The way we play our politics

The BN MPs and especially the UMNO ones are nervous. They are not confident of retaining their seats anymore. That, despite the almost daily onslaught of black propaganda from the mainstream media.

That despite in 2011, the government will issue bonds totaling RM 87 billion. That despite the government announcing a slew of economic initiatives spending 400 over billion so that we get an economy of over 1 trillion.

With money seemingly flooding, our MPs are nervous? It shows no money can buy confidence and trust. Confidence and trust in the benevolence of the present national government.

It prompted the MPs to suggest the PM meet up with the MPs. Read carefully- it's not a meeting for the PM to analyze or the MPs being asked what projects do they want. The MPs are actually sizing up the PM- what he plans to do in order for the BN and UMNO MPs to stay in power. But the pesky fake royalty appeared and sounded more spoon that spade. ( lebih camca pulak dari sudu).

The MPs are also weighing their options too. If they thought the PM is wishy washy, they will desert him. Nothing personal, just business.

Because the MPs can almost see the writing on the wall. They stand to lose power. The people, the masses do not just on one fine morning, make an impromptu decision to not vote BN or just out of spite they voted for Anwar, Nik Aziz, Lim Kit Siang and others. The decision was deliberate. It happened then, it could happen again.

The only line of defiance and defence now seems to be race card. Malays will be finished if UMNO is finished. The Malay Sultans are finished if UMNO is finished. UMNO doesn't seem to get it- UMNO is no longer automatically associated with the protection of Malay interests.

It has lost the mandate to even represent the majority of Malays. I repeat this again. In the 2008 elections there 5.7 million Malay voters and UMNO candidates who must be Malay for sure, only secured 2.38 million votes. Those votes did not come solely from Malay voters which meant maybe UMNO got only around 2 million votes. What did that show? It showed more Malays didn't choose UMNO. So which group of Malays is UMNO representing? It represents the minority.

All those screaming banshees claiming to be pro UMNO just don't get it. What they wanted to get is the money the Ministry of Goebbelsian Propaganda promises to give which somehow it reneged. What they wanted was to get paid hiding behind the false claim that somehow they are performing a vital service to the nation. Why don't they just shut up and not write and see whether the world stops?

Who does UMNO represent really?

It represents the reactionary Malays who opposed the rule of law, those who opposed ethical politics and those who don't respect the legitimacy of a legally elected government.

Consider the case of the appointment of the Selangor state secretary. We can hide all we want behind the niceties of government servants are more or less permanent and that politicians despite being the political masters, are transitory. But still, that doesn't excuse us from doing what is ethical and proper.

the ethical thing is to respect the legitimacy of a properly elected government. In Selangor, it happens to be a PKR government. Let's face it, the BN and UMNO lost the tasted precisely because people are just fed-up at the incompetence, callousness and arrogance of the previous government. We can't defend incompetence and arrogance.

Now, we are trying to subvert the legitimacy of an elected government by throwing a spanner in the wheel. It is a common practice and the civil thing to do, to suggest names of the highest government officials that are compatible with the political leadership. The sole purpose being, so that administrative work and the job of managing the government of the day is smooth.

There is only one way to change a government which is through election and the ballot box. A sitting government can also lose power if it invites a successful vote of no confidence. The sole authority to eject a government must come through a sitting state assembly or parliament. It never rests with a unilateral decision by a monarch.

Please be reminded that we are a parliamentary democracy and our monarchy is a constitutional monarchy.

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PM’s meeting with the BN MPs

Much was made out from the PM's meeting with MPs last week. Not all MPs attended. Maybe 105 or so.

There was one comment on my article in the Malaysian Insider where this article also appeared. The commentator says he has been around because the nature of his work dictates him so. He must a policeman or something of that nature that necessitates him moving around. He says, the mood is slowly going back to the BN government and some are already goyang and even liked the PM.

A long time ago, if this gentleman has read my articles, I have stated that PM Najib is a personable fellow and a very decent bloke. If I am allowed one upmanship, to this commentator I will have to say I have been around the man Najib for some time too. I was his ADUN, his Division Committee member and for 4 years served as Information Chief. That was after 1999 and I met him on regular weekly basis for almost 4 years. I think I can safely say to be able to say something about the man.

The idea to meet all the MPs wasn't his in the first place. Somebody senior in UMNO remarked to people who are close to Najib that it would be a good idea for Najib to meet the MPs to pacify their nervousness. Yessiree- BN MPs are nervous about political developments in their own areas. So contrary to the commentator who says his work takes him around for him to be able to state his observation haughtily, those directly in charge of their wards are nervous!.

So some people brought the idea to Pm Najib, hence the PM meets the MPs. He asks them what projects can he give them in their areas that can nullify or reduce their nervousness.

It wasn't a session for the PM assessing the performance of the MPs. He has all the information he wants from various sources- the SB, Military Intelligence, Kemas, government departments and that shadowy band of eager to please 3^rd party volunteers. He does not need the MPs to confirm their deceit and lies.

He wanted to play Santa Claus to deliver goodies so that he can help them retain their seats. In that process he retains Purtajaya.

Was the meeting actually successful? Most of those MPs who went there felt the meeting wasn't useful and effective. They were given about 3 or 4 minutes to speak their mind and with the incessant butting in by the UMNO secgen- Teuku Adnan Mansor buddy to that great businessman Vincent Tan, nothing much can be said to the PM.

Indeed, the most common after the meeting talk and complaint is, WTF should Teuku Adnan be there in the first place?

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PM meets the MPs

 

The PM has met all the BN MPs yesterday. He asked whether they can win and retain their parliamentary seats. I am sure most will say they can. No problem sir. As long as we pump in more money. Semua OK. The rakyat are with us. They all liked you sir.

This is unprecedented. We have never heard of any PM before Najib who has taken this extraordinary step. Inviting all BN MPs to give him a frank assessment of their chances. The only thing similar to this was way back when Dr Mahathir saw every delegate to ask them their stand on his contest with Tengku Razaleigh.

It also shows that Najib is at least methodical. He is actually ferreting the pretenders out.

My only reservations are the way he is doing it. I personally think this is quite not right. It's not in our culture (Malays, Chinese or Indian) to sing our own praises. I would assume the MPs would be bashful.

But then, politicians are a breed apart. They have rhino skin hides. They will say what must be said and will even sell their mothers to get another term as MP.

First they will say politics is not about personalities. It's not about issues. It's about principles. If everything fails, they will cheat. As we now know, issues and personalities are already thrown out- the last arsenal they have left is cheat.

So what do you think when you meet the PM and the Secgen in threes? They will cheat and will be lying through their teeth just to stay on. It is only logical to expect, when there are 3 of you meeting the PM and the Secgen, you are not going to tell the actual story in front of the other 2 MPs who you know will tell tall tales. You will want to out-story them.

Then Najib will know the person lying is the person he wants to get rid of. Has anyone seen how a typical ADUN lists down his activities? He will say something like these:

1.    Attend kenduri

2.    Visit pak bakar karok

3.    Accompany ketua bahagian

4.    Attend workshop

5.    Participate in fishing contest

6.    Hand out Kemas hampers

7.    Attend welcoming back HRH

8.    Follow Dato Najib's entourage.

9.    Send Dato Najib back to the airport.

 

 

Where is the beef? Asks the lady in the Wendy's Commercial. PM Najib must throw out all those beefless windbags.

Most likely you can never get the truth out of these people. They will not discredit themselves.

Now I know why Telekom Malaysia does what it does recently. Appoint a subcommittee who submits report to a supervising committee. You ask your own 'brethren' to make a report on themselves. I am sure the people who make up the investigating team are conscious if they come out with an incriminating report, it will be the end of the world, the TM people are accustomed with.

That is the world full of office politicking and infighting. It's a TM world where the executives are busy writing poison pen letters to minsters to inform on each other, to discredit one another. It's a TM world, where every business decision offers an opportunity for many to wet their beaks. I mean can you imagine those eager beavers who gave Alcatel the TM business had also wanted to give Alcatel the business of supplying and installing towers and cabins? Oh, I forget- this is a Fortune 500 company which has many indigenous inventions to its credit. I must not forget to prepare an apology for besmirching Alcatel insinuating it cannot supply and install towers and supply cabins. TM is merely following the established way on how to solve problems.

They learn it from the politicians.

The BN MPs who met PM Najib are masters as this game. How many will say, we will lose this parliament and please replace me? They will instead say- semua OK Dato Sri Sir. Only if we can have these roads, these projects for all the UMNO class F contractors, only we kick out those pesky trouble makers and of course if only I remain the MP. Of course the Indian MP will say, we can win if Palanivel is made full minister. The other Indian will say, we can win if Kaveas is appointed.

PM Najib will of course study carefully these expected answers. He is not a fool to be fooled with these kinds of answers. He knows, the answers will be skewed towards asserting, they can retain their seats provided they are retained as candidates.

In these circumstances, the first rule of thumb PM Najib must observe is to jettison those who gave such simpleton answers. He must apply the contrarian rule. Retain those who are discredited by political rivals within. Because the more likely case is, those discredited by their own members are doing a good job. Seek evaluation from 3rd party sources that are closer to the ground.

Perhaps a better way to make a better judgment is to meet all the ADUNs in the parliamentary areas. Ask them to give an assessment of their parliamentary colleagues. You are more likely to get a truer answer from the ADUNs from a parliamentary seat on the performance of the MPs.

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The next General Elections: be careful with what you wish

Everyone is talking about the next general elections nowadays. PM Najib is also eager to hold an election. Incoming PMs are always eager to have a new mandate. So that he can form a new team. Members associated with the old team are worried. Those who have overstayed are also jittery. Those tainted with all sort of allegations are feverishly anxious. Those thinking it's their time to step up are busy impressing the boss.

With PM Najib it's not difficult to impress him. The doctors, who planned to take over IJN the last time, presented their case in medical jargon and he was impressed. Now the rich doctors are running IJN and on most airline flights, flight attendants will go around collecting donations for IJN.

For UMNO people, it's time to be more Malay than other Malays. The more vociferous the better. Despite his declared preference for people with merits, DS Najib is human and will succumb to 'careless whispers' from those encircling him. If Nazir Razak were to put in some sanitized remarks about Azman Mokhtar, he shall be made a minister. After all as Nazir said, Azman is cheese to Anuar Aji's chalk.

What is the size of DS Najib's 4^th floor? Only God knows. By the way, I thought people were aghast at the size and influence of Pak Lah's 4^th floor boys. Well boys, under DS Najib, the single level 4^th Floor has become a duplex 4^th floor.

Will the 13^th general elections be held soon? That is the question haunting many people. The telltale signs are there. The postponement of UMNO party elections. This has always been a prominent indicator as UMNO can't afford to go do battle as a divided force. Then there are the numerous bonuses here and there.

There are also danger lurking. UMNO can't go out in the battle field believing it's ready. What UMNO  believes and it believes in its own hype is one thing. What people believe of UMNO is more important.

Winning isn't dependent on UMNO feeling whatever nowadays- the more important determinant is how do the people feel. People are not bothered for example with what Rais Yatim believes in. he is forever changing modes. People will not want to believe Nor Mohamad Yaakob anymore. Two of his aides were caught out with millions of Ringgit and a string of properties, that it's difficult to believe NMY isn't aware of these things.

Acceptance and belief in UMNO by the people is many times more important that what UMNO people and leaders psyched up themselves with. Downing all kind of strength-enhancing herbal drinks does not seem to help anymore.

Look at what's happening in Selangor. If UMNO has to now depend on organizations like GAP to win back power, its future is doomed. First, you have got it wrong. You don't change a government by asking the MB of the ruling government to resign. You get power through winning an election. That is the honorable and proper way. That is the right way.

And shouting and demanding Khalid Ibrahim step down isn't an election. He is the MB. Try asking your own ketua kampong to step down? Working on the grassroots perceptions cannot be substituted with organized mob demonstrations. Sorry boys. Work on winning allegiance of the people.

As a former ADUN, I can almost picture the welling of emotions, hardly containable. Incumbents wish the election date is delayed so that they can remain as ADUNs or MPs for as long as possible. Most of the time, those agitating for early elections are those thinking it's now their time. When one is terminated as ADUN and MP, it's not necessarily because of under-performance. It has more to do with internal politicking, intrigues and insidious character assassinations.

Those itching to become ADUNs and MPs will not stop at anything to become one. They will push for early elections in the hope they get off red to stand as candidates.

I want to tell UMNO future candidates and incumbents not to be overzealous and overeager. You are entering this 13^th general election under a brand name that has been discredited and which hasn't recovered fully. Those ketua bahagians ousted in the 12the GE and were not selected as candidates then will take every opportunity to even the score by sabotaging UMNO. These are UMNO careerists- who think being at a position long enough, confers special privileges. These are the people most opposed to Najib's grand plans of ETP, NEM, 1Malaysia etc.

Those most attached to their positions and have cultivated the idea of acquiring rights and privileges as of right are the very people steeped in the tradition of special Malay privileges for special Malays. They are t every ones captivated with the idea of getting things without the corresponding efforts. They are in a word the political rent seekers.

They are the very ones Najib must dispense with if he is true to what he stands for- NME, ETP, GTP, or whatever else he has thought and will think of in the alphabet soup.

They will feel no guilt and remorse, because in their minds, UMNO has become another SPV ensuring those with vested interests to stay as long as possible.

So really, PM Najib is at sixes and sevens in facing this coming election. He knows he has to jettison many ketua bahagians and UMNO past shelf lives. The biggest question is does he have the nerves to do that?

Unless those encircling him provide him with the nerves of steel, he will not. The one thing most noticeably absent about his approach to managing Malaysia under his stewardship is the lack of will in doing the most important thing- political transformation. Translate into practice, this means, cutting of power from many UMNO incumbents. Transforming the profile of those in power means, simply, replacing many deadwoods if Najib is serious about wanting to do those things he has announced.

But there are already indications that he hasn't got the courage to do that. He seems reluctant to make the sea change necessary to make his ideas work.

Consider the case of Felda. He has named a new chairman. The controversial Isa Samad who once said, those who have taken his money, will answer on the field of judgment. His naming of Isa as chairman has unruffled a lot of feathers especially in Pahang. Why? Because Pahang is the state with the largest acreage of Felda plantations and some of these people feel, Pahang man should deserve the slot. It may not be right, but that's how the power game is played.

Did he remove Yusof Noor the former chairman? He didn't and in fact retained Yusof Noor as advisor to the minister in charge of Felda affairs which is Najib himself.

What do these thing show? They show, Najib lacks the killer instinct to carry out political transformation. What we will probably see, in naming the UMNO the BN candidates later, are just rearranging of musical chairs. Only the unlucky enough, will have no chair to sit on.

That shows how we chose our leaders. It's the luck of the draw. Willy nilly they come.

 

 

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Revisiting the Alcatel bribery scandal.

Some clarifications are in order. I wrote a number of articles about Telekom Malaysia and the Alcatel issue.

One writer demanded an apology from me for questioning the technical accreditation of Alcatel. He says it's one of the Fortune 500 companies and has a number of inventions to its credit.

That's not relevant for my article. When I said, it didn't secure the technical accreditation, I meant in the context of this deal with Telekom Malaysia and Celcom then and in the context of providing 3G services. No apologies needed there.

The fact was, it didn't get through the technical evaluation phase but some people in Telekom Malaysia and Khazanah and even MOF wanted Alcatel to be in. Further, as one anonymous commented and his comments seemed to match my own internal notes

The former financial and technical guy in XL happened to be my acquaintance who told me that they were cornered by two of the company's Commissioner, both Malaysian. Let's refer them as YA and FA. Two of them cornered those guys separately and force them to change their recommendation to Alcatel. Of course both of them refused, insisting on written instructions (which were not given). YA then send a Malaysian technical expert, let's call him M, to re-evaluate and find fault in XL's recommendation. But again he found nothing wrong and all evaluation process was in adherence to the objective and procedures.

For his opinion, M, was then shipped out to somewhere in Africa (either Malawi or Guinea). Meanwhile, the financial and technical guys were eventually forced out of the company as the consequences. Both of them are happy somewhere else, one in Bakri Group and the other is in Singapore Technologies.

Yet YA and FA are still around in XL doing their things.

Yes, what are the things they do?

I think the quickest and direct route to identify the identity of the 2 Malaysian constants is to remit the whole case to the police and MACC. I am surprised this route is not taken. Instead it has spawned a mini McCarthyite hunt for the identity of Malaysian Consultants A and B. some even linked the identity of one of them to KJ the Ketua Pemuda UMNO and impute his declaration not to contest the Rembau seat, as a means to escape prosecution.

A number of pro UMNO bloggers or UMNO friendly bloggers have written on this topic. One of them is Brick in the Wall. By the way, I shall write about this myth and hype being classified as pro UMNO or government friendly bloggers. Suffice for me to say, some of the raving sirens are not even UMNO members and have no inkling about the happening at the grassroots level.

In his article BIW writes:-

Sakmongkol had disclosed that the consultant paid for USD200,000, referred as Consultant A was Dato Dr Norraesah, Chairman of Alcatel Malaysia, French trained economist and appointed member of UMNO Supreme Counsel.

Sorry, this is not quite right. I didn't say it was Noraesah who got paid. I wrote on her role and position in this Alcatelgate. She was Alcatel Malaysia's boss at the material time.

Sakmongkol revealed one of the Celcom insiders was Celcom CEO, Dato Shazally Ramly, someone socially closed with Khairy during Pak Lah's time but now have distanced himself away.

Also, not quite right. Didn't say Shazaly was such other than suggesting that if we need to know, we camp outside KL Hilton and wait up on Shazaly and asked him some 'penetrating' questions.

The two consultants were actual and real live employees of either Telekom or Alcatel.

Just a few days ago, it was the reaction by Telekom Malaysia and Axiata( nee Celcom) that shocked me.I hope, it has the same effect on many other people.

Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) and Axiata Group Bhd have jointly appointed KPMG Corporate Services Sdn Bhd and Shearn Delamore & Co as forensic accountant and legal adviser respectively to assist in an internal probe over alleged payments received by TM employees from Alcatel-Lucent SA. In a statement to Bursa Malaysia, TM said its board had also approved the setting up of a sub-committee of the Board Audit Committee (BAC) to conduct an independent and comprehensive internal investigation into the alleged improper payments to TM employees. The BAC sub-committee would submit its report and findings to the BAC for further guidance and the next course of action, it said. The sub-committee is chaired by Tunku Datuk Mahmood Fawzy Tunku Muhiyiddin, a member of TM board. Fawzy is also a member of TM's board audit committee and chairman of TM board risk committee.

What is the meaning of this? Over there in America, Alcatel has been fined or legally punished for bribing. It clearly said bribed Malaysian guys to get the USD85 million contract. Here you are forming a subcommittee to report to a supervising committee. You are reporting on yourself. Will you incriminate yourself?

Here we are putting up an elaborate show inviting people to do some forensic investigation. That is certainly a cause for misgiving- since in most cases; such so called forensic exercise will exonerate the perpetrators of the wrong.

Set up a committee to see what must be done with the system put up by Alcatel and explain why it's failing. My question again and again, of the proposal put forth by Alcatel then was clearly technically wanting, why was it accepted despite that? Once accepted, why should we now turn around and disclaim our choice of Alcatel?

Clearly in the case, heads must roll. Why is it so difficult to identify Malaysian consultants A and B? Get Noraesah under the spotlight. Place a helmet over her head, and knock the helmet repeatedly for one hour. I am sure at the end, whatever we want to know about Alcatelgate will come out via a more cost effective way rather than having to employ a hotshot accounting firm and a big named legal firm.

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The Blogger and the Banker.

 

Nazir Razak-Group Chief Executive. CIMB group.

Even since Nazir Razak, the youngest brother of the Razak siblings came out with his 'bastardised' NEP shocker, I had wanted to meet him. The opportunity came on the 28^th December. I did some background reading.

My motive in meeting him up is to allow me later to portray Nazir Razak as the thinking banker that he is. I find I am in agreement for most part about the whole affair with this NEP thing, special rights and so forth.

I am not going to elaborate on his area of expertise- others have done that copiously elsewhere. My understanding of the banking industry does not extend beyond using the ATM card and check book.

He has attained many accolades which he rightly deserved. I mean as a Malaysian Malay, it's a nice feeling to see his name being mentioned other than hearing the name of boss of Public bank.

When I say he is a thinking banker- I meant it in the sense that his ideas and the things he speaks about, are beyond the topics talked about by a conventional banker. He has 'invaded' areas typically played and preyed on by politicians and social thinkers. The statement about the NEP, the AP issue, and good governance are not normally topics of technical banking.

But I also hope he knows he is also entering a no man's land. Choosing to speak on the matters he did, opens him up for criticisms. Ibrahim Ali for example, representing what's taken as the purest of Malay ideals, struck out at Nazir. He asked Nazir to learn from the 'greats' such as Dr Mahathir and Tengku Razaleigh. These two people speak, claimed Ibrahim from a jiwa dan roh Melayu. The closest translation that I can think of is- being and the spirit of Malay. By that classification, in Ibrahim's books, Nazir Razak isn't quite in 'being and spirit' a Malay.

Who then is Nazir Razak? What is he?

As many of you know, he is the youngest son of Tun Razak. When Tun Razak died, we remember his picture in a classroom with his cousin, a son of Tun Hussein Onn. He went to study at the University of Bristol and then went to read for a master's degree at Cambridge. He worked his way in the banking industry and he is where he is today. His rise is the result of many factors and which one, depends on anyone's inclination to insist on. I will leave it at that.

But I suspect, his meteoric rise to a certain extent, has to do with the father's name. I would however readily concede that his rise to a larger extent has also been due to his merits.

So I made my way to the 10^th Floor of the CIMB headquarters. I was ushered into what appeared to be the floor's meeting room and waited for him. In the meantime, I went through my scribbled doctors handwritten notes readying myself.

We exchanged some initial small talk. In attendance was also Mr. J.Pang, McKinsey alumnus and graduate from Stanford. I was in formidable company.

I must caution readers however, the views I interpreted as that coming from Nazir Razak may not be as he intends them to be. Any misinterpretation is entirely mine.

 

The meeting: Part 1

NR: I see you have reinvented yourself as a blogger.

S47: Indeed I have.

NR: Does the PM read your material?

S47: I hope he does. I am UMNO man but consider myself as the resident dissenter and perennial busy body.

NR: I believe he is selective if he does read at all.

S47: Yes, and that would also very much depend of whether my material can get pass his phalanx of advisors.

NR: do you do this being sponsored by some people?

S47: I do this as a labor of love. That gives the space to write.

NR: Yes- I think if he reads some of the material you wrote, he won't want to see you again.

We all let out laughs.

 

Here are some of the issues.

When I asked Nazir Razak, the boss of CIMB, how he views the issuance of new banking licenses, his answer was perhaps a tad standard issue. Before I met him, I listened to his several interviews. One was with World Business where the talk involved basically the banking industry.

Nazir Razak has this idea that the banking industry needs to be rationalized. The way to go is for mergers. We now have 9 large banks, operating in Malaysia. We must fewer larger banks to leverage on the economies of scale.

Perhaps he was thinking about the licenses issued to 5 foreign banks to operate. He sees no contradiction to what he said at the interview. These are intended for some specific purposes- niche areas.

In so far as these banks operate in niche areas- green technology and that all that esoteric stuff, these banks will not compete with local banks. That means, these banks are allowed to operate on highly regulated areas so that they won't pose a danger.

BNM has come out with they termed as stringent and strict measures. The banks need a capital of USD 1 billion, its management must consist of top quality material. You would think, these are requirements for wagyu beef or something.

In reality then, there wasn't financial liberalization in a strict sense. What you have is a managed regime of specific sectorial banking participation. I mean this is something similar to "you can have any color as long as it's black" for the banking industry.

But actually I was looking at his answer and take on the coming issuance of banking licenses to 2 cooperatives. Angkasa and one other cooperative. The capital requirement is way much smaller and the rationale for asking for licenses can always be thought of by some smart cookies.

Will the issuance of banking licenses to these two coops open the floodgates to more in future? This isn't the wagyu beef variety but more of garden stuff where, such approvals can be used by others to gain banking licenses. The government will be hard-pressed to justify why in the case of these 2 coops, licenses can be issued. You can then have a coop specifically attending to the Indian community coming to the government asking for banking licenses. The Chinese fisherman in Teluk Intan will want to apply for banking license to take care of the sizeable number of Chinese fishermen in the west coast. Or that Nikmat, the fisherman coop can also ask for a banking license to take care of its fishermen members.

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Alcatel-gate and the Pasembor connection.

It would be reasonable to assume that Alcatel Head Office has a country operating company here in Malaysia. It would for example have incorporated a company say Alcatel Malaysia with 51% interests and balance with local partners. This is how a foreign company gets a hold in Malaysia anyway.

Indeed it has. There is an Alcatel Malaysia. It has 2 local partners. In this case, one of the partners for Alcatel Malaysia was Kumpulan Pinang.

So let's ask Kumpulan Pinang people if they know anything. The other partner's identity I can't recall. But TM which states that it has a robust and transparent procuring system knows that fact and can reveal to the public. It's important for the public to know who the partners are because they may be able to shed more light on this Alcatel bribery case.

Therefore in unraveling the story about Malaysian Consultants A and B, we would have to establish whether there is first of all Alcatel Malaysia. There was indeed at the material time and it was headed by a local politician- Dr Norraesah Mohamad. It was a sensible choice of a country manager because she was after all trained in France and can speak French.

Public spirited people will now want to know whether there is any strategic relationship between this Dr Norraesah with Kumpulan Pinang because she happens to be from Penang. And the MOF who supervises Khazanah and through Khazanah all the companies Khazanah owns such as TM, was Nor Moahamd Yaakob- also from Penang. Probably she may have recommended the two consultants because these consultants also worked for Alcatel Malaysia.

Is there a Penang connection here then? MOF was Nor Mohamad Yaakob the vadey for breakfast eating minister. Norraesah is also from Penang. Kumpulan Pinang is also from Penang. We can almost say this is the Pasembor Mafia.

In what way did the consultants serviced Alcatel? Let's imagine these consultants as people who are paid retainer fees to be on Alcatel's payroll and can be counted on to secure strategic information of potential business.

The country manager will prepare some memo notes identifying the consultants and probably recommends fees payable to them. Probably the country manager also pakat with the consultants for something to wet his or her beak.

Of course we are not certain of these things- these are facts to be established by the investigative committee of TM and also now Axiata. ( formerly Celcom). We hope after finding out, they will also reveal to us. If not, we have to camp at KL Central's Hilton to wait on Shazaly, CEO of Celcom. Before his heart bypass, he is a weekly patron of Hilton.

But then maybe we are saved by different understanding on nomenclatures. What is understood by the American justice system as bribery may not be understood as such by our justice system.

Alcatel Malaysia's boss at that material time, Norraesah MOhamad may say, the total USD 700k was for payment for services actually rendered. The term services is open ended. Maybe it was payment to cut grass at Alcatel Malaysia's rooftop. Stupidity is, as we remember not a crime you know. So what if Alcatel Malaysia wants to pay USD700k to the two consultants to cut grass as Alcatel Malaysia's office rooftop or to feed the Arowana fishes?

We shall then of course have to establish what were the components of services rendered- whether it was for getting confidential information that places Alcatel Malaysia in an unfair bidding position or some innocent act?

For example, I would certainly blow my head off as a competitor to Alcatel if I know, for example, Alcatel Malaysia knows at what price I bidded. That would allow Alcatel Malaysia to offer a better financial package. But I will not mind at all if the payments were for services rendered to feed the prized Arowana fishes. I would however think that Dr Norraesah may have gone off her rockers.

If the information accords Alcatel unfair advantage that was secured through bribery, then that is a different matter. For that matter, the services rendered by the two consultants may even amount to selling state secrets which are treasonable. Treason is punishable by death. Maybe Tort lawyers van ferret out the details how to nail Alcatel Malaysia and the two consultants.

I say nail Alcatel because, it's illogical for us to reject what the US justice system has determined as bribery to be not that by our justice system. I refuse to accept our justice system is that primitive.

In facts revealed, between 2004-2006 Alcatel actually paid bribes to government officials in Malaysia. They said they bribed. They bribed their way to get strategic information to secure a USD 85 million deal for Alcatel to supply products and system for 3G phone services. The end user was Celcom but the parent company then was TM who decides who gets what through the tender board committee.

Who owns TM then? It was 43% owned by MOF who had veto power and that power includes decisions on expenditure and operational decisions. I suppose that included who to give the business too.

Let us get clearer a bit. From 2004-2007, Alcatel Malaysia headed by Dr Norraesah MOahmd paid bribes to employees of TM in exchange for confidential information including information on the prices offered by Alcatel's other competitors.

if I were a member of TM's investigative committee I would as further action, establish the role played by the CEO of TM then who was among those insisting on Alcatel being brought on board despite Alcatel's less than favorable technical accreditation. He was adamant even. Wahid Omar must certainly be called in to explain.

Then my next question which I am sure the public wants to know, what happened to the system and stuff supplied by Alcatel? I heard it didn't work. A few years back Alcatel bought into Nortel ( the American telecommunications vendor) and is now offering Celcom the use of Nortel's system. But Nortel's system and components are also not technically fit for Celcom's purposes. The last I heard, Celcom is suing Alcatel for late delivery and commissioning.

But if what Alcatel wanted to offer was technically unsound right from the beginning, why was it accepted at all? And the more important question, who were the people insisting on accepting Alcatel?

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