Section 52, PJ Land Development: PKNS's Reply Unsatisfactory - Pieter D'Cruz

I refer to the reply dated 11 January 2011 by Ms Azilah Arasad, a PKNS public relations officer to allegations which first appeared on 21 December 2010 about the PKNS land development project in Section 52, Petaling Jaya.

It has taken three long weeks for PKNS to reply but nonetheless they did and for that I thank them.

However, Ms Azilah's letter has not clarified matters by much because in the interim other allegations have come to the surface. Perhaps PKNS itself may not be in the position to provide a fuller explanation, so it is regrettable that political leaders named in the 21 December news report have thus far opted to remain silent. Rest assured that tongues will continue wagging and their credibility as politicians who believe in a transparent and accountable government is at stake.

PKNS's claim through Ms Azilah's letter that the state government was not involved in the series of transaction is a bit disingenuous. Nobody said it was wholly involved but as everyone knows, the Menteri Besar is the PKNS chairman and PKNS is a state GLC.

On the whole the explanation is somewhat pointless and self-defeating as the real issue has not been dealt with, that is, the benefactor and the real beneficiary from the whole deal remain as alleged.

What concerns voters is that the 'old way' of doing things under the BN state government is being perpetuated by the PR one, which came to power promising to end corruption and cronyism. Has it actually been keeping to that promise in this particular case? That is what the public want to know.

As someone who had voted for PKR in 2008, I have to say I am beginning to be disappointed. It's quite reasonable to believe that this PJ Section 52 PKNS land matter is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to things that the state governing politicians wish to keep hidden from public view.

PIETER D'CRUZ

Kelana Jaya, Selangor

The Section 52, Petaling Jaya PKNS Land: The Real Story - Miskam Hj. Suparman

Since the news broke in the internet about alleged power abuse concerning the PKNS land at Section 52, Petaling Jaya (read this, this, this and this), none of the parties implicated has come forward to clarify matters. It’s as if there are skeletons in the closet which ought to be kept under locked. Because they have all chosen to remain silent, I, as an ‘insider’ familiar with the way things are done in PKR, feel obligated to reveal the truth to the public.

The land in question is Lot 12, Petaling Jaya, where the PKNS head office is located and its size is 9.85 acres. In 2005, the Selangor state government under Khir Toyo gave 8 acres of Lot 12 to Puncak Wangi Sdn Bhd (an Umno-linked company?). The remaining 1.85 acres was retained (perhaps to be bequeathed to Khir Toyo?).

The matter of converting the land use condition to that of ‘development’, however, was left outstanding.

In March 2008, the BN state government was replaced by the PR one led by Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim. Thus, any kind of “business deal” arranged by Puncak Wangi with all those individuals and bodies responsible for land development matters in Selangor before the PR takeover was left “hanging in the air”.

In view of the millions already spent by Puncak Wangi for it to be the favoured party of PKNS to the extent of being appointed the ‘taukeh’ for the PKNS-owned Lot 12 land, the company needed to develop the land immediately in order to recover its initial outlays.

The new Menteri Besar, Khalid Ibrahim, deliberately kept mum over applications for land use over the said land as in his opinion there was still scope for the people of Selangor to benefit and their interests protected over the land deal with Puncak Wangi.

Recognising the impasse with Khalid, the company realised that any further effort to solve the problem requires making whatever offers necessary to Khalid’s bosses to get them to instruct Khalid to favour Puncak Wangi. That was something Khalid refused to do as he knew the DAP excos were fully aware of the situation. Thus the Selangor state leadership crisis erupted, with Azmin Ali resigning in protest from the PKNS board of directors and by implication threatening Khalid’s position as the person favoured by PKR to carry on as the MB of Selangor.

Through an edict issued by the party’s God-given leader, it was made clear that an immediate solution must be found, even if it appears that PKR has made deals which it should not with ‘pirates’. Unless, of course, there are ulterior motives. A new agenda, perhaps?

The upshot was that Azmin Ali was appointed the Selangor PKR chief replacing Khalid, thus making Azmin the boss to Khalid within PKR. Khalid was allowed to continue as MB and he pursued efforts to include and protect the interests of the people of Selangor in the Lot 12 project and to uphold PKR’s honour and dignity by not being perceived to be giving in or selling out to pirates. Praise be to God that there is still such an individual who is conscious of his roots and religion.

Khalid’s latest offer was for PKNS to give the remaining 1.85 acres to Puncak Wangi to be developed and in return the company will grant a 30% share of the whole project (now enlarged to 9.85 acres) to PKNS. Whether this compromise will bring the desired economic and commercial benefits to the Selangor people, that’s for the analysts to study and decide.

What is clear and needs to be questioned is the appropriateness and wisdom of PKR in being the new buddy of Puncak Wangi, one of those companies which mushroomed during the Mahathir era and participated in the economic cronyism which caused the economic re-structuring, so desired by the rakyat under the NEP, to fail. In fact, eradicating the existence of crony companies such as Puncak Wangi and the conditions that caused them to exist was one of the campaign vows of PKR during the 12th general elections, a vow that was well received and taken to heart by the rakyat.

As a “reformasi party”, PKR promised to the people that PKR will not continue with the way BN has administered the country. “We don’t promise you to just do things better, we promise to do things different altogether”, thus declared the party’s God-given leader to the thunderous applause of the rakyat. So, what has happened?

Word has been going around that relating to the above deal, RM10 million was promised and of that, RM3 million has already been paid. To whom? PKR itself appears to be with no funds. So only God knows. And, of course, the person who gave and the one who received. Will DAP be keeping silent or has its silence been bought in the same manner? It’s the rakyat who as always are the victims. The greedy ‘crocodiles’ and unscrupulous ‘snakes’ of this country will continue to thrive as long as its Malay leadership will not walk its talk and ignores the rakyat’s trust.

Do not compare PKR with UMNO and say it is “the lesser of the two evils”. That was not the reformasi deal. The rakyat demand that promises are honoured by their leaders even one who is supposedly God’s gift to them.

Be wary of the prayers of those who have been victimised.



MISKAM HJ SUPARMAN
Bandar Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur

Cerita sebenar tanah PKNS, Seksyen 52, Petaling Jaya - Miskam Hj. Suparman

Sejak berita mengenai penyelewengan tanah PKNS di Seksyen 52, Petaling Jaya, tersebar di internet, tiada pihak yang berkenaan tampil untuk membuat apa-apa penjelasan (sila baca di sini, sini, sini dan sini). Seolah-olah ada pekung yang hendak ditutup. Oleh sebab semua pihak yang berkenaan memilih untuk membisu, maka saya sebagai seorang ‘dalam’ yang arif dengan selok-belok PKR, merasa amat terpanggil untuk memberi gambaran yang sebenar.

Tanah yang terbabit ialah Lot 12, Petaling Jaya, di mana terletaknya ibu pejabat PKNS dan berkeluasan 9.85 ekar. Pada tahun 2005, kerajaan negeri Selangor di bawah pimpinan Khir Toyo telah menyerahkan 8 ekar dari Lot 12 kepada Puncak Wangi Sdn. Bhd. (sebuah syarikat tajaan UMNO?) Baki 1.85 ekar disimpan (mungkin untuk difaraidkan kepada Khir Toyo?).

Walaubagaimanapun soal syarat tanah untuk pembangunan masih belum dibereskan.

Pada Mac 2008, kerajaan BN tumbang digantikan dengan kerajaan PR yang diterajui oleh PKR di bawah pimpinan Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim. Maka tergantunglah apa-apa jenis “business deal” yang telah disusun oleh Puncak Wangi dengan sesiapa yang bertanggungjawab dalam hal pembangunan tanah dalam kerajaan negeri Selangor sebelum ini.

Memandangkan berjuta-juta ringgit telah dibelanjakan oleh Puncak Wangi untuk diterima sebagai anak emas PKNS sehingga menjadi tauke tanah Lot 12 kepunyaan PKNS ini, Puncak Wangi perlu membangunkan tanah tersebut dengan serta-merta untuk pulangan bagi membayar balik wang yang telah didahulukan bagi tujuan itu.

Menteri Besar yang baru, Khalid Ibrahim kemudian sengaja menyepikan apa-apa permohonan syarat pembangunan tanah tersebut kerana pada pendapat beliau masih ada ruang untuknya membela kepentingan rakyat Selangor dalam kes penganugerahan tanah kapada Puncak Wangi.

Menyedari jalan buntu dengan Khalid, usaha penyelesaian memerlukan bos-bos Khalid ditawar dengan apa-apa sahaja untuk mengarahkan Khalid berpihak kepada Puncak Wangi. Khalid enggan berbuat demikian kerana sedar exco-exco DAP mengetahui keadaan sebenarnya. Maka timbullah krisis pimpinan PKR Selangor, dengan Azmin Ali meletakkan jawatan secara protes dari menjadi ahli Lembaga Pengarah PKNS dan sekaligus menggugat kedudukan Khalid sebagai orang pilihan PKR untuk terus menjadi Menteri Besar Selangor.

Dengan titah perintah pemimpin yang dianugerahkan Tuhan, satu penyelesaian yang segera perlu dihitungkan. Walaupun pada pandangan mata kasar PKR tidak patut berkompromi dengan lanun. Lainlah kalau ada udang disebalik batu. Agenda baru, mungkin?

Akhirnya, Azmin Ali dilantik menjadi Ketua PKR negeri Selangor bagi menggantikan Khalid (maka Azmin sekarang menjadi bos kepada Khalid dalam parti), dan Khalid dibenarkan terus menjadi Menteri Besar dan beliau berunding untuk memasukkan kepentingan rakyat Selangor dalam projek Lot 12, untuk menjaga air muka supaya tidak nampak sangat PKR melayan lanun. Syukur Alhamdullilah masih ada lagi hamba Allah yang sedar asal-usul dan agamanya.

Cadangan terbaru dari Khalid ialah PKNS menyerahkan tanah baki 1.85 ekar kepada Puncak Wangi dan Puncak Wangi menyerahkan 30% syer keseluruhan projek yang sekarang menjadi 9.85 ekar kapada PKNS. Sama ada kompromi ini memberi manfaat secara ekonomi dan komersial kapada rakyat negeri Selangor, terpulanglah kepada penganalisa membuat kajian ekonomi-politik terperinci.

Yang nyata untuk dipersoalkan ialah, adakah wajar PKR menjadi kawan baru kepada Puncak Wangi, satu daripada syarikat-syarikat yang tumbuh seperti cendawan dalam era Mahathir dan menyebabkan kronisma ekonomi sehingga menggagalkan penyusunan semula ekonomi seperti diharapkan rakyat melalui Dasar Ekonomi Baru. Malah, berjuang menghapuskan keadaan dan kewujudan perkakas-perkakas sumbang seperti Puncak Wangi telah menjadi bahan kempen PR di PRU12, yang mana disambut baik oleh rakyat.

Sebagai sebuah "parti reformasi", PKR berjanji kepada rakyat bahawa PKR tidak akan meneruskan cara pentadbiran BN. “We don’t promise you to just do things better, we promise to do things different altogether” jerit pemimpin anugerah Tuhan dan disambut oleh tempikan sokongan rakyat. Apa sudah jadi?

Desas-desus yang kedengaran sekarang ialah RM10 juta telah dijanjikan dan RM3 juta telah pun diberi. Kepada siapa? PKR masih tiada wang nampaknya. Wallah-huallam, hanya pemberi, penerima dan Allah Subhanalllahu wa taala sahaja yang tahu. Mungkinkah DAP akan berdiam diri? Atau didiamkan dengan cara yang sama? Rakyat tetap menjadi mangsa. Nampaknya buaya darat dan ular air boleh hidup di dalam atau di luar air bumi Malaysia selagi pimpinan Melayu cakap tak serupa bikin dan lupakan amanah rakyat.

Jangan bandingkan PKR dengan UMNO sebagai “lesser of the two evils”. That was not the reformasi deal. Rakyat tuntut agar janji-janji dikotakan oleh pemimpin walaupun kononnya dari penganugerahan Tuhan. Berhati-hati dengan doa orang yang teraniaya.



MISKAM HJ SUPARMAN
Bandar Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur

Disneyland vs PKNS land - Pieter D'Cruz

It has been two days since the exposé of the shady dealings between Khalid Ibrahim, the Selangor Menteri Besar and Azmin Ali, the Deputy President of PKR over a piece of PKNS land in Section 52, Petaling Jaya. Two days and not a single word from either of them. The silence is deafening.

When Khir Toyo, the previous Menteri Besar, was alleged to use state funds to pay for a trip to Disneyland, PKR leaders went to town crying thief. Yet when the present Menteri Besar gave away PKNS land to a crony, the PKR leadership chooses to be quieter than a church mouse.

If the trip to Disneyland was brought to SELCAT, then shouldn’t the giving away of PKNS land merit the same treatment? What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Unless, of course, one believes that corruption is kosher once blessed by a leader sent by God.

And they have the audacity to promise 10 reforms within 100 days if given the powers to govern the country. The only change to Selangor, a state that they have ruled for more than 1000 days, is a new line-up of cronies.

Yes, it’s the season for giving and forgiving but, no, giving away a piece of land owned by the rakyat is not on my gift list and hypocrites are not on my list of people to be forgiven.

Wishing Malaysians of the Christian faith, A Merry Xmas and all Malaysians, A Happy New Year. May the Good Lord bless and protect our beloved country.



PIETER D’CRUZ

Khalid & Azmin, minta jawab segera - Jaspal Singh Gill

Dua hari lalu saya telah menulis tentang dilemma yang saya hadapi untuk memutuskan mana satu untuk diundi pada pilihanraya yang akan datang – BN atau PR?

Hari ini, dakwaan telah dibuat melalui sebuah portal berita internet tempatan bahawa kerajaan negeri Selangor yang diterajui oleh PR telah meluluskan tanpa tender satu kontrak bernilai berjuta ringgit kepada sebuah syarikat yang tidak mempunyai track record untuk membangunkan sekeping tanah di Petaling Jaya. Juga didakwa syarikat itu mempunyai hubungan rapat dengan YB Azmin Ali, ahli dewan undangan negeri Hulu Kelang yang juga timbalan presiden PKR dan beliau telah mendesak YAB Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, menteri besar Selangor, untuk memberi kontrak itu kepada syarikat tersebut.

Ini adalah dakwaan-dakwaan yang amat serius. YAB Khalid and YB Azmin mempunyai kewajipan untuk memberi jawapan dan penjelasan dengan serta merta. Keikhlasan mereka untuk menegakkan integriti, kebertanggungjawaban dan ketelusan kerajaan negeri, PKR dan PR sekarang menjadi bahan persoalan.

Saya berharap kedua-duanya tidak akan membisu sebagaimana parti mereka telah membisu apabila ditimbulkan dakwaan oleh ahli-ahli parti mereka sendiri berkaitan kepincangan pemilihan parti. Berdiam diri sedemikian hanya akan menambahkan kejelakan terhadap PKR.

Saya juga berharap parti-parti rakan, PAS dan DAP, akan mendesak kerajaan negeri Selangor untuk menjawab dakwaan-dakwaan terbaru ini. Desakan sedemikian adalah wajar sekiranya benar PR adalah gabungan sama rata antara parti-parti rakan.

Tidak ada gunanya berjanji untuk reformasi itu dan reformasi ini dalam tempoh 100 hari jika dipilih membentuk kerajaan federal sekiranya suatu perkara yang seratus-peratus di bawah tanggungjawab kerajaan negeri, seperti isu ini, lembab dan keberatan untuk ditangani oleh PR.

Saya harap kerajaan negeri Selangor atau YAB Khalid atau YB Azmin akan memberi penjelasan sebelum Hari Krismas. Sekiranya tidak, maka saya beserta keluarga dan sahabat handai akan mengambil keputusan untuk tidak mengundi PR pada pilihanraya yang akan datang.

Para pengundi sedang menyaksi – dan menunggu.


JASPAL SINGH GILL

Khalid & Azmin, please respond immediately - Jaspal Singh Gill

Only two days ago I had written about the dilemma that I have as an ordinary voter in deciding between BN or PR in the next general elections.

Today, it has been alleged through a local internet news portal that, first, the PR state government of Selangor has awarded without open tender a multi-million ringgit contract to develop a piece of Petaling Jaya land to a company with no known track record of property development and, second, the company is associated with the state assemblyman for Hulu Kelang, YB Azmin Ali who is also the deputy president of PKR and, third, YB Azmin had pressured the Selangor menteri besar, YAB Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, to award the contract to the said company.

These are very serious allegations. YAB Khalid and YB Azmin have an obligation to respond to them without delay. Their sincerity about upholding the integrity, accountability and transparency of the state government, PKR and PR are at stake here.

I hope neither one would stonewall these allegations the way their party did to accusations by party members of irregularities in their recent internal elections. Such reticence would only cause more disenchantment with PKR.

I also hope its coalition partners, PAS and DAP, would prod the state government to reply to the allegations. Such prodding is the right thing to do if PR is truly a coalition of equals.

There is no point in promising to do this or that reform within 100 days of being elected the federal government if PR drags its feet over a matter, such as this, which is fully under the responsibility of a PR state government.

I hope the state government or YAB Khalid or YB Azmin will give an explanation before Christmas. Otherwise, I together with my family and friends will decide not to give our votes to PR in the next general elections.

The voters are watching.



JASPAL SINGH GILL