Nizar defends RM207bil compensation claim
Published: Jan 10, 2013 9:58 AM | Updated: Jan 10, 2013 10:21 AM
Former Perak menteri besar Mohamad Nizar Jamaludin had reportedly insisted that the Japanese government had paid RM207 billion to the Malaysian government, disclosing documents purportedly to prove his point.
The ex-Perak MB reveals two supposedly genuine documents to support his claim that compensation had been handed over.
Former Perak menteri besar Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin reportedly insisted that the Japanese government had paid RM207 billion to the Malaysian government, disclosing documents purportedly to prove his point.
The sum is meant to be compensation for forced Malayan labourers working on at the Thailand-Burma Railway during the second World War and their heirs, but they claimed to have never received the money.
Among others, one of the documents is a purported memo from the Finance Ministry to the Thailand-Burma Railway Former Labourers and Heirs Welfare Association, dated March 29, 2011.
"We are pleased to inform that the claim to disburse RM207 billion has been referred for government approval and further action; the Attorney-General and the Ministry of Human Resources have been informed of this process," said the letter, as quoted in PAS party organ Harakah Daily's online edition yesterday.
Another document that Nizar reportedly disclosed was purportedly from the Attorney-General's Chambers to the association.
"For your information, the issue needs to be referred to the cabinet for approval. The cabinet paper is being prepared for further action," it said.
Nizar had previously claimed that the Japanese Embassy to Malaysia had confirmed paying the compensation for labourers of the infamous ‘Death Railway', from which some 30,000 Malayans survived the ordeal.
However, the embassy's second secretary Takaharu Suegami later denied that such a confirmation was issued.
The sum is meant to be compensation for forced Malayan labourers working on at the Thailand-Burma Railway during the second World War and their heirs, but they claimed to have never received the money.Among others, one of the documents is a purported memo from the Finance Ministry to the Thailand-Burma Railway Former Labourers and Heirs Welfare Association, dated March 29, 2011.
"We are pleased to inform that the claim to disburse RM207 billion has been referred for government approval and further action; the Attorney-General and the Ministry of Human Resources have been informed of this process," said the letter, as quoted in PAS party organ Harakah Daily's online edition yesterday.
Another document that Nizar reportedly disclosed was purportedly from the Attorney-General's Chambers to the association.
"For your information, the issue needs to be referred to the cabinet for approval. The cabinet paper is being prepared for further action," it said.
Nizar had previously claimed that the Japanese Embassy to Malaysia had confirmed paying the compensation for labourers of the infamous ‘Death Railway', from which some 30,000 Malayans survived the ordeal.
However, the embassy's second secretary Takaharu Suegami later denied that such a confirmation was issued.
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