PM's 'sloth-like pace' irks PAS
Syed Jaymal ZahiidPublished: Nov 20, 2007 6:50 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
Better late than never? Not if you're opposition party PAS and if the delay is caused by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Among his shortcomings, says the opposition party, is an inability to listen and act in timely manner when advice is offered.
Better late than never? Not if you're opposition party PAS and if the delay is caused by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar had plenty to say about the premier's tardiness in reacting to allegations that have tarnished the judiciary through the infamous 'Lingam tape'.
He likened Abdullah's pace in arriving at the decision to set up a royal commission as being sloth-like.
"We (are among those who) have long called for a royal commission to investigate the Lingam tape, but he did not listen to us," Mahfuz said at a press conference held at the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.
"This ( refusal to heed calls) points out to the ruling coalition's inability to tackle a crisis as big as that revealed by the Lingam tape."
Had Abdullah listened, he said, time and money would not have been wasted on setting up the three-member independent panel of inquiry headed by former chief judge of Malaya Haidar Mohd Noor.
The panel, set up on Sept 27, completed its limited probe on Nov 6 and submitted three separate reports to the government. While details have not been made public, it was speculated that a main recommendation was to set up a royal commission.
Even then, Abdullah appointed three ministers to study the legal aspects of the reports, after which he revealed last Friday that the royal commission would be set up. Its terms of reference and composition are expected to be discussed at the weekly cabinet meeting tomorrow.
'Selling sovereignty'
On a separate matter, Mahfuz said the government's quarrel with Singapore over Pulau Batu Putih is an act of hypocrisy.
"I say this because our government is selling our sovereignty bit by bit to Singaporean investors through land sales in the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) in Johor" he said.
According to Mahfuz, the chief executive officer of UEM Land, the developer for Nusajaya in the IDR, had told Channel News Asia that a large portion of the industrial and housing real estate in Nusajaya have been purchased by Singaporean investors.
"It is evident that Singapore has strong bargaining power over us. One day, our sovereignty could well be challenged, when they have purchased a large enough portion of land in the IDR," argued Mahfuz.
"Thailand and Indonesia are not at all included in the government's multi-billion economic corridors projects, why is Singapore allowed to have such privilege?"
He also contended that the Batu Putih island row started with Malaysia allowing Singapore only to build a lighthouse on the island. Since then, Singapore has claimed the island as its territory.
"I suggest we learn from this. The Singapore government might repeat the same move once they own land in this country. Who then do we blame if not the government for its policies?"
Singapore presented its case regarding the sovereignty of three disputed islands in the Pacific Ocean at the International Court of Justice at The Hague on Nov 6, a claim disputed by Malaysia.
Each country claims that the islands of Pedra Blanca (as Singapore calls it) or Pulau Batu Putih, Middle Rocks and South Ledge belong to them. The hearing is underway.
PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar had plenty to say about the premier's tardiness in reacting to allegations that have tarnished the judiciary through the infamous 'Lingam tape'. He likened Abdullah's pace in arriving at the decision to set up a royal commission as being sloth-like.
"We (are among those who) have long called for a royal commission to investigate the Lingam tape, but he did not listen to us," Mahfuz said at a press conference held at the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.
"This ( refusal to heed calls) points out to the ruling coalition's inability to tackle a crisis as big as that revealed by the Lingam tape."
Had Abdullah listened, he said, time and money would not have been wasted on setting up the three-member independent panel of inquiry headed by former chief judge of Malaya Haidar Mohd Noor.
The panel, set up on Sept 27, completed its limited probe on Nov 6 and submitted three separate reports to the government. While details have not been made public, it was speculated that a main recommendation was to set up a royal commission. Even then, Abdullah appointed three ministers to study the legal aspects of the reports, after which he revealed last Friday that the royal commission would be set up. Its terms of reference and composition are expected to be discussed at the weekly cabinet meeting tomorrow.
'Selling sovereignty'
On a separate matter, Mahfuz said the government's quarrel with Singapore over Pulau Batu Putih is an act of hypocrisy.
"I say this because our government is selling our sovereignty bit by bit to Singaporean investors through land sales in the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) in Johor" he said.
According to Mahfuz, the chief executive officer of UEM Land, the developer for Nusajaya in the IDR, had told Channel News Asia that a large portion of the industrial and housing real estate in Nusajaya have been purchased by Singaporean investors.
"It is evident that Singapore has strong bargaining power over us. One day, our sovereignty could well be challenged, when they have purchased a large enough portion of land in the IDR," argued Mahfuz.
"Thailand and Indonesia are not at all included in the government's multi-billion economic corridors projects, why is Singapore allowed to have such privilege?"
He also contended that the Batu Putih island row started with Malaysia allowing Singapore only to build a lighthouse on the island. Since then, Singapore has claimed the island as its territory. "I suggest we learn from this. The Singapore government might repeat the same move once they own land in this country. Who then do we blame if not the government for its policies?"
Singapore presented its case regarding the sovereignty of three disputed islands in the Pacific Ocean at the International Court of Justice at The Hague on Nov 6, a claim disputed by Malaysia.
Each country claims that the islands of Pedra Blanca (as Singapore calls it) or Pulau Batu Putih, Middle Rocks and South Ledge belong to them. The hearing is underway.
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