SHAH ALAM: The High Court has fixed September 8 for case management of the Attoney-General’s (AG) application to declare null and void a circular by the Selangor government.

The circular prohibits state officials from giving statements to the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) outside their offices as well as after office hours.

The date was fixed by deputy registrar Mohd Hafizi Abdul Halim in chambers Tuesday.

The originating summon was filed by AG Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail on August 20 against the Selangor state secretary as first defendant and the Selangor state government as second defendant.

In the application, Abdul Gani said that the first and second defendants has issued a circular on July 28 to all officers and staff whom are called for interview by MACC to help in its investigations.

Under the circular, the officers and staff were not allowed to be interviewed (or be witness) by the MACC outside their respective offices.

And, all the meetings and interview process must be held between 8am and 6.30pm only.

Abdul Gani said that the circular was unlawful and against Section 30(1)(a) and Section 30(3)(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.

He added that the circular could interrupt the statutory duties of the MACC officers.

Hence, as the AG and the guardian of the public interest, Abdul Gani said it was his responsibility to defend the Federals laws (undang-undang persekutuan), so that the public interest was not affected.

State governments counsel Fahda Nur Ahmad Kamar, who present at the court together with Yusmadi Yusoff, said the state government received the summon on Friday and has 14 days to reply to the AGs affidavit.

It was reported that the circular issued by the state secretary Datuk Ramli Mhamud on July 28 following the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock.

Teoh, the political secretary of state executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead at Plaza Masalam here on July 16 after he was questioned by the Selangor MACC, which is located on the 14th floor of the same building.

- The Star

SHAH ALAM, Aug 25 (Bernama) — The High Court has directed the Selangor government to file an affidavit in reply in 14 days, against the Attorney-General’s application to declare as null and void, a circular prohibiting state officials from giving statements to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) after office hours.

Deputy Registrar Mohd Hafizi Abdul Halim made the order in chambers when the case came up for case management here today. The court fixed Sept 8 for further case management.

Other than the Selangor government, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail also named the Selangor state secretary as the defendant.

Senior federal counsel See Mee Chun appeared on behalf of the plaintiff while counsel Fahda Nur Ahmad Kamar and Yusmadi Yusoff appeared for the defendants.

On Aug 20, Abdul Gani filed a preliminary suit in the High Court to declare as null and void the circular issued by Selangor state secretary Datuk Ramli Mahmud on July 28.

In his affidavit in support, he claimed that the Selangor state secretary issued the circular to all officers and staff under the state’s administration who had received a directive from MACC to attend interviews to help in investigation.

Abdul Gani said the circular prohibited all Selangor state government officers and staff from attending interviews (or become witnesses) by MACC outside the office and that all meetings or interviews be held between 8am to 6.30pm only.

The circular also said that the Selangor government also offered legal service to officers and staff during the interviews by MACC.

Abdul Gani said that the circular was null and void as it was against Section 30 (1)(a) and Section 30 (3)(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Act 2009 (Act 694).

“I strongly believe that the circular dated July 28, 2009 had prevented MACC officers from conducting their statutory duties provided by parliament under Section 7, 11 (1), 30 (1)(a) and Section 30 (3)(a) of Act 694.”

Abdul Gani said that since the circular was an administrative directive, Selangor officers and staff were bound by it and disciplinary action could be taken against those who failed to comply.

“In discharging my responsibility, I will ensure that action, directives or circulars issued by any party, including the defendants, are not against the laws of the country.

“I believe that as the Attorney-General and guardian of public interest, I am responsible for defending federal laws, in this case Act 694, so that public good is achieved and that public interest is not affected,” he said.

Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim had said the circular titled “Pekeliling Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Selangor Bilangan 4 Tahun 2009″ was issued following a decision made at the State Exco meeting on July 22 to ensure the safety of officers after the death of Teoh Beng Hock.

Teoh, 30, political secretary to State Exco member for New Villages and Illegal Factories Management Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead on level 5 of Plaza Masalam here on July 16.

He had given a statement to MACC as a witness in investigation into alleged abuse of state funds.

– BERNAMA

REVISION 2020: Malaysia 2.0 anjuran Northeast Malaysia Forum (NEF) 

Beberapa hari sebelum itu saya bersama sekumpulan anak muda Malaysia yang menggelarkan diri mereka sebagai Northeast Malaysia Forum http://www.malaysiaforum.org/malaysiaforum.html mengadakan lintas langsung (teleconference) forum bertajuk “Revision 2020: Malaysia 2.0″ dari Universiti Yale di New Haven, Amerika Syarikat dan Studio V, Star di Bandar Utama.

Panelis terdiri daripada saya, YB Khalid Samad dan YB Khairy Jamaluddin, yg tidak dapat hadir atas sebab tertentu. Sesi tersebut dipengerusikan oleh saudara Nithiya, Pelajar tahun dua Ekonomi di Universiti Princeton dan saudara Andrew pelajar tahun tiga Sains Politik di Swarthmore College.

Saya kagum dengan semangat yang ditunjukkan oleh para pelajar Malaysia di di sana yg peka dan kritikal dengan keadaan semasa di tanah air. Syabas NEF!   (gambar ehsan NEF dari album facebook)

KUALA LUMPUR, March 11 (Bernama) — A government backbencher today proposed that the government divide mega projects into smaller ones to widen their multiplying effects.

Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian) said for instance, a RM100 million project should be divided into 10 projects of RM10 million each.

“This will create multiplying effects on the economy. The Public Works Department should also set a cost-effective development, with profit ceiling of only between 10 and 20 per cent for each contractor,” he said when debating the Supplementary Supply Bill 2009 in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He also called on the ministries to draw up work schedule to ensure smooth implementation of projects.

“There are bound to be problems if projects are implemented in a haphazard manner in the name of completing them on time. This is definitely not beneficial,” he said.

Ahmad also wanted to know whether the 7.6 per cent deficit in the RM60 billion stimulus package would affect the ratings of Malaysian bonds.

Datuk Mohamad Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) and Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff (PKR-Balik Pulau) called on the government to ensure that the RM60 billion allocation would reach the target group.

Mohamad Aziz also said that the government should be extra careful when channelling assistance to sectors especially those that relied on foreign workers as these workers would, in the end, send the money to their home countries.

Meanwhile, Mohd Yusmadi proposed that an independent agency be set up to monitor and ensure the package reached its target.

– BERNAMA

(gambar 1 bersama YB Azmin dan isteri)

Hari pertama di Parlimen untuk sesi 2009 amat memeranjatkan saya. Titah DYMM Yang Dipertuan Agung merangkumi banyak isu dalaman dan isu luar negeri.

Saya tetarik dengan titah baginda yang menyentuh mengenai golongan anak muda yang mewakili lebih 40% populasi penduduk negara. Baginda menyarankan agar penekanan bukan sahaja diberikan epada aspek pekerjaan tetapi juga aspek integriti, identiti diri, pembangunan insan dll.

Perenggan akhir yang saya maksudkan sebagai memeranjatkan. Baginda mengucapkan terima kasih di atas jasa Pak Lah dan menyentuh mengenai peralihan kuasa yang bakal berlaku hanya di bulan Mac. perenggan tersebut membuatkan saya terfikir sejenak akan relevansinya dan menimbulkan persoalan dan tanda tanya. Terutama sekali apabila melihatnya daripada kaca mata politik pertembungan di antara Pak Lah dan Najib. Mungkin KJ ada jawapannya!

Disiarkan secara langsung melalui TV9!
Program: Hujah
Tarikh: 3 Feb 2009
Masa Siaran: 9.30 hingga 10.30
Call time: 8.15pm (ruang untuk berbincang dan bersedia)
Tajuk: Selepas Terengganu, adakah kita mengarah kepada system dua parti?
Panel: YB Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah
YB Yusmadi Yusoff
Prof Mohamad Mustaffa Ishak
Pengerusi: Dr. Mohamad Agus Yusoff
Dress Code: Smart Casual
Tempat Siaran: Dewan Sri Budiman, UITM

PEJABAT YB YUSMADI

I was recently shortlisted together with a few American University Washington College of Law Alumni who are active in politics globally. 

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