GLCs rapped
CEOs of government-linked companies (GLCs) came under fire for their no-show at an economic congress aimed at moving Malays forward in trade and business. Umno Youth leader Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein agreed with the delegates that the CEOs had not taken the congress seriously.
Delegates lament no-show of CEOs at economic congress
By SHAHANAAZ HABIB and IZATUN SHARI
KUALA LUMPUR: The top brass of government-linked companies (GLCs) came under fire for their no-show at an economic congress here aimed at moving Malays forward in trade and business.
Several delegates made caustic remarks against the absent CEOs, questioning why they were not present at the Jihad Ekonomi Melayu (Malay Economic Struggle) congress.
One delegate quoted a CEO as saying at a recent meeting that he did not “give a damn” about replacing his Malay suppliers with non-Malay ones.
Another delegate rapped a GLC chairman for refusing to give an appointment to see him “for even a minute”.
The two-day congress, which ended yesterday, was jointly organised by the umbrella body Gagasan Badan Ekonomi Malayu (Gabem), Umno Youth and the Muslim missionary foundation Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi opened the gathering on Friday.
On the same night, Gabem chairman Tan Sri Rahim Tamby Chik headed a forum attended by representatives of Khazanah Nasional, Telekom Malaysia (TM) and Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), which gave a token presence of the GLCs at the gathering.
Responding to the criticisms against the GLCs, Umno Youth leader Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and his deputy, Khairy Jamaluddin, agreed with the delegates that the CEOs had not taken the congress seriously.
Speaking to reporters after presenting a paper on Paradigm Shift and the Malay Agenda, Khairy said it did not give a good impression of the GLC top guns when they did not show up at the event in which the Malay prime movers of the economy were present.
“We are insulted,” he said, adding that since it was an important congress and opened by the Prime Minister, the CEOs should find the time to come.
To a question, he said: “To be frank, I feel they look down on initiatives like this because it comes from the grassroots, the (Malay) Chamber of Commerce and Umno.”
When it was suggested that the CEOs were all his friends, Khairy said: “If they were my friends, they would have come.”
Hishammuddin, who closed the event, told reporters that the CEOs could have rescheduled their appointments to be with the Malay entrepreneurs.
Asked whether he was as upset, he said: “I am merely reminding them (the CEOs).”
Source; The Star Online
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Front Page; The Star (11/03/07)
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Front Page; The Star (10/03/07)
Altantuya murder trial brought forward
EARLIER TRIAL: The Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial has been brought forward to June 4, nine months earlier than its scheduled date. 
By CHELSEA L.Y. NG and CECIL FUNG
SHAH ALAM: The Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial has been brought forward to June 4, nine months earlier than its scheduled date.
Judicial Commissioner Mohd Zaki Md Yasin, who took over the case from a more senior judge, Justice K.N. Segara, said the court was inclined to start the trial as early as next month.
It however had to settle for the June date because lawyers for the two policemen charged with the murder of the Mongolian beauty, requested for time to prepare their defence.
Lawyer Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin, who appeared for Kpl Sirul Azhar Umar, had asked for the trial to start in May or June while Zulkifli Noordin, who acted for C/Insp Azilah Hadri, was adamant that the case be heard from June 4.
“Please give us time to prepare the defence to avoid future hiccups,” Zulkifli said.
“We want extra time to prepare but not KK (Wong). If possible, he would want the trial to start tomorrow,” Zulkifli said, referring to Counsel Wong Kian Kheong, who appeared for the third person implicated in the case, political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda.
Wong then quipped that he had wanted the trial to start “last week.”
“I was given strict instructions by my client to get the earliest possible date because he wants to be vindicated as soon as possible,” Wong said.
The judge then asked DPP Salehuddin Saidin how many days he needed for the trial, to which the prosecutor said he had about 40 witnesses and needed about a month.
The DPP also said he was ready to conduct the case.
When the judge suggested that the trial be fixed in May instead of April, Zulkifli again stood his ground.
This prompted the judge to remark: “You seem to want a later date when the defence counsel usually asks for an earlier trial.”
Wong, who agreed with the judge, then tried to get up to say something but was asked by a smiling Zulkifli not to reply. This drew laughter from the public gallery.
The judge finally fixed the June 4 date but warned all parties that he would not entertain any request for further postponement.
Earlier, DPP Salehuddin also raised the issue of Razak replacing his solicitors Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill with the law firm Norendra & Yap.
He said that Dhiren Rene Norendra, who is a partner in the new firm of solicitors, was a potential witness in the case and he was concerned about future complications.
Wong explained that he was the counsel in the case but he would advise Razak to change his solicitors again.
Source: The Star Online