First Announcement of the Young Professionals Night (15 November 2008)

Hi, people!! Before you continue reading this, I request you to do one thing first. No, it’s not a reminder to hug your loved ones today but just reach out to the daily planner sitting on your table right now, uncap your pen and put a mark on 15 November 2008. And now you’ve got to keep that day (or more specifically, that night) free.

What’s so special about this date (though you now have a reason to not meet with your tiresome relatives or friends) until you have to upturn books and files and mess up your workplace in search for a pen?

Well, I’m proud to inform you that the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society-Young Pharmacists Chapter (MPS-YPC) and the Young MAICSA Group will be hosting the third Young Professionals Night.

For the uninitiated who’s going like, “the third Young Professionals Night?” Relax, my friend. Here’s a recap of what you’ve been missing thus far, no need for you to frantically google the first and second Young Professionals Night.

The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia-Young Engineers Section (IEM-YES), then-known as IEM-Graduate & Student Section, brought forth the first Young Professionals Night at the MySciFiFan Outpost, Cineleisure Damansara, on 27 January 2007. If you came for the event, remember receiving a stack of business cards, shaking lots of hands and smiling throughout the night as hi’s and nice-to-meet-you’s and keep-in-touch’s were exchanged?

Next, the Young Lawyers Committee and the Pupils Welfare Committee of the KL Bar organized the second Young Professionals Night on 17 November 2007. Over 180 people witnessed the official launch of the Young Professionals Alliance at the Si Khiong Star Mercedes Benz showroom, Jalan Sultan Ismail.

And thus, a year later, the time is certainly ripe for another gathering of the young professionals.

So, now you’re thinking, “What can I expect from joining the Young Professionals Night?” as you ignore your tidy-freak colleague saying, “Tsk, tsk,” while he walks away from your cubicle.

Here’s what you’ll get to experience - a chance to mingle with chartered secretaries and administrators, engineers, lawyers, pharmacists and other young professionals and a chance to serve the community. We are currently in talks with MAKNA (National Cancer Council of Malaysia) to assist in their mission by raising funds for their good work and elevating the awareness of cancer among professionals and the public. And definitely, a chance to let your hair down and paint the gathering place red.

Whether you have been waiting in anticipation for the next Young Professionals event or if you have been missing all the action all this while, the opportunity has come for you to flash your million-watts smile (again) during the third Young Professionals Night this 15 November 2008. All the details will be revealed with time. Do watch out for future announcements and now you can e-mail your relatives or friends, stating that you’re booked that night for social networking.

Till the next post, take care.

Phuar Hsiao Ling
MPS-YPC

No-confidence motion rejected, opposition stages walkout

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia today disallowed a no-confidence debate against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, resulting in a walk-out by opposition Pakatan Rakyat MPs.

Pandikar rejected the emergency motion filed by Opposition Leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail on Friday on the grounds that the issue had already been debated last month.

According to the Speaker, the debate on the oil price hike filed by Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Shahrir Abdul Samad on June 23 was a no-confidence motion.

In that motion, the government won with a vote of 129 against 78.

At noon, Wan Azizah stood up in the Dewan Rakyat to ask the Speaker to reconsider his decision against allowing the no-confidence debate.

However, Pandikar refused to entertain the request.

"I do not even need to give a reason for rejecting a motion. I have read the motion and it asks for a resolution and that does not fall under Standing Order 18(1) in which it is filed under."

"How can I allow something that does not fall within this SO (standing orders)? If I allowed it, the whole world will look at me and see if I make a stupid decision or not," he said.

Shouting match

This led to a shouting match with BN MPs telling their opposition counterparts to sit while a visibly agitated Pandikar Amin hammered his gavel several times demanding for order.

Around 12.20pm, Wan Azizah then announced that Pakatan Rakyat MPs would walk out since they were not given the opportunity to carry the voice of the public to the August House.

Outside the hall, the PKR president told reporters that she was unhappy with the way the emergency motion was dealt with by both the Speaker and the police.

"I want to know why was the motion rejected. This is the government's reaction to us because we wanted to debate a motion democratically in Parliament.

"We're disappointed and we regret that this has happened. Is this a siege? What is there to it? The Speaker only needs to give 30 minutes for us to speak and another 30 for the government to speak.

"This is why we walked out. They disrespect the rules and the voice of the people that we carry into the house," she said.She said the opposition will also boycott the rest of today's proceedings to protest against the police action today in turning Parliament into a "war zone".

There was a heavy police presence in Parliament as roadblocks were mounted along major roads leading to the building causing massive traffic jams.

Why bar Anwar?

The roadblocks are in anticipation of a protest ahead of the possible no-confidence debate.
However, the opposition denied calling for a rally and the police yesterday obtained a court order barring PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim from the vicinity.

Commenting on this, Wan Azizah expressed amazement at the overreaction by various parties over Anwar's interest in attending Parliament.

"He expressed his interest to attend parliament to hear the motion and that triggered such an amazing reaction.

"How can an individual be barred from entering if he is a guest of mine? Until there is a directive that any guest of the MP is not allowed in. I don't understand.

"I want the inspector-general of police to explain why is there this (overblown) reaction," she said, adding that it gives the impression that Malaysia is a police state.

On whether Pakatan will file a similar motion in future, Wan Azizah said the parties will discuss to see what to do next.

Not the right order

At a separate press conference, Pandikar Amin said the opposition MPs had a right to stage a walkout but declined to comment on it.

He also explained the reason why he wrote to Wan Azizah this morning - before Parliament began - to reject the emergency motion in chambers.

According to him, the opposition had filed their emergency motion for a resolution under Standing Orders 18 but that standing order only allows for debates.

"It is not the proper standing order. SO 18(1) and (2) does not allow for vote of no-confidence to be carried out. It is like a person who had committed raped but was charged for murder. You cannot do that," he said.

He explained that the emergency motion requesting for a resolution which leads to voting should be filed under SO 27.

Pandikar Amin also said that the debate on the security and leadership has already been discussed on June 23 during Shahrir's emergency motion debate on the fuel price hike and the mid-term review of the 9th Malaysian Plan.

"If I had allowed the motion, I will be seen as the most stupid Speaker in the world for allowing a motion filed under the wrong SO to be debated.

"I will not allow them to drag the Speaker into their politics. I will let the people decide whether they were right to walk out and whether I was right in rejecting their motion," he said.

MV Agusta: Proton sells for RM5, Harley buys for RM350 mil

Harley Davidson Inc has agreed to purchase Italian motorcycle manufacturer MV Agusta, once owned by Proton Holdings Bhd, for US$109 million (RM352 million).

According to an Associated Press report, the deal will help Harley-Davidson expand into the European market as sales slump in the US, where consumers are pulling back on spending.

In 2006, Proton Holdings had sold the company, which it bought for RM368 million, for one euro (RM5), a deal which raised many eyebrows and drew flak from various quarters.

Among those who criticised the 'firesale' were former premier and Proton adviser Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the company’s former chief executive officer Tengku Mahaleel Arif.

In a news report then, Mahathir said: "As the two people (Mahathir and Mahaleel) most involved in the purchase of MV Agusta, our credibility and honesty are at stake."

Mahathir said there was no urgent need to sell the stake in the Italian motorcycle company as its debts had been frozen.

In defending the sale, Proton had said here were no synergies between the motorcycle maker and Proton as a carmaker.

"There were no operational, engineering, and technological synergies between Agusta and Proton. This has been independently confirmed by Proton’s appointed advisers.

"Proton manufactures cars for the masses while Agusta manufactures motorcycle," the company had said in a statement.

Careful consideration

Proton bought a 57.75 percent stake in MV Agusta in December 2004 for 70 million euro (RM367.6 million).

The current management sold the stake to Italy’s GEVI Spa, which also assumed the motorcycle maker’s 107 million euro debt.

Proton said the entire purchase consideration of RM367.6 million was treated as goodwill and written off in the financial year ended March 31, 2005.

The additional provisions relating to MV Agusta in the accounts of the Proton group for the financial year ended March 31, 2006, amounted to RM136.2 million.

The company also reiterated that the decision to dispose the stake in MV Agusta was after careful consideration of the financial and operational implications to the Proton group, both in the immediate as well as the long term.

Meanwhile, Harley Davidson is expected to seal the deal in several weeks. It will be paid for through euro-denominated debt, said the American motorcycle manufacturer.

The purchase price includes Harley-Davidson assuming MV Agusta's existing bank debt of about US$70 million.

MV Agusta is privately held, and the Castiglioni family owns 95 percent of its shares.

Under the agreement, Harley-Davidson will pay Claudio Castiglioni, who will continue to serve as chairman, additional payments in 2016 if certain financial targets are met.

MV Agusta will keep operating from its headquarters in Varese, Italy. Harley-Davidson will appoint a new managing director once the deal closes.

The Xie Xingxing murder trial: Azura threatened to kill Xie, London court told

MALAYSIAN Noor Azura Mohd Yusoff, on trial at the Old Bailey for the brutal decapitation of a Chinese student whose hands were also chopped off, was a prostitute, prosecutors claimed.

Prosecutors said that Noor Azura, 22, also known as 'Princess', was a hooker, was "possessive", and also jealous of the relationships her Belfast-born boyfriend of Vietnamese origin, 26-year-old Trach Lon Gian, had with other women.

Noor Azura was also alleged to have issued a death threat to Xie Xingxing days before the victim's remains were found floating in a bag in a south London dock.

In court yesterday, Xie's flatmate, Rui Li, said Xie, known as Evelyn to her friends, told her that Noor Azura had called and threatened to kill her.

Speaking in Mandarin via an interpreter, Li said, "She (Noor Azura) was asking about the relationship between Evelyn and her boyfriend, and also if Evelyn had any relationship with her boyfriend she would not have treated it kindly.

"Later on, Evelyn told me that she had threatened her and said she would kill her."
Li said even she (Li) was not spared a warning as Noor Azura had texted her phone with a message which read: "Leave my boyfriend alone, stay away from him."

Trach, from Deptford, south London, is also accused of the crime. Both he and Noor Azura have denied murdering Xie. Li, who worked with Xie in a karaoke bar, said that prior to the murder she had attended a party at a Greenwich hotel.

However, she left when the party continued at the home of Noor Azura and Trach in Knoyle Street, New Cross, south-east London.

Noor Azura, the court was told, wasn't present at the house during the party.

Li said Trach told her he did not "love her (Noor Azura) as much as he used to but he will still be responsible for her".

Another Vietnamese man, Chanh Ngo, whom the authorities believed was involved in the murder but has since fled Britain, was also present at the party, she said.

Xie was believed to have been killed two weeks after the party.

On Wednesday, the prosecution argued that evidence pointed to the murder having been committed in the couple's flat.

Brian Altman, appearing for the prosecution, said traces of Xie's blood were found in the flat.

The odds that the blood wasn't hers, Altman, said, were a billion to one. The property, he said, had been cleaned by the time police searched it. However, cops discovered swabs of blood matching Xie's on the bathroom door and on the shower head in the bath.

"The probability of obtaining matching DNA profiles if the blood had come from someone else was in the order of one in a billion," he said.

The prosecution also said that there was "very strong" evidence that a bedsheet found with Xie's body had been in contact with the beige carpet at the house.

Her decapitated body, minus hands, were fished out of the river on April 19 by a couple living in a boathouse in the marina. Seven weeks later, a decapitated head wrapped in a bin bag washed up close by.

Jurors were also told that there was "moderate support" for saying the plastic bags used to wrap the head were from a roll found at the address.

Her hands have never been found.

The case continues today.

ACA quizzes IGP Musa, AG Gani

Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has summoned inspector-general of police Musa Hassan and attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail for questioning on the allegation that they were involved in fabricating evidence in former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim's black eye incident.

Musa arrived at the ACA headquarters in Putrajaya at 8.20am wearing a grey suit with a polka-dot tie. He smiled to journalists before entering the building. Meanwhile, Gani arrived at 9.50am.

Both Musa and Gani did not stop to talk to the media after their separate sessions with the ACA.Gani, who was first to come out of the meeting at about 11.30am, walked past the horde of waiting reporters without saying a word.Musa came out of the ACA headquarters at about 1.05pm and similarly broke through the media cordon."I have nothing to say. Thank you," said Musa as he evaded answering questions from reporters who had been waiting since early morning to get comments from both the IGP and the AG."They recorded my statement. That's all," Musa said before speeding off in his official car.

Last Tuesday, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim lodged a police report against Musa and Gani for allegedly fabricating evidence in his trials 10 years ago.At that time, Musa was the investigating officer of the charges against Anwar while AG Gani was the chief prosecutor. When Anwar was arrested on Sept 20, 1999, he was brought to the national police headquarters in Bukit Aman where the former deputy premier was beaten by then police chief Abdul Rahim Noor, resulting in a black eye and injuries to other parts of his body.

Original medical reports ignored

Anwar said that the original medical reports done by a number of doctors were ignored.

"The medical reports concluded that the injury inflicted on me was consistent with an assault," said Anwar in his police report.However, Anwar claimed that instead of accepting the report and proceeded to prosecute his assailant, then attorney-general Mokhtar Abdullah - in collusion with Gani - asked another doctor, Dr Abdul Rahman Yusof, to allegedly fabricate a second medical report.

Anwar said he believed both Musa and Gani were present in Bukit Aman on the night he was assaulted by Rahim Noor and that both had "concealed" the assault."I believe both Musa and Gani Patail were actively involved in the procuring of the second undated report by Dr Rahman..." he said.Anwar called for a fresh investigation into the alleged fabrication of evidence, which is an offence punishable by up to 7 years' imprisonment.

The ACA has stepped in to investigate the allegation as both the police and Attorney-General's Chambers are implicated in the matter.

'Dismayed' by Thai, Malaysian problems (The Straits Time Singapore)

In remarks on recent developments in Thailand and Malaysia, MM Lee said - in response to a question on the future of the Asian region - that he is filled with 'dismay' that these two countries have run into severe problems:'It fills me with dismay because these were potentially promising countries, promising economies, but now they've run into some very severe problems.

Why? Because in Thailand, they say corruption. So to stop the corruption, they have a coup. Then they have another election. But the election does not solve the problem of getting (former) prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's influence removed. So they have all kinds of new rules and laws to disqualify his party or the new party...So as a consequence, you look at the stock markets, it's gone down. The economy is sound, the politics is a problem.

You look at Malaysia. The economy. It is one of the wealthiest countries in the region. It's got oil, it's got gas, it's got palm oil. All the commodities it has. It's also got a manufacturing sector.But suddenly, it's trapped in some political-cum-personal difficulties of charges and counter-charges which can only be bad for the economy. I think the KL Stock Exchange has gone down by some 20 per cent. I don't track it, but I know it's down.If you have confidence that this will be resolved in six months or one year, then you buy. If it's not resolved and it goes down another 20 per cent, then you've lost...But I see all these problems as man-made. It's not economics. It is lack of a certain integrity in the system that you are entrusted with and you therefore run it properly.

People can say anything they like: Singapore is undemocratic, we trip our opposition down, this, that and the other. But if you say that this Government is corrupt or has mismanaged the country's resources, I'll sue you!And they still do that.

And the Western press supports the people who say that because they want to see us down.But because we sue them again and again, nobody in Singapore believes that anybody is doing anything that's criminal, corrupt or improper. So we can make a mistake - and everybody knows you can't be 100 per cent right every time - but nobody has profited from that mistake.'

LexisNexis-KL Bar Treasure Hunt 2008

The KL Bar Social, Arts and Culture Committee is once again co-organizing the annual LexisNexis - KL Bar Treasure Hunt. The event this year will be held on the 9th August 2008 covering an area within the Klang Valley. The organisers appeal to members of the Bar and pupils-in-chambers to participate in this event which offers prizes worth more than RM 20,000.

The Hunt involves participants solving riddles and identifying “treasures” based on clues provided. All you need to do is to gather a team of 4 members (1 driver, 1 navigator and 2 “treasure-hunters”) to take part. You don’t have to be exceptionally smart – all you need is an IQ of a competent LLB graduate. That makes it so much easier doesn’t it? Useful tips will be given at a briefing session prior to the Hunt.

All participants will be given a t-shirt, a bag of fantastic goodies and will be served mouth-watering high-tea at the prize-giving ceremony.

Categories

Open - members of the public

Closed - members of the Malaysian Bar and staff of LexisNexisEntry

Fee

Open - RM90.00 per person

Closed - RM70.00 per person

Click here for the Flyer and Entry Form that contain more information about the Hunt.The KL Bar’s share of the proceeds this year will go directly either to charitable organizations or to fund a social or community development project undertaken by the KLBC. Let's get together for a day of fun and comradeship and at the same time to support a noble cause!

Lai Chee Hoe

Chair

Social, Arts & Culture Committee

Will the 'lone ranger' ride to the top?

Known as the "politician with a different voice," MCA vice-president Ong Tee Keat is also dubbed as the "lone ranger" within party circles.

Many outside the party circles look up to the 52-year-old politician for his eloquence especially his outspokenness on matters of public interests. The reading community also notes that Tee Keat continues to be a columnist for a Chinese daily (Sin Chew Jit Poh).

Will these characteristics and "intangible assets" of Tee Keat fade off as he climbs higher up the political ladder?

In fact, Tee Keat's political career spanning some two decades, his readiness to speak out and to call "a spade a spade," have never endeared him to any incumbent leadership particularly when traditional partisanship or factionalism occurs during a leadership crisis.

Strong political convictions

Perceptively, it is therefore a paradox that Tee Keat, the lone ranger did survive all these decades since he launched his political career as political secretary to Lee Kim Sai who was former labour minister in 1986.

Or was it pure coincidence that Tee Keat had his political humble beginnings serving Kim Sai (in Cantonese, meaning "golden lion") during that time, who was also known for his often frank, straightforward views against those of Umno.

Both men are known to have strong political convictions and "doing politics differently" during their respective times when traditional models of participation seemed to be running out of steam.

Some close associates believe that Tee Keat's character had much bearing during his childhood days. Raised in a fishmonger family (Hainanese clan), his father passed away when he was in Form One. Almost ending up as a school dropout, the young Tee Keat aged 13 pursued a career in engineering instead. That was after his mother reversed her earlier decision by not sending her son to become a car mechanic apprentice. It was a destiny and gratitude he treasures up to this day, for his mother.

After graduating in engineering (B. Engineering-Mechanic, Hon) in 1981, Tee Keat worked in various sales and marketing positions in the engineering field.

1n 1989, he contested the Ampang parliamentary seat after having served three years as political secretary to Kim Sai.

In his life, Tee Keat was never handed things on a "silver platter." Even in his political career, he admitted it as being a roller coaster ride. At times his outspokenness invited political "hiccups" as in the case of him being accused of lying over the "misuse of repair fund" relating to the SJKC Kung Yu school in Muar, Johor.

Some of his political rivals once described Tee Keat as a stubborn man, a "law unto himself." Yet, many who have known him in their political journey are beginning to understand him and his way of "doing politics differently."

Choosing sides

Malaysian Business' M Shanmugam who wrote a piece on Tee Keat (who was then MCA Youth leader) in 2001, said, "Tee Keat always has to fight his way to the top."

"Tee Keat is on unfamiliar turf. For once in his political career, he has forged an alliance-even if only with those opposed to party president Ling Liong Sik. In his 15 years of active party politics, Tee Keat was known to be a lone ranger ... not affiliated to any particular party leader nor is he known to have a passion for sycophancy politics."

"However, Tee Keat has a large following among the youth wing, evident by his election as secretary-general (of the wing) for three terms between 1990 and 1999."

Tee Keat had his fair share of controversies for his "straight-jacket talking," and sticking to facts instead of rhetoric. For instance, in 2005, Tee Keat caught many by surprise, coming out in the open denying the "caption" bestowed by his critics, calling him the "lone ranger."

Saying it was time to clarify, "Lone rangers cannot survive in MCA and I am not one. It is time for certain quarters to forget this unfairly perceived notion."

Perhaps, the best and bitter lessons Tee Keat learnt was during the Ling (Liong Sik) - Lim (Ah Lek) crisis. Tee Keat's allegiance to Team B (led by former deputy president Lim Ah Lek) virtually made him a target in the infamous "MCA Youth chair-throwing fracas incident" in 2001.

Tee Keat earned the wrath of Ling's supporters for his stand insisting that the former president Ling apologise for implicitly re-instating two youth leaders (both aligned to Team A) who were "sacked" during the youth assembly (after the chair-throwing incident).

Recalling that "team A outnumbered those in faction B," Ling at a central committee meeting held on Dec 20, 2001 "bull-dozed" a resolution with a specific hidden agenda to accept a "political solution" (to resolve the infamous incident) by "suspending the youth wing."

The greatest injustice was not bringing to book those culprits directly involved in the chair throwing. Ironically, it was supposedly to "bring back order and dignity" into the MCA youth movement.

It was a "bullying tactic" that Tee Keat would not probably forget in his political career.
Tee Keat was even labelled by some rival faction within his party as "Ong-Sama", (which sounded like the terrorist Osama bin Laden), a joke he laughed off with some foreign visitors at a dinner in 2007.

Going for the top?

In recent weeks, Tee Keat has been the subject of widespread speculation that he has been eyed to be the next party president, a post which the incumbent Ong Ka Ting had publicly declared he would not be contesting in the October 2008 elections.

Many questions are rising, for instance, the Chinese idiom, "Jie shi huan hun," (literally meaning "borrowing the corpse to regain the soul") - suggesting will the incumbent president Ka Ting assists his elder brother Ka Chuan to contest a top post?

The stage is set for the divisional elections on July 27 and moving forward to the battle-line of the October 2008 event. Will a re-visiting of the "ghosts" (factionalism involving Team A and B) take place? What will be the likely scenario on the outcome of the candidates' line-up for the contests?

Tee Keat may not have the answers to all these questions but one thing is for sure, he is in the spotlight and the road ahead may be no different from the one he has walked for the past 22 years.

Tee Keat was appointed transport minister, soon after he won the Pandan parliamentary seat in the March 8 general election under the MCA-BN ticket, defeating his political rival, a high profile PKR candidate Syed Shahrir Syed Mohamud (who is MTUC president).

Private investigator's statutory declaration in full

The following is the full 16-page statutory declaration sign by Abdul Razak Baginda's private investigor P Balasubramaniam on July 1.

I, Balasubramaniam a/l Perumal ... do solemly and sincerely declare as follows:

1. I have been a police officer with the Royal Malaysian Police Force, having joined as a constable in 1981 attached to the police field force. I was then promoted to the rank of lance corporal and finally resigned from the police force in 1998 when I was with the Special Branch.

2. I have been working as a freelance private investigator since I left the police force.

3. Sometime in June or July 2006, I was employed by Abdul Razak Baginda for a period of 10 days to look after him at his office at the Bangunan Getah Asli, Jalan Ampang between the hours of 8am to 5pm each working day as apparently he was experiencing disturbances from a third party.

4. I resigned from this job after 2½ days as I was not receiving any proper instructions.

5. I was however re-employed by Abdul Razak Baginda on the Oct 5, 2006 as he had apparently received a harassing phone call from a Chinese man calling himself ASP Tan who had threatened him to pay his debts. I later found out this gentleman was in fact a private investigator called Ang who was employed by a Mongolian woman called Altantuya Shaaribuu.

6. Abdul Razak Baginda was concerned that a person by the name of Altantuya Shaaribuu, a Mongolian woman, was behind this threat and that she would be arriving in Malaysia very soon to try and contact him.

7. Abdul Razak Baginda informed me that he was concerned by this as he had been advised that Altantuya Shaaribuu had been given some powers by a Mongolian ‘bomoh’ and that he could never look her in the face because of this.

8. When I enquired as to who this Mongolian woman was, Abdul Razak Baginda informed me that she was a friend of his who had been introduced to him by a VIP and who asked him to look after her financially.

9. I advised him to lodge a police report concerning the threatening phone call he had received from the Chinese man known as ASP Tan but he refused to do so as he informed me there were some high-profile people involved.

10. Abdul Razak Baginda further told me that Altantuya Shaaribuu was a great liar and good in convincing people. She was supposed to have been very demanding financially and that he had even financed a property for her in Mongolia.

11. Abdul Razak Baginda then let me listen to some voice messages on his handphone asking him to pay what was due otherwise he would be harmed and his daughter harassed.

12. I was therefore supposed to protect his daughter Rowena as well.

13. On Oct 9, 2006 I received a phone call from Abdul Razak Baginda at about 9.30am informing me that Altantuya was in his office and he wanted me there immediately. As I was in the midst of a surveillance, I sent my assistant Suras to Abdul Razak Baginda’s office and I followed a little later. Suras managed to control the situation and had persuaded Altantuya and her two friends to leave the premises. However Altantuya left a note written on some Hotel Malaya notepaper, in English, asking Abdul Razak Baginda to call her on her handphone (number given) and wrote down her room number as well.

14. Altantuya had introduced herself to Suras as ‘Aminah’ and had informed Suras she was there to see her boyfriend Abdul Razak Baginda.

15. These three Mongolian girls however returned to Abdul Razak Baginda’s office at the Bangunan Getah Asli, Jalan Ampang again, the next day at about 12 noon. They did not enter the building but again informed Suras that they wanted to meet Aminah’s boyfriend, Abdul Razak Baginda.

16. On Oct 11, 2006, Aminah returned to Abdul Razak Baginda’s office on her own and gave me a note to pass to him, which I did. Abdul Razak Baginda showed me the note which basically asked him to call her urgently.

17. I suggested to Abdul Razak Baginda that perhaps it may be wise to arrange for Aminah to be arrested if she harassed him further, but he declined as he felt she would have to return to Mongolia as soon as her cash ran out.

18. In the meantime, I had arranged for Suras to perform surveillance on Hotel Malaya to monitor the movements of these three Mongolian girls, but they recognised him. Apparently they become friends with Suras after that and he ended up spending a few nights in their hotel room.

19. When Abdul Razak Baginda discovered Suras was becoming close to Aminah he asked me to pull him out from Hotel Malaya.

20. On the Oct 14, 2006, Aminah turned up at Abdul Razak Baginda’s house in Damansara Heights when I was not there. Abdul Razak Baginda called me on my handphone to inform me of this so I rushed back to his house. As I arrived, I noticed Aminah outside the front gates shouting “Razak, bastard, come out from the house”. I tried to calm her down but couldn’t, so I called the police who arrived in two patrol cars. I explained the situation to the police, who took her away to the Brickfields police station.

21. I followed the patrol cars to Brickfields police station in a taxi. I called Abdul Razak Baginda and his lawyer Dirren to lodge a police report but they refused.

22. When I was at the Brickfields police station, Aminah’s own private investigator, one Mr Ang arrived and we had a discussion. I was told to deliver a demand to Abdul Razak Baginda for US$500,000 and three tickets to Mongolia, apparently as commission owed to Aminah from a deal in Paris.

23. As Aminah had calmed down at this stage, a policewoman at the Brickfields police station advised me to leave and settle the matter amicably.

24. I duly informed Abdul Razak Baginda of the demands Aminah had made and told him I was disappointed that no one wanted to back me up in lodging a police report. We had a long discussion about the situation when I expressed a desire to pull out of this assignment.

25. During this discussion and in an attempt to persuade me to continue my employment with him, Abdul Razak Baginda informed me that:

1) He had been introduced to Aminah by Najib Razak at a diamond exhibition in Singapore.
2) Najib Razak informed Abdul Razak Baginda that he had a sexual relationship with Aminah and that she was susceptible to anal intercourse.
3) Najib Razak wanted Abdul Razak Baginda to look after Aminah as he did not want her to harass him since he was now the deputy prime minister.
4) Najib Razak, Abdul Razak Baginda and Aminah had all been together at a dinner in Paris.
5) Aminah wanted money from him as she felt she was entitled to a US$500,000 commission on a submarine deal she assisted with in Paris.

26. On Oct 19, 2006, I arrived at Abdul Razak Baginda’s house in Damansara Heights to begin my night duty. I had parked my car outside as usual. I saw a yellow Proton Perdana taxi pass by with three ladies inside, one of whom was Aminah. The taxi did a U-turn and stopped in front of the house where these ladies rolled down the window and wished me ‘Happy Deepavali’. The taxi then left.

27. About 20 minutes later the taxi returned with only Aminah in it. She got out of the taxi and walked towards me and started talking to me. I sent an SMS to Abdul Razak Baginda informing him “Aminah was here”. I received an SMS from Razak instructing me “to delay her until my man comes”.

28. Whist I was talking to Aminah, she informed me of the following:

1) That she met Abdul Razak Baginda in Singapore with Najib Razak.
2) That she had also met Abdul Razak Baginda and Najib Razak at a dinner in Paris.
3) That she was promised a sum of US$500,000.00 as commission for assisting in a submarine deal in Paris.
4) That Abdul Razak Baginda had bought her a house in Mongolia but her brother had refinanced it and she needed money to redeem it.
5) That her mother was ill and she needed money to pay for her treatment.
6) That Abdul Razak Baginda had married her in Korea as her mother is Korean whilst her father was a Mongolian/Chinese mix.
7) That if I wouldn’t allow her to see Abdul Razak Baginda, would I be able to arrange for her to see Najib Razak.

29. After talking to Aminah for about 15 minutes, a red Proton Aeroback arrived with a woman and two men. I now know the woman to be lance corporal Rohaniza and the men, Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azahar. They were all in plainclothes. Azilah walked towards me while the other two stayed in the car.

30. Azilah asked me whether the woman was Aminah and I said “Yes”. He then walked off and made a few calls on his handphone. After 10 minutes another vehicle, a blue Proton Saga, driven by a Malay man, passed by slowly. The drivers window had been wound down and the driver was looking at us.

31. Azilah then informed me they would be taking Aminah away. I informed Aminah they were arresting her. The other two persons then got out of the red Proton and exchanged seats so that lance corporal Rohaniza and Aminah were in the back while the two men were in the front. They drove off and that is the last I ever saw of Aminah.

32. Abdul Razak Baginda was not at home when all this occurred.

33. After Oct 19, 2006, I continued to work for Abdul Razak Baginda at his house in Damansara Heights from 7pm to 8am the next morning, as he had been receiving threatening text messages from a woman called ‘Amy’ who was apparently ‘Aminah’s’ cousin in Mongolia.

34. On the night of Oct 20, 2006, both of Aminah’s girlfriends turned up at Abdul Razak Baginda’s house enquiring where Aminah was. I informed them she had been arrested the night before.

35. A couple of nights later, these two Mongolian girls, Mr Ang and another Mongolian girl called ‘Amy’ turned up at Abdul Razak Baginda’s house looking for Aminah as they appeared to be convinced she was being held in the house.

36. A commotion began so I called the police who arrived shortly thereafter in a patrol car. Another patrol car arrived a short while later in which was the investigating officer from the Dang Wangi police station who was in charge of the missing persons report lodged by one of the Mongolians girls, I believe was Amy.

37. I called Abdul Razak Baginda who was at home to inform him of the events taking place at his front gate. He then called DSP Musa Safri and called me back informing me that Musa Safri would be calling handphone and I was to pass the phone to the inspector from Dang Wangi police station.

38. I then received a call on my handphone from Musa Safri and duly handed the phone to the Dang Wangi inspector. The conversation lasted 3-4 minutes after which he told the girls to disperse and to go to see him the next day.

39. On or about Oct 24, 2006, Abdul Razak Baginda instructed me to accompany him to the Brickfields police station as he had been advised to lodge a police report about the harassment he was receiving from these Mongolian girls.

40. Before this, Amy had sent me an SMS informing me she was going to Thailand to lodge a report with the Mongolian consulate there regarding Aminah’s disappearance. Apparently she had sent the same SMS to Abdul Razak Baginda. This is why he told me he had been advised to lodge a police report.

41. Abdul Razak Baginda informed me that DPS Musa Safri had introduced him to one DSP Idris, the head of the criminal division, Brickfields police station, and that Idris had referred him to ASP Tonny.

42. When Abdul Razak Baginda had lodged his police report at Brickfields police station, in front of ASP Tonny, he was asked to make a statement but he refused as he said he was leaving for overseas. He did however promise to prepare a statement and hand ASP Tonny a thumbdrive. I know that this was not done as ASP Tonny told me.

43. However ASP Tonny asked me the next day to provide my statement instead and so I did.

44. I stopped working for Abdul Razak Baginda on Oct 26, 2006 as this was the day he left for Hong Kong on his own.

45. In mid-November 2006, I received a phone call from ASP Tonny from the IPK Jalan Hang Tuah asking me to see him regarding Aminah’s case. When I arrived there I was immediately arrested under Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation.

46. I was then placed in the lock up and remanded for five days. On the third day, I was released on police bail.

47. At the end of November 2006, the D9 department of the IPK sent a detective to my house to escort me to the IPK Jalan Hang Tuah. When I arrived, I was told I was being arrested under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder. I was put in the lock up and remanded for seven days.

48. I was transported to Bukit Aman where I was interrogated and questioned about an SMS I had received from Abdul Razak Baginda on Oct 19, 2006 which read “delay her until my man arrives”. They had apparently retrieved this message from Abdul Razak Baginda’s handphone.

49. They then proceeded to record my statement from 8.30 am to 6pm everyday for seven consecutive days. I told them all I knew including everything Abdul Razak Baginda and Aminah had told me about their relationships with Najib Razak but when I came to sign my statement, these details had been left out.

50. I have given evidence in the trial of Azilah, Sirul and Abdul Razak Baginda at the Shah Alam High Court. The prosecutor did not ask me any questions in respect of Aminah’s relationship with Najib Razak or of the phone call I received from DSP Musa Safri, whom I believe was the ADC for Najib Razak and/or his wife.

51. On the day Abdul Razak Baginda was arrested, I was with him at his lawyers office at 6.30am. Abdul Razak Baginda informed us that he had sent Najib Razak an SMS the evening before as he refused to believe he was to be arrested, but had not received a response.

52. Shortly thereafter, at about 7.30am, Abdul Razak Baginda received an SMS from Najib Razak and showed, this message to both myself and his lawyer. This message read as follows: “ I am seeing IGP at 11am today … matter will be solved … be cool”.

53. I have been made to understand that Abdul Razak Baginda was arrested the same morning at his office in the Bangunan Getah Asli, Jalan Ampang.

54. The purpose of this Statutory declaration is to:

1) State my disappointment at the standard of investigations conducted by the authorities into the circumstances surrounding the murder of Altantuya Shaaribuu.
2) Bring to the notice of the relevant authorities the strong possibility that there are individuals other than the three accused who must have played a role in the murder of Altantuya Shaaribuu.
3) Persuade the relevant authorities to reopen their investigations into this case immediately so that any fresh evidence may be presented to the court prior to submissions at the end of the prosecutions case.
4) Emphasise the fact that having been a member of the Royal Malaysian Police Force for 17 years, I am absolutely certain no police officer would shoot someone in the head and blow up their body without receiving specific instructions from their superiors first.
5) Express my concern that should the defence not be called in the said murder trial, the accused, Azilah and Sirul will not have to swear on oath and testify as to the instructions they received and from whom they were given.

55. And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same be true and by virtue of the provisions of the Statutory Declaration Act 1960.
Balasubramaniam a/l Perumal July 1, 2008

Saiful's 'I quit' mail to Anwar

Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan had purportedly resigned as PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim’s aide after much "reflection and contemplation" just a day before lodging a police report against his ex-boss.

An email believed to be from Saiful was made available to malaysiakini, in which he reveals his decision to quit.

Dated June 27, the email was sent to Anwar and PKR chief of staff Ibrahim Yaacob from Saiful’s Blackberry mobile phone at 3.01am.

The mail reads:

Nobody know (sic) what God decides for us. People come and go. After seeing the new office, I felt a sense of worry and repentance in me.

I’ve been reflecting upon myself in the past few weeks. This is the conclusion from my reflections of myself.

1. Indiscipline. Not punctual.

2. Unqualified. It will make it easier for your enemies to attack you and tarnish your image.

For the sake of your well being and the party’s, I regret to inform you that I am submitting my resignation as your private assistant effective today.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work. All the knowledge that you’ve bestowed upon me will be used as best as possible.

Anwar sent a reply at 6.28am which stated:

Thank you for continuing your services and (good luck with) your university education. You have served with sincerity, loyalty and commitment.

There is more knowledge to be gained. Haha.

Ibrahim will coordinate your tasks after this as best as he can.

'Not his style'

According to Ibrahim, the email address belongs to Saiful but the former is sceptical as to whether the resignation letter was actually written by him.

"I received that email that day and I could tell that it is not his style. It could have been authored by somebody else," he told Malaysiakini.

Last Saturday, Saiful caused a stir when he lodged a police report alleging that Anwar had sodomised him.

Anwar had dismissed this as a "complete fabrication" and sought refuge in the Turkish Embassy on grounds that he feared for his life after the allegations surfaced.

However, he has since returned to his home after getting assurances for his safety from three ministers - Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar, Foreign Minister Dr Rais Yatim and Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Meanwhile, Saiful was sent to Hospital Kuala Lumpur for a medical examination and is believed to be awaiting the results.

The police are expected to question Anwar soon as investigations are underway.

It is learnt that Saiful began working for Anwar’s office one week before the March 8 general elections.

He was then assisting Rahimi Osman, also a former aide of Anwar, in coordinating the former deputy prime minister’s election schedule and programme.

After elections ended, he was retained as Anwar’s private assistant. Rahimi subsequently resigned from Anwar’s office 3-4 weeks ago and the work was absorbed by Ibrahim, then assisted by Saiful.

Saiful's character had been the subject of much heated debate on the Internet with at least two bloggers through their site claiming to know him personally.

A visit to his home in Bandar Utama affirmed further that Saiful's whereabouts are presently unknown.