FMT LETTER: From Oliver Gomez
I read with faint amusement Idris Jala’s article which appearead in the June 24, 2013 edition of The Star newspaper. Idris Jala in his article discusses seven issues affecting Malaysia today.
Now in a few articles over the coming days, I will attempt to dissect and expose Idris Jala’s article for the rubbish that it is. I will start off now by tackling the first two issues that appear in his article.
Incidentally if you have not already read Idris Jala’s article, I strongly suggest that you do. It is a shining example of how misleading statistics can be and how politicians can literally get away with murder so long as they deny it strongly enough.
In his article, Idris Jala finds himself apparently cornered and forced to engage in a heated debate with an anonymous citizen appropriately named the ‘Angry Malaysian’.
The first issue: Transparency International CPI
The first statement that our poor Minister in the PM’s Department is forced to reply to is in regards to the problem of corruption in Malaysia. Idris Jala puts the Angry Malaysian in his place by informing him that Malaysia’s ranking on the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index improved from 60th in 2011 to 54th in 2012.
All of this sounds very impressive on the surface – that is of course until you realise that Rwanda ranked 50th on the same Index. In case anyone has forgotten, Rwanda was stuck in one of the worst civil wars ever in the 1990s. No disrespect towards Rwanda, but how is it that Malaysia ranks below Rwanda when we have had far more time to get our act together?
Another country that is ranked above us is the one Malaysians loves to hate i.e. Israel, which comes in at 38.
Here now, is the real doozie – in the very same study cited by Idris Jala, Transparency International further surveyed more than 3000 businessmen across 30 different countries.
Well guess what Mr Idris Jala? Malaysia ranked dead last, whereby an astonishing 50% of those surveyed said they had lost out on business opportunities in Malaysia due to a competitor paying a bribe. We comfortably beat the likes of India, Pakistan, Egypt, and Brazil. We even edged out nations like Mexico and Indonesia – two countries historically notorious for widespread bribery and corruption.
I wonder if Idris Jala was in fact fearful for his safety, which might best explain why he kept this particular result hidden from our Angry Malaysian.
The second issue: Global Financial Integrity on Illicit Capital Outflows
Clearly not satisfied with the ‘well rounded’ and ‘non-evasive’ answers provided by Idris Jala, the mysterious Angry Malaysian goes on to to cite the infamous 2012 illicit capital outflow study, as conducted by US-based Global Financial Integrity.
This study was highlighted to the Rakyat by Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim as well as various Opposition MPs in the run up to the now concluded GE13. The report basically found that as of 2010, Malaysia had one of largest outflows of illicit monies in the world. We were only beat out by the likes of China and Mexico – truly ‘honourable’ company where corruption is concerned.
Yet again our embattled Idris Jala was forced to defend the honour of the BN led government, and had this to say on the matter:
“Bank Negara has refuted this claim. It has clarified that 80% of illicit capital outflow is trade mispricing or transfer pricing. This means private companies produce receipts or invoices which differ from the actual amount of money transacted, usually to pay lower taxes to the Government. This is not government corruption.”
Idris Jala had just described widespread tax fraud on the part of the private sector. Again it seems that Idris Jala delivered a lesson to the Angry Malaysian and that the government cannot be faulted for these issues. Two problems arise however:
If there is a widespread problem with tax evasion in the private sector in Malaysia, why then has the Internal Revenue Board (a branch of government) been completely silent on the matter?
Secondly and perhaps most damning, Idris Jala fails to acknowledge what is essentially the worst kept secret in Malaysia – the largest and most profitable Malaysian companies tend to be owned by or connected to various BN politicians.
Indeed, the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange is dominated by government linked firms and companies with close ties to the BN-led government. Suddenly, point (i) does not seem quite so mysterious does it?
Note Umno proxy Syed Mukthar al-Bukhary’s DRB-Hicom, MMC Corp Berhad, and Gamuda Berhad. There is also Felda Global Ventures Holdings Berhad as well as Tenaga Nasional Berhad, and Khazanah Nasional Berhad. These are all highly profitable companies with close ties to the BN government.
Dear readers, Petronas is entirely owned by the (BN) government.
Let us also not forget the recent exposé by Global Witness of Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud.
Global Witness gained prominence after it exposed the arrogance and corruption that permeated Taib Mahmud’s government and family. Taib’s own sisters were wrangled in to help steal Sarawak’s vast wealth from right under the noses of its native inhabitants. To this end, he employed the use of shell companies as proxies in addition to storing his vast amounts of illegal wealth in foreign bank accounts.
Now as well informed and resourceful Malaysians, you the readers are undoubtedly aware of various scandals that have followed the aforementioned companies and characters in recent years.
All this is of course to say nothing of the latest financial scandal within Bank Negara itself: reports surfaced some time last year that Bank Negara had engaged in large scale financial speculation in various foreign exchange markets during the 1980s and 1990s.
Remember the financial crisis of the mid to late 1990s? This was the crisis in which billionaire speculator George Soros was made public enemy number one by the then Mahathir administration. Well, Bank Negara had speculated huge amounts of the Great British Pound against George Soros, and had come up short – roughly RM 20 billion short according to the Penang Institute.
Simply put, the credibility of Bank Negara is very much up for debate.
I find it very hypocritical then that Idris Jala attempts to dismiss these issues as having nothing to do with the government. Does he really think the average Malaysian is that stupid?
One can never tell – Idris Jala was after all published in The Star newspaper.
Conclusion
In the short time that Idris Jala’s article was published in The Star newspaper, I have read countless opinions and comments praising the man for somehow being a stalwart of a leader as well as a captain of industry. Personally, I am at a loss as to how he continues to hold on to such a glowing reputation.
I am certain that Idris Jala is nice enough in person, but let us not kid ourselves – the man is well and truly a BN goon, past achievements notwithstanding. This means that he is just as likely as any other BN goon to pull the wool over the eyes of the Rakyat by means of half truths and whole lies.
I will in my next article attempt to make sense of the Angry Malaysian’s grouses as regards the New Economic Policy (NEP), and its effect(s) on the infamous brain – drain issue in Malaysia.
Does Idris Jala’s explanations finally stand up to scrutiny? Well no, it does not – but then again, this isn’t exactly news to the readers now is it?
I read with faint amusement Idris Jala’s article which appearead in the June 24, 2013 edition of The Star newspaper. Idris Jala in his article discusses seven issues affecting Malaysia today.
Now in a few articles over the coming days, I will attempt to dissect and expose Idris Jala’s article for the rubbish that it is. I will start off now by tackling the first two issues that appear in his article.
Incidentally if you have not already read Idris Jala’s article, I strongly suggest that you do. It is a shining example of how misleading statistics can be and how politicians can literally get away with murder so long as they deny it strongly enough.
In his article, Idris Jala finds himself apparently cornered and forced to engage in a heated debate with an anonymous citizen appropriately named the ‘Angry Malaysian’.
The first issue: Transparency International CPI
The first statement that our poor Minister in the PM’s Department is forced to reply to is in regards to the problem of corruption in Malaysia. Idris Jala puts the Angry Malaysian in his place by informing him that Malaysia’s ranking on the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index improved from 60th in 2011 to 54th in 2012.
All of this sounds very impressive on the surface – that is of course until you realise that Rwanda ranked 50th on the same Index. In case anyone has forgotten, Rwanda was stuck in one of the worst civil wars ever in the 1990s. No disrespect towards Rwanda, but how is it that Malaysia ranks below Rwanda when we have had far more time to get our act together?
Another country that is ranked above us is the one Malaysians loves to hate i.e. Israel, which comes in at 38.
Here now, is the real doozie – in the very same study cited by Idris Jala, Transparency International further surveyed more than 3000 businessmen across 30 different countries.
Well guess what Mr Idris Jala? Malaysia ranked dead last, whereby an astonishing 50% of those surveyed said they had lost out on business opportunities in Malaysia due to a competitor paying a bribe. We comfortably beat the likes of India, Pakistan, Egypt, and Brazil. We even edged out nations like Mexico and Indonesia – two countries historically notorious for widespread bribery and corruption.
I wonder if Idris Jala was in fact fearful for his safety, which might best explain why he kept this particular result hidden from our Angry Malaysian.
The second issue: Global Financial Integrity on Illicit Capital Outflows
Clearly not satisfied with the ‘well rounded’ and ‘non-evasive’ answers provided by Idris Jala, the mysterious Angry Malaysian goes on to to cite the infamous 2012 illicit capital outflow study, as conducted by US-based Global Financial Integrity.
This study was highlighted to the Rakyat by Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim as well as various Opposition MPs in the run up to the now concluded GE13. The report basically found that as of 2010, Malaysia had one of largest outflows of illicit monies in the world. We were only beat out by the likes of China and Mexico – truly ‘honourable’ company where corruption is concerned.
Yet again our embattled Idris Jala was forced to defend the honour of the BN led government, and had this to say on the matter:
“Bank Negara has refuted this claim. It has clarified that 80% of illicit capital outflow is trade mispricing or transfer pricing. This means private companies produce receipts or invoices which differ from the actual amount of money transacted, usually to pay lower taxes to the Government. This is not government corruption.”
Idris Jala had just described widespread tax fraud on the part of the private sector. Again it seems that Idris Jala delivered a lesson to the Angry Malaysian and that the government cannot be faulted for these issues. Two problems arise however:
If there is a widespread problem with tax evasion in the private sector in Malaysia, why then has the Internal Revenue Board (a branch of government) been completely silent on the matter?
Secondly and perhaps most damning, Idris Jala fails to acknowledge what is essentially the worst kept secret in Malaysia – the largest and most profitable Malaysian companies tend to be owned by or connected to various BN politicians.
Indeed, the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange is dominated by government linked firms and companies with close ties to the BN-led government. Suddenly, point (i) does not seem quite so mysterious does it?
Note Umno proxy Syed Mukthar al-Bukhary’s DRB-Hicom, MMC Corp Berhad, and Gamuda Berhad. There is also Felda Global Ventures Holdings Berhad as well as Tenaga Nasional Berhad, and Khazanah Nasional Berhad. These are all highly profitable companies with close ties to the BN government.
Dear readers, Petronas is entirely owned by the (BN) government.
Let us also not forget the recent exposé by Global Witness of Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud.
Global Witness gained prominence after it exposed the arrogance and corruption that permeated Taib Mahmud’s government and family. Taib’s own sisters were wrangled in to help steal Sarawak’s vast wealth from right under the noses of its native inhabitants. To this end, he employed the use of shell companies as proxies in addition to storing his vast amounts of illegal wealth in foreign bank accounts.
Now as well informed and resourceful Malaysians, you the readers are undoubtedly aware of various scandals that have followed the aforementioned companies and characters in recent years.
All this is of course to say nothing of the latest financial scandal within Bank Negara itself: reports surfaced some time last year that Bank Negara had engaged in large scale financial speculation in various foreign exchange markets during the 1980s and 1990s.
Remember the financial crisis of the mid to late 1990s? This was the crisis in which billionaire speculator George Soros was made public enemy number one by the then Mahathir administration. Well, Bank Negara had speculated huge amounts of the Great British Pound against George Soros, and had come up short – roughly RM 20 billion short according to the Penang Institute.
Simply put, the credibility of Bank Negara is very much up for debate.
I find it very hypocritical then that Idris Jala attempts to dismiss these issues as having nothing to do with the government. Does he really think the average Malaysian is that stupid?
One can never tell – Idris Jala was after all published in The Star newspaper.
Conclusion
In the short time that Idris Jala’s article was published in The Star newspaper, I have read countless opinions and comments praising the man for somehow being a stalwart of a leader as well as a captain of industry. Personally, I am at a loss as to how he continues to hold on to such a glowing reputation.
I am certain that Idris Jala is nice enough in person, but let us not kid ourselves – the man is well and truly a BN goon, past achievements notwithstanding. This means that he is just as likely as any other BN goon to pull the wool over the eyes of the Rakyat by means of half truths and whole lies.
I will in my next article attempt to make sense of the Angry Malaysian’s grouses as regards the New Economic Policy (NEP), and its effect(s) on the infamous brain – drain issue in Malaysia.
Does Idris Jala’s explanations finally stand up to scrutiny? Well no, it does not – but then again, this isn’t exactly news to the readers now is it?
Pencerobohan di Lahad Datu tidak ada kaitan dengan tuntutan 'Sultan Sulu' tetapi adalah tindakan pengganas yang cuba mengganggu-gugat keselamatan negara khususnya di Sabah, kata Ketua Menteri Datuk Seri Musa Aman. Sabah, tegas beliau, adalah sebuah negeri yang merdeka dan berdaulat dalam Malaysia.
ReplyDeleteSambil merujuk buku bertajuk 'Putting to Rest the Claim to Sabah by Self-proclaimed Sultanate of Sulu', beliau berkata Peguam Negara Malaysia menyatakan status negeri Sabah sebagai sebahagian daripada Malaysia yang sah adalah berdasarkan dua asas utama.
ReplyDeletePertama, berdasarkan instrumen ikatan yang sah dan mengikut undang-undang, 'Sultan Sulu' pada masa dahulu telah secara sukarela menyerahkan sepenuhnya dan muktamad wilayah yang sekarang dikenali sebagai Sabah untuk selamanya semua tuntutan dan hak selain menerima hak bayaran wang serahan tahunan.
ReplyDeleteKedua, sebarang tuntutan atau hak 'Sultan Sulu' terhadap Wilayah Sabah walaupun ia sah atau wujud pada tahun 1962/1963 telah menjadi terbatal dan termansuh apabila penduduk Sabah membuat satu keputusan sendiri melalui pungutan suara pada tahun 1962 oleh Suruhanjaya Cobbold pada bulan Ogos hingga bulan September 1963,"
ReplyDeleteBeliau berkata Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) di bawah Setiausaha Agungnya telah melaksanakan satu lagi pungutan suara di mana rakyat di Sabah telah menyatakan hasrat mereka secara sukarela untuk merdeka daripada penjajahan British dan justeru, bersetuju untuk bersama-sama Persekutuan Tanah Melayu, Sarawak dan Singapura membentuk Malaysia.
ReplyDeleteMusa berkata demikian ketika menjawab soalan Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin (PKR-Klias) sama ada benar pihak Sultan Sulu III menuntut hak ke atas negeri Sabah dan siapakah yang disyaki sebagai dalang penerobohan itu, semasa sesi soal jawab pada persidangan Dewan Undangan Negeri di Likas
ReplyDeleteMusa yang juga pengerusi jawatankuasa keselamatan negeri berkata pengganas yang menggelarkan diri mereka sebagai 'Tentera Di Raja Kesultanan Sulu' yang dianggarkan seramai 200 orang dikesan menceroboh di Lahad Datu pada 9 Februari lepas.
ReplyDeleteDalang pencerobohan ini ialah Datu Agbi Muddin Datu Kiram dan Jamalullail Kiram serta penglibatan warga Malaysia yang masih dalam siasatan polis.
ReplyDeleteDalam kejadian tersebut, pengganas-pengganas berkenaan enggan berundur dari kawasan yang dicerobohi. Dengan itu pasukan keselamatan telah melancarkan gerakan ofensif terhadap kumpulan penceroboh dari Sulu tersebut pada 5 Mac,
ReplyDeleteBeliau berkata pertempuran itu menyebabkan seramai 80 orang terkorban, termasuk lapan anggota polis dan dua tentera Malaysia serta memaksa penduduk kampung meninggalkan rumah kediaman mereka.
ReplyDeleteBagi menjamin keselamatan wilayah yang terlibat, katanya kerajaan telah mengisytiharkan kawasan Pantai Timur Sabah sebagai Kawasan Keselamatan Khas dan meletakkan pasukan keselamatan untuk mengawal kawasan berkenaan.
ReplyDeleteMusa berkata penubuhan Kawasan Keselamatan Khas Pantai Timur Sabah (ESSCOM)yang diumumkan Perdana Menteri pada 7 Mac lepas adalah berikutan insiden pencerobohan di daerah Lahad Datu.
ReplyDeletePenubuhan ESSCOM yang diterajui Ketua Pengarah Datuk Mohammad Mentek, antara lain bertujuan memantapkan lagi semua operasi yang dilaksanakan oleh pelbagai entiti pasukan keselamatan termasuk Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, Polis Diraja Malaysia, Agensi Penguatkuasaan Maritim Malaysia dan Jabatan Imigresen.
ReplyDeleteSehubungan itu, Musa berkata 10 daerah diwartakan sebagai Zon Keselamatan Pantai Timur Sabah (ESSZONE) yang merangkumi daerah Kudat, Kota Marudu, Pitas, Beluran, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna dan Tawau.
ReplyDeleteKatanya ESSCOM kini berada di landasan yang betul dan mampu bergerak seiring dengan visi, misi dan matlamat yang telah ditetapkan.
ReplyDeleteSelain itu, Musa berkata ESSCOM juga bermatlamat untuk memastikan dan mempertingkatkan keselamatan dan kesejahteraan rakyat di Malaysia secara amnya dan di kawasan Timur secara khususnya, memastikan kesejahteraan penduduk terutama dalam menjaga kesihatan awam di kawasan yang terlibat.
ReplyDeletePenubuhan ESSCOM turut memastikan anggota masyarakat bebas untuk membuat perjalanan di kawasan Pantai Timur Sabah dan mengambil tindakan yang sewajarnya bagi orang yang menduduki tanah atau premis secara tidak sah di dalam kawasan berkenaan.
ReplyDeleteIni termasuk memperkukuhkan kawalan keselamatan kawasan Pantai Timur Sabah secara bersepadu bagi mewujudkan persekitaran yang selamat, meningkatkan keupayaan risikan dan perkongsian maklumat, merancang dan menyelaras penempatan semula selaras dengan keperluan pemeliharaan keselamatan awam bagi meningkatkan kesejahteraan hidup rakyat
ReplyDeleteMalaysia bakal menjadi negara maju berpendapatan tinggi pada 2018, dua tahun lebih awal daripada tahun 2020 yang disasarkan, kata Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
ReplyDeletePerdana Menteri berkata Malaysia berada di landasan betul untuk merealisasikan sasaran ini memandangkan Program Transformasi Kerajaan dan Program Transformasi Ekonomi mula menghasilkan kejayaan yang ketara.
ReplyDeletePeningkatan ranking di seluruh dunia menunjukkan Malaysia semakin memperbaiki kedudukannya. Bank Dunia meletakkan ranking kita di tempat ke-12 dalam laporan Doing Business Report 2013 dan tinjauan baru-baru ini menunjukkan Malaysia berada di landasan betul untuk mencapai status negara maju berpendapatan tinggi seawal 2018
ReplyDeleteNajib berkata sasaran itu mustahil dicapai tanpa kerja keras semua rakyat Malaysia, baik di tanah air mahupun di luar negara.
ReplyDeleteDiaspora (perantau) Malaysia adalah aset kita yang turut sama menyumbang kepada kemajuan negara
ReplyDeleteNajib turut menggesa semua rakyat Malaysia, terutamanya yang tinggal di luar negara supaya membantu Malaysia melenyapkan laporan tidak benar tentang negara ini supaya lebih ramai orang akan berminat untuk melabur atau mengunjungi Malaysia.
ReplyDeleteKata-kata yang baik daripada anda mengenai Malaysia sememangnya sangat dialu-alukan. Saya pasti anda pernah mengalami, dalam beberapa keadaan, apabila sahabat dan rakan setugas anda melontar komen negatif tentang Malaysia. Menjadi tugas anda, sebagai rakyat Malaysia, untuk membersihkan semula nama Malaysia.
ReplyDeleteTeguran ikhlas daripada anda akan memberi mereka perspektif sebenar tentang pencapaian negara.
ReplyDeleteTiada yang dapat mengatasi laporan yang baik melainkan 70,000 rakyat Malaysia yang tinggal di United Kingdom, memperkatakan kebaikan tentang negara mereka.
ReplyDeleteNajib berharap rakyat Malaysia di luar negara akan sentiasa memikirkan tentang apa yang mereka boleh sumbangkan ke arah pertumbuhan sosio-ekonomi negara ini dan rakyatnya.
ReplyDeleteBeliau berkata kerajaan komited dalam memastikan sebuah masa depan yang sarat dengan harapan buat setiap lapisan masyarakat Malaysia termasuk kalangan belia.
ReplyDeleteKami percaya asas bagi setiap negara terletak pada pendidikan belianya
ReplyDeleteKerajaan akan terus berbincang dengan belia dan melibatkan mereka sebagai sebahagian daripada proses pembinaan negara. Perkara ini sangat penting kepada belia hari ini yang akhirnya akan mengambil alih kepimpinan negara di masa depan
ReplyDeleteRTM adalah media kerajaan dan kita patut dibenarkan untuk berada di dalam bilik pengiraan undi sehinggalah keputusan diumumkan
ReplyDeleteKerajaan digesa supaya tidak sesekali tunduk kepada tekanan pertubuhan hak asasi manusia terutama dari luar khususnya berhubung pelaksanaan hak menukar agama dalam kalangan penganut Islam dan kebebasan amalan lesbian, gay, biseksual dan transgender
ReplyDeleteNik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz (Pas-Pasir Mas) berkata, penentangan terhadap tuntutan itu penting bagi memastikan kesucian Islam sebagai agama Persekutuan terus terpelihara selain tidak mahu umat Islam tempatan, rakyat keseluruhan serta pembangkang dicemari nilai negatif.
ReplyDeletekerajaan perlu mempertahan dan memperjuangkan konsep hak asasi manusia seperti diperkenalkan Nabi Muhammad SAW dalam Piagam Madinah kira-kira 1,400 tahun lalu yang selari dengan amalan demokrasi moden.
ReplyDeleteSaya difahamkan daripada sumber tidak rasmi bahawa kerajaan terima tekanan daripada pelobi-pelobi hak asasi manusia luar negara.
ReplyDeleteMereka menuntut pelaksanaan hak asasi manusia yang nyata bertentangan dengan Islam seperti untuk bertukar agama, pindah agama atau murtad selain hak mengamalkan kegiatan-kegiatan yang tegas dilarang agama seperti LGBT
ReplyDeleteTimbalan Ketua Pemuda Pas itu turut memperjelaskan kepada dewan bahawa Islam merupakan agama universal yang memberi rahmat kepada sekalian alam dan undang-undang agama itu terpakai kepada seluruh umat manusia.
ReplyDeleteNik Mohamad Abduh turut mengingatkan kerajaan supaya melaksanakan dasar belia dengan cara sentiasa mencabar mereka melakukan perkara-perkara yang berani selari dengan Islam.
ReplyDeletepembangkang sentiasa bersedia bekerjasama dalam memastikan program perkembangan belia dilaksanakan menurut agama tersebut.
ReplyDeleteThe government will ensure all political parties agree to the proposal on political financing under the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) 2.0, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala.
ReplyDeleteHe said, so far on behalf of the Barisan Nasional (BN), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Deputy Prime Minsiter Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had given their approval.
ReplyDelete“So far we have been trying to talk with the opposition to encourage them to agree to the proposal, hope they will do the same thing.
ReplyDelete“Actually, we had already introduced it in GTP 1.0, we believe it is a good effort but to move the proposal forward we need support from both sides,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Convention here yesterday.
ReplyDeleteIdris said the proposal was a good effort, aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in the political funding process by introducing regulations for political parties.
ReplyDeleteRegulating political financing is one of the suggestions made by the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board of the MACC.
ReplyDeleteThe five-day convention, themed “Generating a Transformation Mindset”, is held once every two years and ends on Monday.
Present was MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed.