths :) Learning process I guess.

On the subject of communications, I am appalled at the ban on Makkal Osai. I guess those hoping that BN will take steps towards reform and learn that repression is why they lost will be disappointed. If this is the beginning of greater repression, I think BN is starting a war they will ultimately lose. If they really want to, bring it on.

Mind you, they seem a little busy fighting their own wars. Najib now going around the country getting support? The main question on my mind is: What’s going to happen with the Altantuya case?? I’m most curious about what may be Abdullah’s trump card.

Though again, let’s not spend too much time speculating about a political entity proved time and again to be bereft of morals. I read with disappointment but no surprise the latest scandal involving massive abuse of taxpayer monies via Citizen Nades. Shocking.

The scandal involved the Women’s Sports and Fitness Foundation Malaysia.

Their annual report reveals certain expenditures:
• Grants RM1.18 million
• Meals and Accommodation RM2.1 million
• Media and Advertising RM932,000
• Post and Production RM710,000
• Printing and Stationery RM710,000
• Rental of Equipment RM865,400
• Volunteers’ Allowances RM242,000
• Wages RM117,700
• Entertainment RM1.4 million
• Travelling and Transportation RM858,000

Good lord! >:(

And who’s the main culprit? You should read how the WSFFM website treats Azalina like a deity - yeah, the same woman who didn’t actually face a vote in the elections.

Interested to take a bet on how long it will take the police to launch an investigation if a report were lodge? I’d reckon less than it took for them to investigate KeADILan leaders over the Ketuanan Rakyat gathering a few nights ago.

I usually don’t care much about these sorts of things, but I confess to feeling insulted that the police insisted, in the absence of any reasonable cause I can think of that DS Wan Azizah, Azmin and Yahya Sari were forced to go down to the police station just to give a stupid statement, when they could have done so anywhere.

Any Umno leaders called for police questioning after their post election protests? Yeah, didn’t think so.

So arrogant.

Once again, if BN wants to clamp down, I think it’ll be the nail in the coffin for them. I say again, bring it on.

Tags: Ethnicity, Government Appropriation, Integrity, Malaysian Politics, Responsible Free Speech, little points by Nathaniel Tan
7 Comments »