PUTRAJAYA, June 21 (Bernama) -- The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) Saturday denied Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Yong Teck Lee's allegation that its move in opening investigation papers on him was a threat.
ACA Director-General Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan said the agency had never threatened anyone and its action was never politically motivated or upon instruction by anyone.
"As a law enforcement agency, we conduct investigation without fear or favour," he told reporters before attending a dinner in conjunction with the ACA and Singapore's Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau annual games here.
On the timing the investigation papers were opened, a day after Yong declaring loss of confidence in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Said said it was by coincidence because Yong's name was mentioned in a corruption trial at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
ACA opened the investigation papers on Yong in connection with graft totalling RM5 million allegedly occurring when he was Sabah Chief Minister.
Two days ago, the Kuala Lumpur High Court was told that Yong had ordered the payment of over RM5 million profit from the sale of shares belonging to a state-owned company to his selected agents in 1996.
[More at http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news.php?id=341094]
Saturday, June 21, 2008
ACA Denies Yong's Allegation - Bernama
Yong Denies Being Offered DPM's Post - Bernama
KOTA KINABALU, June 21 (Bernama) -- Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Yong Teck Lee has described Umno Youth vice chief Khairy Jamaluddin's inkling of him being offered the deputy prime minister's post as absurd.
"I don't dream of becoming Deputy Prime Minister. Perhaps, because I was loud in voicing out issues affecting Sabah he can say anything, talking like an insane man.
"If not because superb victories of Sabah and Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN)... BN would have fallen in the last election. So, what's wrong with us asking for little attention.
"Khairy is a young man. He has to learn a lot," Yong said during a meet-the-people function at the Likas multipurpose hall near here Saturday.
Khairy said Friday that Yong's criticism of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was believed due to him being taken in by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's offer.
He said he was made to understand that Yong would be appointed to the number two post in government if Anwar who is former deputy prime minister, became Prime Minister.
Yong said he was not greedy pursuing for posts in government.
"I was offered senatorship and become Special Envoy to Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) but I did not accept it because I saw it as a political bribe so that I stop raising Sabah issues.
[More at http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news.php?id=341083]
Former judge hits out at Dr M - The Star
By Audrey Edwards
KUALA LUMPUR: A retired Federal Court judge has lashed out at Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad alleging that the former premier had wanted to amend Article 121 of the Federal Constitution because he wanted the judiciary to be under his control.
“I believe the Prime Minister at the time wanted to become a dictator; I may be wrong but this is my conclusion,” Tan Sri Azmi Kamaruddin yesterday told reporters after receiving ex-gratia payment from the Government for the pain and loss he suffered during the 1988 judicial crisis.
Previously, Article 121 stated that judicial power of the Federation was “vested in a Supreme Court and such inferior courts as may be provided by federal law” but it was replaced in 1988 to place the courts’ jurisdiction in the hands of Parliament.
Azmi, 75, who received the payment from de facto law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, said: “He wanted to amend Article 121 which calls for the separation of powers. He already headed the Legislature and Executive. Now, he also wanted the judiciary under him.”
Adding that Dr Mahathir was “very clever” and always “killed two birds with one stone”, Azmi alleged that Dr Mahathir’s agenda was tied to the Umno 11 case involving then Umno vice-president Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah whose supporters had challenged his post as Umno president.
“With the judiciary under him, he could tell judges what to do. I am sure he will deny it,” said Azmi who was among six judges involved in the judicial crisis two decades ago.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/21/nation/21617618&sec=nation]
Yong and deputy at odds over no-confidence motion - The Star
By Muguntan Vanar and Ruben Sario
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Progressive Party is under threat of snapping from a fracture between the party boss Datuk Yong Teck Lee and his deputy Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah.
This emerged after a highly charged five-hour supreme council meeting yesterday when Yong obtained a consensus on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the party made no decision on pulling out of Barisan Nasional.
Disputing what Yong told a packed press conference at the party headquarters crowded by members, Tan, immediately after the meeting, said the supreme council was split over the motion.
Tan said he and party youth chief Au Kam Wah had opposed the motion and they were supported by some of the 29 members of the supreme council present. (The council has 35 members).
He also disputed Yong’s contention that no decision was made for SAPP to pull out from Barisan.
“The consensus among us is to stay in Barisan,” said Tan, a Deputy Chief Minister who is seen as heading a Sandakan rebellion against Yong in the 14-year-old party which teamed up with Umno and other Barisan components in 1994, leading to the ouster of Parti Bersatu Sabah.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/21/nation/21618835&sec=nation]
