From Malaysia Kini
The call for a royal commission to investigate claims that two former prime ministers had squandered hundreds of billions of ringgit during their tenure has received the backing of an anti-corruption watchdog.
Both Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, should be subjected to the investigations to restore credibility to the government, said Gerak chairperson Mohd Nazree Mohd Yunus.
“If these claims are not investigated, Gerak is concerned that the incidence of irregularities and corruption will be common practice in the future among national leaders, said Nazree in a statement issued today.
While integrity in the management of the country’s resources was crucial to the stability of the economy, the trust that foreign investors have towards the economy would also erode if political figures were allowed to get away with corruption and mismanagement, he added.
“If national resources such as petroleum and other natural resources are not managed with integrity, it is likely that our deteriorating economy will take a turn for the worst as a result of mega-scale corruption.”
Nazree’s statement come on the heels of a call by opposition stalwart Lim Kit Siang for a royal commission of inquiry to be set up to look into allegations that Mahathir had squandered RM100 billion during his 22 years as premier through grandiose projects and corruption.
The allegations were contained in a book penned by former Asian Wall Street Journal managing editor Barry Wain entitled ‘Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times’.
Mahathir: Bring it on
In a posting in his Chedet blog, Mahathir said he welcomed Lim’s suggestion for the government to set up a royal commission to probe him.
At the same time, he said he “reserved the right” to sue Wain, Lim and Malaysiakini for defamation.
Mahathir added that the scope of the royal commission should be widened to look into the tenure of his successor-turned-nemesis Abdullah.
Such a probe should include how RM270 billion of Petronas’ money paid to the government during Abdullah’s five-year term was spent and how much money was lost due to the cancellation of the crooked bridge to Singapore, said Mahathir.
While acknowledging that the government did lose money over projects embarked on during his tenure, Mahathir however denied that the losses amounted to even RM10 billion, let alone RM100 billion.
“If we had lost RM100 billion, the government would be in deep trouble. But although we did have poor growth during certain years, the government never failed to meet all financial commitments including the servicing of loans. In fact, we had enough money to prepay loans.
The Home Ministry stated last week that it was in the process of determining whether Wain’s ‘Malaysian Maverick’ would affect peace and stability in the country.
The ministry has 60 days to make a decision as to whether the book could be sold in Malaysia.
It is indeed a sad chapter in our history to see Malaysia in such a sorrowful state of affairs. a nation endowed
with so much resources is now struggling with the economy in tatters,rising crime rate, mega scandals dotting the headlines, failing education standards, urban poverty on the increase, declining foreign investment, migration of young talents and professional, total loss of integrity and honesty in public service. Dr M 22 years of rule has caused malaysia to be what is today. Time has proven now that his policies were unsustainable and poor decisions and wrong choices has caused irreparable damage to the nation. This is the legacy of DR M> I have not read Barry Wain book but I dont think one can spin stories to the tune of 300 pages. Obviously, Barry must have some facts and figures to substantiate his claims. I agree that a royal commission is formed to investigate this matter
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Good or Bad as the 4th Prime Minister of Malaysia…i think he did more good and done well for Malaysia…Money and Corruption is part of the Political Games in Every Politician Mind !
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rakyat has the right to know the truth,and tidak akan mudah lupa the billions of ringgit lost during mahashit and pak lah.the investigations must include the present man in power too,why must the rakyat spent rm20m to enhance najib and rosmah’s image?what had happened to the rm7billions and many other billions spent to spur the economics growth?.this is only the billions losses incurred to be borne by the rakyat by them,what about millions of ringgit siphoned by their siblings, family members,cronies and politicians?affirmatively rakyat didahulukan untok menanggong hutang piutang ini. tentu sekali mahashit rakyat tidak akan lupa,bagi pak lah janganlah dipermudahkan lupa lirik and untok najib/rosmah serta suku sakat bn/umno jika tidak pandai menari jangan katakan tanah rakyat tinggi rendah kerana rakyat sudah mual/jelek bercampor jijik untok menari sejiwa berdansa bertempo 1malaysia yang tidak empuya rohnya lagi.
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Suruhanjaya siasat dalang kekacauan dalam negara juga perlu dibuat sama, ini boleh mengancam negara. Sekian, terima kasih.
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memangtakpandai Reply:
January 1st, 2010 at 2:43 pm
he..he… nak tergelak baca cadangan saudara..En Mohamad ni suka buat ‘kelakar seram’.
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Mohamad Reply:
January 4th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
Anda tergelaklah sebab kena batang hidung sendiri, buat kekacauan dan ceramah maki hamun serta buat tuduhan melulu tak sedar diri, insaflah, apakah sikap ini sikap manusia yang berkualiti? Sekian, terima kasih.
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with rm100 billion & rm270 billion it really can help rakyat msia if the money been use wisely, now we facing economy problems, mahatir case 22 years, abdullah 5 years with rm270 billion, this is really scary, with so much money, stil they increase petrol & others thing, as a rakyat msia we suggest full thru investigation on both of them…
LAWAN TETAP LAWAN, DATUK SERI.
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