Sweteener, money and materials will start to be distributed all over Kuala Terengganu for this coming by election. All Kuala Terengganu folks, good luck, and don't forget to make a wise choice.... The first sweetener...., oil royalty returns.....
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/13/nation/2801662&sec=nation
Saturday December 13, 2008 - The Star
RM400mil boost for Terengganu sovereign wealth fund
KUALA TERENGGANU: Terengganu’s sovereign wealth fund will be given a boost when Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak hands over RM400mil in oil royalties to the state government.
The money is the first part of the RM3bil oil royalties promised by the Federal Government to the state government.
Much of the royalties will be banked into the proposed Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA), which will be launched by the middle of next year.
State Commerce, Industries and Environment committee chairman Toh Chin Yaw said the TIA would manage prudently the oil royalties for the benefit of the state and the people.
“We have to look into the finer details before setting up the TIA. We have to check the legal aspects and also agree on how to manage the fund successfully on a long-term basis,” he said yesterday.
Toh said the state government would study which areas the RM10bil TIA fund should be invested in so that it could benefit the state.
This, he noted, is for the future when Terengganu’s oil runs out. He said the establishment of TIA was discussed for some time after the Federal Government agreed to hand over the management of the oil royalties to the state government in May.
Toh was commenting on a report in a news portal that the state government would set up the TIA which would be run solely by professionals.
The report said the proposal for a sovereign wealth fund was put forward by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.
Under the TIA, the Sultan of Terengganu will be the chairman of the Board of Advisers. The Mentri Besar will also be represented on the board.
BN says, PPP can pull out from BN because the government will not entertain PPP for ISA review. What Kayveas will do next? Is he brave enough to fulfill his promise?...Looks like "sandiwara" isn't it?....
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/12/nation/2786371&sec=nation
Friday December 12, 2008 - The Star
PPP backs Kayveas on ISA
KUALA LUMPUR: The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is standing solidly behind its president Datuk M. Kayveas in asking the Government to amend the Internal Security Act (ISA) before the next general election or it would have “no reason to remain” in Barisan Nasional.
The PPP supreme council, which held an emergency meeting yesterday, voiced its full support for Kayveas, who was not present as he was overseas.
PPP also announced that it had sacked former president S.I. Rajah from the party for meeting the Prime Minister and informing him that PPP would not leave Barisan and calling on Kayveas to step down as president.
Its deputy president Datuk Lee Heng, who chaired the meeting, said Kayveas had urged the Government to amend the ISA following calls from the party’s Wanita and Youth wings recently to abolish the Act altogether.
“The president’s response to that is to meet halfway, that is to ask for an amendment. If there is not even an amendment, then PPP would have no reason to remain in Barisan,” he said at a press conference.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he had no plans to amend the ISA and PPP was free to leave Barisan if it wanted to.
Lee Heng said PPP’s stance was clear that the Government should amend the ISA to prevent it from being used against civilians who posed no security threat.
He said there was still a lot of time before the next general election and the PPP would only cross the bridge when it comes to it.
“We will not give up. We have already seen some changes (in the Government),” he said, citing the upcoming Barisan Nasional convention in February and the Anti-Corruption Commission Bill and the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill that were tabled in Parliament on Wednesday.
Lee Heng said Abdullah never asked PPP to leave Barisan, adding that the Prime Minister’s comment that PPP was free to leave the coalition was merely in response to questions from the media.
Meanwhile, the disciplinary board chairman Datuk Maglin D’ Cruz said Rajah could not appeal against the decision.
He said he had initially thought that Rajah was no longer a PPP member but upon checking found that the former president had rejoined the party in March 2007.
“For him to approach the Prime Minister and say that PPP is not leaving Barisan and for him to ask the party president to step down is a serious matter,” he added.
On Wednesday, Rajah claiming to be an adviser to the party, said he had met the Barisan chairman and secretary-general at Parliament House and gave them the assurance that PPP would not pull out of the coalition.
He called on Kayveas to step down instead.
KUALA LUMPUR: Three potential investors are expected to come on board the Kertih Plastics Park (KPP) next year.
The investors comprised both local and foregin companies, including one from Australia, said East Coast Economic Region (ECER) development council chief executive officer Datuk Jebasingam Issace John.
“The companies are from the various polymer sectors,” he told StarBiz yesterday.
KPP has already attracted three investors: Hi Essence Cable Sdn Bhd, a manufacturer of cables and wires with a proposed investment of RM85mil; pipe maker Latenfield Pipe Industries Sdn Bhd (RM40mil); and FMD Polypipes Industry Sdn Bhd, a producer of heavy duty bags and pipes (RM20mil).
Datuk Jebasingam Issace John They would be having joint ventures with foreign companies and were expected to ink some deals today, he said.
“It is still early days yet for KPP,” he said, adding that interest was gaining traction.
Its proximity to the Kertih Integrated Petrochemical Complex (KIPC) and the new Petronas Polymer Technology Centre offered multiple advantages, he said.
The KPP is set to become the country’s first fully integrated plastics hub and the third in the Asian region.
It will be launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today.
KPP would be an economic cluster supporting the plastics and plastics-related manufacturing activities and offer the opportunity for small and medium enterprises to locate their manufacturing facilities where they would have access to a wide range of plastic resins for raw materials.
“Because KPP is close to the main source of polymer resins, it will provide plastics companies access to reliable and just-in-time feedstock supply, which translates into savings, logistics and warehousing costs,” he said.
A project under the ECER developement master plan, KPP is anticipated to draw investments of some RM2bil and generate jobs for 7,000 people and to have a multiplier effect on employment.
“For every direct job, there is a potential requirement for 2.5 indirect jobs in the form of support and ancillary services,” John said.
The 140ha KPP site is next to the existing KIPC within the Petronas Petroleum Industry Complex. It is also close to the facilities in the Kertih-Chukai-Gebeng petrochemical hub.
“Feedstock can also be sourced from the Gebeng Integrated Petrochemical Complex or imported through Kuantan Port,” he said.
He added that there were well-established supply chain services such as warehousing and logistics services for other imported raw materials and finished products for other markets.
“KPP is adjacent to Kertih Port (for liquid cargoes) and Kertih Terminal (for dry and bulk cargoes) for centralised tankage, and connected to the Kuantan Port via the Kertih-Kuantan railway system,” John said.
KPP is also centrally located between Europe and Asia, making it an ideal plastics hub. The other two regional plastics parks are in India and Abu Dhabi.
“In challenging economic times, many international companies will seek out a lower cost base or attractive incentives. KPP meets these requirements,” John said.
On Petroliam Nasional Bhd’s (Petronas) commitment to KPP, he said Petronas had laid the neccesary foundation and invested RM70bil to build the oil, gas and petrochemical-related facilities.
“It has taken Petronas 35 years to develop Kertih,” he said, adding that KPP was expected to be fully operational by 2015.
KUALA LUMPUR: Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) has shut down indefinitely several petrochemical plants in Kertih, Terengganu and Gebeng, Pahang as demand for polymers fell sharply due to a slump in overseas factory orders.
Chairman and chief executive officer Tan Sri Hassan Merican said the materials were used to produce consumer goods and hence would be the first to get hit in a global slump.
“Resins are stocking up at Kertih due to lack of demand. When there’s no market for polymers or resins, there is no point producing,” he said. He did not give a timeframe when production would resume.
He said amongst plants whose production had been halted were those processing polyethylene, which is used in manufacturing plastic packaging, automobile parts and food wrappings.
Asked to comment on reports that Iran had signed gas deals worth US$14bil with Malaysia, Hassan said Petronas was not involved in any gas deal with Iran.
“I’m not aware of it,” he told reporters after the launch of the third International Petroleum Technology Conference yesterday.
Kertih and Gebeng are the sites of integrated petrochemical complexes which Petronas constructed to process various petrochemicals ranging from polyethylene to polypropylene.
Other petrochemicals processed at the two complexes include polyvinyl chloride, aromatics, olefins, ethylene derivatives and ethylene.
According to its website, Petronas has joint ventures with BP Chemicals in a polyethylene plant in Kertih while BASF AG and Petronas are partners in several BPC plants in Gebeng.
BASF, a German chemical company, had shut down 80 plants worldwide following low demand for its products. The company, which operates 12 plants locally under a joint venture with Petronas, has brought forward the scheduled maintenance of six of these plants.
BASF said the scheduled maintenance was being brought forward because of weak demand. “We’re constantly monitoring market conditions and customers’ demands, so it is still too early to provide an accurate timing of the maintenance schedule of all the plants,” it said.
An industry observer said orders had been declining in recent months following the US financial crisis and the credit crunch.
The slump in global demand was also reflected by the sharp decline of the Baltic Dry Index, which is a measure of dry bulk traffic, from a high of 11,689 points on June 5 to 684 points yesterday as factories cut production.
The credit crisis, the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc and collapse of over 20 banks in the US had affected US importers who were unable to obtain letters of credit.
This in turn caused a spiral effect whereby factories could not receive payments and were forced to shut down, he said.
“Several of these importers more than likely got their letters of credit from banks that went bust and so will not be able to honour their orders now,” he told StarBiz.
These factories, faced with rising inventory due to a slump in orders, would also not restock the polymers and resins needed for a whole range of products, hence the need to shut down or bring down production at these plants.
“The next few years will be quite bleak. I’ve been in the business since 1972 and never have I heard of plants shutting down indefinitely; there are shutdowns but they are usually temporary,” he said.
However, he added that oil refining at the complexes was not affected by the shutdown despite oil prices having fallen from a high of US$147 in July to US$47 per barrel yesterday.
What another sad day for Malaysian, when the world crude oil price was sky rocketing, the government said that they cannot sustain the Malaysian petrol price with respect to the world price, but now, when the world price is now starts to became lower, they change their promise and start to introduce the floor price but not the ceiling price. What do you think? Is this protecting the people or protecting their cronies? You tell me......
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/3/nation/2707085&sec=nation
Wednesday December 3, 2008 - The Star
Fifth price cut at the pumps this year
PETALING JAYA: Petrol and diesel prices at the pump are down 10 sen today, with RON97 petrol at RM1.90 a litre and RON92 petrol and diesel at RM1.80.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced this through a press statement released at about 5pm yesterday.
“As the world fuel price has had a sharp decrease lately, the Govern-ment has decided to once again reduce the retail price for the public’s benefit,” he said.
This is the fifth time petrol and diesel prices have been cut since retail prices hit a high of RM2.70 a litre in June.
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/3/nation/20081203192812&sec=nation
Published: Wednesday December 3, 2008 MYT 7:29:00 PM - The Star
Fuel price ‘floor or float’ decision next Wednesday
By V.P. SUJATA
PETALING JAYA: Consumers will know next week if the Government will implement a floor price mechanism for petrol and diesel.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said the meeting of the executive council members of the Economic Council, comprising Cabinet Ministers and government officers, would be next Wednesday (Dec 10).
He said consumers should also brace for a decision to have a managed flotation mechanism for oil price based on market rates.
Currently the price of petrol and diesel is not subsidised and not set based on market rates, he added.
Shahrir said many aspects had to be looked into before finalising the issue including generating revenue for the government and providing higher purchasing power for the consumer.
If the consumers want the government to have a free float mechanism, he said they might want it now as prices were down but would not be happy when the price is up.
“Wait for the meeting, I will present my ideas to the exco.
The issue is really between the commercial price (of oil) and how much must go to the consumer and to the government coffer,” he told reporters Wednesday after opening Giant’s 109th branch in Kota Damansara here and launching its book of discount coupons called RM2009 Savings Guide. He said pump prices for petrol and diesel were subsidised in August and September following which commercial prices dropped.
He added that the average crude oil price dropped to below US$57.39 (RM210) per barrel in November and that it would see the same price this month.
Shahrir also said there was no plans to reduce the price of cooking oil.
“I have to follow what the Youth and Wanita divisions have proposed to the party and they want the ISA abolished.
“As a responsible party I told them let’s go halfway and ask for amendments to the Act so that it is not a draconian law imposed on innocent citizens,” he said when opening the Youth and Wanita meeting and elections yesterday.
“The Barisan has to make changes before the next general election. It would be suicidal if we do not.
“The problem with the Barisan is its success the past 50 years. Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose.
“The March election has shown what the voters are looking for: good governance and multi-racialism.
“The solution has always been multi-racialism but to date the Barisan is still caught in its own political racial configuration and so what is said is not implemented fast enough.”
Wanita leader C. Josephine Anne said the Barisan had to act now to “fast-track development programmes for all races, show our sincerity and start by uniting the Barisan parties.”
“The Barisan must work towards a common society to regain the confidence of the rakyat, and not just offer lip service and continue to use the race card.
“In this day and age, we cannot continue to pit one race against the other and talk about unity.”
PPP Youth chief T. Murugiah said they did not support the use of the ISA against ordinary citizens.
“The ISA was designed to handle a terrorist threat and should be used only for the purpose.”
On Murugiah’s position in PPP, Kayveas said that he would appoint him to the supreme council and get the council’s approval to appoint him as vice-president.
R. Ellan Govan, who was deputy Youth chief, beat two others to become Youth chief while incumbent Wanita chief Josephine won uncontested.
The 10 constituencies, which spent as much as RM900,000 each, were Tenom with 58 events followed by Dungun (87), Putatan (86), Tawau (66), Silam (40), Kuala Nerus (248), Sepanggar (54), Kuala Terengganu (304), Parit (137) and Marang (186).
In a written reply to Tan Kok Wai (DAP – Cheras) Mohd Johari said the Tenom constituency recorded the highest average per function at RM17,042.
It spent RM988,475 to organise 58 functions while the lowest average cost per function was by Kuala Terengganu with RM3,018.
Tan had asked the Prime Minister to state the cost and number of open houses during festive seasons such as Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Gawai Dayak, Christmas, Good Friday, Wesak and for Merdeka celebrations by MPs in their respective constituencies using the special parliamentary allocation.
Johari said 196 Barisan Nasional MPs had used the special allocation and that the money was spent on food, drinks, rental of tents and equipment, and donations to the poor, orphans and the disabled and other related services.
When met, Tan said it was extravagant and lavish and demanded that the MPs explain themselves.
“In everybody’s mind, the special allocation should be spent on small projects but instead they use it to spend on feasts,” he said.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, in another written reply, said total expenditure for 105 of Malaysia’s missions from June 2004 to June 30 this year was RM1.36bil.
In a written reply, he said there were 440 ministry staff stationed in offices in Africa, America, Asia, Europe and the South Pacific.
Teo Nie Ching (DAP – Serdang) asked how many staff members were in its missions including the locations and operation costs incurred by all its overseas offices.
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| Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dan Islam Karimov (berdiri kanan) menyaksikan majlis menandatangani memorandum persefahaman (MoU) antara Hassan Merican dan Ergash Shaismatov (duduk kanan) di Kediaman Presiden (Durmen) di Tashkent, semalam. - Bernama |
TASHKENT (Uzbekistan) 17 Nov. - Malaysia sedang meneroka kemungkinan menjadi hab eksport bagi barangan Uzbekistan memasuki ke pasaran ASEAN dan rantau sekitarnya.
Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi berkata, walaupun Uzbekistan tidak mempunyai pelabuhan, perkhidmatan kargo udara akan digunakan untuk tujuan itu.
Dengan cara ini, kedua-dua pihak akan menikmati faedah bersama dan Uzbekistan sendiri dapat memperluaskan pasarannya menjangkaui rantaunya sendiri.
"Ini adalah antara strategi yang akan diambil bagi meneroka hubungan dua hala. Kedua-dua negara kita mempunyai sumber asli yang besar yang boleh diterokai," katanya pada sidang akhbar bersama dengan rakan sejawatnya, Islam Karimov selepas mesyuarat delegasi dua hala di Kediaman Presiden (Durmen) di sini hari ini.
Abdullah berada di sini sempena lawatan rasmi empat hari ke Uzbekistan. Turut serta dalam mesyuarat itu ialah dua Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz dan Senator Tan Sri Amirsham Abdul Aziz; Menteri Pengajian Tinggi, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin; Menteri Perpaduan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan dan Warisan, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal; serta Presiden dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Petronas, Tan Sri Hassan Marican.
Sementara dalam masa yang sama, Uzbekistan pula bersetuju untuk membuka peluang kepada pihak swasta Malaysia meneroka industri di negara ini, termasuk membuka ruang prospek yang lebih besar kepada syarikat petroleum negara, Petronas.
Presiden Islam pula berkata, pihaknya mempunyai kepercayaan dan hormat yang amat tinggi terhadap Petronas serta akan memberi peluang yang lebih luas kepada syarikat minyak itu untuk meneroka industri minyak dan gas di negara ini.
Katanya, beliau juga bersetuju dengan Abdullah untuk bekerjasama dalam industri pertanian terutama dalam bidang bioteknologi asas tani.
Sejak menjalin hubungan diplomatik 20 tahun lalu, hubungan perdagangan dua hala telah meningkat tiga kali ganda iaitu daripada AS$12 juta pada 2006 kepada kira-kira AS$40 juta pada 2007.
"Ini memberikan satu gambaran jelas minat yang semakin meningkat oleh sektor swasta Malaysia untuk memperkenalkan hubungan perdagangan yang lebih bermakna di antara mereka. Kita perlu menggalakkan trend sebegini untuk terus meningkat kerana sektor swasta adalah enjin sebenar kemajuan ekonomi kita," kata Abdullah.
Dalam ucapannya, pada mesyuarat itu, Abdullah berkata, kedua-dua negara telah bersetuju untuk memperhebatkan kerjasama dalam bidang-bidang penting semasa kunjungan Presiden Islam ke Malaysia pada 2005.
Katanya, empat memorandum persefahaman (MoU) telah ditandatangani pada ketika itu yang antaranya berkaitan kerjasama dalam bidang pelancongan, pembangunan sumber galian, memerangi keganasan dan membentuk Jawatankuasa Perdagangan Bersama.
Dalam mesyuarat dua hala hari ini tiga MoU lagi dan satu protokol telah ditandatangani antara kedua-dua negara.
MoU berkenaan sains dan teknologi telah ditandatangani antara Shafie dan Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Koordinasi Pembangunan Sains dan Teknologi, Shavkat Salihov.
MoU dalam bidang pengajian tinggi ditandatangani antara Mohamed Khaled dan Menteri Pelajaran Tinggi dan Menengah, Azimjon Parpijev serta perjanjian persefahaman mengenai Pembangunan Modal Insan dalam Industri Minyak dan Gas ditandatangani antara Hassan dan Timbalan Perdana Menteri Dua, Ergash Shaismatov.
Satu protokol dikenali sebagai Protokol Perjanjian Penerokaan Surkhanski turut dimeterai antara Hassan dan Shaismatov.
Abdullah dalam pada itu, turut menarik perhatian mengenai minat yang ditunjukkan oleh kerajaan Uzbekistan terhadap konsep Islam Hadhari yang diperkenalkannya di Malaysia.
- Utusan
Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) would have stepped in if there were any discrepancies by the Election Commission.
He was replying to a question from Johari Abdul (PKR-Sungai Petani) who had asked if the police had taken action on the allegations in the book which was written by Andul Mutalib Mohd Daud in 1999.
In response to Syed Hamid’s answer, Johari said the police had acknowledged the existence of the book and that he was disappointed that no action had been taken, especially considering that fake identification cards have long been an issue in Sabah.
“I reiterate that the allegations raised by the book are very serious as they involve the issue of our citizen’s rights and honour. The sovereignity of this country can no longer be guaranteed if these syndicates are not overcome,” he said.
Johari said the police ought to be more pro-active and start their own investigations instead of waiting for the ACA to do so.
“The savings on petrol subsidies next year is expected to be more than RM10bil if oil prices remain stable,” he told reporters Tuesday at the Parliament lobby here.
Elaborating, Shahrir said that at a price of US$65 per barrel, the Government would not be paying subsidies and that the focus now would be on deciding whether to set a floor price or figuring out a way for the Government to get some income from the sale of petrol.
“Even with petrol retailing at RM2 per litre, we are not paying any subsidies. We have actually arrived at a time when the price can return to RM1.92.
“In that context, we hope to be able to set a policy to address this when the National Economic Council next meets. A decision must be made on the floor price.”
Shahrir said that for six months from September 2001 to February 2002, the Government had collected taxes from the retail sale of petrol and had stopped that practice since February 2002.
“Earlier announcements of how much the subsidies cost us, even as recent as 2005 or 2006 always included how much we had to forego in terms of taxes. We have stopped doing this however and just focused on how much subsidy we are paying.”
Shahrir said the Government was now enjoying some revenue due to the difference in the ex-refinery price and the price oil companies sell petrol to station operators.
He added that the revenue being taken now was a form of tax that could max out at 60sen per litre.
“After the station operators take their margin of 12.1sen and the oil companies take their margin of 19.1sen, we are left with RM1.69 from RM2.
“If the refinery price is RM1.30 per litre for example, the Government will be taking 39sen per litre as revenue.”
Shahrir also released information on the amount of fuel subsidies paid so far which have amounted to RM15.57bil as at the end of October.
Fuel subsidies last year cost the Government RM16.18bil.
The fuel subsidies in October amounted to RM610mil as compared toRM2.99bil in May when oil prices peaked at over US$120 per barrel.
DAP National Publicity secretary Tony Pua (DAP- PJ Utara) said that The Malaysian Insider (www.themalaysianinsider.com) had reported that ValueCap had a RM5.1bil debt to bondholders - the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), Khazanah, and Permodalan Nasional Bhd.
“The latest audited report of ValueCap in 2007 also confirmed that there is an existing ‘long-term deferred liability’ of that amount.
“We call upon the Finance Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) to come out with the truth if they are using the money to repay ValueCaps’s debts,” he told the press here on Tuesday.
He added that the underlying reason for the RM5bil injection was not known, but “it looks extremely suspicious”.
Pua explained that according to documents from the Securities Commission website, ValueCap had issued bonds on Feb 28, 2003 which would mature three years from the date of issuance.
It can be extended for another three years, as allowed in the terms of the bond in 2006.
“So now ValueCap is required to return the monies to the three bond holders come Feb next year.
”We find it very incidental that the Finance Minister had only recently announced an injection of RM5bil to ValueCap to support the flailing stock market.
“His statement can only be described as a half-truth,” he said.
He added that in addition, DAP demands a “full and immediate accountability of ValueCap investments since 2003”.
“We call upon the Finance Minister to withdraw the RM5bil injection which only serves to deal with the symptoms of the global financial crisis,” he said.
Dompok, who is United Pasok Momogun Kadazan Murut Organisation (Upko) president said the party is unhappy with the decision, claiming that a majority of Sabahans are unhappy too.
As he sits in at Cabinet meetings in his capacity as the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Dompok said he would raise the issue with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Friday.
“I don’t see how the project will benefit Sabahans except for the landowners whose property are bought over to make way for the gas pipes.
“Sabah is an oil and gas producing state but there is no related activity whatsoever; there is no refinery, no university and no petro-chemical or other related industry.
“The industry is good for the state’s economy which is overly dependent on oil palm plantation and tourism. We need to be more diverse. Oil and gas is right before us and we should capitalise on it,” he told reporters Tuesday after launching the Education Services Commission website.
On Nov 1, Abdullah confirmed that the Petronas gas pipeline from Sabah to Sarawak would go on, despite an earlier decision to scrap it.The 500km pipeline from Kimanis to Bintulu, worth RM1.5bil is expected to be operational in 2011.
Asked if he would be getting support from the Sabah government to “fight” this issue, Dompok said: “There is no support from the state government. As for my colleagues from other parties in Sabah, they should know what to do.
“Even though this matter has been decided upon, I will still bring it up with the Cabinet again,” he said of the project.
The first thing he did after the judge pronounced his freedom was to hug his daughter Rowena and wife Mazlinda Makhzan.
Justice Mohd Zaki Md Yasin ruled that the exculpatory statements in a tell-all affidavit made by Razak at the outset of the trial had cleared him of the abetment charge.
“In the absence of the rebuttal evidence against them, coupled with the fact that there is no legal onus for him to rebut any statutory presumptions, there is clearly no reason for the statements to be ignored and rejected.
“I agree with the counsel that the exculpatory parts which are corroborated in material particulars (by four witnesses) and other surrounding circumstances have clearly negated and nullified the act of abetment as alleged against the accused,’’ Zaki said while reading out his ruling.
The four witnesses were Razak’s private eye P. Balasubramaniam, Altantuya’s cousin Burmaa Oyunchimeg, an old flame of principal accused C/Insp Azilah Hadri, who is a Special Action Squad (UTK) operative - L/Kpl Rohaniza Roslan and Razak’s secretary Siti Aishah Mohd Azlan.
At the start of the trial, Abdul Razak filed an affidavit saying he had an affair with Altantuya after meeting her in 2004.
The tell-all affidavit said they had trysts in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore and France, but broke up in 2005.
The judge’s ruling on Friday came after he had perused about 6,000 pages of notes of proceedings and written submissions.
Justice Zaki said once the essential elements of abetment of the murder was not proven on a prima facie basis, “any other inferences and doubts that may have arisen must be resolved, as is trite, in favour of the accused (Razak)”.
“It is not for the court to call for the defence merely to clear or clarify such doubts. I find there is no prima facie case for him to answer his charge. He is therefore acquitted and discharged forthwith,’’ he said.
The trial began in November 2006, during which 84 prosecution witnesses testified.
Also in the dock for the murder charge is another UTK operative Kpl Sirul Azhar Umar, 37.
Both C/Insp Azilah and Kpl Sirul Azhar were ordered to enter their defence on Friday against the charge of murdering Altantuya near Shah Alam, Selangor, between 10pm on Oct 19, 2006 and 1am the following day.
They chose to testify under oath. Trial has been set for Nov 10 onwards.
Justice Chin wrote a letter to the king on July 16 to resign and went on leave from August 21 till November 30.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department T. Murugiah said this in reply to Tian Chua (PKR - Batu) who asked if the government had taken steps to investigate Justice Chin’s allegations against former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Murugiah said there was need to investigate the matter as Justice Chin had resigned.
Earlier, Murugiah told Mukhriz Mahathir (BN - Jerlun) that the Government did not intend to make a representation to the king to cite Justice Ian before a tribunal.
In June, Justice Chin caused a stir when he claimed that Dr Mahathir had made a thinly veiled threat against the judges at the Judges Conference on April 24, 1997, that they could be sacked if they failed to deliver judgements in the Government’s favour.
Justice Chin also said that Dr Mahathir was dissatisfied over his unwillingness to award astronomical sums in damages in two libel suits in 1997 and that "errant" judges were sent to a boot camp in an "attempt to indoctrinate them to hold the view that the Government's interest was more important than all else."
Dr Mahathir, in his blog, has denied the claims, saying the judges had never been sent to a boot camp.
FORMER vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, who resigned from all party posts early this year after a sex video tape scandal, made a dramatic comeback when he was elected deputy president.
He obtained 1,115 votes and defeated three others – secretary-general Datuk Ong Ka Chuan (1,001), vice-president Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai (209) and former Pengkalan Kota Assemblyman Lee Hack Teik (10) – for the post.
KUALA LUMPUR: The new Chief Justice will be Federal Court Justice Tan Sri Zaki Tun Azmi.
According to sources, the Conference of Rulers, which met this week, had agreed to Zaki’s appointment as head of the judiciary.
Zaki: Is the son of former Lord President Tun Azmi Mohamed. Current Chief Justice Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamed, who was given a six-month extension in April, retires on Saturday.
Sources said that Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Alauddin Mohd Sheriff would move up the judicial ladder to the number two position of Court of Appeal President, replacing Zaki.
It is understood that Federal Court Justice Arifin Zakaria would be elevated to Chief Judge of Malaya, the third highest position, but it could not be confirmed.
Arifin is currently the most senior of the remaining Federal Court judges (See list at www.kehakiman.gov.my).
Under Article 122B (1) of the Federal Constitution, the Chief Justice of the Federal Court, the President of the Court of Appeal and the Chief Judges “shall be appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, after consulting the Conference of Rulers”.
Zaki, 63, who is currently President of the Court of Appeal, made history on Sept 5 last year when he was appointed directly to the Federal Court from the legal profession.
The son of former Lord President Tun Azmi Mohamed (1966-1974), Zaki was promoted in December to President, the number two post in the judiciary.
Zaki served, among others, as the Abandoned Housing Project Scheme and National Sports Council adviser during his private practice.
He also served in Umno as disciplinary (technical) committee chairman, selection committee secretary, and was a member of the party’s disciplinary board appeal panel.
Before his appointment to the Federal Court last year, Zaki had resigned from all his corporate directorships and memberships but his former connection to Umno has been raised numerous times by some groups who worry about his impartiality.
A petition was submitted to the King on Sept 15 requesting Zaki not be elevated as Chief Justice.
In a written reply to Dr Lo’ Lo’ Mohamad Ghazali (PAS-Titiwangsa), Syed Hamid said the beat base was located in a dirty area where there was a possibility of being exposed to contagious diseases.
The presence of criminals also posed a threat to the safety of police officers, he said.
Lo’ Lo’ had asked why the beat base on Jalan Haji Taib was closed considering the high number of vice-related activities in the area, as well as what kind action had been taken by the police to curb such activities.
Syed Hamid said that the police were looking for a new location to build a police beat base that would be able to give “guaranteed and continued service to the public.”
Lo’ Lo’s was the 30th question in the Order Paper and hence did not get a mention in the House during the daily one-hour Question Time. However, Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli (PAS-Kuala Krai) managed to raise it when he interjected during Azmin Ali’s (PKR-Gombak) speech during the debate on Budget 2009.
Dr Mohd Hatta said that if the police themselves felt unsafe in a beat base, then it would be even worse for the public.
“The minister has to resign if he is worried about the safety of police in that area. Maybe it would be better to put the beat base in army barracks,” he said.
Dr Mohd Hatta then managed to raise the issue again during his own debate on Budget 2009 saying that Syed Ali’s response was not rational.
“The police are there to make a place safe. If they themselves are scared and run away, then how can we hope for others to want to be there?
“It is embarassing and that is why the criminals will always be there,” he said.
Dr Mohd Hatta said if the place is dirty, then it is up to the police to organise gotong-royong activities to clean it up or if they did not want to then they should move to Putrajaya or Parliament.
“And what is this about contagious diseases on Jalan Haji Taib? The only kind of contagious diseases that are present there are sexually-transmitted ones.
“Is the minister scared that his charges will contract such diseases? That kind of thing is a matter of choice. In any case, if this is what he is worried about then we are worried that the police are not above this.”
Dr Mohd Hatta added that the police had to be brave people and that they were a different breed altogether when facing demonstrators. He said he hoped that the minister would clarify his written answer in the House as this is not the kind of police that the people want.
Refuting the statement by Lim Kit Siang (DAP — Ipoh Timur) that police had completed their investigation and the outcome of the police report was now with Solicitor-General Datuk Idrus Harun, Nazri said the ACA had not completed its investigation.
The police reports were linked to the “black eye” incident involving Anwar 10 years ago where he claimed to have found new evidence concerning the fabrication of evidence by Gani and Musa, who were then the deputy public prosecutor and investigation officer respectively.
“It is not true that the case has been closed and I assure you that there will be no bias in this,” said Nazri.
Based on the rules of natural justice, it is not proper for anyone in the A-G’s Chambers to investigate or hold any investigation papers against its head, who is the A-G, said Nazri.
He added that there was provision for the ACA to investigate some non-corruption matters.
This was so in this case, as it involved the police and the A-G, he said.
Gani should resign for fabricating evidence connected to Anwar’s sodomy trial, Lim urged in a fiery speech while debating the Budget 2009.
Following Anwar’s July press conference accusing Gani and Musa of such fabrication of evidence, Musa filed a defamation suit against Anwar, while Gani had reportedly threatened to do the same.
The company, Seruan Gemilang Makmur Sdn Bhd, represented by Messrs Peter Lai, Rajoo and Aiza, filed the application at the Kuantan High Court on Wednesday.
It named Pahang Mentri Besar as the respondent.
It involved a logging concession contract related to the extraction of timber logs from a 4,000ha plot of land belonging to Umno in Bebar, Pekan.
In its statement of claims, the company alleged that the Pahang government had failed or refused to pay the sum despite an order issued by the Federal Court on Sept 17 this year.
It was reported that the Pahang government was ordered to pay the firm after failing in its final bid for leave to appeal.
Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjum, who had sat with Federal Court judges Datuk Nik Hashim Nik Ab Rahman and Datuk Abdul Aziz Mohamed, had unanimously dismissed the leave application made by the state government and state forestry director.
Justice Malanjum in his judgment had said the question of law submitted by the Pahang government, represented by its legal adviser Datuk Mat Zaraai Alias was not a noble question and had been raised at the Court of Appeal.
The applicants had sought leave to appeal an Aug 3 decision of the Court of Appeal which rejected their appeal for extension of time to file the notice of appeal.
They wanted permission to appeal against the Kuantan High Court decision on May 25 last year which ordered them to pay RM37,127,471.60 to Seruan Gemilang Makmur with an annual interest of eight per cent dating from Dec 31, 2000.
The High Court made the order after ruling that the state forestry director was negligent in refusing to use the latest plan submitted by the company which was approved by the state executive council on April 5, 2000, and, instead, ordering that the original plan which was approved on Jan 7, 1997, be used.
On Dec 9, 2002, Seruan Gemilang filed a suit against the Pahang government and the state forestry director, seeking RM31mil in damages for breach of contract.
THE Government is studying a proposal for an alternative highway to the Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP), which has now reached full traffic capacity.
Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed said traffic congestion at certain places along the highway such as the Sunway and the Sg Penchala tolls was “now at a very bad stage.”
“The traffic jam at these two tolls are categorised at Level E, which means it is very bad. The proposal for an alternative highway was submitted by Projek Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan. The proposal is being studied by the Economic Planning Unit,” said Zin.
“This alternative highway will give road users more choices and help to reduce congestion along the LDP. That highway has a traffic capacity of 120,000 cars each day.
A daily thing: A file picture showing the bumper-tobumper crawl on the LDP after the Sunway toll. “In many places, the current traffic volume is up to the brim,” he told reporters after opening the Sepang Pemuda, Wanita and Puteri Umno meetings in Sepang yesterday.
Zin said he had also directed the Malaysian Highway Authority to study the feasibility of such an alternative highway.
“Opening an alternative highway to the LDP will also benefit the hundreds of thousands of people living in residential areas along the highway.
“At the same time, I would also recommend that the LDP concessionaire put more efforts into enhancing its infrastructure and develop ways to reduce congestion,” he said.
However, Zin declined to state the alignment of the highway, adding that details were still being worked out.
In May, the minister had told Dewan Rakyat that the Government was looking into having peak and off-peak toll rates as one of the three options to solve the congestion problem of LDP.
Zin had said then that having lower toll rates for using the highway during off-peak hours would encourage road users to stagger their journeys and thus, reduce traffic jams.
Subsidies for the LDP have cost the Government RM630.54mil since 1999 €” the year the LDP toll rates were reduced from RM1.50 set in the concessionaire agreement to RM1.
On another matter, Zin said the Cabinet had directed the ministry to ensure that all construction projects under the Public Works Department continued according to schedule despite the current global economic crisis.
“Until today, we have not received any report of abandoned construction. However, I have set up a taskforce to monitor the situation. The department has some RM70bil worth of projects under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, which are capable of spinning more economic development in the country,” he said.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has decided to pull out of the 14-member Barisan Nasional Government, taking away two MPs and at least two of its four assemblymen who will remain independent.
The decision to pull out was made at the SAPP supreme council meeting where its president Datuk Yong Teck Lee obtained the support of nearly all of its 35 members and declared that SAPP was not joining Pakatan Rakyat.
SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Li and his supreme council members raising their hands after announcing SAPP's pullout from Barisan Nasional at their HQ in Luyang yesterday. - NORMIMIE DIUN / THE STAR Yong said his party would remain independent in the opposition bench until a time came when SAPP was ready to be back in government.
Opposing Yong’s pullout move was SAPP deputy president Datuk Raymond Tan (Deputy Chief Minister and the state Infrastructure Minister), vice-president Jimmy Wong (political secretary to the Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman) and Elopura assemblyman Au Kam Wah.
Tan said he would submit his resignation from the state Cabinet to Musa, and all three would announce their position within the party and future plans, including the possibility of setting up a new party today.
SAPP is heading for a split with a third of its 300 branches from the east coast expected to follow the three.
With Yong at the press conference were SAPP’s MPs Datuk Eric Enchin Majimbun (Sepangar), Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui (Tawau), assistant state Finance Minister Melanie Chia (Luyang) and Datuk Liew Teck Chan (Likas). The Luyang and Likas assemblymen will remain as independents.
Yong did not rule out cooperation with the Pakatan Rakyat parties, adding: “We are ready to talk to anyone who will help us achieve our agenda for Sabah.”
He said Barisan had excluded SAPP from six meetings since their call for a no confidence vote against the Prime Minister on June 18, adding that this had effectively terminated the membership of SAPP.
“Barisan had lost its BN Spirit,” he said.
2) INVOKE the Internal Security Act to detain the MPs or any other current Pakatan MPs;
3) INVOKE emergency laws or police powers or suspend the Constitution or dissolve Parliament; and
4) IMPOSE roadblocks or impede MPs from going to Parliament or any institutions of government.
Syed hamid Albar may have something to say about this, go on... The truth is outside there.......
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/14/nation/2026578&sec=nationOf that list, 17 items would then be selected during festive seasons to be placed under the Festive Season Price Control Scheme, and be gazetted under the Price Control Act 1946 to make them price controlled items.
“The main purpose for this scheme is to ensure that there is enough food supply during the festive season. “If there is enough supply, then there is no reason for prices to go up,” Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad told reporters yesterday.
He said the scheme would be enforced for 15 days a week before and after the holidays which include Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Deepavali, Christmas, Chinese New Year, Hari Gawai and Hari Kaamatan.
Previously, food items were controlled for 38 days during the festive seasons.
He said for Hari Raya Puasa, the controlled prices would be enforced from Sept 24 to Oct 8.
However, he would only announce the ceiling prices next week.
Among the planned controlled food items for Hari Raya and Deepavali are chicken, beef, mutton, mackerel, eggs, cabbage, red chillies, grated coconut, red pomfret, tomatoes, white pomfret, and white prawns.
On petrol prices, Shahrir said that the price of crude oil was forecast to remain below US$100 (RM344) per barrel until the end of the year.
“Petrol prices will go down in October if fuel prices continue to decline,” he said.
Making the call during a press conference at Menara Umno yesterday, Ahmad said Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon should also be stripped of his post as the state Barisan chairman and the post should be given to the MCA.
He said this was because a few Chinese leaders from the Gerakan party including Dr Koh had deliberately taken advantage of the situation and turned it into a racial issue “to hide their own weaknesses”.
He said Dr Koh’s leadership had also resulted in the state Barisan failing miserably in the March 8 general election.
“He is a leader who is really good at tai chi but I would also like to remind everyone not to forget that the Malays are equally good at silat,” he said.
The press conference was called by leaders and representatives of the 13 Umno divisions here led by state Umno liaison committee deputy chairman Datuk Abdul Rashid Abdullah and secretary Datuk Azhar Ibrahim.
Ahmad said Dr Koh should apologise not only to the Malays and Muslims but also to the Chinese in the country for creating so much tension.
“I want Koh and Gerakan to be responsible in case any untoward incidence takes place in our country.
“I hope we will not be pushed against the wall, ” he said, as supporters thumped tables and shouted “Hidup Melayu”.
Ahmad also said that Dr Koh’s claim that their relationship soured after he (Ahmad) was not re-appointed as a Penang Municipal Councillor in 2006 was untrue and was “another tactic of his to character assassinate me”.
He reiterated that he would not apologise for his remark at a ceramah during the Permatang Pauh by-election on Aug 23, and was prepared to face the consequences.
Ahmad said that he was happy that the Prime Minister was satisfied with his explanation after the latter chaired the state Umno liaison committee meeting on Sept 6.
He urged all quarters including Gerakan to stop issuing statements making demands on Barisan and Umno over the issue.
At the end of the 40-minute press conference, several supporters brought down from the wall a poster of Dr Koh and tore it to pieces.
When contacted later, Ahmad denied any role in the incident.
“There were no such instructions. The other division heads and I were in the hall,” he said, adding that the supporters who brought down the picture were not from the Bukit Bendera division.
Former Selangor Umno youth leader Mazlan Harun and Muar branch leader Datuk Kadar Shah handed over between 20 and 30 copies of photographs to the ACA office here yesterday.
Kadar Shah, the son of the late Umno permanent chairman Tun Sulaiman Ninam Shah, said the pictures showed Abdullah allegedly holding closed-door meetings with Umno members and leaders.
“We have other evidence, which we have not given ... if this second report is not taken seriously, we will lodge another report or maybe take legal action,” he said after handing over the evidence to ACA.
Asked what was shown in the pictures, he said: “Of course he was campaigning ... what else?” he claimed.
Kadar Shah claimed that Abdullah had met several state Umno leaders several times between May 3 and June 29.
“Why should I apologise? I didn’t do anything wrong. Those who do wrong should apologise but I haven’t done anything,” Ahmad said when The Star met him outside his Bayan Baru office yesterday.
He, however, refused to comment on whether the press misquoted him.
Sounding calm and collected on the phone, he said a full statement on what transpired would be released after a Penang Umno liaison meeting tomorrow.
Man in the news: Ahmad gesturing as he replies to a question in Bayan Baru yesterday. He said he had been leading a sepak takraw team to a tournament in Bangkok. He added that he would not say much at present, but wanted to clear up the issue of reporting to the police.
Police are currently investigating five reports lodged against Ahmad under the Sedition Act 1948 for uttering the remarks at a ceramah on the eve of the Permatang Pauh by-election.
He said there were reports of his going to the Bukit Mertajam police station on Wednesday night (to make a statement).
“I want to make it clear that I never told anyone or informed anyone that I would be there. It was their assumption,” he said.
Ahmad recorded a statement at the police contingent headquarters in Penang Road at about 10pm the same night while pressmen from television, online and print media were waiting for him on the mainland.
Asked where he had been over the last few days, Ahmad confirmed that he had been leading a sepak takraw team to a tournament in Bangkok.
“My phone has been on and off, but a lot of my anak buah (supporters) have been calling me, so maybe that’s why it has been hard to get through,” he said.
On the alleged misappropriation of funds involving now-defunct company Popular Profile Sdn Bhd (PPSB), Ahmad said he had resigned before any action was taken on the company.
“This issue has nothing to do with me. Action is taken on a company, not on a personal capacity. Moreover, I resigned from the company on Sept 1, 1998. What happened after that, I don’t know.
“The Chief Minister (Lim Guan Eng) shouldn’t be using his political muscle and power to attack me,” he said, adding that he would not say more on the land deal until he had checked the details.
Lim had recently attacked Ahmad on a 1997 land deal involving PPSB, in which Ahmad had been a director. Lim alleged that the company had cheated the state of RM500,000 in a deal involving 4.2ha of industrial land in Bukit Minyak.
“So, please pray that the fuel prices won’t climb again or better yet, for it to drop further,” said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Abdullah said that if world market prices for fuel remained stable at US$109 for the rest of the year, Malaysians might even enjoy another 15 sen drop below the current rate of RM2.55.
“We will have to wait until the pump prices are revised come Oct 1 or by the middle of that month under our calculation formula.
“If world prices remain at US$109 per barrel until the end of the year, we can reduce prices by another 15 sen,” he said here yesterday.
However, he warned that prices could also go up if the crude oil prices increase.
On the ringgit weakening against the US dollar, Abdullah said the Government would not intervene.
“The value has dropped but not to a level that is too drastic or worrying.”
Backbenchers Club chairman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said the trip was the brainchild of the club but rejected suggestions that it was organised because of the Sept 16 claim.
“The trip came about after a few of our members got talking. We wanted MPs to update themselves with the latest information about agriculture and high-tech food production so that we can debate better on the Budget when Parliament sits again in October.
“This is the best time for the trip although it is the fasting month because after that, Hari Raya celebrations begin and Parliament will meet again,” he told The Star here yesterday.
Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been claiming that his plan to topple the Barisan government by Sept 16 was on track. He claimed that some 30 Barisan MPs, particularly from Sabah and Sarawak, were ready to defect.
It is understood that the trip, said to take place between Sept 7 and Sept 19, will be open to all MPs, especially those whose constituencies have agricultural concerns, and not just MPs from Sabah and Sarawak, said to be targets of PKR.
Tiong, the Bintulu MP, maintained that the trip “had nothing to do with Sept 16”, saying it was only natural to ask MPs to submit their passports for the purpose of visa applications and ticket bookings.
He said the club had not finalised how many MPs would be going on the trip or the actual date.
“We haven’t also decided on the destination country. You know me, I only like to announce something when all the details have been confirmed,” he said.
He stressed that it was not an “overseas retreat” but a study trip for MPs.
Deputy Backbenchers Club chairman Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin also confirmed there was such a trip to explore agricultural technology.
“Probably, the trip will be over this weekend. But we have not decided how many MPs will be participating,” the Kinabatangan MP said.
Kapit MP Alexander Nanta Linggi said he had been asked by fellow MPs from Sarawak if “he was available”.
“I told them that I was going on a trip with (Plantation Industries and Commodities) Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui on his palm oil campaign mission overseas to London and Belgium. They left it at that.”
Kimanis MP Datuk Anifah Aman and Muar MP Razali Ibrahim said they had not been contacted by anybody on the proposed trip.
“I don’t know anything. I’ve been in my constituency the whole day and Parliament has not asked for my passport,” said Anifah, who is known for his vocal views during debate in Dewan Rakyat.
Pasik Salak MP Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman also denied being asked to go for the trip.
“What trip? I was not approached for this,” he added.
Pusrawi Hospital’s Dr Mohamed Osman Abdul Hamid, reaffirmed statements he had made in a statutory declaration he had filed on June 28, saying that he had found no evidence of sodomy in his examination.
His statutory declaration was leaked to Malaysia Today and published in the news portal on July 28, after which the Myanmar national took one month’s leave from the hospital and apparently fled the country.
At a press conference at the Bar Council auditorium here on Thursday, Osman said he wanted to set the record straight and end media speculation.
He reaffirmed the contents of the statutory declaration.
Osman said he went on leave as he came under pressure following a police investigation into his medical check-up on Saiful, but dismissed claims that he was worried for his safety.
He also said that he did not know how his medical report, protected by patient-doctor confidentiality, became public.
Anwar, now MP of Permatang Pauh, has been charged with the offence. He has denied the allegations, claiming it was part of a political conspiracy against him.
Pusrawi earlier said it had sacked Dr Osman for failing to turn up for work after his one-month leave had expired.
When asked if he was still employed, Dr Osman merely said he "was going back to work."
State deputy police chief Senior Asst Comm (I) Datuk Salleh Mat Rasid said an investigating officer contacted the Umno leader early this week, asking him to turn up at the Bukit Mertajam district police headquarters on Tuesday.
"But he never turned up and the interview was rescheduled to today (Wednesday). Five reports have been lodged against him in George Town, Bukit Mertajam, Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya over the past week.
"Once Ahmad gives his statement, we will wrap up our investigations by Friday as most of the statements have been taken. The file will then be sent to the Attorney-General in Putrajaya for further action," he told reporters at a press conference Tuesday morning.
SAC Salleh urged the people not to raise the issue, which is being investigated under 4 (1) (b) of the Sedition Act 1948, and asked that the public let the police do their work.
Ahmad had allegedly called the Chinese pendatang (immigrants) at a ceramah while campaigning for the Permatang Pauh by-election. His statement caused furore and condemnation from various political parties both within the Barisan Nasional and outside.
Attempts to contact Ahmad over the past few days to get his side of the story have been unsuccessful.
A check by The Star around noon Wednesday found Ahmad's bungalow in the exclusive Robina Park in Butterworth deserted.
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