2 theSun | WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 24 2008

news without borders

Ungku Aziz shows some

documents during the
press conference.
Ungku Aziz wants swift action
on Angkasa ‘irregularities’
by Faith Labunda
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
KUALA LUMPUR: National Cooperative
Organisation of Malaysia (Angkasa) presi-
dent Royal Professor Ungku Aziz Ungku
Abdul Hamid yesterday demanded swift
action from Cooperative Commission of
Malaysia (CCM) in the probe on alleged
irregularities within Angkasa.
“I am upset with the lack of enthu-
siastic response and the avoidance of
any reasonable reactions on the matter
by CCM. The observance of financial
and administrative irregularities in the
processing of loan approvals and repay-
ment deductions in Angkasa, highlighted
in an internal investigation report sub-
mitted to CCM, is serious.
“About RM20 million is at stake daily,”
Ungku Aziz said at a press conference.
The internal probe was carried out by
an Angkasa administrative committee on
Jan 25 and its findings were presented to
the CCM on Oct 23 and Nov 18. However, to
date, no apparent action has been taken.
Ungku Aziz attributed five events to the
continuing “saga of indifference”. They are:
» The secret Concorde Conspiracy (a
meeting by a group of Angkasa manage-
ment members);
» The unjust suspension of the general
manager from his post on March 24;
» The improper restructuring of two
departments in Angkasa – the finance
manager had his responsibilities dimin-
ished, the Angkasa Service Bureau (ASB)
chairman replaced and a new post of
ASB acting manager created;
» The erosion of duties by the head of
security assurance; and
» The approval of allowances amount-
ing to between RM15,000 and RM25,000
each to core management members be-
tween March 24 and May 5 when Ungku
Aziz was removed from office.
Ungku Aziz said the Concorde Con-
spiracy involved the misuse of member
signatures to remove him as Angkasa
president. He was later declared the
legitimate president by CCM on May 5.
The signatures were originally given
in a bid to revoke the suspension of two
office bearers, pending investigations.
“Why was the list of signatures used
for the removal of the president when it
was initially stated that it was to be used
for a letter of appeal to the president to
revoke the suspension of the two office
bearers? These questions can only be
answered by a prompt and thorough
investigation,” Ungku Aziz said.
“The relevant authorities concerned
should conduct a thorough investigation
into the Concorde Conspiracy and the
investigation reports dated Oct 23 and
Nov 18. If offences or irregularities had
taken place, then action must be taken
promptly and without fear or favour.
“It is of paramount importance that
the interest of Angkasa and its members
be protected at all times,” he said.

Low says MB has other plans for her

» From Front Page
Ibrahim in protest. PAS assem-
blymen also took up the issue,
saying the post should be held
by a Malay.
When met after the press con-
ference, Low, whose services in
the company has been extended
for a year starting November, said
the issue had been resolved as
the six associations later issued
an apology to the mentri besar.
Low said she received full
cooperation from the staff of
PKNS at all levels and had no
problems whatsoever over the
two-month period she served as
acting general manager.
“Now it is my duty to show
Othman the ropes and to famil-
iarise him with the culture and
workings of the company when
he joins in February.”
Asked about her plans after
she completes this task and
ends her service in PKNS, Low
said: “I believe the MB has other
plans for me.”
However, she scoffed at the
idea that this involved her taking
charge of another state GLC, say-
ing: “I had already created one
issue and I don’t want to start
another one.”
At the press conference to an-
nounce the appointment, Abdul
Khalid said: “Othman was chosen
based on his vast experience in
the property development and
real estate sector. These range
from low-cost housing to mega
projects and the state feels his
experience will be useful to new
PKNS housing projects in Petaling
Jaya, Kajang and Klang.”
Othman, meanwhile, said he
has many plans for PKNS includ-
ing the inculcation of a corporate
culture in the organisation, im-
proving the delivery system and
providing value added services to
the public and increasing the ben-
efits to stakeholders and staff.
Othman has 25 years of ex-
perience in the construction and
property industry in Malaysia,
Australia and United Kingdom.
He received his secondary
education at Maktab Rendah
Sains Mara, Seremban where he
was later awarded a scholarship
to study at Hobart Matriculation
College, Tasmania. He received
his Bachelor in Civil Engineering
from the University of Tasmania.
He worked on a few property
developments in Perak and was
awarded a scholarship to study
and work with Geroge Wimpey
PLC on building and property de-
velopment projects in England.
Upon his return, he joined En-
ergoprojekt which worked on the
Shah Alam main outdoor stadium.
Najib shakes hands
with Perak Mentri Besar
Datuk Seri Mohammad
Nizar Jamaluddin after
the National Land
Council meeting.

State has right to decide: Guan Eng

» From Front Page
all states, he added.
In IPOH, senior state executive councillor
Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham told reporters the issuance
of freehold land titles for such villages would be
implemented in compliance with the NLP.
“I agree with Najib that the issuing of perma-
nent titles under the NLP was only for purpose
of land use by the federal government for public
interests and certain limited specific purposes.
“But we also have a criteria called keadaan
khas (special circumstances) to approve land
for such a titles. The new and planned villages
programmes meet the conditions under the
special circumstances purpose because the
previous government had denied the rights of
some residents to obtain permanent titles, while
residents in other areas got it.”
He said the Barisan Nasional government had
denied residents in the affected villages of their
rights for more than 50 years, adding that it was
an injustice which the current Pakatan Rakyat
state government was hoping to rectify.
In GEORGE TOWN, Chief Minister Lim Guan
Eng told a press conference that state govern-
ments still have the right to decide on policies
regarding state land. He said land matters and
the local government are directly under the
purview of state governments.
“If the state government is not given the space
to decide on land matters, this will limit or may
even end up with the federal government taking
over the state government’s right to decide on
any land matter in the state,” he said.
On another state land matter, Lim said the gov-
ernment had yet to decide on two new policies to
allow conversion of the leasehold titles of low-cost
and low-medium cost flats to freehold without
needing the owners to pay a land premium, and
to allow owners of residential landed properties to
convert leasehold properties to freehold.
He said under Article 91 of the Federal Con-
stitution, whatever policies the NLC wanted to
implement will need to be done through discus-
sions with the respective state governments.
Lim, who attended the NLC’s annual general
meeting in Putrajaya before flying back to Penang,
said he will hold a meeting with the state land
committee to make a final decision on this issue.
“We have not decided whether to go ahead
with the two new policies. We have noted the
statement made by Najib and we will look into
it before deciding. We have decided to come up
with a report or presentation for the next NLC
meeting. I will announce a decision soon.”