Last year, we highlighted 10 reports about which the authorities were evidently clueless in resolving, leaving the public none the wiser as to the outcome. Four of these, being time-sensitive, died an unnatural death between then and now. This year has contributed a fresh crop of mysteries but don't expect answers any time soon.


1) Pak Lah's deputy

The question mark on who will be Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's deputy has been lingering for over a year - the issue was in last year's 'X-files' - with little certainty in sight.

Leading the pack at the moment, and also former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's choice, is Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak. Other likely candidates include the other party vice-presidents, Muhyiddin Yassin, Muhammad Muhd Taib and Rafidah Aziz.

It is speculated that Pak Lah will prioritise the upcoming general elections rather than naming a deputy in order not to jeopardise the performance of Barisan Nasional.

Meanwhile, Najib has made it clear that he will "respect" Pak Lah's decision regardless of the outcome.


2) Anwar's bail

Jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim has been waiting for more than five months for the decision on his bail application.

After having served six years in prison for a corruption conviction, he is currently serving his nine-year sentence for sodomy which is pending appeal.

The first appeal in April was rejected, forcing him and his adopted brother as well as co-accused Sukma Darmawan Sasmitaat Madja to make fresh applications for bail which was heard in July after being postponed twice since May.


3) Custodial deaths

Several deaths in police custody have also raised many allegations of brutality, which remain unanswered. While relatives of the deceased often cry foul claiming that the bodies bore bruise marks, the official cause of death is usually medical complications.

The deaths of Ho Kwai See, G Veerasamy and Yoges Rao were more recent cases whereby local rights groups had found discrepancies in police conduct.


4) MASKargo Scandal

Earlier this year, national airline carrier MAS landed in a controversy when whistleblowers revealed that the company had been defrauded by a politically-connected company.

It was alleged that the Dhaka-based company - Silkways Cargo Services Ltd - which Shah Alam MP Mohd Zin Mohamed co-owns, had committed fraud through under-declaring the weight of cargo, manipulating the shipment data and offering inducements worth millions of ringgit to MAS officials.

MAS denied the allegation and said that their ground-handling agent in Dhaka was a company called Biman Airlines, but Biman denied this. These allegations have triggered an uproar among MAS shareholders who want further clarification over the matter. But, the authorities brushed aside suggestions of wrongdoings and the allegation was not probed further.


5) Karachi 5

The fate surrounding the remaining incarcerated members of the 'Karachi 13' hangs in limbo. The group of students, aged between 16 and 25, were arrested upon their return from Pakistan on Nov 11 after spending more than a month in custody there until they were cleared of terrorist involvements.

Five remain under ISA detention while the rest were freed in batches. The government has defended the arrest saying that the students are suspected of being involved in terrorist activities.


6) ROS and party issues

Over the year, the Registrar of Societies caused a stir when it took action against two beleaguered Barisan National component parties, placing an enormous question mark on their future.

Since November 2002, Sarawak National Party (Snap), which was de-registered after a leadership turmoil has yet to secure a position within the BN. Despite this it is determined to participate in the next general elections, even it if means having to contest against BN.

The other party to de-registered was Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS). However, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi gave it hope when he said that he will consider an appeal.

The ROS also denied the proposed merger of Keadilan and PRM, stating that the insistence on the use of the acronym "Keadilan" was unacceptable. Furthermore, the ROS had also stipulated that the two parties are not allowed to contest under the same banner in the impending general election although both parties have merged as Parti Keadilan Rakyat.


7) Airod

The status of investigations into the police reports lodged against tycoon Ahmad Johan of aircraft maintenance company Airod remains a mystery.

Airod had received a contract by the Ministry of Defence worth RM102.3 million for 'consultancy work' involving extensions on two C130 aircrafts owned by the RMAF of which Second Finance Minister Jamaludin Jarjis is a director and believed to be the largest individual shareholder.

The report alleged "questionable payments" were made and that Ahmad's company Quality Ranch had siphoned money from Airod when no actual business activity took place. Furthermore, the reports accuses Quality Ranch of having no experience in the field of aviation at all.


8) Logging in Kedah and Terengganu

Controversy erupted when it was reported that the PAS government of Terengganu had awarded a logging concession that was below the real value of the timber. The party granted the deal to a 26-year-old woman for a paltry sum of RM1.5 million, who was supposed to be a 'proxy' for a former DAP leader, and that she was the niece of a prominent PAS leader.

Umno Terengganu had raised questions about how the woman could pay the state government the money and alleged that she was working for a non-Malay individual. An ACA investigation is underway to probe the deal of any wrongdoings and the former DAP leader has denied involvement.

Earlier this year, attempts by the Kedah state government to commence heli-logging activities drew harsh criticism from environmental groups. PAS Kedah had already lodged an ACA report against the state government over the matter, but the state denied any such investigation taking place.


9) NUBE

The long running dispute between rival factions in the National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) took more twists and turns this year but made no headway.

The factions, one led by Muhammad Fauzi Shamsuddin and the other by Abdul Jalil Hamid, took their case to court in October to settle their leadership tussle but to no avail. The union remains divided and its leadership lineup is still ambiguous.

In August, a police report was lodged against NUBE by the director-general of the Department of Trade Unions Zulkifly Abdullah, which was subsequently met with an ACA report against Zulkifly by NUBE which remains inconclusive.

Attempts by the Human Resources Ministry to help facilitate 'peace talks' fell flat as both sides lambasted the methods and suggestions. The latest efforts to draw Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi into the matter has yet to bear any outcome.


10) Malaysiakini raid

It has been almost a year since the police raided malaysiakini's office and carted away 19 computers, of which 17 were later returned in stages.

While the Home Ministry told Parliament in October that investigations over the alleged seditious letter had been completed, no further action has been taken.

The raid drew widespread criticism domestically and abroad. It also aroused fears that the government was about to go back on its pledge not to censor the Internet.

The government has also warned the news website that they are "watching" and would take action if necessary.


Previous 'X-files'

X-files 2002: The saga continues
X-files 2001: New entries