Sultan: Respect my decision

ROYAL PREROGATIVE: Johor Sultan says appointment of Tee to the state exco is to preserve unity of his subjects

 JOHOR BARU: THE sultan of Johor wants all parties to respect his decision and stop bickering over the appointment of Datuk Tee Siew Kiong as state executive councillor.

Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, in a statement issued by his private secretary Jaba Mohd Noah, said all parties, including MCA and other political parties' members, must respect the decision on the appointment and abstain from questioning his authority as the state ruler.

"Tee's appointment was the sultan's choice which is provided for under Phase 4 Section II of the Johor State Constitution 1895.

"Sultan Ibrahim appointed Tee as he wanted to have representation from all races in the state exco line-up. The sultan is neither required to seek any opinion or suggestion with regard to Tee's appointment, nor compelled to explain the basis behind Tee's appointment," said the statement.

"Whatever problem which occurred in the political party associated with Tee should not have become an issue. Although Tee is suspended by his own party, he remains a state executive councillor appointed by the sultan.

"Whatever action needed to be taken by his political party against him is entirely the prerogative and the power of the party and its leaders.

"The sultan will not interfere in the affairs of any political party and also does not want any political party to interfere in any matter pertaining to his role as a ruler."

The statement also said that Sultan Ibrahim's aspiration is clear, that is to preserve and strengthen the unity of his subjects in Johor.

In an immediate response, Tee thanked the ruler for the statement which served to clear the air surrounding his appointment.

"The truth has finally prevailed. This showed that whatever I had told the disciplinary committee during the inquiry was consistent with what was stated in the statement issued from the palace, that is my appointment was not recommended by the party.

"Hopefully, this will end all the bickering for the sake of party unity. I also wish that the MCA transformation task force will play its role in uniting the party through their road shows."

Tee has become the subject of criticisms after he was appointed as a state executive councillor on May 14. The Pulai Sebatang assemblyman heads the state Tourism, Trade and Consumerism Committee.

Party critics viewed his appointment as a violation of the resolution passed by the party that no member should take up any government post if the party performed worse than in 2008.

Critics had also cast suspicion over his appointment, saying that the sultan did not name Tee to take up the exco post.

Boycott call 'hypocritical'

NOT CONFIDENT: Guan Eng's call to sit out Kuala Besut by-election is a sign of fear, say leaders

KUALA LUMPUR: THE call by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng for Pas to boycott the coming Kuala Besut by-election in protest against the Election Commission has been described as a clear sign of hypocrisy.

"If they think they should protest against the EC, they shouldn't have sworn in elected representatives in the first place," said Terengganu state executive councillor Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman.

Ahmad Razif, who is also Seberang Takir Barisan Nasional assemblyman, said Lim was making the call out of "fear and lack of confidence" that the opposition would break through the Umno fortress.

"It is up to them if they want to boycott it, but this also shows that they are not confident of winning the seat."

Lim had on Sunday, suggested that Pas boycott the by-election over the indelible ink issue. He said he would raise the possibility of a boycott with the opposition coalition supreme council.

His suggestion had also raised eyebrows among political pundits, suggesting that such a call could be derived from fear that Pas may form a unity government with BN should they win and there is a hung state legislature.

BN Muar member of parliament Datuk Razali Ibrahim said Lim was being a hypocrite, as he himself had indirectly accepted the election results as sound by swearing-in as an elected representative.

"He is just making a political statement. Isn't it the same EC that made him run the office?" said Razali.

Pas leaders, however, said the party had no plans to abstain from the by-election.

The party's Kuala Terengganu MP Datuk Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad said discussions on the by-election had already been held at preliminary levels.

"On principle, we will take part in the by-election but we still have to wait for the official announcement from the party."

He denied the possibility of forming a unity government with BN, describing such talk as "political gossip".

Meanwhile, Terengganu PKR chairman Azan Ismail said Pas should not act defensively towards a friendly suggestion that his party contest in the by-election.

It was reported that Azan had expressed interest in contesting for the vacant seat and this had led to an outburst by Pas secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali.

Azan said his statement was only to signify the opposition pact's "cooperation" to contest in the by-election.

"It would be better if he had welcomed the suggestion and said it would be up to the opposition pact's top leadership to decide."

The Kuala Besut by-election will be held by Aug 27 following the death of assemblyman Dr A. Rahman Mokhtar.

'Speculation in media will deny Taib fair chance'

GRAFT PROBE: Public urged to let MACC do its job

KUALA LUMPUR: THERE should not be any trial by media in the graft investigations involving Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud as this would only pave the way to unnecessary conclusions among the public, says Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission advisory committee member Tan Sri Megat Najmuddin Megat Khas.

He said the basic principle of law that a person was innocent until proven guilty should be applied in the probe, just as in any other case.

"Widespread perception of guilt prior to a court decision will deny Taib Mahmud a fair chance to defend himself.

"Therefore, people should allow the MACC to do its job without any interference," he said when asked to comment on Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) former secretary-general Josie Fernandez's statement that the MACC should update the public on its probe into Taib's case.

Megat Najmuddin said it would be difficult for the MACC to make public its investigations as it was a "huge investigation".

"The MACC cannot give away everything about the case by updating the public. There is a fine balance between what can and cannot be said to the people."

He said the case would take time as it required MACC to conduct investigations overseas.

However, Asian Strategic and Leadership Institute's centre of public policy studies chairman Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam believed the public should be kept in the loop concerning the investigation.

"This has been a thorny issue for many years and the people have the impression that the commission is only interested in 'small fishes' and not 'big fishes'.

"Now is the time for both the government and MACC to show that it means business. Otherwise, it will get into trouble on issues concerning public perception, integrity, transparency and the will to combat corruption,"  said Navaratnam, who is also the former MACC Corruption Prevention Panel chairman.

MACC announced on Saturday the setting up of a multi-agency task force to investigate graft allegations against Taib.

The Attorney-General's Chambers is part of the task force.

In dismissing doubts on its efficiency, particularly in dealing with corruption allegations against the 77-year-old politician, MACC said it had recorded statements from 20 people and examined 400 files in its investigations.

It also said the probe had started before a video, which implicated Taib in corrupt dealings, was posted on the Internet.

However, it added that an additional team of 10 investigators was formed after the video went viral.

'Fraud commission not necessary'

SHAH ALAM: A Barisan Nasional assemblyman yesterday questioned the need for the state to set up a Selangor Commission of Election Fraud Investigation into the 13th General Election.

Speaking during a debate in the state assembly, Sulaiman Abdul Razak, the representative for Permatang, said that unsatisfied parties could file petitions in court and present their evidence at the hearing.

"Why did you all (Pakatan representatives) swear in as assemblymen?

"When you win, then the results are fair but when you lose, for example at the parliamentary level, then it is not fair."

He said the plan to set up the commission was just a political gimmick by Pas, PKR and DAP.

Meanwhile, Azmin Ali (PKR-Bukit Antarabangsa) said such a commission was needed as there was a wide range of election issues that had to be looked into, some of which may not be within the jurisdiction of the legal system.

"In the petition process, it focused only on specific issues. However, we have a need to debate on a wider range of issues, such as the use of indelible ink."

No contest likely for top five posts in Umno

KUALA LUMPUR: The Umno election, slated to be held later this year may not see any contest for the posts of president, deputy president and vice-presidents.

Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor yesterday lent his support for the idea of keeping the party's top posts uncontested.

Speaking to reporters at Parliament House, he said most Umno grassroots did not want any member to vie for the top posts as it might undermine the party's strength.

"That is the general opinion that I have gathered after visiting several divisions recently. We in Umno believe in guided democracy. In democracy, anyone can challenge anyone for a top post, but if it will destroy us, why should we do it?"

He, however, added that there should be contests for the top posts for the Youth, Wanita and Puteri wings.

"People on the ground feel that this is the way if we want to be a stronger party. In fact, we did well in the last election when we won 88 seats compared with 79 seats in 2008," he said.

Elaborating, Tengku Adnan said such a policy of no-contest would benefit the party as it would promote the spirit of muzakarah, or discussion.

"We should all just sit down and discuss who the best persons to lead the party are."

Commenting on whether it was appropriate to hold the Kuala Besut by-election during the month of Ramadan, Tengku Adnan said no problems would arise and that the by-election would go on as planned.

"There shouldn't be any problem with that. If you recall, the same thing happened exactly 34 years ago. The Kuala Besut state assemblyman then had died at the same place and on the same date," he pointed out.

Tengku Adnan also quashed speculation that a biometric authentication system would be used to verify the identity of Umno grassroots members at the party's branch meetings nationwide.

"No, the biometric system will not be used.

"However, we will scan the identification cards of members to ensure that the people who come from branches and divisions are the correct delegates."

Govt may up income eligibility for BR1M

THE government is mulling increasing the income eligibility for the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) from RM3,000 to RM5,000, said Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan.

If the idea is pushed through, it would mean that families earning RM5,000 and below would be eligible for the BR1M handout.

He was responding to Langkawi member of parliament Datuk Abu Bakar Taib in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday on whether the government would be willing to increase the BR1M eligibility amount for families.

"We are looking into increasing the income limit to enable more people to be eligible. We are also mulling other considerations for BR1M in the 2014 Budget."

He said the government was considering other proposals regarding the disbursement of BR1M, including dividing the amount between spouses.

Ahmad rubbished suggestions that the increase in the number of BR1M recipients this year was because of the rising poverty rate, as claimed by Sibu member of parliament Oscar Ling.

"I was asked why there was an increase of BR1M recipients from 4.8 million last year to 6.8 million this year. This is because there were an additional two million recipients who are single and earning RM2,000 or less.

"It has nothing to do with the number of hardcore poor," Ahmad said later, adding that the allocation for BR1M 3.0 would be announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak during the tabling of the 2014 Budget.

Ling had earlier suggested it was unusual that there was an increase in the number of BR1M recipients although the number of Malaysians in the low-income bracket had dropped since last year.

The government spent RM2.9 billion on BR1M 2.0 this year.

"The applications for BR1M were vetted by the Inland Revenue Board together with data checks from the National Registration Department and Public Service Department, among others, to ascertain eligibility.

"The distribution of BR1M is also in line with the government's aim to provide more targeted subsidies," said Ahmad.

He said the government would also fulfil its promise of increasing the BR1M allocation from RM250 to RM600 for bachelors and RM500 to RM1,200 for households, but would do it in stages.

"The government helps the people in various ways. One way is through indirect means, such as subsidies and the other is direct initiatives like BR1M."

Fee to hire maids doubles

REASONABLE COST: Most of memorandum's security provisions to remain in place

MALAYSIANS will most likely have to pay more for Indonesian maids, with the fee expected to cost RM8,000.

This will be almost double the RM4,511 initially agreed upon in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Malaysia and Indonesia in 2011.

However, the salaries of the Indonesian maids would be determined by market prices and the employer instead of falling under the Minimum Wages Act 2012.

Announcing this yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the new fee took into account costs for training, travel documents, food and boarding before the maid was placed with an employer, travel expenses, medical checks and fees for agencies in Indonesia and here.

The revised amount, however, would be negotiated between the two governments before being approved by the Indonesian government.

"Details of the structural costs will be announced by the Human Resources Ministry soon after both countries have both consented to the changes," he said after chairing a cabinet committee meeting on foreign workers and illegal immigrants yesterday.

Muhyiddin noted that the revised costs were still reasonable compared with other countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Middle Eastern nations.

He hoped that the decision would expedite the implementation of the MoU to ensure the supply of maids would not be disrupted.

Muhyiddin said most of the memorandum's security provisions would remain in place, such as the six-month maid replacement guarantee period.

He said the salary of Indonesian maids would not be bound by the Minimum Wages Act 2012 and would be based on current market prices and the employer.

Foreign maid agencies had previously objected to the RM4,511 amount agreed upon under the 2011 MoU, claiming it did not match the current costs that had to be borne by the agencies.

Meanwhile, other avenues for Malaysians to hire Indonesian maids on their own via the "journey performed visa" will be abolished soon.

"Previously the Immigration Department had allowed for the JP visa to be issued because of problems in the supply of Indonesian maids based on a case-to-case basis," said Muhyiddin, adding the visa would be discontinued in October.

Asked if the new costs could discourage employers from hiring maids through registered agencies and resort to easier channels, Muhyiddin urged potential employers to abide by the law or risk ending up with problematic maids.

"They must hire maids through the proper channels or all sorts of problems will crop up, especially since the maids hired are not protected by the MoU."

The shortage of maids in the country because of the prolonged deliberation between Malaysia and Indonesia have caused distress for families dependent on maids.

Previously, families were forced to pay up to RM10,000 to secure the services of Indonesian maids.