Friday, September 17, 2010

APOLOGIES

I apologise that this blog has not been active. This is due to the fact that I have been busy managing some other blogs and would not have liked to repeat what have been reported elsewhere, here.

GOD Willing, in the not too distant future, this blog may have some meaningful postings when desired.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

I have written 2 books on the socio-economic & political situation in Malaysia, both in the Malay Language. You can access and have a read at the link below.

http://www.mcoba.org/blog/79-public/159-penyakit-nak-hidup

May we be saved!

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Just as I was praising MCA for the move in the PKFZ scandal, this report came out! What is happening in our beloved country?!??!?! Everybody and everything cannot be trustedanymore??!!! Anarchy??? GOD forbid or am I too late in wishing??

EXPOSED: 'RM10 mil for MCA boss'
Yong Kai Ping and Ng Ling Fong
Aug 12, 09
5:54pm

Twenty-four hours after a police report was lodged against developer Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB), the company's top brass have made some startling revelations.

KDSB chief executive officer Tiong King Sing - who is also the Barisan Nasional backbenchers club chairperson and Bintulu MP - alleged that he had 'donated' RM10 million to MCA president and Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat last year.

The money, he added, was for activities related to the MCA divisions.

Tiong's number two in KDSB, Faizal Abdullah, also said that Ong had used the company'sprivate jet five times and 'owed' them US$40,000 for the services.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Tiong claimed that he had pumped in the millions after being requested to do so by Ong.

The money was apparently paid in cash over three installments during meetings with the MCA president held in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur last year.

It is unclear whether the alleged payments were to fund Ong's election campaign to be party president last October.

Yesterday, the Port Klang Authority (PKA) had filed a police report against KDSB, which has been accused of making inflated claims in relation to the RM12.5 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) project.

KDSB was the turnkey developer for the project, whose questionable figures were exposed by the MCA president.

Ong later claimed that he had received death threats for doing so.

Despite numerous attempts, the MCA president could not be reached for comment over the allegations made by the KDSB bosses.

MCA Youth exco Lim Boon Aik was yesterday quoted in a Chinese newspaper as claiming that the 'donation rumour' was spread to defame MCA leaders.

He urged Tiong to clarify the matter.

'Ong need the funds'

When contacted, Tiong was reluctant to comment on the matter and referred Malaysiakini to the MCA president.

However, when pressed repeatedly, Tiong conceded that the "rumours were true".

"Last year, Ong asked me to support him. As a new leader, he needed some funds for activities. We are politicians, we need funds to sponsor our activities.

"I was supposed to return the money to some other people. But in order to help each other, I let Ong use the money first," he said.

"He (Ong) said that he wanted to give the money to all MCA divisions. But I have no idea if he did so. This is up to MCA members to ask him.

"If he didn't give the money to the MCA divisions, then he is lying to me, (and) I want him to return the money," added the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) treasurer.

Stating that since he regularly 'donated millions' to people, Tiong claimed that it was difficult for him to recall the dates when he gave the money to Ong.

Although there was no other MCA leader present at the meetings, the business tycoon-turned-politician said he had a friend who could be a witness.

"If Ong dares to say that he did not take the money, then ask him to come and see me, I will clearly tell him from where he took the money.

"He (Ong) had even promised to give me a receipt, but I have not received anything," he added.

Tiong, however, remained adamant that the money was not a form of corruption or that it had anything to do with the PKFZ issue.

"If I had bribed you, why didn't you (Ong) make a police report?" he asked.

'Did not pay for fuel'

As for using the jet, Faizal toldMalaysiakinithat the company did not charge the MCA president any charter fee but added that the latter should have at least paid for fuel and other expenses amounting to US$40,000.

Due to this, he said the company had turned down Ong's request to use the jet again.

In a statement issued by Ong's political secretary Simon Lim this afternoon, the latter said the ministry was not billed by the company.

"For expenses involving the minister's official travel, the relevant company must send the bill to the ministry to claim for payment," he explained.

Lim said the reason the minister had opted to use a chartered airplane was due to his tight schedule and to prevent being late.

He added that Ong had also used other modes of travel, including no-frills airlines.

Lim also expressed disappointment that the media were publishing 'unverified' reports concerning this issue.

Ong responds in blog posting

In an immediate reaction, Ong described Tiong's allegations as “smear tactics and character assassination”.

“The allegation by Tiong that I have taken the RM10 million 'loan' from him for use by the party's divisions, are obviously made with several motives, including diverting attention away from the alleged irregularities exposed by the (PKFZ) task force,” he said in a blog posting.

“It could also be meant to create suspicion among my party comrades that I have pocketed funds meant for the divisions. The fact that he indicated that it was a loan could mean that he wants the option of taking me to court to further embarrass me.”

Ong said that the payments mentioned by Tiong was 2008 when he was vice-president until October.

“The need for me as vice-president to raise money for the divisions was a non-starter. Later, as president, we already have access to party funds and allocations. I doubt any reasonable person would part with RM10 million based on such a story.”

He echoed his political secretary's contention that his office had yet to receive invoices for the private jet services.

“If the charter company has been more efficient, I am sure my office would have already made prompt payments. I am sure businesses do not issue invoices through the press.”

Ong said the latest allegations would not deter him to pursue the PKFZ issue.

“I also ask that I be judged based on my actions. I will consult my lawyers and seek legal advice on the defamatory allegations.”


http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/110396

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

After getting more information, I would like to pose these further questions.

One thing missing from the police report: THE LAND DEAL! Who got the land sold to PKFZ at unreasonable price? Who authorized the purchase?

How come only the developer and consultant being hauled up? What about the people in PKFZ themselves and those involved in the land sale/purchase scam?

Monday, August 10, 2009

We Nee To Know The Truth

This sort of action, as reported in The STAR Online today, may swing back the voters to MCA. Hope all other parties take heed.

As per my "Simple but Complicated" motto, TRUTH HOLDS, the rakyat now wants the truth even if it hurts. We can be more ready & prepared to bounce back once we know the truth.



http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/8/11/nation/20090811120924&sec=nation

Published: Tuesday August 11, 2009 MYT 12:07:00 PM
Updated: Tuesday August 11, 2009 MYT 12:26:22 PM

Lee Hwa Beng lodges report against Kuala Dimensi and BTA Architect

By CHRISTINA TAN

KLANG: Port Klang Authority (PKA) chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng lodged a report at the Klang district police department at 10.15am against Kuala Dimensi and BTA Architect over the Port Klang Free Zone issue.

It was reported earlier that PKA board of directors, in a meeting on Monday, had decided to lodge a report against Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd - the main developer of PKFZ - for alleged over billing and fraud.

More to come




http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/8/11/nation/4495713&sec=nation

Tuesday August 11, 2009

Public now aware of truth behind issue

MALACCA: Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat’s progressive and comprehensive explanation is gradually dispelling the public’s negative perception over the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) issue.

The Transport Minister said the issue was initially perceived to be shrouded in secrecy and one that had numerous “untold stories”.

“But following several rounds of town hall meetings, closed-door sessions and recent TV appearances where I took questions from members of the public, people are now better informed,” he told reporters last night after meeting Malacca MCA grassroots leaders over the issue.

He said in doing so, there was no room for the spinning of lies.

Ong said several blogs were also taking note of the facts being presented over the issue.


--
Nik A. Azmi
Tel: +(603) 2148 5655, +(6019) 363 4033
Fax: (+603) 2142 3559, +(603) 4292 8533
Email: nikazmi@gmail.com

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Internet To Be Subject of Malaysian Government Censorhip?

STAR Online reported just now that the Malaysian Government may resort to censorship of the internet. What is your opinion after the reading the news below that I have managed to extract from STAR's Online portal?


Published: Thursday August 6, 2009 MYT 9:12:00 PM
Updated: Thursday August 6, 2009 MYT 9:51:34 PM

Internet users upset over Govt’s filter attempt

By JO TIMBUONG


PETALING JAYA: Online and wire agency reports that the Government is mulling an Internet filtering system similar to China’s controversial “Green Dam” project has got the local online community in a huff, while technology experts questioned the viability of the project.

Online portals and wire agencies reported earlier Thursday that the Government has called for a tender for a system that could block “undesirable websites.”

Information, Communication and Culture Minister Rais Yatim, whose ministry issued the tender, also plans to secure direct control over the content and monitoring division of Malaysia’s Internet regulator, Reuters quoted a source as saying.

Rais himself said last month that he would introduce measures to “control the bad” elements on the Internet.

Neither Rais, nor any of the government bodies related to technology, were available for comment at press time.

China’s Green Dam project sought to install software filters on all computers sold in the country to block pornography and “other harmful content,” but has been put on the backburner because of technical issues and a rising tide of protest from civil society in and outside China.

The Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry of Malaysia (Pikom) was disappointed with what it said was the Malaysian Government’s attempt to censor the Internet.

“It has gone against its word to ensure the medium remains open and uncensored,” Pikom chairman David Wong said.

The MSC Malaysia Bill of Guarantees specifies that the Internet will not be censored to ensure the success of the MSC Malaysia initiative, he noted.

“It will also be difficult to filter ‘harmful content,’ especially that found in blogs, on the Internet as it knows no boundaries,” he said.

Wong said Internet users did not share their thoughts only on blogs, but also through social network sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace, as well as chatrooms and forums.

He said a better and more viable measure would be to educate the public on the consquences of spreading harmful or irresponsible content.

Technology advocate Dinesh Nair said the Government’s efforts might just be in vain.

“They can try to filter the Internet but it won’t work,” he said.

He also believed that if the main reason was to block “undesirable content,” the Government would be better off using the educational approach.

If the Government were to block one “harmful site,” another would just pop up in its place, he added.

Internet users, he said, view online censorship as damaging and will always find ways to circumvent any such barrier.

“It’s better to educate the rakyat (people) to be proactive and identify these sites and exercise good Internet surfing habits, rather than censoring the Internet,” he said.

Artist and new media advocate Muid Latif said Internet censorship would only contribute to the negative growth of the Malaysian information and communications technology sector, especially in the area of creative content.

“This ridiculous restriction will reflect badly on Malaysia and potential investors will think twice about making an investment here,” he said.

Many in the Government have blamed the vibrant and critical Internet culture for Barisan Nasional’s losses in the 12th General Election in March last year, and there has been pressure from some quarters to muzzle the medium.

The Government had previously considered registering bloggers, many of whom are critical of the ruling coalition.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

My New Blog: TRUTH HOLDS

Salam & Best Regards To ALL.

In the past I have posted my views and some published articles to your emails privately. Some of the articles that I posted with my own comments have been circulated widely. This has resulted in some friends contacting me why they were not on my mailing list. Phew! How to answer?

Well, after much deliberation and advice obtained from friends and foes alike, I have decided to create my own blogspot under the title: TRUTH HOLDS. Of course I do not have the privilege of hosting my blog at the Prime Minister's Office but this site I think is much better as I do not have to burden the already financially stretched Malaysian Government's coffers.

Most of my postings for now will either be re-posting with my personal comments on current news from Main Stream Media and other bloggers.

Why you may ask I chose the title "TRUTH HOLDS" for my blog. Well for one, it is my family motto. Secondly and most importantly, so much untruth have been spoken hence the need for the truth.

I hope any comments and/or feedbacks will stick to this truth principle. With it, I hope there will be real transparency, honesty and truthfullness in all of us, one day, InsyaALLAH.

Thanks, Salam & Best Regards,

Nik St. BUL-Azmi