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Changes likely to be unveiled in second stimulus package, says Muhyiddin

The Straits Times Singapore (24/2/09): Malaysia will relax some of its pro-Malay economic policies as part of a major stimulus package to keep the economy from faltering further, Minister of International Trade and Industry Muhyiddin Yassin said yesterday.

This is likely to be announced in the second package on March10, that will be bigger than the RM7 billion (S$2.9 billion) one unveiled last November.

Analysts have suggested that it could be between RM10 billion and RM15 billion.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin declined to give details but said the Cabinet has agreed to liberalise the rules for foreign investment, including the bumiputera equity requirements. 'It has been agreed upon by the Cabinet, and would be announced soon. Even in the FIC (Foreign Investment Committee) where one of the important components is the bumiputera equity. That is also being looked at, and there will be a slight change,' he told reporters. The services sector would also be liberalised.

The local media had reported that the government was likely to scrap the guidelines for the retail sector, with the exception of hypermarkets.

Under the guidelines, retailers and restaurants were required to have 30 per cent bumiputera equity participation if they had more than 15 per cent foreign shareholding. They were also required to have boards, management and staff reflecting the demographics of Malaysia. It had never been fully implemented.

Certain aspects of the controversial pro-Malay policy had already been relaxed, notably in the manufacturing sector where foreigners can have full ownership. The main remaining quota is the 30 per cent Malay equity ownership for public-listed companies. This was relaxed a little last year, with the quota now implemented only for new listings.

Mr Muhyiddin defended the 40-year-old policy as having been 'one of the best' for Malaysia's needs, but acknowledged its flaws in implementation.

He said it was being liberalised gradually but will not be lifted fully until Malaysia was ready for it. However, he said once it was rolled back, it would not be reimposed.

In general, the policy assists the majority Malay community in the economic sector through share quotas, soft loans and preference for government tenders. It also gives them a helping hand in educational opportunities.

Posting asal di sini.

Najib lashes out at accusations of 'the Mongolian woman' (Malaysiakini 14/5/08)
Najib tuduh pembangkang reka isu komisyen (Malaysiakini 14/5/08)
Najib jawab tohmahan (Utusan Malaysia 15/5/08)
I never met or knew Altantuya, Najib tells Parliament (The Star, 14/5/08)
Govt denies paying 114 million Euros commission in purchase of submarines (Bernama, 14/5/08)
Malaysia's No. 2 leader rejects opposition claims of corruption (PR-Inside, 14/5/08)
Dewan Rakyat: PLKN tetap diteruskan: Najib

Berita Harian (15/5/08): Program Latihan Khidmat Negara (PLKN) akan diteruskan kerana ia mampu mencapai hasrat Negara Bangsa Malaysia yang menyatukan semua bangsa dan kaum di negara ini, kata Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri berkata, cadangan supaya PLKN menggunakan kaedah penyertaan sukarela dari kalangan remaja atau lepasan pelajar tidak sesuai kerana langkah itu hanya akan menyaksikan penyertaan satu-satu kaum berikutan kaum lain tidak berminat.

“Program ini penting bagi mewujudkan perpaduan bangsa Malaysia yang kuat dan membentuk jati diri sebagai rakyat yang bersatu padu dan mengamalkan nilai murni,” katanya ketika menggulung perbahasan titah ucapan Yang di-Pertuan Agong bagi Kementerian Pertahanan di Dewan Rakyat, semalam.

Ketika membuat penjelasan berhubung program yang diperkenalkan pada 2004 itu, Ahli DAP terdiri daripada Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) dan Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) kerap mencelah supaya program wajib itu ditamatkan kerana tidak mendatangkan faedah serta tidak mendapat sokongan ibu bapa berikutan banyak kematian pelatih yang mengikuti latihan selama 90 hari di kem di seluruh negara.

Fong juga mendesak supaya PLKN dibuka hanya kepada sukarelawan dan tidak diwajibkan kepada mereka yang terpilih seperti dibuat sekarang.

Najib berkata, sejak 2004 apabila kumpulan pelatih pertama diambil hingga sekarang, 16 kematian dilaporkan membabitkan pelatih PLKN iaitu 11 kematian ketika mengikuti latihan, manakala lima lagi kematian ketika pelatih diberikan pelepasan cuti.

“Daripada 11 itu, tujuh kematian kerana penyakit, manakala empat lagi akibat kemalangan,” kata Najib yang juga Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kabinet mengenai PLKN.

Beliau berkata, kematian itu hanya membabitkan peratusan kecil daripada pelatih PLKN yang sehingga ini sebanyak 339,186 orang.

Beliau menempelak sesetengah rakyat yang begitu beriya-iya supaya program itu gagal dan ditamatkan, sedangkan rakyat Singapura memberikan sokongan penuh terhadap program yang hampir sama iaitu ‘National Service’.

“Di Singapura, lebih banyak yang mati tetapi rakyat Singapura lebih utama kepentingan nasional,” katanya menyebabkan Dewan Rakyat riuh.

Sementara itu, Najib berkata, dakwaan wujud rasuah dalam perolehan dua kapal selam Scorpene dan 18 pesawat pejuang Sukhoi tidak berasas sama sekali kerana pembelian kelengkapan Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) itu dibuat mengikut Tatacara Pelaksanaan Kontrak Perolehan Peralatan Pertahanan Negara, membabitkan pelbagai peringkat kelulusan termasuk Jawatankuasa Teknikal dan Jawatankuasa Rundingan Harga.

"Dakwaan yang dibuat Ahli Parlimen Permatang Pauh bahawa Syarikat Perimekar Sdn Bhd menerima komisyen Euro114.96 juta berkaitan pembelian kapal selam Scorpene, kementerian ini menegaskan kerajaan tidak ada dan tidak pernah membayar komisen sama ada secara langsung atau tidak langsung kepada syarikat berkenaan," katanya.

Di akhir penggulungannya, Najib turut menyentuh perbicaraan di Mahkamah Tinggi mengenai pembunuhan wanita Mongolia, Altantuya Shaariibuu yang dikaitkan dengannya, apabila menegaskan beliau tidak pernah mengenali apatah lagi berjumpa dengan wanita itu.

“Namun, Alhamdullillah saya masih dapat bertahan daripada segala tohmahan dan fitnah yang cuba dilemparkan dengan niat mencemarkan nama saya,” katanya enggan membuat komen panjang kerana kes itu masih dalam perbicaraan.

“Biarlah mahkamah terus menjalankan peranan dan tanggungjawab menegakkan keadilan di negara ini tanpa gangguan mana-mana pihak. Dalam masa sama saya berdoa semoga kebenaran akan terserlah demi kedaulatan undang-undang yang kita junjung,” katanya.

No fees in submarine, jet deal

The Star (15/5/08): The Government has never paid anyone commission for the procurement of two Scorpene submarines and 18 Sukhoi fighter jets, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said Malaysia had direct negotiations with the countries involved.

The submarines were purchased from France and Spain and the jets from Russia.

“On the allegation made by Yang Berhormat Permatang Pauh (Opposition Leader Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail) that Perimekar Sdn Bhd had received a commission of ?114.96mil (RM580.46mil) in the Scorpene submarines deal, the ministry wants to stress that the Government has never paid any commission directly or indirectly to the company.

“On the purchase of Sukhoi, I want to stress that the Government has never paid any commission to IMT (M) Defence Sdn Bhd as alleged,” Najib said in his winding-up speech on the motion of thanks on the Royal Address in the Dewan Rakyat here yesterday.

He was responding to renewed allegations by Wan Azizah that the purchase of the two submarines worth RM4.5bil involved the payment of a commission exceeding RM540mil to Perimekar.

Wan Azizah had also alleged that Perimekar was owned by Abdul Razak Baginda, who was an adviser to Najib.

He said the contract was signed on June 5, 2002, by the Malaysian Government with manufacturers DCNS (France) and Navantia (Spain) and Perimekar Sdn Bhd, as the project services provider.

Najib also explained that Syarikat Perimekar Sdn Bhd, which was owned by Armed Forces Welfare Fund, Boustead Holdings Berhad and K.S Ombak Laut Sdn Bhd, had to provide accommodation for 27 families of the officers in France and Spain for six years.

On allegations against him being involved in the murder case of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, Najib reiterated that he had never met or knew the woman.

He also said he did not want to make any comments as the hearing of the case was still going on.

“I know that some of the Dewan members are concerned about the court case of the murder of a Mongolian woman, and I also know that there are some members who deliberately tried to link my name to the case.

“Let the court play its role and carry out its responsibility to uphold justice in this country without any party interfering,” he said.

On the issue of national service, Najib said the Government would continue with the programme as it promotes unity although there were accidents and fatal cases.

Najib said the ministry was also considering making medical check-ups compulsory for every trainee.

Malaysia's No. 2 leader rejects opposition claims

The Hindu News Update Service (15/5/08): Malaysia's deputy prime minister defended himself against accusations of corruption and involvement in a murder case that the opposition says make him unfit to become the country's leader.

Najib Razak, who is also defence minister, has been increasingly targeted by the opposition, which has sought to link him to scandals, including allegedly dubious defence contracts and the slaying of a Mongolian woman.

In an speech to Parliament late Wednesday, Najib said the opposition has made ``completely baseless'' claims that major military procurements conducted by his ministry were tainted by graft.

Many politicians expect Najib to succeed Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. After their ruling coalition suffered stinging losses in March general elections, Abdullah pledged to hand over power to Najib in a leadership transition they would start planning after December. (AP)