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RM338,000 spent on sports event
EVERYONE GOT FOUR PAIRS OF TRACKSUIT, INQUIRY TOLD
by Tan Yi Liang
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
SHAH ALAM: More than RM338,000 was spent
on a Bakti sporting event hosted by Balkis, the
wives of Selangor elected representatives char-
ity and welfare organisation, in August 2007, an
inquiry heard yesterday.
Bakti is the association for the wives of cabinet
ministers and deputy ministers.
The amount included RM131,000 spent on
sporting attire, Datin Khairiyah Abu Hassan, chief
executive officer of the state-owned Permodalan
Negeri Selangor Bhd (PNSB), told the Selangor
State Assembly’s Select Committee on Compe-
tency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat)
investigating execesses by Balkis.
“The sportswear purchased by PNSB were
tracksuits for 400 people and 180 liaison officers
and everyone got four pairs,” Khairiyah, continu-
ing her testimony from Tuesday, said.
She said the attire was originally provided
by the Malaysian Sports Council (MSN) but had
failed to meet the criteria set by Balkis.
“MSN should have supplied the sportswear but
as they did not meet the Balkis specification, we
were directed to buy new ones,” she said.
Three deputies for
all police heads
by Charles Ramendran
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
KUALA LUMPUR: All police heads at federal,
state and district level may have three depu-
ties to enable them to focus on the areas of
intelligence gathering, law enforcement, and
internal administration.
This is part of the restructuring of the police,
initiated two years ago, to reform and create a
force of integrity.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa
Hassan said yesterday that if the plan is realised,
he would have three deputy IGPs, and also the
same number of deputy CPOs and OCPDs for
each state and district, respectively.
Speaking during the 202nd Police Day cel-
ebration at the Police Training Centre, attended
by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi and Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed
Hamid Albar, he added that the responsibilities
of the seven police departments will also be
delegated to five new departments.
If this materialises, the police will have 12
departments.
Musa also said a committee within the
force, which will have two sections – for crime
investigations and prevention planning – led by
him, has also been formed at the federal level
to counter and reduce the crime rates.
Khairiyah said only three sports were or-
ganised for the games – telematch, bowling and
badminton.
State Speaker Teng Chang Khim, chairing the
committee, commented that it was not the norm
for organisers to provide the apparel for sporting
events.
“The total amount, RM338,000, looks like (it
is for) a big sporting event but only telematches
(were played). And if we look at other sporting
events, the contingents have to prepare their own
sportswear, while here, the organisers are supply-
ing it,” he said.
Khairiyah corrected Teng and said the amount
also covered purchases, such as packed meals,
for helpers in the three-day games, including the
drivers, police and other staff .
Khairiyah was also asked about a trip by Datin
Zahrah Kechik, the wife of former Selangor men-
tri besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo, to
visit her son in Melbourne in December 2007.
She said she had received instructions directly
from Zahrah for PNSB to foot the bill for the trip
and to accompany her on the three-day visit.
More than RM14,000 was spent to buy return
business class and economy class air tickets, she
said, adding that the trip was not an official one.
At the Dewan Rakyat yesterday
Kit Siang ejected for ‘power crazy’ remark
IPOH Timur MP Lim Kit Siang was ejected from Par-
liament yesterday for calling Umno “power crazy”.
Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee made the
decision after the DAP stalwart refused to retract
the words despite repeated requests.
Lim argued that he was not breaking any rules
as the words did not offend any race, and continued
calling Umno “power crazy”.
Kiandee disagreed, saying the words caused
much hurt to the many Umno members in parlia-
ment.
“I don’t want to act but if you persist, then you
are going against my order. I have no choice but to
eject YB from this dewan until 1pm,” he said.
The last time Lim was ejected from parliament
Bill approved after MPs vote twice
THE Human Rights Commission (Amendment) Bill
2009 was passed after having faced numerous chal-
lenges, including undergoing voting twice, at the
policy and committee stages.
The first bloc voting was taken when the op-
position members voiced objections during the
debate at the policy stage on the grounds that
they were not given sufficient space to debate it
comprehensively.
theSun | THURSDAY MARCH 26 2009
Wong’s leave extended
until April 15
SHAH ALAM: The Selangor State Execu-
tive Council meeting yesterday decided to
extend the leave for Elizabeth Wong until
April 15, to facilitate the investigation into
the release of semi-nude pictures of her
on the Internet.
Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim
did not rule out the possibility this extension
of leave for Wong would be the last before
a final decision on her position as the state
executive councillor in charge of tourism,
consumer affairs and environment, and
Bukit Lanjan state assemblyman.
Wong, 37, offered to resign from both
positions on Feb 17 after the photographs
emerged online. She had taken a long
leave of absence, which ended on March
15. – Bernama
Arrest warrant for former
boyfriend
KUALA LUMPUR: Police obtained a court
warrant for the arrest of Elizabeth
Wong’s former boyfriend yesterday
after he failed to turn up to be inter-
viewed by them despite being given
more than a month to do so.
Kuala Lumpur CID chief SAC II Ku
Chin Wah said police will continue to
look for the man, who is being sought
to assist in the investigation into the
release of semi-nude photos of Wong.
Abdullah
gives the
thumbs-up
after
test-driving
the police
Mitsubishi
Evolution
X (Evo-10)
patrol car.
BERNAMAPIX
Dewan Rakyat
adjourns after
was in the 1990s when he was suspended for eight
months. passing nine bills
Lim’s persistence had prompted members from THE first meeting of the second
both sides to exchange some harsh words, including session of the 12th Parliament,
Datuk Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan), that began on Feb 16, adjourned
who called the Opposition “rude”. sine die yesterday.
Earlier, an argument broke out when Dr Mohd The meeting, which was to
Puad Zarkashi (BN-Batu Pahat) said Lim was have ended on March 19, lasted
inconsistent on the Human Rights Commission 22 days after it was extended
(Amendment) 2009 Bill for preventing its debate for three days to enable bills and
despite knowing the importance. other government business to be
Lim said he was not preventing debate on the bill concluded.
but was questioning the hurriedness as members The Dewan Rakyat passed nine
did not have enough time to study the amendments. bills– the Supplementary Supply Bill
– Bernama (2008) 2009, Supplementary Supply
Bill (2009) 2009, Witness Protection
Bill 2008, Income Tax (Amendment)
Bill 2009, Criminal Procedure Code
Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku (Amendment) Bill 2008, Fees (Na-
Jaafar proposed a bloc vote to be taken and 45 tional Agricultural Training Council)
Barisan Nasional MPs voted for it against 39 from (Validation) Bill 2009, Continental
the Opposition. Shelf (Amendment) Bill 2009, Pri-
Not satisfied, the Opposition tried again to pre- vate Higher Education Institutions
vent the bill from going through at the committee (Amendment) Bill 2008, and Human
stage and when a further bloc vote was taken, it was Rights Commission (Amendment)
50 against 39 this time in favour of the government Bill 2009. – Bernama
and, subsequently, the bill was passed.