Anti-Corruption – Page 13 – Pursuit of a Malaysian Dream

ACA: deal with corruption cases without political fear or favour

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary and Parliamentary Candidate for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a DAP Public Rally at Ulu Yam Bahru, Ulu Selangor Parliamentary Constituency, on 19th April 1969 at 10p.m.:

DAP wants the present toothless Anti-Corruption Agency to be given untrammeled powers to deal with corruption cases without political fear or favour

The Anti-Corruption Agency was set up by the Alliance Government in anticipation of the general elections campaign of opposition in Malaysian public life.

However, the ACA is a toothless organization without real powers to deal with corruption cases involving high Alliance leaders. The DAP wants the Anti-Corruption Agency to have untrammeled powers to deal with every corruption case, without political fear or favour.

The Anti-Corruption Agency should be an independent department, and not part of the Ministry of Home Affairs. It should only be answerable to Parliament, so that no politician or Minister could exert pressure or influence over it, like the Audit Department for instance, which is answerable only to Parliament.

Unless the Alliance government arms the Anti-Corruption Agency with genuine powers, no one will believe that the Alliance government is sincere in wanting to stamp out corruption. Continue reading ACA: deal with corruption cases without political fear or favour

ACA to investigate into the case of the Missing $10,000 grant to Pay Nam Chinese School

Statement by DAP Organising Secretary and Parliamentary Candidate for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a Press Conference at 5, Jonker Street, Malacca on Thursday, 17th April 1969 at 9.30a.m.

Before and during every general election, Alliance and MCA leaders went around the country and announced that they were or going to give money for temples, schools, community halls, etc. in an attempt to buy votes with public funds.

But whether these monies were actually given out, nobody knows. I want to mention one case in Malacca in 1964 general elections.

The Finance Minister, Tun Tan Siew Sin, announced in the press before the 1964 general elections that he had $645,850 for distribution to 47 schools. This was reported in the local press, and also in Sin Chew Jit Poh of March 2, 1964. One of the schools which were listed to have received $10,000 was the Pay Nam Chinese School in Pantai Belimbing.

But the $10,000 was never distributed. Former member of the Pay Nam School Board of Management came and saw me yesterday, and complained that they did not receive the money, and that although they saw Tun Tan Siew Sin and Dato Tang Cheng Swee after the general elections for the money, they were unsuccessful. They complained bitterly that some of their village people even thought that the School Board of Management had pocketed the $10,000 themselves. Continue reading ACA to investigate into the case of the Missing $10,000 grant to Pay Nam Chinese School

Reservation of hawker’s sites at Jalan Petaling

The DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, today issued the following statement (23.3.1969):

The Directors of Anti-Corruption Agency, Inche Harun bin Hashim, has announced the result of this investigations into the matter of the reservation of 15 best hawker’s sites at Jalan Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, during the last Chinese New Year.

Firstly, there are various inaccuracies in Inche Harun’s statement. I received a letter from Inche Nik Yusof, Selangor Chief of Anti-Corruption Agency, on Feb. 24 proposing a meeting. I telephoned Inche Nik Yusof immediately on receipt of the letter, the very same day. I was then leaving for outstation, and I said I would get in touch with him when I got back to Kuala Lumpur. I am sure Inche Nik Yusof could confirm this.

Four days later, I phoned Inche Nik Yusof proposing a meeting that very day, but Inche Nik Yusof was busy. We subsequently met on March 12.

But in his statement yesterday, Inche Harun said I got in touch with the Agency only four days after receipt of its letter, and suggested that I was trying to avoid the Agency. Why did Inche Harun resort to such misrepresentations? Has to got something to cover up? Continue reading Reservation of hawker’s sites at Jalan Petaling

The Metalex affair

The DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, today issued the following statement (18.3.69):

It is clear that the Director of Anti-Corruption Agency, Inche Harun bin Hashim, had failed to make an independent and thorough investigation last Saturday when I first raised the question of Mr. Khaw Khai Boh being one and the same time a Cabinet Minister and a director of Metalex (M)Co. in 1963, 1964 and 1965, before announcing the result.

Within an hour of my press conference, Inche Harun had already announced the completion of his investigations, and described as ‘unfounded’ the suggestion that Mr. Khaw was a director of Metalex (M) Co. when he was Cabinet Minister.

But Inche Harun conspicuously ignored the most vital part of my statement at the press conference – although he sent a representative to my press conference and took copies of my written statement. And it was this: that my information came from the Registry of Company records and from annual return of the Metalex (M) Co.

Any independent and thorough investigation must involve an inquiry into the Registry of Company records pertaining to this matter. But no, Inche Harun did nothing of the sort. It was only after I had pressed for an explanation for this seeming discrepancy the very next day that Inche Harun instituted ‘further investigations’, and found that it was the company’s mistake in continuing to list Mr. Khaw as a director although he had already resigned. Continue reading The Metalex affair

Mr. Khaw Khai Boh as director of a compamy

The DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, today issued the following statement (16.3.1969):

I must commend Inche Harun bin Hashim, the Director of Anti-Corruption Agency, for the speed with which he completed his investigations as to whether Mr. Khaw Khai Boh was a director of Metalex (M) Co. when he was minister without Portfolio.

An hour after my press conference yesterday, Inche Harun had already investigated into the matter and found my allegation ‘unfounded.’

But both Inche Harun bin Hashim and Mr. Khaw Khai Boh did not explain why the annual returns of Metalex (M) Co. Filed with the Registry of Companies in 1965 still showed Mr. Khaw Khai Boh as one of the directors, when Mr. Khaw had resigned in March 1963 before assuming Ministerial office.

This clearly calls for an explanation.

Public Inquiry into Mr. Khaw Khai Boh’s connection with Metalex (M) Co. Ltd

Statement by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a press conference at DAP KL Branch, 63-D Jalan Sultan, on Saturday, 15th March 1969 at 11.30a.m.

A week ago, on 8th March 1969, at a public rally at Gemas Bahru, Segamat, Johore, I asked the Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, and the Director of Anti-Corruption Agency, Inche Harun bin Hashim, whether it was proper for a Cabinet Minister to be one and the same time a director of a private firm.

Since, then, the Director of the Anti-Corruption Agency, Inche Harun bin Hashim, has said that the legal position was very clear and that no Cabinet Minister can be a director of a private firm at the same time.

Inche Harun also said that his Agency would investigate into any such instance, and would not allow anybody, including the Cabinet, to interfere with its duties and responsibilities.

I have called this press conference to disclose an instance of a Cabinet Minister who was for about three years also a director of a private firm. Continue reading Public Inquiry into Mr. Khaw Khai Boh’s connection with Metalex (M) Co. Ltd

Minister as director of company

Statement by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a press conference at DAP KL Branch, 63-D Jalan Sultan, on Saturday, 15th March 1969 at 11.30a.m.

Since then, the director of the Anti-Corruption agency, Inche Harun bin Hashim, has said that the legal position was very clear and that no Cabinet Minister could be a director of a private firm.

I have called to the Registry of Company records, Mr. Khaw Khai Boh was director of Metalex (M) CO., a manufacturers’ representative for iron and steel, non- ferrous metals, construction materials, tin plates, etc. for the years 1962, 1963, and 1964.

According to the Registry of Company records, Mr. Khaw Khai Boh was director of Metalex (M) Co., a manufacturers’ representative for iron and steel, non-ferrous metals, construction materials, tin plates, etc. for the year 1962, 1963, and 1964. Continue reading Minister as director of company

Will Inche Harun bin Hashim take action if a Cabinet Minister is a director of a private firm?

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a DAP Public Rally at Jalan Meru, Klang on Wednesday, 12th March 1969 at 8p.m.

Four nights ago, at a public rally at Gemas Bahru in Segamat, Johore, I asked the Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, and the Director of Anti-Corruption Agency, Inche Harun bin Hashim, whether it was proper for a Cabinet Minister to be one and the same time a director of a private firm.

There is no reply from the Prime Minister. However, the Director of Anti-Corruption Agency, Inche Harun bin Hashim, told a local Chinese press, Malayan Thung Pao, that the legal position was very clear that a Cabinet Minister could not be a director of a private firm at one and the same time.

Inche Harun also said that if I have any information, I should give it to him directly.

I am prepared to give him information, directly and publicly. But before I do this, I want an assurance from him that on receipt of my information, he would institute immediate investigations and take all the necessary actions – and that he would not allow the Cabinet to interfere or veto with his investigations and duties. Continue reading Will Inche Harun bin Hashim take action if a Cabinet Minister is a director of a private firm?

Can a Cabinet Minister be a director of private firm?

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the second anniversary dinner of the DAP Penang Branch at Violet Café, Jalan Magazine, Penang on Saturday, 1st March 1969 at 8p.m.

Is it proper for a minister of the Cabinet to be one and the same time a director of a private firm?

Is it proper, say, for a Minister of Commerce and industry to be also a director of a private manufacturing firm, or for a Minister of Housing to be a director of a private firm dealing with the sale of construction materials?

I ask the Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, and the Director of Anti-Corruption Agency, Inche Harun bin Hashim, this question.

When the Anti-Corruption Agency was set up early last year, its Director, Inche Harun bin Hashim, hit the headlines continuously, with his announcement of anti-corruption measures, and his determination to act against all those dealing with corrupt practices – including politicians. He said no one was too high or too low for him to investigate. Continue reading Can a Cabinet Minister be a director of private firm?

Investment and Corruption

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a DAP Public Rally at Petaling Jaya Old Town Centre on Monday, 24.2.1969 at 8,30p.m.

Yesterday, in the Sunday papers, we read of a typical example of industrial investment in the Republic of Singapore.

Last November, the board of directors of Texas Instruments Inc. decided in the Dallas to set up a factory in Singapore to manufacture electronic components.

And in 50days, it had its factory up in Singapore, and in production, giving employment to 500 people – which will double in another four month.

Such a thing will be a near-miracle in Malaysia. In our country, it is not uncommon for investor to have to wait for three months for an acknowledgement from government department saying that they have received their letters.

This was what happened to a British company which wanted to start a $5million tapioca estate in Malaysia. It sent a letter to a government department for topographical maps, but after three months, has not even received an acknowledgement. This British company announced last month it was reconsidering its decision to invest in Malaysia. Continue reading Investment and Corruption