Submarine Deal Resurfaced in France - PM Najib Risk of Being Prosecuted in France

Asia Sentinel
Friday, 16th April 2010

The Submarine that cannot swim....

Murky arms deal linked to international pattern of kickbacks

A potentially explosive scandal in Malaysia over the billion-dollar purchase of French submarines, a deal engineered by then-Defense Minister Najib Tun Razak, has broken out of the domestic arena with the filing of a request to investigate bribery and kickbacks from the deal in a Paris court.

Although the case has been contained for eight years in the cozy confines of Malaysia's courts and parliament, which are dominated by the ruling National Coalition, French lawyers William Bourdon, Renaud Semerdjian and Joseph Breham put an end to that when they filed it with Parisian prosecutors on behalf of the Malaysian human rights organization Suaram, which supports good-government causes.

Judges in the Paris Prosecution Office have been probing a wide range of corruption charges involving similar submarine sales and the possibility of bribery and kickbacks to top officials in France, Pakistan and other countries. The Malaysian piece of the puzzle was added in two filings, on Dec. 4, 2009 and Feb. 23 this year.

For two years, Parisian prosecutors, led by investigating judges Francoise Besset and Jean-Christophe Hullin, have been gingerly investigating allegations involving senior French political figures and the sales of submarines and other weaponry to governments all over the world. French news reports have said the prosecutors have backed away from some of the most serious charges out of concern for the political fallout.

The allegations relate to one of France's biggest defense conglomerates, the state-owned shipbuilder DCN, which merged with the French electronics company Thales in 2005 to become a dominant force in the European defense industry. DCN's subsidiary Armaris is the manufacturer of Scorpene-class diesel submarines sold to India, Pakistan and Malaysia among other countries. All of the contracts, according to the lawyers acting for Suaram, a Malaysian human rights NGO, are said to be suspect.

With Najib having moved on from the defense portfolio he held when the deal was put together in 2002 to become prime minister and head of the country's largest political party, the mess has the potential to become a major liability for the government and the United Malays National Organisation. Given the power of UMNO, it is unlikely the scandal would ever get any airing in a Malaysian court, which is presumably why Suaram reached out to French prosecutors.

"The filings are very recent and have so far prompted a preliminary police inquiry on the financial aspects of the deal," said a Paris-based source familiar with France's defense establishment. "There isn't a formal investigation yet. The investigation will most likely use documents seized at DCN in the course of another investigation, focusing on bribes paid by DCN in Pakistan."

The source said police have confined their inquiry to bribery allegations so far and have not looked into the 2006 murder of a Mongolian woman in Malaysia who was a translator on the deal for Najib and his friend, Abdul Razak Baginda, during a visit to Paris.

There have been numerous deaths involving DCN defense sales in Taiwan and Pakistan. Prosecutors are suspicious that 11 French submarine engineers who were murdered in a 2002 bomb blast in Karachi – first thought to have been the work of Al Qaeda – were actually killed in retaliation for the fact that the French had reneged on millions of dollars in kickbacks to Pakistani military officers.

The Malaysian allegations revolve around the payment of €114 million to a Malaysia-based company called Perimekar, for support services surrounding the sale of the submarines. Perimekar was wholly owned by another company, KS Ombak Laut Sdn Bhd, which in turn was controlled by Najib's best friend, Razak Baginda, whose wife Mazalinda, a lawyer and former magistrate, was the principal shareholder, according to the French lawyers.

"Over the past years, serious cases have been investigated in France by judges involving DCN," lawyer Renaud Semerdjian told Asia Sentinel in a telephone interview. "This is not the first case of this kind that is being investigated. There are others in Pakistan and there are some issues about India. To a certain extent, every time weapons of any kind have been provided, suspicion of violation of the law may be very high."

As defense minister from 2000 to 2008, Najib commissioned a huge military buildup to upgrade Malaysia's armed forces, including two submarines from Armaris and the lease of a third, a retired French Navy Agosta-class boat. There were also Sukhoi supersonic fighter jets from Russia and millions of dollars spent on coastal patrol boats. All have come under suspicion by opposition leaders in Malaysia's parliament but UMNO has stifled any investigation. Asked personally about the cases, Najib has responded angrily and refused to reply.

Despite efforts to bury it, the case achieved considerably notoriety after the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu, a 28-year-old Mongolian translator and Razak Baginda's jilted lover, who participated in negotiations over the purchase of the submarines. By her own admission in a letter found after her death, she was attempting to blackmail Razak Baginda for US$500,000.

She was shot in October 2006 and her body was blown up with military explosives by two bodyguards attached to Najib's office after Razak Baginda went to Najib's chief of staff, Musa Safri, for help in keeping her away from him. Not long after being acquitted in November 2008 under questionable circumstances of participating in her murder, Razak Baginda left the country for England. The bodyguards were convicted but no motive was ever established for their actions despite a confession by one which was not allowed in court, but which said they would be paid a large sum of money to get rid of her.

The submarine deal was never brought up in court during a months-long murder trial that was marked by prosecutors, defense attorneys and the judge working studiously to keep Najib's name out of the proceedings. A private detective hired by Razak Baginda to protect him from the furious Altantuya filed a statutory declaration after the trial indicating that Najib had actually been the victim's lover and had passed her on to Razak Baginda.

The detective, P. Balasubramaniam, said later that he was unceremoniously run out of Kuala Lumpur. He eventually emerged from hiding in India to say he had been offered RM5 million (US$1.57 million) by a businessman close to Najib's wife to shut up and get out of town. He also said he had met Nazim Razak, Najib's younger brother, and was told to recant his testimony.

In the current complaint in Paris, the issue revolves around what, if anything, Razak Baginda's Perimekar company did to deserve €114 million. Zainal Abidin, the deputy defense minister at the time of the sale, told parliament that Perimekar had received the amount – 11 percent of the sale price of the submarines – for "coordination and support services." The Paris filing alleges that there were neither support nor services.

Perimekar was registered in 2001, a few months before the signing of the contracts for the sale, the Paris complaint states. The company, it said flatly, "did not have the financial resources to complete the contract." A review of the accounts in 2001 and 2002, the complaint said, "makes it an obvious fact that this corporation had absolutely no capacity, or legal means or financial ability and/or expertise to support such a contract."

"None of the directors and shareholders of Perimekar have the slightest experience in the construction, maintenance or submarine logistics," the complaint adds. "Under the terms of the contract, €114 million were related to the different stages of construction of the submarines." The apparent consideration, supposedly on the part of Perimekar, "would be per diem and Malaysian crews and accommodation costs during their training. There is therefore no link between billing steps and stages of completion of the consideration."

As Asia Sentinel reported on April 1, services for the subs are being performed by a well-connected firm called Boustead DCNS, a joint venture between BHIC Defence Technologies Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of publicly-listed Boustead Heavy Industries Corp Bhd, and DCNS SA, a subsidiary of DCN. Boustead's Heavy Industries Division now includes Perimekar as an "associate of the Group. PSB is involved in the marketing, upgrading, maintenance and related services for the Malaysian maritime defence industry," according to Boustead's annual report.

Originally Boustead told the Malaysian Stock Exchange that the service contract was for RM600 million (US$184.1 million) for six years, or US$30.68 million annually. However, the contract later ballooned to RM270 million per year. Boustead Holdings is partly owned by the government and has close connections with UMNO.

"There are good grounds to believe that [Perimekar] was created with a single objective: arrange payment of the commission and allocate the amount between different beneficiaries including Malaysian public officials and or Malaysian or foreign intermediaries," the complaint states.

Mupok Aku

AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN

Barisan Nasional Government Is Employing Army Royal Engineer Corp To Salvage Failed Projects in Bario-Ba Kelalan

KUCHING
Thursday, 15th April 2010





On 24th March 2010, Bukittunggal.com has published an article about the failed government projects in Bario-Bakelalan as highlighted by Saudara Baru Bian. The article can be read here.
As a result of the reveletion by Saudara baru Bian, the BN government through the Ministry of Defense has employed the army to salvage the projects.
As report by local newspaper the Borneo Post, Datuk Zahid Hamidi and the entourages went to visit the project on Tuesday, 13th April 2010. Being the members of the ex-servicemen Association, I personally disagreed with The Malaysian Royal Engineer Corp involvement in salvaging the project. The main purposes of the corp is to assist the army in war and not to assist the BN government. The generals in the army is urged not to blindly follow the instruction of the minister. They must at their level be able to differentiate between lawful and unlawful orders.

As for the government, instead of salvage the failed projects using government agencies, they should take action againsts the relevant contractors that have been awarded the projects.
The people of Ba'kelalan and Bario must now aware that they had been cheated by the BN, and with that I only have this to Say:-

"VOTE FOR SAUDARA BARU BIAN IN THE COMING STATE ELECTION"

AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN

Datuk Zaid Has Been Chosen As PKR's Candidate In Hulu Selangor By-Election

SERENDAH SELANGOR
Wednesday, 14th April 2010

Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has been officially named the PKR candidate for the April 25 Hulu Selangor by-election.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim made the announcement last night, to thunderous applause at a packed community hall in Serendah, near here.

During the announcement, Anwar described the former law minister as a man of principle, one who was willing even to give up his ministerial post in order to keep to his stand.

The decision to nominate the former Kota Bharu Umno division chief had been made at PKR’s political bureau meeting earlier today, according to party insiders.

Barisan Nasional, meanwhile, will announce their candidate for the poll on Thursay.

The Kelantan-born Zaid kept his acceptance speech short and succinct.

He thanked his party colleagues for choosing him despite being a PKR newcomer.

“I’m not an outsider. I’ve been residing here in Selangor for a long time. I know the problems here.

“Insya Allah (God willing), with your help, ladies and gentlemen, I can become your voice,” the former senator told the audience.

The Hulu Selangor by-election was called following the death of PKR MP Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad late last month.

There are 64,500 voters in Hulu Selangor, with the Malays making up 52.7 per cent of the total while the Chinese constitute 26.3 per cent, Indians approximately 19 per cent and other races at 1.7 per cent.

AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN

Barisan Nasional Government Spends RM 76M To Arrange For Najib’s meeting with Obama

KUALA LUMPUR
Tuesday, 13th April 2010

The Barisan Nasional (BN) government paid US$24.2 million (RM76.8 million) to APCO Worldwide, the international public relations consultancy linked by Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders to Israel, for its services from last July until June this year.

The amount was revealed by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, in a written reply to a question in Parliament from PKR MP, Chua Tian Chang.

Chua disclosed this today to reporters, and pointed out that the amount far exceeded the RM28 million mentioned by Nazri previously.

The minister’s written reply provided a breakdown of the fee paid by the government to APCO, starting from July 15, 2009 until June 4, 2010.

“I want the minister to explain the expenses concerning APCO Worldwide. The payment was just for APCO’s services, not even for the 1 Malaysia concept,” Chua told reporters today in Parliament.

“How did Nazri end up with RM28 million, when the total amount was US$24,207,158 which is in US dollars. Change it to Malaysian ringgit and you get RM76,820,653,” said Chua.

When met by the Malaysian Insider, Nazri explained that he was uncertain during the time whether the figure was in the correct currency.

“It was what was told to me. I was not sure whether it was dollars or ringgit. Tengku Sharifuddin (Tengku Ahmad) informed me at the time,” said Nazri.

Nazri also said that when Chua had raised the question in Parliament, he had mentioned that he lacked the information then but would answer in depth at a later point.

“Check the Hansard. I said I did not have details (at the time.) I said I will provide the details and the details were provided,” said the Minister.

When asked about Chua’s query on why a local and possibly cheaper consultancy firm was not hired, Nazri scoffed and stressed that APCO had been hired to repair Malaysia’s ties with the United States.

Nazri said APCO was responsible for arranging Najib’s meeting with Obama. 

“APCO is being employed for our image in the US, for us to get close to the US. You mean to say a Malaysian company can help us get close to the US?” asked Nazri.

The minister then delivered a stinging rebuff to Pakatan Rakyat’s frequent cries of Israeli agents being involved in APCO’s organisation.

Because of the 22 years blunder by Mahathir and 6 years by Pak Lah (Both were UMNO), we have to spend such a big amount of RM 76M to mends our relationship with USA and or to uplift our image. AfterNajib Razak step down I am afraid we have to spend more..Just look at the damages that he has done especially in the Mongolian beauty brutal murder which has been known worldwide...I am not surprised that the same government will need billion of Ringgit to repair and uplift our image worldwide...So the rakyat must be wised to select our next government...Our first step toward this must start from Hulu Sengor and Sibu...BUKITTUNGGAL 

“Lobbying is common in US. You have to lobby (to get things done). The biggest lobbyists in US are Israeli lobbyists,” said Nazri.

He also asserted that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s moves in fostering closer ties with the US and liberalising the economy were good.

“Najib is not thinking of himself, he is thinking of the country. What is wrong with being close to Americans? It only benefits our economy.”

APCO also drew praise from Nazri for its performance, who credited the consultancy for Najib’s meeting with US President Barack Obama as proof of its success.

“APCO did a good job. Obama only set aside time to see Najib and (Chinese President) Hu Jintao. China is China, but Obama agreed to meet Najib.”

“The money we pay is worth it, it is giving good returns to us,” said Nazri.

Blame for “a generation” of bad ties with the US was then heaped on former prime ministers, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed and Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

“US will not care about us if we are not nice to them. We have to repair 22 years of Mahathir and 6 years of Pak Lah. You think we can undo this without spending money?” the minister quizzed.

Nazri then trained his sights on opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s allegations that APCO was also used by dictators throughout the world, saying that, were the claims true, they would simply be another feather in the public relations firm’s cap.

“I am not sure of that information... but dictators who have got the money will use the best. So what if they use APCO? It means that APCO is bloody good,” Nazri said.

AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN

BN Wanita information chief Datuk Hamidah Osman STUPIDITY

SELANGOR
Tuesday,13th April 2010

I just cannot imagined how the BN Woman wing can appointed such a stupid leader to lead them. The latest blunder that she made was when she complained over the relocation of Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim to the District Office. Not only she complained on Menteri Besar office relocate to District office, she also demanded for the removal of Hulu Selangor by-election’s returning officer Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahalan, by claiming that his objectivity has been compromised.

In case Hamidah Osman still did not know the post of Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, well let me tell you this. Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim is the Menteri Besar of Selangor, the most developed states in Malaysia and the state that contributes to more than 21% of Malaysian development incomes. The only different that he has with the rest of the Menteri Besars under BN is that he is the most clean and corruption free Menteri Besar.

Let's continue with our discussion on this stupid BN woman Chief complain. I would like to invite her to Sarawak during the coming by-election in Sibu so that she will see by herself what Taib Mahmud and his BN gangs will do during the election.

Learning from past experienced, the Lubok Antu by election as an example. The whole government departments and officers in LA had been mobilised by BN. The whole town was jammed with vehicles bearing government vehicle number (with letter Q) not only the ones that station in LA but as far as from Kuching.Other than that the government rest house also "blanket booked" by the BN. The only place where the pakatan Rakyat (PR) Operation Room allowed to be set-up was in a private land plot which belong to one of the loyal party's member.

So well Hamidah Osman...you shut up your stinking mouth, come to Sarawk during the election so that you can see by yourself how corrup will be your party in sarawak..!

AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN

Support Government of the Day Sultan Selangor Reminds Government Servants in Selangor

SHAH ALAM
Monday, 12th April 2010

Government servants in Selangor must remain apolitical and support the government of the day...Said the Sultan of Sengor

Sultan Sharafuddin reminded civil servants to be apolitical, professional, ethical and sensitive towards the ruling government and to uphold the country's rule of law. Giving this royal command, the Sultan of Selangor told politicians in the state to also uphold the country's constitution in their dealings.

Opening the third term of the state assembly here, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah said he wants to see Selangor continue to progress, with the government delivering what the people had tasked them to do.

"In this august House, let's take this opportunity to discuss good policies and not engage in inappropriate behaviour.

"It is incumbent upon all members of the house to show decorum," he said, adding that although in politics it would be impossible to reach a 100% consensus, there must be a system of check and balance.

He said politicians must act based on the trust given by the people and not base their actions on personal or political differences.

He called on all parties to uphold the Federal Constitution, saying it protects and guarantees the rights of all citizens.

"It is, therefore, important that we understand the constitution so that we do not go overboard in making our demand," he said.

Civil servants remain apolitical

Sultan Sharafuddin also reminded civil servants to be apolitical, professional, ethical and sensitive towards the ruling government and to uphold the country's rule of law.

"Being neutral and professional means that they must serve the government of the day and make fair decisions irrespective of their political sentiments," he said.

He said Selangor contributed to 21% of the country's revenue and, as such, the state and Federal governments needed each other.

"I hope that the state-Federal relations can be strengthened for the benefit of the people of this beloved state."

He said the state government should also ensure that all elected representatives were provided with sufficient allocation so that they could serve the people better.

"In this regard, I am giving my consent to the state government to request sufficient funds from the Federal government to develop the state and the people," he said.

State-Federal cooperation

The liberalisation policy implemented at the Federal level should be supported by the state through the provision of quality services so that the state would not be left out in the expected inflow of investment.

On crimes, he said, he hoped that the state government would fully cooperate with Federal enforcement agencies in implementing anti-crime measures.

He also called on the people to maintain racial harmony.

"Let us make our diversity an asset and not a source of discord.

"Let's cast away prejudice because the challenges ahead of us will come down on all of us irrespective of who we are," he said

Mupok Aku

AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN

Due to Putrajaya Harrassment Dr Pornthip Will Not Testify in Teoh Beng Hock's Inquest

Kuching
Sunday, 11th April 2010

The Selangor government has been left in the dark with the sudden withdrawal by renowned Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand from the Teoh Beng Hock inquest.

With the news of Pornthip's withdrawal breaking today, state officers were huddled in meetings with lawyers on their next course of action, especially with the inquest set to reconvene on April 20.

Pornthip was expected to testify on that day, with many eager to know the details of her report on Teoh's second post-mortem.

When contacted, lawyer for the state government Malik Imtiaz Sarwar refused to comment on their likely movement.

"I am taking instructions on this. Nothing much to say," he told FMT in a brief SMS message.

Newsportal Malaysiakini reported today that Pornthip, the director-general of the Bangkok-based Central institute of Forensice Science (CIFS), has withdrawn from the inquest citing "political" pressure from the Malaysian government that could affect her work in Southern Thailand.

In her earlier appearance in the Teoh inquest, Pornthip had said that the DAP political aide's death was "80 percent homicide". The Malaysian pathologists however had insisted that Teoh could have plunged to his death or suicide.

By taking the witness stand again, Pornthip was expected to reveal the mysterious circumstances surrounding Teoh's death last July 16.

Thirty-year-old Teoh was the political secretary to Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah and had been summoned to the MACC office on the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam to be questioned over allegations of irregularities in the state funds on July 15, 2009. He was however found dead the following day on top of the fifth floor adjacent to the building.

Gobind: Will make alternative arrangements

Pornthip's sudden decision had come as a shock to many, including lawyer Gobind Singh Deo who appears for the Teoh family in the inquest.

In a statement today, Gobind described the withdrawal as a significant development. He said he was in the midst of clarifying the matter with the pathologist.

He said he was still hopeful that Pornthip will still be able to testify in the inquest on April 20.

"If she is unable to (attend the inquest), we will try to make alternative arrangements for her evidence to be taken.

"If that too fails, we will have to proceed with what we have and we are confident we will still be able to succeed in establishing our case, which is that Teoh did not commit suicide but instead his was a clear case of homicide," he said.

This is not the first time Pornthip has claimed that she has been harassed because of her participation in the inquest. Previously she had said that she had been followed by unknown persons during her trips to Malaysia to testify.

Her testimony at the inquest had also been rubbished by the government, especially by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Aziz who today accused the Thai expert of lying.

Gobind lashed out at Nazri for not wanting to help in discovering the truth surrounding Teoh's death.

“He should investigate the allegations made by Porntip first before drawing to conclusions on the matter. He is in no position to determine what weight ought to be given to Porntips testimony,” said Gobind.

“Instead of assisting the Teoh family and trying to solve the problem, Nazri has spoken volumes for the government to the contrary. Is there a real desire on part of the government to see justice done for Teoh Beng Hock or do they hope to discredit those who have helped establish a case against suicide on his behalf as seems to be the case here?” he added.

Related to the Hulu Selangor by-election?

The state government research officer Tricia Yeoh told FMT that the federal government should play a part in getting Pornthip back to the inquest.

"We just hope the federal government will assist us to have Pornthip here as she is officially appointed by the state government," she said briefly.

In another reaction, lawyer Lim Lip Eng, also acting for the Teoh family, said that the pressure placed on Pornthip via government channels could be due to the coming Hulu Selangor by-election which the Barisan Nasional wants to win from PKR.

"The inquest will be on the 20th and the by-election will be on April 25. There is pressure on the government side as Pornthip would disclose the findings that could give a great impact on them and the MACC," he told FMT.

Lim also expressed his concerns that the Thai pathologist was not allowed into Kelantan to investigate a case related to the massacre in southern Thailand as part of her forensic work.

"I want the government to explain to the people why she is not allowed into Kelantan? She is a renowned doctor, why can't she come to Malaysia? We need as much help from her," said Lim.

The federal government has not officially responded to Pornthip's claims that she had been pressured to pull out from testifying in the inquest apart from Nazri who was reported in Malaysiakini as saying that the Thai expert was lying.

A Stupid mayor With Stupid Proposal

Kuching
Thursday, 8th April 2010

Stupid Mayor With Stupid Proposal Came Under Fire By DAP Assemblyman

Kuching City South Mayor James Chan's plan to collect parking offence compounds and overdue parking notices and linking it to a 'freeze' on offenders' properties has come under fire.

In a press conference Wednesday, Chan said there would be a linkage with relevant authorities and departments on parking compounds. If people want to sell their properties, they would be in for a hard time if they have outstanding parking fees to be settled.

The plan for such a move did not auger well with Wong King Wei, Special Assistant to MP Kuching, Chong Chieng Jen.

Wong, in a press conference this afternoon, hit out at such a ridiculous idea and urged Chan to drop such plans.

Wong said parking compound may range from a few ringgits to a few hundreds but to ‘freeze’ one properties to force the people to pay would be too much.

“Some properties are worth ten of thousands if not millions,” he said. He said it was such an abuse of human rights.

He added that based on the principle of law, a personal debt did not allow the creditor to caveat even the debtor’s land.

Citing an example of the Miri Municipal Council's suggestion to the Road Transport not to renew a driver’s road tax if he has outstanding parking coupon debts, Wong said such ruling was against the violation of Article 13 of the Federal Constitution.

Outstanding traffic summons

He cited a court case - Leonard Lim vs Director of JPJ - two years ago when the latter prevented Lim from paying his road tax due to outstanding traffic summons.

The High Court ruled that by blacklisting the road user due to an unsettled traffic summon is tantamount to compelling him to admit to the alleged offence and is against the principal that a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The High Court further decided that to deny a person of a motor vehicle licence is to deny the person the use and enjoyment of his motor vehicle which is in contravention of Article 13 of the Federal Constitution.

Wong said the judge further stated that the applicant was alleged of a traffic offence which is criminal in nature. He said in the unsettled parking coupons, it is not even a criminal allegation, it is a merely an unsettled debt. The city council should not force the people to admit to the unsettled debt unless they chose to do so in free will. To recover the debt, the city council should take civil Court action before a person can be adjudged as a debtor.

Asking the Mayor and others city council to learn from the court case, Wong said they should think of other legal ways to collect the outstanding parking fees and not to resort to such action.

Mupok Aku



AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN

James Masing Blames Taib Mahmud For Failure of Konsep Baru NCR Land Development Concept that he Introduced about 20 years ago

KUCHING
Friday,2nd April 2010

James Jemut Masing one of Iban Leaders that Came forward to blame Taib Mahmud for the Failure of the Konsep Baru NCR Land Development Concept that he Introduced about 20 years ago..Bravo Masing!

First of all I would like to wish all of my christian visitors a happy Good Friday, and for those who is sacrifice from eating I Wish them a happy fasting.

According to christian belief, today about 2000 years ago lord Jesus Christ was crucified for the forgiven of  human sins. Similarly, on this Good Friday I would like to thank Dr James Jemut Masing for Emulate Lord Jesus Christ sacrifices by  condemning his boss Taib Mahmud for the failure of Konsep Baru NCR Land development which he introduced about 20 years ago to rob the natives of their NCR lands .

According to James Jemut Masing as qouted by Borneo Post this morning edition, Konsep Baru NCR land Development is a failure because it cannot make much profit to the land owners as compared to SALCRA and FELDA, because most of its incomes are used to pay the bank loan, with higher interest rates.

Jemut also said that the government is making an effort to study and then implement the new concept of NCR land development.

Land Owners May Withdraw From the JV

With government recognitions that the Konsep Baru of the NCR Land Development introduced by Taib Mahmud as a failure, all the land owners that had participate in the JV can now withdrawing their participations. But the problem is most of the land owners do not know how and where to withdraw from the JV.

Pakatan Rakyat(PR) and the dayak NGO like SDNU, SADIA, SDGA etc. should take this opportunity to get more support from the dayak voters by helping them to withdraw from the JV.

To all the land owners in Empaling, Ubah, Isu, sapak, Keranggas, Kanowit and many more, if you dont want to permanently lose your NCR lands, you must withdraw now. Contact your local PR and NGO offices for their assistances.

Mupok Aku

AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN

NUTP April Fool For Muhyiddin Yassin - Special Committee to Study Teachers' Burden

Kuching
Thursday, 1st March 2010

Introduction

All Malaysians Know that  Teacher is the most relax, most Annual Leave Entitlement and the shortest working hours Amongst the whole  professions in Malaysia..What burden are they talking about?

According to the newspaper report this morning, Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had said that the government will study the burden or the additional workload of the teachers. The study was proposed in response to the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) complaint to the government.
According to the report, NUTP had complained to the government that some teachers cannot concentrate on their teaching because they have to attend to the additional tasks like involvement in curricular activities outside their normal working hours.

I am not against the government effort to improve the education system in Malaysia .But most of the requests or demands by the NUTP , most of the times are only focused on the salary and benefits of the teachers.Based on my observations, so far I have not seen any request/proposal by NUTP which were for the benefits of the student.

Just look at their website here and you will see that it only centred on the contributions /proposal for the benefits of their members and very few for the improvement of the education system in Malaysia. Being one of the biggest association in Malaysia, NUTP when making the request must also consider the other government agencies/staff , as their request may affect the benefits of the others.

Talking about the burden of the teachers, I don’t see that they have extra burdens compare to the others government staff from other department like clerk, police or the army. Teachers official working hours start from 7.00AM until 1.30PM, whereas the other government offices start from 8.00AM to 5.00PM. Their Annual leave is more than 60 days compare to 30 days entitlement to the other government staff.

Wow..Teachers have so much Works to Do?

The house where I am staying now, both of my neighbors (left/right) husband/wife are teachers. All of us leave our home for office almost the same time at 6.15AM but when I reach home at about 7.30PM both of my neighbors are already watching tv, and done their exercises. While my teachers neighbors have done their exercise and dinner, my wife and I who are not a teacher , dont  have time to do of these and sometimes have to take our dinner outside.

Teachers are never going to have enough money. If one go to the school nowadays, one will see the different between the cars that the teachers drive to school compares to two years ago. Two years ago, very seldom that we saw teachers driving other than the  local made cars like proton saga or kanchil  to school. But nowaday they  drive Camry, CRV and other cars that valued more than RM 100K to school.

Government Should Not Fall to NUTP Pressure

The government should not blindly entertain the NUTP pressure just merely because they afraid to lose their votes. Extra perks mean extra financial burden to government,  and other government servants will have to give way in order to fulfill the demands made by NUTP.

Those who study economy know very well that increase in salary will normally increase the price of goods and subsequently the inflation will also be increased. Money is never going to enough. As an example,  the teachers nowadays after the pay raise implemented by Pak Lah administration, can afford to drive Camry or other model that cost more than RM 100K, and the end result their saving ( income-spending) remain the same and never going to be enough as I said earlier.

What Burdens Are Teachers Talking About

Don't waste tax payers' monies to study the "no burden claims"...Just ask the teachers to wear this item to teach!

Teachers office hours start from 7.30AM to 1.30PM , seven days week , annual leave more than 60 days and their salaries are not lower than the rest of the government staff. Based on that I don’t see that the teachers have more burden compare with the other professions.

The government should not fall to their pressures, and politically Barisan Nasional (BN) government cannot win the election with the teachers’ votes alone.

So Mahyuddin..don’t be coward, please say this to the teachers :

If you feel don't want to accept additional works entrusted to you , please leave now as 1malaysia doesn't need one that cannot sacrifices and serves the nation full heatedly. There are many people out there who are willing to sacrifice and take the challenge to become a dedicated teacher !

Mupok Aku

AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN