2œ
news without borders
Two Umno
leaders
under probe
by Terence Fernandez
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PUTRAJAYA: Two senior
Umno leaders have come
under the radar of the
Malaysian Anti Corruption
Commission (MACC) over al-
legations of money politics.
The two senior party
leaders, who are contesting
top posts in party elections
next week, are also being
investigated by Umno’s dis-
ciplinary board over reports
that they had given money
and granted “favours” in
return for votes from del-
egates.
The MACC investigation
is part of the commission’s
probe into over 900 reports
of money politics in Umno.
The disciplinary board
met last week to deliberate
on the fate of the two senior
leaders who have yet to face
the board and is believed to
be meeting again today to
discuss the same matter.
The MACC has also
opened investigations into
the activities of the two
men while holding positions
as senior state government
officials. Sources said the
investigations will focus on
land alienation and several
joint ventures involving the
respective state govern-
ments.
Expectations are high
on the MACC as apart from
Datuk Norza Zakaria who
was charged for money
politics in Temerloh last
Mohd Ali scoffs at probe rumour
SHAH ALAM: Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali
Rustam has declined comment on a rumour that he was
under investigation for alleged money politics by the party’s
disciplinary board. “That’s you have to ask the disciplinary
board,” he said when asked whether he would contest the
deputy presidency at the party’s elections next week.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Selangor Umno del-
egates last night, Mohd Ali gave a similar reply when asked
if he had received a letter from the board. – Bernama
week, no one else has been
brought to book.
The commission is also
yet to question Tourism Min-
ister Datuk Seri Azalina Oth-
man Said with regard to its
investigation into an aide of
hers who was arrested two
weeks ago with RM70,000.
Azalina is defending her
supreme council seat.
Meanwhile, Umno
information chief Tan Sri Mu-
hammad Muhamad Taib and
supreme council member
Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar
want the disciplinary board
to announce the names
of candidates involved in
money politics before the
party elections.
“Yes, I have heard such
talks but let us wait for an
announcement from the
disciplinary board. It is best
to announce their names
soon,” Muhd Taib said at par-
liament lobby yesterday..
The rural development
minister was commenting
on a report that several can-
didates vying for Umno’s top
posts have been summoned
by the disciplinary board.
Syed Hamid Albar said
the names of candidates
involved in money politics
should be announced before
the elections on March 24.
“We cannot wait any longer
as it will bring chaos and
destroy the party. Money
politics must be stamped
out as it will erode the peo-
ples’ confidence in Umno,”
said the home minister.
Brunei drops Limbang claim
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Brunei has
officially dropped its long-standing territo-
rial claim over Limbang, a district in the
ment and Sarawak government, and as
appropriate, the watershed principle.
“Hereafter, all issues pertaining to land
northern part of Sarawak, marking a new boundaries of the two states shall be ac-
era in the bilateral relations between both cordingly resolved,” it said.
countries, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad The statement said among the key ele-
Badawi said yesterday. ments in the LoE was the “unsuspendable
The prime minister said the matter was rights of maritime access” for Malaysian
part of the historic Letters of Exchange nationals and residents across Brunei’s
(LoE) inked between him and Sultan maritime zones en route to and from their
Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, which for- destinations in Sarawak, provided Brunei’s
malised the solution to the long-standing laws and regulations were observed.
Malaysia-Brunei boundary issues, at the “The solution of the maritime delimita-
Istana Nurul Iman here. tion issue ensures certainty with regard
“It has been stated in the LoE that Bru- to the delimitation of the territorial seas,
nei has dropped the issue and this means the continental shelf and the exclusive
that Limbang is part of Malaysia,” he told economic zones of both countries.
a news conference for Malaysian journal- “The two countries would be able to
ists before heading home at the end of his enforce their rules and regulations and
two-day visit to the sultanate. embark on new developments in their
Limbang, located on the bank of Sun- respective maritime zones,” it said.
gai Limbang between the two halves of The two-page statement also stated
Brunei covering an area of 3,978 sq km that the LoE, which marked a historic
with population of more than 40,000, was and momentous occasion for Brunei and
annexed by James Brooke, the first Rajah Malaysia, reflected the two countries’
of Sarawak, in 1890 to become the fifth ability to reach a comprehensive, fair and
division of Sarawak. equitable package solution in the larger
Abdullah, in thanking the Sultan of interest of both countries.
Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and his It also said both leaders believed that
government for the positive action in the signing of the letters would pave the
making the solution a reality, said that way for the development of strategic
border issues would
now cease to haunt
the relations between
both countries.
“With the issue
solved, Brunei and
Malaysia can now
enter a new era of
bilateral relations and
cooperation in vari-
ous fields and there is
no more unhappiness
over the issue,” he
said.
A joint statement
issued by both leaders
stated that among the
key points in the LoE
was the modalities for
the final demarcation
of land boundaries
between Brunei and
Malaysia.
It also stated that the
demarcation would be
resolved on the basis of
five existing historical
agreements between
the Brunei govern-
Ministers’ presence in
by-election areas ‘distracting’
JOHOR BARU: The three candidates eyeing
the post of Umno Youth chief have called for
the Barisan Nasional machinery to employ
new campaign strategies during next month’s
by-elections.
They also say ministers and deputy minis-
tries should spend less time at the constituen-
cies – Bukit Gantang (Perak), Bukit Selambau
(Kedah) and Batang Ai (Sarawak) – during
the campaign period.
Khairy Jamaluddin, Datuk Seri Dr Mohd
Khir Toyo and Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir
were here yesterday at the programme to
introduce the Umno Youth contestants in the
movement’s polls next week.
BN will be banking on Ismail Safian in the
Bukit Gantang by-election, Datuk S. Ganesan
in Bukit Selambau and Malcolm Mussen
Lamoh in Batang Ai. All three by-elections
will be held simultaneously on April 7.
Khairy said the by-elections are the most
proper stage for BN to bring back its glory.
“I am extremely confident that the BN
candidates for the three by-elections can
draw the voters back to the coalition because
they are local boys; so the issue of having
outsiders standing in the polls which we had
in the 12th general election will not crop up,”
he said.
Khairy said BN had made the right choice
theSun | TUESDAY MARCH 17 2009
partnership and closer collaboration in all
fields, especially trade and investment.
Other areas are in energy and hydro-
carbon resources, tourism, education,
agriculture, infrastructure, banking, halal
industry and people-to-people contacts
with special focus on the states of Sabah
and Sarawak, it said.
Both leaders believed that “the
brotherly relations between Brunei and
Malaysia will contribute to the promotion
of peace and prosperity in the region”, the
statement said.
They also instructed officials and
representatives to follow up and monitor
the full implementation of provisions in
the letters, which marked the successful
conclusion of negotiations, with historical,
legal and other relevant criteria acceptable
to both sides.
Abdullah, accompanied by wife Datin
Seri Jeanne Abdullah, earlier led the
Malaysian delegation, which included
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim
and Education Minister Datuk Seri His-
hammuddin Tun Hussien, to the historic
occasion at the Istana Nurul Iman.
They were welcomed by the Sultan
of Brunei and his consorts Raja Isteri
Pengiran Anak Saleha and Pengiran Isteri
Azrinaz Mazhar. – Bernama
Abdullah and
Sultan Hassanal
Bolkiah exchange
documents at the
signing ceremony.
on its candidates and taken into consideration
local views but that alone would not guaran-
tee victory.
The campaign should be more aggressive
in approaching the voters especially fence-sit-
ters but the presence of ministers and deputy
ministers would disrupt the house-to-house
visits, he said.
The reason was when a minister came,
the election machinery would be busy giving
him a proper welcome and so on, he said.
The BN leadership should think about
this, he added.
Khir agreed and said that if ministers and
deputy ministers wanted to help, they should
come at night and assist in the house-to-
house campaign.
He said the strategies used by the coali-
tion in previous elections had been proven
unacceptable to the local community and
fence-sitters.
So, a new approach was needed to ensure
victory, he said.
“Sometimes, a minister’s presence is a
distraction, causing the machinery to come to
a halt. It is better for them to come at night.”
Mukhriz said BN would have an advantage
if the machinery had already been mobilised
since their opponents had yet to announce
their candidates. – Bernama