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Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Keris tradition to continue - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Youth will continue to use the keris as its symbol at the coming party general assembly and believes that with time the non-Malays will become de-sensitised to it.

Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said there was no need for the movement to be apologetic or defensive about it.

He believed there was “nothing sensitive with carrying on” the tradition started by the movement two years ago.

“I feel it is important we continue to do it so that the issue becomes de-sensitised over time.

“We will explain our position without any fear and with time, God willing, people will understand that there is no personal, sensitive and ulterior motives for doing it,” he told reporters yesterday after chairing the Umno Youth executive council meeting.

Hishammuddin said that he would touch on the keris and explain what it means to Umno Youth and the Barisan Nasional Youth in his policy speech at the party assembly next Tuesday.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/30/nation/19317957&sec=nation]

Saturday, October 20, 2007

ACA to act against those implicated in A-G’s report - The Star

By Lourdes Charles

PUTRAJAYA: The Anti-Corruption Agency is wrapping up its investigations into questionable dealings involving several senior officials highlighted in the Auditor-General’s (A-G) report recently.

The officials, believed to be from at least two ministries, were said to have bought equipment that were “overly priced”, causing the Government losses of millions of ringgit.

The ACA is believed to have questioned several officials before the Hari Raya holidays and is expected to either charge them in court or recommend serious disciplinary action.

ACA director-general Datuk Ahmad Said Hamdan confirmed that investigations were nearing completion and that action would be taken against several people.

He declined to elaborate further.

Sources familiar with the investigations said they were centred on three aspects.

One was on whether government officers had received bribes from parties in the private sector.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/20/agreport2006/19227855&sec=AGReport2006]

Friday, October 12, 2007

Action against those implicated in AG’s report - The Star

By Devid Rajah

PUTRAJAYA: Government officers and staff investigated for corruption and mismanagement of public funds under the 2006 Auditor-General’s (AG) report will either be charged in court soon or face disciplinary action.

Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan, told a media briefing yesterday that the Government would use a three-pronged approach to rectify problems highlighted under the AG’s report.

“If it involves corruption and there is clear evidence, the ACA will charge those responsible, and you can expect this to happen very soon.

“If there are clear abuses but the case lacks evidence, disciplinary action will be taken against them,” he said.

The disciplinary action could be in the form of demotions and dismissals.

Mohd Sidek said the Government would also make public the type of disciplinary action taken against civil servants for various offences, other than the impending action against those implicated over the AG’s report.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/12/agreport2006/19154220&sec=AGReport2006]