| Customs confirms USD24mil ring exists Posted: 04 Oct 2011 02:35 AM PDT  Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/177658 (4.11.2011)
The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) has confirmed the existence of a RM24 million diamond ring which the prime minister's wife, Rosmah Mansor, was said to have purchased.
However, in a written reply to Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng in Parliament today, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz clarified that the ring was not sold after it was brought into the country. "The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Comission (MACC) has referred the matter to the JKDM and JKDM has confirmed that there was no such purchase of the ring. "After a few days, the ring was returned to the company which owns it," he said.
In July, former PKR central committee member Badrul Hisham Shaharin had claimed that a ring, 'Natural Fancy Gray Cushion Cut Diamond' priced at RM24,458,400 had been flown in via the KL international Airport. Producing a Customs Department information system printout, he said that the item was purchased through fine jewellery company Jacob & Co based in New York and brought into Malaysia by one Jeremy Beh Sin Tee. He added that the document showed Rosmah's name in the receiver's column of the Customs form, which he claimed to be evidence implicating her in the purchase.
Rosmah has vehemently denied the allegation, which she described as another series of "slanders" against her. "This is nothing funny, this is slander... what have I not experienced? I have experienced all," she had said.
Despite the denial, opponents of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak have jumped on this and the issue has often been played up at political ceramah. Whistleblower unhappy with reply on the 'Rosmah' ring
Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/177696 (4.10.2011)
The explanation in Parliament on the RM24 million diamond ring brought into the country is unsatisfactory, as it does not explain the "mystery" surrounding its import, says former PKR central committee member Badrul Hisham Shaharin. "I am not satisfied (with the reply by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz); and it does not answer the mystery behind the ring," said Badrul, who was the whistleblower in the ring that he alleges had been ordered by the prime minister's wife Rosmah Mansor.
Badrul, who heads a youth group called Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM), says the parliamentary reply proves that he has a case in lodging a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on Jul 13 to investigate the matter. "So MACC after this reply should have enough evidence to prove that the document (that I had furnished them) is authentic, otherwise they would not have questioned the cargo company officer A Krishnan till the wee hours of the morning in their investigation," he said in an email today. SAMM and Badrul, who is also known by by blog name Chegubard, lodged a report with the MACC in Penang on July 13 on the alleged purchase of the diamond ring by Rosmah. Badrul had said then that based on information received by the group on April 16, the "Natural Fancy Gray Cushion Cut Diamond" ring tagged at RM24,458,400 was flown in via the KL International Airport. "The item was purchased through a fine jewellery company - Jacob & Co - based in New York, and brought to Malaysia by one Jeremy Beh Sin Tee," Badrul had said then, and that the Customs document stated Rosmah as the receiver of the item.
In a written reply to Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng in Parliament today, Nazri said that the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) has confirmed the existence of the controversial diamond ring. However, Nazri said the ring was not purchased after it was brought into the country, and added, "After a few days, the ring was returned to the company which owns it."
'Imelda of Malaysia'
Badrul pointed out that the Customs document also stated that the item was tax free, and demanded MACC to investigate the reason behind this. "Did Rosmah's husband - Najib - use his power as finance minister to obtain the tax-free status?" he had said at the time. He has likened Rosmah to the spendthrift former Filipino first lady Imelda Marcos, saying that such luxury living contradicted the fact that ordinary Malaysians were suffering from the rising cost of living.
"What about a bracelet worth RM1.65 million that was sold by the same company (New York jeweller Jacob & Co that is behind the diamond ring) that is being worn by Rosmah?" Badrul asked today. "This coming Monday, SAMM will distribute 25,000 brochures about the ring and other spendthrift habits," he added.
Related news: US$24m ring returned after 'a few days', minister tells Parliament
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/us24m-ring-returned-after-a-few-days-minister-tells-parliament/
Nazri: No case on Rosmah's RM73m ring
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/10/04/nazri-no-case-on-rosmahs-rm24m-ring/ |
| DAP MP protests unchecked powers in new medical Act Posted: 03 Oct 2011 05:48 PM PDT
Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/dap-mp-protests-unchecked-powers-in-new-medical-act/ (By Clara Chooi, 3/10/2011)
The Dewan Rakyat today passed the Medical Device Authority Act, which grants absolute power to authorised enforcement officers to conduct raids and seizures over unregistered medical devices without producing a warrant. The Act also stipulates the authorities will not be bound to pay damages or relief costs or be liable to court action for such seizures, unless a raid was conducted "without reasonable cause".
During debate in Parliament today, Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut) urged Putrajaya to withdraw and review provisions in the bill, arguing that it grants too much enforcement power to the Health Ministry and its agents. "Section 57 gives blanket immunity to officials to raid or seize any medical devices. And no one can initiate any legal proceedings before any court," he told the House.
The bill was tabled by Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai for the second and third readings today, before being passed by majority vote. Under the Act, "medical device" refers to "any instrument, apparatus, implement, machine, appliance, implant, in-vitro reagent or calibrator, software, material or other similar or related material intended by the manufacturer to be used on human beings" for various purposes such as "diagnosis, prevention, monitoring, treatment or alleviation of disease" and other reasons. The law compels all manufacturers, importers or distributors to register their medical devices with the newly formed Medical Advice Authority (MAA), following safety standards set by the Conformity Assessment Body, an independent regulatory agency formed under the Act. Unregistered devices are also banned from being advertised and any person who violates this provision will be liable to a fine not exceeding RM3,000 or a maximum three-year jail term, or both.
Speaking to The Malaysian Insider later, Lim said he was not opposed to the requirement for all medical devices to be registered in order to meet safety standards. "But the wide scope of powers granted to health officials could be open to abuse and the manufacturers or retailers are offered no protection," he said. He pointed out that any negligence by health officials would be overlooked as no court action could be initiated to question their decisions.
According to Section 48 of the Act, the health minister may, in writing, authorise any public servant to exercise enforcement powers. Section 50 states that the authorised officer "shall have all or any of the powers of a police officer of whatever rank in relation to police investigations in seizable cases as provided for under the Criminal Procedure Code". While Section 51 stipulates the officer should obtain a search warrant from a Magistrate, Section 52 states the said officer could also conduct the raid without a warrant if he has reason to believe that any delay in obtaining the warrant could adversely affect the evidence. The Act also allows any "aggrieved" persons to appeal to the minister, who has the power to confirm, reverse or vary the decision of the MAA. |
Tiada ulasan:
Catat Ulasan