Awang Abdillah
People should vote in Pakatan Rakyat to form the next federal government in the 13th general election.
Why? Because it would enable the elected the Pakatan government to investigate the gross malpractices committed by the Umno-Barisan National federal government and the roles in Sabah and Sarawak state governments from 1981 till today.
The investigations should focus on the following malpractices and crimes:
1. Employees Provident Fund (EPF)
The EPF is a government public fund entity where the workers and their employers are required to make monthly contributions to the members’ life savings accounts.
Over the years, the payments made by millions of employees would contribute billions of ringgit to the savings fund.
Over the years, the EPF has been the main source of domestic borrowings by the federal government.
However, since the 1997-98 economic crisis, which hit Malaysia badly, the role of the EPF as the traditional primary lender changed.
It became then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s personal piggy bank and funds were used to bail out his crony companies which suffered mammoth financial losses due to the fall in the ringgit value vis-à-vis the major world currencies and the loss in the value of the stocks from the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) crash.
Unlike commercial banks, bad loans will result in credit control or freeze; for the EPF, the cash inflows from the employees and employers’ contributions and cash outflows from their withdrawals and loans taken by the government are a continuous non-stop process.
In other words, funds used up are continuously replenished by the inflows.
Hence some funds can be siphoned out through the manipulation of the outflows by those entrusted to manage the fund, but replenished by the members’ contributions, thereby making it to appear that the total funds is growing or at least maintained at constant level. It gives the impression that there is no abuse of funds.
So how much actually is the total outflows and how are the funds utilised, especially those related to government borrowings for public investments/expenditures and for bailout purposes?
These facts are not revealed by the current BN government.
As I have explained in my earlier articles on the national debt, a substantial portion of the federal budget deficit is financed by borrowings from EPF, which is used to cover the cost of paying crony companies through the highly inflated prices of government projects awarded without the open tender system.
Hence it is vital that Pakatan be voted in as the next federal government to enable them to investigate the extent and purposes of the actual funds taken out by the federal government from the EPF vis-à-vis the official figures.
The investigation will enable the public to know how much money is actually lent out and abused and the actual balance of the fund remaining.
2. Petronas
Petronas as a national petroleum corporation has earned billions of US dollars from its domestic and overseas operations. How much of Petronas’ overseas actual earnings are not revealed?
We believe part of the corporate earnings are diverted to benefit those in the corridors of power.
3. Bank Negara
The Pakatan government should get to the bottom of the financial losses suffered by Bank Negara for using its foreign reserves in speculation activities in the London foreign exchange (forex) market duirng 1992-93 upon the directive of Mahathir.
Mahathir gambled away billions of Bank Negara’s scarce foreign exchange to buy the British pound with the belief that the currency would rise, but instead the sterling fell when the British government announced a devaluation of the currency.
The actual amount of losses, in billions of US dollars, suffered by Bank Negara was never revealed by the government.
4. Mahathir’s mega economics
Under Mahathir’s mega economic models, projects were awarded directly to cronies and henchmen.
Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud, though he is quite independent of federal government control, had to share his ill-gotten wealth with Mahathir as a form of protection money.
Here it was a case of “win-win” in corruption, a personal scheme engineered between the two.
It is therefore pertinent that the Pakatan government investigate the amount of illicit money allegedly involving the duo.
All Mahathir wanted was for much of the revenue from Sarawak’s oil, gas, income and customs taxes worth billions of ringgit to flow into the federal coffers.
In exchange, he allowed Taib to have complete control of the state. Whatever the problems were between Taib and his people, Mahathir didn’t give a damn.
Mahathir preferred to see that the Sarawak and Sabah people remained poor and ignorant so that he could continue to manipulate their wealth, boost his federal government coffers and later abuse these funds.
5. State projects
The list of federal and Sarawak state projects that had been awarded without open tender and who benefited from them.
6. National debts
The need to investigate the causes of the escalating national debt.
7. “Double Six” tragedy
Pakatan must probe the cause of the “Double Six” tragedy on June 6, 1976, near Kota Kinabalu airport.
Eleven people were killed in the air crash. Among them were then Sabah chief minister Fuad Stephens and several state cabinet members.
At that time Mahathir was the deputy prime minister. Then prime minister Hussein Onn was an honest and clean man.
The original oil royalty deal that was agreed upon for Sabah was 20%, but following the untimely crash, the original oil-sharing agreement was altered with a new agreement, which gave Sabah a share of only 5% of oil royalty.
Sabahans should vote for a Pakatan government to enable it to investigate the cause of the accident and the mastermind behind the whole thing.
How people can trust opposition if until now they still not fulfilled their promise in 2008 general election?? Just take an example in Selangor. In 2008, the Pakatan government in Selangor promise to give monthly gifts for rakyats to send their children to nurseries but yet still not fulfill it eventhough now they have RM1.9 billion reserve fund (Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim recently announced that the government managed to increase its reserves to RM1.9 billion from RM500 million in 2008). As the state government has a lot of savings today, they should pay the arrears over a four-year election promises first. Among them are RM 75 per month to pay for children to nursery, RM 50 per month for child support pre-school, children RM 600 per month as an allowance for single mothers. The state should fulfill the promises made and no longer point fingers to BN for the weaknesses themselves. Opposition should stop dreaming to take over Putrajaya if even this little promises they cannot fulfill.
Comment by Isaac — August 15, 2012 @ 11:08 AM |
Grand promises are easy for PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to make because the opposition need not have to fulfill them to the people.
What measures would Pakatan Rakyat use to investigate the Double Six Tragedy? How would the victims’ family members feel about it?
Recently, Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman said Pakatan Rakyat’s pledge to increase Sabah’s oil royalty payments from 5 percent to 20 percent is an illogical promise.
The allocation of oil monies must be viewed from a broad perspective. The federal government needs to spend money on infrastructure like schools, hospitals, roads, defense and internal security costs etc.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has repeatedly made the promise, merely fishing for votes. He should explain how could Pakatan Rakyat gives the 20% oil royalty to Sabah instead of just saying it.
Comment by Rafizi Khan — August 15, 2012 @ 8:23 AM |
Selagi kerjasama dengan parti pembangkang Sabah tidak kukuh, jangan harap boleh mengambil alih kuasa kerajaan.
Comment by Ashley — August 13, 2012 @ 10:26 AM |
PR memang pandai buat janji. lepas PRU memang semua sudah lupa tu sebab apa yang mereka mahukan cuma UNDI dan SOKONGAN rakyat Sabah.
Comment by Anon — August 13, 2012 @ 10:23 AM |
I love change as much as every Malaysian do. But I define and interpret the Changes may be different from the changes that many demanded. Is not a must to change by replacing the government. change can be in many different other ways.
some may claim that we just need to try for once and that once is only 5 years of time. but what many Malaysian do not know that is ANYTHING can happen just in 1 or 2 years.
if we examine in detail the Pakatan FREE Promises, we will realize that it will put our country debt in the biggest debt ever in the history. abolishing toll, abolishing PTPTN, free education, reduce the price of car, reduce the Price of Oil, giving RM4000 a month to every single Malaysian.. all of this promises would make Public debt soar to more than RM600 billion in Year one and Malaysia will go bankrupt by Year 2 of PR’s tenure as the budget deficit will have exceeded 10% of the GDP and public debt will have exceeded 100% of the GDP.
why do we need to GAMBLE our future away when there are always many alternative and ways to reach a destination? Barisan Nasional may not be a good option but to replaced BN, then Pakatan Rakyat must be proven to be a great option. If they are just another option then why do we need to Change where in reality there actually no CHANGES at all?
after 4 years coming into power we can clearly see that almost every single evil deeds that Barisan Nasional is doing is also the same thing that is happening inside Pakatan Rakyat now. Basically they are not a good replacement.
In this case I should rather change BN within BN rather than changing BN with PR.. Sekian!
Comment by Martycruz — August 11, 2012 @ 8:24 PM |
I doubt their intentions though.
Comment by rinong — August 10, 2012 @ 11:08 PM |
Make MaLAYSIA A TRULY GREAT COUNTRY LIKE OUR FOREFATHERS DREAMED WILL HAPPEN.! OUR FOREFATHERS TOILED THE LAND IN SWEAT AND PAIN SO WE COULD HAVE A GREAT FUTURE. THEY WOULD NOT BELIEVE THE SITUATION WE ARE IN TODAY. SO LET US ALL AND TOGETHER MAKE OUR FOREFATHERS; DREAM TAKE SHAPE
Comment by kreegah — August 10, 2012 @ 10:28 PM |
Good or not, it is to early to judge.
Comment by ans — August 10, 2012 @ 10:23 PM |
It is not easy to take over the Putrajaya, it is needed a continious effort from all.
Comment by ans — August 10, 2012 @ 10:20 PM |
If Pakatan takes over, get rid of corrupt BN crooks
First, fill up the prison until full capacity. Any excess just shoot them dead lah
No choice for BN crooks either go to jail for life or Shot to death China style…
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Kuching prison complex is ready – after 10 years
The Star, Tuesday January 29, 2008
KUCHING: The prison complex here has finally been completed at a cost of RM98mil, more than 10 years after work started on the project.
Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Fu Ah Kiow said the project was now “physically complete” and furnishings and fittings would be put in place over the next few months.
He said the physical components included a 33kV substation built at the request of Syarikat Sesco Bhd to supply electricity to the prison complex and its surrounding areas.
“The substation has been completed and partial supply of 11kV is now available, which is sufficient for the complex.
“The full 33kV of supply will be installed later when the necessary equipment is put in place and commissioned in May,” Fu said after being briefed by the Public Works Department at the project site in Jalan Borneo Heights here yesterday.
Fu, who also witnessed the handing-over of the project from contractor TSR Bina Sdn Bhd to the PWD, said the Prisons Department could now make preparations to move into the complex by May or June.
Plans to move inmates from the present jail in the city centre to the new complex would be made later, he said.
He added that there were several proposals for the future use of the existing prison, including turning it into a training centre for prison staff.
The 21ha complex houses the Prisons Department’s headquarters, staff quarters and prison blocks which can accommodate 500 male and 150 female inmates.
Work on the project, which was originally awarded for RM165mil, began in 1997 and scheduled for completion by August 2000.
However, it was plagued by delays and left abandoned when the original contractor failed to deliver.
TSR Bina was appointed in September 2004 to complete the project for RM54.7mil.
The delay in completion is being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Agency.
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China executes corrupt Hangzhou and Suzhou officials
BBC News, 19 July 2011
China has executed two officials from eastern cities after convicting them of corruption.
Xu Maiyong, a former vice-mayor of Hangzhou, and Jiang Renjie, who was vice-mayor of Suzhou, were put to death after their appeals were rejected.
Officials said Xu and Jiang took almost 300m yuan ($46m; £29m) by embezzling and taking bribes.
Corruption is one of the main causes of public discontent in China. Hundreds of officials are convicted every year.
But only a handful are executed, and it is extremely rare for two officials to be put to death on the same day.
Xu was said to be well known for his extravagant lifestyle – reports said investigators found gold bullion and expensive jewellery at his home.
State-run Xinhua news agency reported that he used his power to interfere with project contracts and to help companies and people obtain land, promotions and tax breaks.
The 52-year-old was sentenced to death in May for taking almost 200m yuan in bribes and embezzled funds.
Jiang, 62, was given the death penalty in 2008 for taking more than 100m yuan in bribes.
The two cases are not linked, but both men were earlier reported to be members of the Communist Party.
Earlier this year, President Hu Jintao focused on corruption during his main speech to celebrate 90 years since the party was founded.
He warned that corruption could cost the party the support of the people.
Several high-profile officials have been executed in recent years – including Shanghai’s former party boss, and a former head of the country’s main nuclear firm.
Comment by Teddy Gumbang — August 10, 2012 @ 8:48 AM |
I believe PR won’t dare to do as what BN do for the past 55 years. PR must do something for the nation to proven that they are a clean and nation service party. They must bring up this country. They must do something to change the whole system of this country. They must do something to benefit for the nation.
Comment by Mike- Johor — August 9, 2012 @ 9:59 AM |
I actually don’t give a damn about your to do List, ” Just Do It “no more rhetorics n blah2,get your ass off the ground n Do It.I don’t wanna hear those List or whatever promises that you have Made,show us that you will carry what you’ve promised since 2008 and we will give you exactly 2 terms to achieved what you’ve promised.Correct those obvious blatant appointments and policies first,clean out those useless good for nothing,Stupid Yes man Bn appointees such as MACC,AG n Dead wood stupid idiots,politically ambitious Top echelons of PDRM,Custom,Immigresen, Judiciary,disban those idiotic Rela,curb the powers of Jakim,Jais ecetera2,hang those Pemandu idiots,giving blatant lies after lies as if we Malaysians are as stupid as them.Do these in your first 6 months in office,form RCI’s on so many wrong doings by Umno/Bn n trim those stupid expenditures of the PM’s office ecetera2 n for Allah sake,right what has been wrong in this country for over 50 years,Forked those blood sucking kampong JKK’s,hang Isa Samad to the nearest Palm tree,” Sula Rosmah ” arse,the rest I’d leave to your imagination,’NO Reconciliation Court ‘
Comment by Lok1 — August 9, 2012 @ 6:27 AM |
No doubt with leadership of good governance Malaysia can get back on track for the rakyat when PR takes GE13 – reform systems, reenergise public service, practice governance in economy, strengthen and reform Judiciary and renenergize parliament.
There could be something they could introduce for parliament – certain powers of the Executive can be shared if Parliamentary committees are given their rightful places imbued with utmost integrity of their leadership. The UK, from which our system originate have had numerous reforms of this nature.
Then there are other organs that need reforming – the PDRM, SPR, MACC, the AG Office.
Even the words the “Prime Minister” must be removed and the Petroleum Development Act and amended accordingly. The way this Act sounds, the PM is the direct ultimate Boss of Petronas and almost sounds like he’s God under the Act.
Sure there’ll be problems – just anticipate them and rollout reforms.
Comment by view ahead — August 10, 2012 @ 7:54 PM |