10 TELLING IT AS IT IS theSun | MONDAY SEPTEMBER 14 2009

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At the beck and call of politicians

IF YOU want to hear tales from
the unknown, says a journalist,
you must sit-in at the hearings of
the Selangor Select Committee on
Competency, Transparency and Ac-
countability (Selcat). “This is where
you get to see and hear how our civil
servants have politicised themselves
and even confessed to being cronies
of their political masters.”
The committee’s hearings are in
progress and if one dwells on past
hearings, the journalist’s description
can only be described as accurate.
The Selcat inquiry gave Malaysians
a peek into the lifestyles of the rich
and famous, their expensive tastes
and their fetish for everything
Disney. Not that they paid for these
with their hard-earned money, but
from our money – yours and mine.
State-owned companies dished
out the goodies which included
first-class travel, five-star comfort
and chauffeur-driven limousines.
Everything was made to ensure that
the lawatan sambil belajar met the
high standards of the rombongan.
Even an advance party was sent to
make all ground arrangements to
ensure there was a separate itiner-
ary for the Datins and the ordinary
Puans.
Yet again, the hearings have
highlighted the might and power of
some ordinary state assemblymen
who seek office on the premise of
serving the rakyat. They can order
the civil servants around with im-
punity and their demands are met
by a subservient civil service.
Last week, Malaysians were
given a first-hand lesson on how
our civil servants operate. They
supposedly have to remain apo-
litical and independent but the
hearings paint a different picture.
Their confessions and admissions
show that some of them did not
care about rules and regulations as
long as they pleased their political
masters.
Sepang assistant district of-
ficer (ADO) Tahir Bujang, who
had worked in a similar capacity in
Gombak last year, summed up how
the administration of these offices
had operated in the past. He admit-
ted that it took him just one minute
to clear a mountain of applications
for funds from assemblymen which
landed on his table before the dis-
solution of Parliament on Feb 13,
2008.
These included:
» 90 applications for RM496,509
from the Batu Caves assembly-
man
» 103 applications for RM393,342
from the Gombak Setia assem-
blyman
» 225 applications for RM500,700
from the Hulu Kelang assembly-
man
» 149 applications for RM496,500
from the Kuang assemblyman
» 86 applications for RM500,000
from the Taman Templer as-
semblyman and
» 235 applications for RM603,198
from the Rawang assembly-
man.
It means that he closed his eyes
and approved everything that was
put on his table and was not aware
of what he approved. But beyond
CitizenNades
by R. Nadeswaran
the rubber stamp and the customary
“Saya yang menurut perintah”, he
never moved a finger to ensure ac-
countability and transparency. Did
he ensure that cheques are made
out in the name of the contractor
and not individuals? Did he ensure
that the projects were carried out?
The minutes of the proceedings
of Selcat should certainly be of
interest to the police because the
money meant for the rakyat was
diverted to political activities. When
Gombak District Officer Huzaini
Samsi was asked why state funds
were used to pay for political party-
organised activities and for rental of
a service centre run by politicians,
he admitted this should not have
happened. But Tahir had an inde-
fensible defence: The guidelines do
not prohibit state lawmakers from
channelling state funds to political
parties. Really? So, instead of using
funds to build a bridge, the funds
can be used to buy a commercial
building for a political party!
But more astonishing was the
admission of Kuala Selangor Land
Office clerk Norafzati Jantera
that she and her colleagues did a
gotong-royong to finish processing
payments for the assemblymen.
One day before the dissolution of
the state assembly, she and another
clerk, Nordiana Mokhtar proc-
essed 85 payments amounting to
RM449,500. That must be a record
of sorts, and deserves honourable
mention in that book of records.
District Officer Mohd Misri Idris,
who joined the Kuala Selangor Land
Office in April 2008, had earlier said
that his office “normally” processed
25-30 applications for allocations
each day and this means the two
clerks did three times the volume
in one day. It just goes to prove that
where there’s a will there’s a way,
only IF there’s a politician lurk-
ing in the background asking for
money. No guesses as to whether
their bosses had recommended
them for a double promotion for
their extraordinary feat.
But what was frightening was
the statement by the Kuala Selan-
gor ADO Izahar Rashidi who said
payments for projects promised by
assemblymen to their constituents
were made after the assembly was
dissolved and for a good measure,
he brought in the Almighty to
support his cause. He’s reasoning
gives the impression that he’s got
another role – the political aide
to the assemblyman. Who’s he to
decide on promises made during
the campaign for votes?
It has now been established that
four land offices — Petaling, Gom-
bak, Klang and Kuala Selangor paid
out most of the state’s allocation
for the constituencies in the final
days leading to the state assembly
dissolution on Feb 13 last year. It
is crystal clear that the actions of
some of the officers were wrong.
Instead of thoroughly checking
each application and verifying their
authenticity, they chose to take
instructions from politicians. The
rule books went out the window
and a set of laws promulgated by
themselves was being enforced.
What is going to happen next?
Will these officers who had admit-
ted breaching procedures be hauled
up like so many other civil servants
for dereliction of duty or are they go-
ing to be given a tap on the knuckle
and be quietly congratulated for
supporting the politicians?
The chief secretary to the govern-
ment has always maintained that
civil servants must stand up and
say “no” to politicians when they
are directed to breach procedures.
In these cases, they just kau-taued
to their political masters. If he does
not act against these officers, what
message does the chief secretary
intend to convey to the civil serv-
ants?
R. Nadeswaran expects more juicy
details as the Selcat hearings proceed
but asks what’s the purpose of this
exercise if no one is punished for their
misdeeds? He is editor (special and
investigative reporting) at theSun.
He can be reached at: citizen-nades@
thesundaily.com

letters
letters@thesundaily.com transport, rather than the logging companies.
To engage with the Penans may be difficult for
the police. If the level of mistrust is so entrenched,

Tedious detective work crucial to rape probe
ONE word best describes the recent headlines about
the Penans. Disgust.
About a year ago, when the story was first reported
in the national dailies, I wrote to stress the importance of
discretion and sensitivity in solving the allegation of rape
in the Penan community. The nation must be shaking
its head in disbelief to discover that the matter remains
unresolved. The follow-up investigation was reported
recently and the news makes grim reading.
I can understand the need for a special report
to be commissioned to record statements, wit-
ness accounts and other necessary information.
However, it is despicable that the police have
claimed that they are unable to make any arrests
because they need detailed information from the
Women, Family and Community Development
Ministry.
Is it not bad enough that these children (for
that is what some of them still are), and the young
women, have suffered? And now it is suggested
that the police are unable to act “for lack of in-
formation”? These young girls have been trau-
matised through a violent act. Some may never
recover from their ordeal. All will have horrific
memories of the rape. A few will have to live with
the consequences of an unwanted child. Possibly
even disease.
The cost of bringing up a child, both emotionally
and financially are thrust on their little shoulders.
For those who had dreams and aspirations of
furthering their education or of helping their com-
munity, these will have to be set aside. Added to
this will be the shame, the guilt and the feelings of
anger and sadness. All of them will be emotionally
scarred. All of these sentiments extend to their
families and communities.
The Penans live in isolated communities. If they
had easy access to medical facilities, it might have
been possible to arrange a termination. However,
we cannot assume that they would have accepted
this procedure because their culture may view the
life of an unborn child differently.
So, just because their way of life is different
from ours, does not make them less deserving of
our compassion.
The special report commissioned by the minis-
ter has been made available to the public. Names
of the logging companies involved have been
noted. Further follow-up investigations should
begin immediately by the police.
Logging companies have designated crews
living in encampments in the jungle where the log-
ging is carried out. The lorries they use are expen-
sive (I know because I had friends who managed
logging operations in the Baram district). Lorry
drivers go out on shifts and wherever the activity
is carried out, there is always a list of personnel
on site or on duty.
A little detective work is crucial. It would be
long and tedious but it is possible to investigate
by backtracking, using all the available informa-
tion that the ministry has painstakingly gathered.
Moreover, there is always someone who will brag
or boast or who knows something and has a guilty
conscience, and will eventually talk.
The question of mistrust is understandable, but
should not be a factor to hinder further investiga-
tion. The Penans have tried to highlight their plight
but several obstacles seem to stop them from
getting justice.
If helicopters and boats can be mobilised for
an election so why can’t they be done for this
investigation?
When the police asked the logging companies
to provide transport, because they ostensibly
lacked funds, the Penans probably wondered if
there was any complicity between the two. The
army or rangers could have assisted in providing
why can’t the services of the various missionaries
in the area be called upon?
Problems faced by these isolated communities
should not be an excuse for us to drag them into
urban dwellings, or what we term civilisation. The
modern world and all its inherent deleterious ef-
fects are already destroying their way of life. They
have already indicated that they will modernise
but that they will accept development at their rate.
And we should respect their wishes. However, as
Malaysians they deserve the same rights as any
other urban Malaysians.
The list of workers in the logging companies
during the alleged time of rape is available. The
male workers should be treated as potential sus-
pects, their DNAs collected and checked against
the children and girls who were raped.
The children who were the result of the rape
are as much victims as their mothers. However, the
mothers, the true victims in this tragedy, should be
provided with appropriate counselling, as well as
financial and other appropriate help.
It is hoped that there will be recommendations
from this specially commissioned report that would
include victim care and counselling, an increase in
funding for the police, a special and dedicated
team trained to monitor and investigate rape or
sexual crimes, measures to address cultures and
myths surrounding rape, that rape investigations
and victim care should have clear leadership.
The Penan communities are isolated and
small and they fear retributions and reprisals. It
is crucial that confidentiality and protection for
the complainant(s) and their communities be
provided.
Mariam Mokhtar
Ipoh

Help redress campus water woes

I REFER to “Students can do their
part” (Letters, Sept 11). I’m glad
to know that my sister’s “water
woes” have not fallen on deaf
ears.
I did not mean to condemn our
education system. I myself am a
product of a public university. I be-
lieve we have fantastic lecturers
and good courses equivalent to
overseas or even private colleges/
universities in Malaysia. In the
area of academics and research
Malaysia’s public universities are
constantly improving.
Speaking of the students
playing their part in taking care of
the facilities, I must mention that
they hardly use the taps because
nothing comes out from it. So I
don’t think that they can “spoil
anything” or “take care” of facili-
ties which they do not use.
I hope readers will share their
ideas on how to resolve this mat-
ter. Perhaps the ideas will provide
University Malaysia Sabah and the
relevant parties insights on how
to promptly rectify this problem.
Janine Hong
Petaling Jaya