The First GEM cometh from a "LONE RANGER" who warmed the cockles of Desi's heart when he beat all the 23 President's men when he had the spirit of KETUANAN RKAYAT -- and the sage-of-a-Terengganu Sultan-concurently-YangDiPertuanAgong -- by his sdie:)
From the Establishment paper, NST Online, short and succinct!~~
2008/07/26
Merc Perk Controversy: Don't limit scope of probe, says MB
KUALA TERENGGANU: Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said wants the Anti-Corruption Agency to probe everything -- the Proton Perdana maintenance cost, the maintenance of cars used by ministers, the Monsoon Cup and the Islamic Civilisation Theme Park.
"For transparency, investigate right down to the very bottom. I would also like to see the bad guys nabbed. Don't pick on Ahmad Said only."
Speaking to reporters after the opening of the Serikandi (Association for the Wives of State Assemblymen) annual meeting, he said: "If there was any hanky-panky, we wouldn't know about it. We merely sign the bills when they arrive."
Ahmad also said he felt vindicated as other state governments, Pahang, Kelantan, Kedah and Selangor, had supported his claim that the Perdana maintenance was too high.
And from the Star Online, for once fling a report on the same subject, having some semblance of an attempt to live up to its Tagline for its print edition, as The People's Paper:
Saturday July 26, 2008
Terengganu MB: Probe Monsoon Cup, Islamic Park
KUALA TERENGGANU: The authorities should investigate if there was graft in other high-profile projects in Terengganu and not just the issue of high cost of maintaining official cars, said Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said.
He said the Anti-Corruption Agency should not be selective and should also conduct investigations into projects like the prestigious Monsoon Cup sailing event and the Islamic Civilisation Park.
»The ACA should be transparent by also going after the ‘big’ cases« DATUK AHMAD SAID
In an immediate response, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said this was up to the ACA.
“If the ACA finds reasons to initiate investigations into them because there is suspicion of elements of corruption, it is up to the ACA to decide,” he told reporters after the National Academic Awards 2007 in Kuala Lumpur.
Ahmad Said, in a press conference here yesterday, said the two projects he named were “only the tip of the iceberg”.
“I am a controversial figure, I will expose more, but the ACA should be transparent by also going after the ‘big’ cases.
“Don’t only go after Mad (Ahmad Said). Investigate the Monsoon Cup and Islamic Civilisation Park, too,” he said.
When asked if he believed there were elements of corruption in the two projects, Ahmad replied: “That’s for the ACA to investigate.”
Ahmad said the ACA had been quick to investigate the high service costs for Proton Perdana cars when he proposed buying Mercedes Benz as state cars, and asked that it also cast its eyes on other cases, like the Monsoon Cup.
The Monsoon Cup, managed by a state-owned company, offers the highest prize money in the world for a sailing competition. The annual event was inaugurated in 2005, and this year’s edition is scheduled for November.
Since its debut the event has been criticised by its opponents as wasteful and not benefiting the people.
The Islamic Civilisation Park is part of a project under the East Coast Economic Region to boost Kuala Terengganu as a waterfront city.
The park is divided into two zones: the Islamic Civilisation Complex and the Public Zone.
Ahmad also called for a probe on the high service charges by Spanco, a service agent engaged to maintain Federal government vehicles.
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The Second GEM cometh from the Prime Minister-in-waiting Sdr Anwar Ibrahim.Since I am an "interested party" as I started carrying a PKR membership card early 2007, having supported the Reformasi movement from 1999 -- yes, go google my writings and if you can email me at least one GOod peice that YL Chong can be proud of, I will reward thee with a signedkopi ofMidnight Voices, worth 1,000-fold was my sales pitch during a by-election that my work would be worth 1,000-fold when I joineth the late SA of IJOK,No Joke!. -- Desi (REF: to newcomers at MBH, see July 7, 2007 Post)
From the Malaysian Insider, whose stories are much better written than 10-year-old Mkini, and that's coming from a fellow newshound's perspective, which I concur fully, or izzit fooly?:)
DESIDERATA: I had it from RELIABLE SOURCES that PM Pak Lah walked away from the "Gunfight at the Palatial Corral" with his tail behind the hind legs when the Sultan asked w=him what happened to the 5% ROYALTIES AMOUNTING TO RM1BILLION DUE TO THE STATE OF TERENGGANU EVERY YEAR FOR FOUR YEARS ie. RM4BILLION during the blardy mornoic predecessor MB's time? Elegant silence.
I think possibly names like the Son-in-law and one whom ex-PM Dr Mahathir kindly anointed as KJ's bestA buddy to be considered "Awe-in-theFamily" Patrick Lim Badawi were mentioned, inside and out of the palatial and political corrdiors of power. The Monsoon Cup runneth over to Swan Ribber/Ripper, Perth,and some fool Aussies and half-Ozzies are laughing their way to the nonn-river-bank. Hopefully when Mr Justice post-September 16 when DSAI rises like a phoenix, these guys see the four gray walls that is Sungei Buloh -- oh, no, not by the Swannie river, that's for DesiDANkompenie:).
THE PROBLEM WAS COMPOUNDED WHEN IT WAS REVEALED MUCH LATER THAT PETRONAS IN FACT GAVE MUCH MORE THAN 5% DUE -- more than RM7BILLION during the four-year term during IDRIS JUSOH'S TIME AS MB.
Yes, the Rakyat, especially nosey-parker DESIDERATA:( want ACA to find out -- where has all the Petronas monies given to Terengganu gone?
Sabah and Sarawak MPs to join up in two weeks, claims Anwar
Anwar makes a point at his ceramah last night.Visualise-lah, my ER
have rich imagination, yes!:):) ~~ YL aka Desi, knottyaSsusual
BANTING, July 26 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim declared last night that he would announce in a week or two his plan to run for Parliament.
By that time, he said, he would also have some Barisan Nasional MPs from Sabah and Sarawak to join him — to make good his prediction to form the federal government by Malaysia Day.
"I want to see how much they (BN) are willing to spend (in the by-election). By that time (the by-election), our friends from Sabah, Sarawak and the Peninsular would be joining us," Anwar told a crowd of thousands at the Jugra stadium in Kuala Langat, about 100km from Kuala Lumpur, late last night.
He added that it was necessary for him and the federal opposition to take over the government because the country was facing an economic crisis caused by BN's mismanagement.
"I can tell you that things will get worse in two months," he told the cheering crowd.
For the first time also, Anwar admitted that the opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat had somewhat failed to convince the rural Malays to support the coalition.
"Based on our findings, the poor trusts Umno more," he said, urging his staunch supporters, mainly teachers and civil servants, to explain to the villagers Pakatan's struggle.
He reminded them to persuade the rural Malays the need to reject Umno's propaganda that the opposition coalition was trying to undermine Malay rights.
"Umno leaders are saying they are trying to protect the Malays because now they are at their weakest. But let me tell you this that it is too late for them. I am Malay but a responsible and cultured one. I will never stop from helping the Malays to progress," he added.
The former deputy prime minister, who was also the founder member of the Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (Abim), assured the crowd that Pakatan's aim to uphold justice was Islamic in nature.
A section of the crowd who came to hear Anwar speak last night.
"I am a Muslim therefore I am responsible to uphold justice for all Malaysians," he said to shouts of "reformasi".
Anwar also told the crowd that the latest sodomy allegation against him would not derail his plan to take over the government.
"They can put me in jail, stripped me but they cannot stop my programme to benefit the people. I do not wish to be the Prime Minister to enrich myself. I will be damned if I do that," he declared to the multiracial crowd that had waited for him since 9pm.
"I will fight, as I know there is no evidence, this is just a wild accusation, and I have enough witnesses. I have fought with dragons and these people are just lizards, and the people will reject this latest allegation," he said.
Despite the harsh words against his accusers, Anwar said he was in a forgiving mood. "I have forgiven (Tun Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad). He is senile. (Tan Sri) Mohtar Abdullah (the Attorney-General in 1998) is no longer with us and (Tan Sri) Rahim Noor (the former Inspector-General of Police) is retired. We want to move forward, let bygones be bygones."
Adding to his plea, Anwar also reminded the crowd to seek divine intervention. "Let us hold solat hajat (prayers seeking God's help) and readings of the Surah Yasin (a Quranic chapter asking for God's help), to ask God to save the country. We can only plan but God will decide," he said.
Anwar criticised the government for allegedly discriminating minority groups including the Chinese and Indians, saying that no country could progress by discriminating its citizens.
He also took the opportunity to deny that the opposition coalition was collapsing due to the Pas-Umno unity talks. "It is not a problem to meet anyone but it must be based on the principle of justice."
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