There was pandemonium this afternoon when the police barged into a meeting for the press held at the Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department headquarters in Jalan Maharajalela and stopped a senior officer from exposing alleged corrupt practices in the department.

Mohd Ali Thambi Chik, who is the KL deputy director, was in the midst of briefing reporters on his allegations involving Fire and Rescue Department director-general Jaafar Sidek Thambi when four police personnel emerged.

The police officers, who were accompanied by Mohd Ali's immediate boss KL department director Leonard Athanasius, told the reporters that it was an "illegal meeting".

However, when contacted later, Kuala Lumpur acting police chief Dell Akbar Khan told malaysiakini that the police were not there to stop the 'press conference'.

"The directive did not come from the police," Dell explained. Apparently, the order came instead from the KL fire chief, Leonard.

Malaysiakini learnt that the police went to the KL Fire and Rescue Department headquarters after receiving a complaint about the presence of a "mentally disturbed" person.

Earlier, Mohd Ali told reporters that he had originally meant to speak to a journalist from The Star who wanted clarification on the charges raised in Parliament last week against the fire department chief.

Mohd Ali said he decided to call other journalists to be present as well as he did not have the time to respond to queries from other media organisations.

However, The Star reporter did not turn up.

Journalists from malaysiakini and Berita Harian were there. So too were reporters from Keadilan and PAS' organs, Berita Keadilan and Harakah.

The whistleblower

Mohd Ali said he decided to come forward and produce evidence of the corrupt practices in the department after Jaafar Sidek strongly hinted in the local dailies that he was the person responsible for making the allegations.

He added the fact that he was called by The Star journalist for clarification on the issue implied that he was the individual said to have provided information to PAS member of parliament Mahfuz Omar.

While debating the Supply Bill 2003 in parliament last week, Mahfuz questioned how the department's director general can afford to hold two lavish wedding receptions for his son.

Mahfuz, who is the MP for Pokok Sena, claimed that the first reception, held at Stadium Bukit Jalil was attended by 20,000 people, and another reception the following day at the Renaissance Hotel was attended by 6,000 people.

The PAS Youth chief also claimed that he has evidence the department's personnel including senior officers had used department facilities to plan the wedding receptions.

However, Jaafar Sidek had subsequently denied the charges.

According to him, the wedding reception at Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara was attended by 8,000 guests, mostly department staff and their family members.

"If the strength of the department is 10,000, how many would be available for duty in the event of an emergency on that day?" asked Mohd Ali.

Jaafar Sidek also clarified that another reception meant for family and friends at the Renaissance Hotel was attended by "only 600" people and not 6,000 as claimed by Mahfuz.

Duty to expose wrongdoings

Mohd Ali said he felt it was his responsibility to expose the wrongdoings of senior officers in the department as lives are also at risked through the 'sale' of fire certificates to building owners.

"This type of misconduct is even worse than issuing identity cards to foreigners or the selling of firearms," he said.

Mohd Ali said Jaafar Sidek had committed an act of treason by getting "sponsors" from building owners to finance his son's wedding.

He explained that building owners could only obtained the fire certificates without which buildings are deemed unsafe after paying ten thousands of ringgit to 'consultants' appointed by the department.

"These buildings are occupied by thousands of people, including royal families, foreign investors, tourists and local people.

"Aren't the lives of these innocent people at risk when they occupy buildings which are potential fire traps and where fire certificates are issued via corrupt practices?" asked Mohd Ali.

Mohd Ali said he has also lodged a report to the Anti-Corruption Agency on the matter.

He alleged that the corporate "sponsorships" could be the answer as to how Jaafar Sidek could afford such lavish receptions for his son's wedding.

"In my calculation, the receptions would amount to half a million ringgit, after taking into account the facilities and time consumed by the department," he said.

Mohd Ali also revealed that the planning for the wedding was made as early as April based on the minutes of meetings which he obtained.

"With these minutes, I can prove that department facilities have been abused," he told reporters.

Mohd Ali added that a senior officer from Labuan was also flown to Kuala Lumpur for several meetings to assist in the planning of the receptions. He believed the officer's travels were under department's expenses.

Responding to the Housing and Local Government Minister Ong Ka Ting's statement that evidence must be made available, Mohd Ali said he has photographs to prove that the presence of the staff who were supposed to be on duty were present during the Sept 14 reception.

"Even senior officers were there during working hours...what if there is an emergency somewhere?" he asked.

Department facilities used

On Jaafar Sidek's denial that department facilities were used for the wedding, Mohd Ali produced photographs that the power generator was placed outside the stadium to be used in the event of blackout and several department trucks were employed to ferry tables.

He also alleged that the department had bought thousands of chairs and tables which were kept at various fire stations, which were not used until the wedding reception.

"Doesn't this show that (Jaafar Sidek) has purposely bought the facilities for his own benefits," questioned Mohd Ali.

He also claimed that the department had also wasted a lot of money on telephone bills where numerous calls were made to confirm attendance.

Just before the police barged into the room, Mohd Ali said he was prepared to face the consequences of his action as he is in the position to expose the wrongdoings of the department's top officers.

"I am doing this for 'Kerana Mu Malaysia' as lives are at stake because of the corruption in the Fire and Rescue Department. I have nothing against the department except its corrupt director-general and his senior officers," he said.

When contacted, the department's deputy director-general (Management) Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim, who had previously defended his chief, refused to comment on the controversy.

Jaafar Sidek could not be contacted as he is believed to be abroad.