Wednesday, July 27, 2005


memang dah tua tapi belum nyanyuk lagi Posted by Picasa

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jiGOMorrison said...

Utusan Malaysia (27 Julai 2005)
"Kenyataan Rafidah tidak benar" -- Kerap berubah beri penjelasan soal AP tanpa asas kukuh - Mahathir
Oleh FAUZI JAAFAR

KUALA LUMPUR 26 Julai - Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad menegaskan, Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz, telah membuat kenyataan tidak benar berhubung isu permit import (AP).

Sebagai contoh, katanya, Rafidah mengeluarkan kenyataan yang sentiasa berubah-ubah mengenai jumlah serta peratusan AP tanpa sebarang asas yang kukuh sehingga ia kelihatan seolah-olah satu misteri.

Bekas Perdana Menteri yang juga Penasihat Proton Holdings Bhd. itu melahirkan rasa `tidak gembira' dengan penjelasan kelulusan AP dan perangkaan-perangkaan yang diberikan oleh menteri berkenaan pada Perhimpunan Agung UMNO, Sabtu lalu.

"Saya tak gembira dengan masalah AP, malah lebih banyak kereta import asing di bawa masuk dengan mudah. Ada kalanya jumlahnya sampai 14,000 unit, 15,000 unit dan 45,000 unit.

"Mereka keluarkan AP sehingga 10 peratus kepada apa? Pada satu masa dia kata (jumlah AP sampai) 10 peratus daripada kereta yang dibina dalam Malaysia, pada satu masa 10 peratus pasaran kereta.

"Pasaran kereta adalah besar daripada jumlah kereta. Jadi 10 peratus untuk apa? Ia kekal misteri," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian pada satu sidang akhbar khas di Menara Berkembar Petronas, di sini hari ini.

Sehubungan itu, kata Dr. Mahathir, beliau akan mengeluarkan kenyataan dan surat yang diterima daripada Rafidah kerana mendapati nama syarikat yang tidak lengkap, bilangan anak syarikat, jumlah AP dan sebagainya.

"Saya cuma berminat pada kebenaran, saya tak kisah jika ada orang yang marah pada saya, orang sayang saya, saya cuma berminat dengan kebenaran, kerana ia memberi kesan kepada kereta nasional," katanya.

Kemelut AP bermula apabila Dr. Mahathir dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Proton, Tengku Tan Sri Mahaleel Tengku Ariff, mempertikaikan lambakan kereta asing sehingga menjejaskan penguasaan pasaran Proton.

Kemuncak kepada isu itu, kerajaan membuat keputusan mendedahkan nama-nama pemilik AP.

Semalam, Lembaga Pengarah Proton membuat keputusan untuk tidak memperbaharui kontrak Tengku Mahaleel yang tamat pada 30 September ini.

Pada sidang akhbar hari ini, Dr. Mahathir berkata, pertelingkahan mengenai isu AP bukanlah perbezaan kenyataan antara mana-mana individu atau antara menteri dengan pesara (dirinya sendiri).

Sebaliknya, katanya, ia adalah berkenaan sebuah perusahaan nasional yang membela agenda bumiputera.

Katanya, ramai yang mendakwa menganggapnya seperti bapa mereka, sedangkan beliau tidak cukup tua untuk itu.

"Ramai orang cakap benda baik-baik dengan saya, tapi sebaliknya lawan saya, kemudian kalah dan saya tidak dendam.

"Saya ambil ambil mereka dalam Kabinet, saya naikkan balik," jelas beliau.

Sehubungan itu katanya, itulah lumrah politik dan beliau tidak pernah rasa kecewa dengan apa yang berlaku.

Dr. Mahathir turut mengeluarkan satu kenyataan 21 perkara bagi menjawab kenyataan Rafidah berhubung pemberian AP.

Menurut kenyataan itu, matlamat asal pemberian AP bertujuan meningkatkan bilangan bumiputera dalam industri kereta.

Bagaimanapun, katanya, pemberian AP telah mengntungkan segelintir bumiputera, terutama apabila dua tiga orang yang tidak ada kedai (bilik pameran) mendapat beribu-ribu AP.

Antara isu yang dipertikaikan, katanya, ialah semasa beliau menjadi Perdana Menteri, kerajaan tidak pernah membuat sebarang keputusan untuk tidak mengisytiharkan nama-nama pemegang AP kepada orang ramai.

"Mungkin kerajaan sekarang telah membuat keputusan ini.

"Soalnya ialah apakah keputusan ini dibuat sebelum atau selepas menteri berkenaan membuat kenyataan bahawa dasar kerajaan tidak membenarkan nama-nama pemegang AP diumumkan," katanya.

jiGOMorrison said...

Berita Harian (27 Julai 2005)

"Rafidah tak cakap benar": Tun Dr Mahathir pertikai penjelasan isu AP pada Perhimpunan Agung Umno
Oleh Misiah Taib

KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad mempertikaikan penjelasan Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz, berhubung isu permit import (AP) kereta pada hari terakhir Perhimpunan Agung Umno, Sabtu lalu.

Bekas Perdana Menteri yang juga Penasihat Proton, berkata beliau perlu membuat penjelasan kerana mendakwa Rafidah tidak membuat kenyataan yang benar berkaitan isu berkenaan.

"Menteri mendakwa bahawa saya mungkin sudah lupa itu dan ini. Walaupun saya sudah berusia 80 tahun, saya belum lagi nyanyuk“ - Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Bekas Perdana Menteri

"Pada Perhimpunan Agung Umno, menteri buat beberapa dakwaan tidak benar. Juga pada temuramah televisyen, menteri mendakwa saya mungkin sudah lupa itu dan ini. Walaupun saya berusia 80 tahun, saya belum lagi nyanyuk.

"Pada mulanya setelah menjawab surat menteri dengan salinan kepada Kabinet, saya tidak berhajat untuk membuat apa-apa kenyataan lagi. Terpulanglah kepada Kabinet untuk menentukan apakah yang benar dan tidak benar.

"Tetapi oleh kerana menteri tidak membuat kenyataan yang benar kepada perwakilan Umno dan orang ramai, maka terpaksalah saya membuat penjelasan,” katanya dalam kenyataan 21 perkara yang dikeluarkan di sini, petang semalam.

Antara perkara yang dipertikaikan ialah dakwaan kononnya kerajaan membuat keputusan tidak mengisytiharkan nama pemegang AP.

Dr Mahathir berkata, ketika beliau menjadi Perdana Menteri tidak ada keputusan dibuat kerajaan untuk tidak mengisytiharkan nama pemegang AP.

"Mungkin kerajaan sekarang membuat keputusan ini. Soalnya ialah apakah keputusan ini dibuat sebelum atau selepas menteri membuat kenyataan bahawa dasar kerajaan tidak membenarkan nama pemegang AP diumumkan," katanya.

Dr Mahathir turut mempersoalkan mengapa Rafidah tidak menamakan Menteri Perdagangan dan Industri ketika itu yang didakwa berlaku ramai pemegang AP tidak memenuhi syarat.

"Saya pernah menjadi Menteri Perdagangan dan Industri, tetapi penjelasan Rafidah bahawa apabila beliau mengambil alih kementerian ramai yang diberi AP tidak memenuhi syarat dan beliau membatalkan AP mereka, mencerminkan ketegasan menteri ketika itu.

"Siapakah Menteri Perdagangan dan Industri yang mendahului YB Menteri sekarang? Jika tidak disebut mungkin ada memikir sayalah orangnya," katanya.

Beliau berkata, berbeza dengan matlamat asal pemberian AP yang bertujuan meningkatkan bilangan Bumiputera dalam industri kereta, pemberian AP kini hanya menguntungkan segelintir Bumiputera, terutama apabila dua tiga orang yang tidak ada bilik pameran mendapat beribu-ribu AP.

Katanya, perkelahian mengenai isu AP bukan perbezaan kenyataan antara individu atau menteri dan pesara (dirinya sendiri), sebaliknya berkaitan perusahaan nasional.

"Saya terpaksa mendedah sepenuhnya kerana kepentingan perusahaan negara. Bukan seperti yang didakwa oleh seorang penulis akhbar berbahasa Inggeris kerana saya tidak dapat AP.

"Saya sudah terima surat penjelasan Rafidah. Saya dapati isi kandungan surat berkenaan serta lampiran tidak menjadi bukti akan kebenaran dakwaan Menteri berkenaan iaitu kelulusan Naza Ria menjadi kereta nasional, jumlah AP yang dikeluarkan pada 2004-2005, asas dan syarat untuk keluaran AP, jenis AP yang dikeluarkan, nama mereka yang mendapat AP dan jumlahnya," katanya.

Dr Mahathir berkata, beliau tidak iri hati dengan orang Melayu yang menjadi kaya tetapi kejayaan mereka hendaklah dengan jalan yang sah.

"Saya berkali-kali menegur mereka yang menjual AP untuk kaya cepat. Ternampak jelas yang penjualan AP berleluasa sekarang. Adalah menjadi tanggungjawab seorang menteri untuk memerhati keadaan supaya sebarang penyelewengan tidak berlaku," katanya.

jiGOMorrison said...

New Straits Times (27 July 2005)

Proton and APs: Dr M explains
TUN DR MAHATHIR MOHAMAD Kuala Lumpur

I AM providing this explanation as the newspapers and television may not report the facts in full.
The Proton issue is not one of differing statements between individuals or a quarrel between a minister and a retiree. It is about a national enterprise.

At a time when many automobile industries, for example, Austin, Morris, MG-Rover and others, have closed down, and giant companies such as General Motors and Chrysler have gone bankrupt, Proton is alive and well, owning over RM2 billion in cash and investing over RM2 billion in its new plant in Tanjung Malim without depending on the Government or banks.

Surely, part of this success is the result of effective management, the more so given the large number of foreign cars and the low prices at which they have been imported.

APs (Approved Permits) were first issued in the 1970s, before Proton came into being. At that time, the Malays were not able to enter the car business because its agents, such as Kah Motors (Honda), UMW (Toyota) and Cycle and Carriage (Mercedes), comprised non- Bumiputera.

They refused to give Bumiputera traders any opportunities.

Cars assembled here or imported by official agents/ dealers/importers could not be brought in by others without payment of an "over-riding" commission to the appointed agent.

That is why APs were issued for reconditioned cars. Although there were many Bumiputeras who sold their APs, there were those who succeeded in this field.

Among them is Tan Sri S.M. Nasimuddin S.M. Amin. Without APs, it was not likely that there would be Bumiputera car businessmen before Proton came along.

When Proton rolled out, many Bumiputeras succeeded as sales agents for Proton cars.

Proton succeeded in reducing the import of foreign-made cars by non-Bumiputera agents. The higher the demand for Proton cars, the greater will be the number of Bumiputera agents and the more they will sell.

On the other hand, when more APs were given to a select few Bumiputeras who were not prepared to venture into this business, surely the number of Bumiputera car dealers would not increase and the sales of Proton by its Bumiputera agents would not be high.

Besides, the price of foreign cars imported using APs is too low, resulting in bigger discounts and thus higher sales for these models. At the same time, the number of Proton agents did not increase.

Clearly, the issuance of APs only profits a select group of Bumiputeras at the expense of Proton agents, especially the Bumiputeras, and reduces the chances of other Bumiputeras to become Proton dealers.

It is not true that the issuance of a large number of APs will increase the number of Bumiputeras in the car business, especially when two or three people who were given thousands of APs did not even have showrooms.

In the past, holders of open APs were allowed to import various brands. When the franchise APs were introduced, only those who succeeded in securing a franchise were allowed to import the brand concerned.

Those who were allowed to bring in cars using the open APs could no longer import that brand. The recipients of the franchise were not car dealers but former ministry officials.

They obtained thousands of APs although they did not have the facilities to assemble or sell the cars. They only hand these over (with some payment) to those who could assemble and sell this particular make.

The question of Proton’s quality does not arise as Proton has managed to penetrate developed markets like the United Kingdom and Australia.

But new models are bound to have some defects. Tens of thousands of vehicles of renowned brands have been withdrawn due to certain defects. These include Mitsubishi, Chevrolet, Ford and others.

This explanation is made to defend the dignity and interests of the country and a successful national enterprise. I have no vested interest in Proton. I do not receive a single sen as Proton’s adviser.

If my son received a small number of APs (95) for Porsche cars, it was in accordance with the regulations. It is not easy to sell 50 of these cars. Please don’t, as in the past, implicate my family when something that is not supposed to be done was committed.

I am forced to reveal this for the sake of the nation’s industry, not because I did not get APs, as alleged by a writer in an English daily.

I have received an explanation letter from the International Trade and Industry Ministry. I find that its contents and attachments did not provide proof of the minister’s allegations:

i) The approval for Naza Ria as a national car;

ii) The number of APs issued in 2004-2005;

iii) The basis and conditions for the issuance of APs;

iv) The type of APs issued;

v) The names of those (companies and individuals) who obtained APs and the number that went to each of them.

In the Umno general assembly, the minister made several allegations that weren’t true. In a television interview, the minister also said that I may have forgotten this or that. I may be 80 years old but I am not yet senile.

Initially, after replying to the minister, with a copy sent to the Cabinet, I did not intend to make any further statements. It is up to Cabinet to decide what is true and what is not. But because the minister did not provide a truthful explanation to the Umno delegates and the public, I am forced to clarify.

When I was the Prime Minister, there was no decision by the Government not to announce the AP recipients to the public. Perhaps the present Government has made this decision.

The question is, was the decision made before or after the minister announced that it had not been the Government’s policy to reveal the names of AP recipients?

I was once the Minister of Trade and Industry. The minister’s statement that she found many who had been given APs without qualifying for them when she took over the ministry, and subsequently revoked them, showed her firmness at the time.

Who was the predecessor to the present International Trade and Industry Minister? If it is not mentioned, many people will think that it was me.

Although there is no restriction on newly retired officers (optional retirement) from being given special opportunities by the Government, questions are being raised on why this former officer, despite not fulfilling the requirements, was given thousands of APs.

We know that many car dealers, including members of the Malaysian Malay Vehicle Dealers and Importers, requested for APs but did not get them. They were also not informed of the franchise APs from exporters, which would qualify them for a large number of APs.

The introduction of this category of AP was not openly announced to car dealers. All of a sudden, this category was introduced and only a select group of people received a large number of APs in this category. AP recipients who in the past imported franchise brands were no longer allowed to import them.

I am not envious of the rich Malays. But they should prosper through legitimate means. I time and again reprimanded those who sell APs to get rich quickly. It is evident that APs are being openly sold. It is the responsibility of the minister to monitor the situation so that there is no abuse.

The details of the correspondence with the relevant parties will be made available in due time to avoid any dispute.

jiGOMorrison said...

New Straits Times (27 July 2005)

Vintage Mahathir

While he was prime minister for 22 years until his retirement in 2003, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad would engage in sarcasm mode and make biting comments when he was upset about something.

Now almost 22 months into retirement, journalists saw a repeat of this yesterday at a Press conference called by Dr Mahathir to comment on the removal of Tengku Mahaleel Tengku Ariff as chief executive officer of Proton.

The onslaught he unleashed was vintage Mahathir — striking, battering and in no uncertain terms making clear his anger, displeasure and disappointment with all whom he blamed for the decision on Mahaleel.

For instance, he said he would not use the word "dismiss" to describe Tengku Mahaleel’s removal from the job, lest he be "sued for libel".

But in the next breath, when asked whether he would stay on as adviser of Proton, his reply was: "Unless I’m dismissed."

His confidence seemed supreme, just as Malaysians saw and heard him before he retired.

Journalists were at the receiving end of Dr Mahathir’s sharp tongue when he was asked whether he believed that "powerful hands" were behind Mahaleel’s removal.

His reply: "That is up to the Press to presume, because the Press is a free Press. They report everything I say verbatim."

The former prime minister’s other comments:

On the removal of Mahaleel as chairman of Proton subsidiaries:

"The chairman of the holding company (Datuk Azlan Hashim) is (now) also chairman of the subsidiaries. This poses some problem because the chairman of the subsidiaries normally reports to the holding company.

"So, it would mean that the chairman is reporting to himself. Of course, this may be ‘best practices’ (as specified by Bursa Malaysia). I wouldn’t know."

On whether Proton Holdings chairman Datuk Azlan Hashim had told him who would replace Mahaleel:

"No name was mentioned. He said something about head-hunting (hiring a company to search for a qualified executive). Maybe he (Azlan) is from Sarawak."

(In the old days, Sarawak’s native Dayaks used to collect and display their enemies’ heads in their longhouses.)

On whether he was satisfied with Rafidah’s reply on the AP issue:

"I will give all the facts plus the letters that I received and the letters that I hid. I will give them in instalments."

(Former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had claimed he had "six boxes" of documents proving corruption in the Government and had hidden them in a safe place. He had then claimed he would release the documents in instalments.)

On Rafidah’s comments at the Umno assembly that she considered Dr Mahathir "a father":

"I regard all the ladies in this country as my daughters. I’m old enough to be their father."

On the sharp rise in Proton shares on news of Mahaleel’s removal:

"Maybe they (investors) are happy that Tengku Mahaleel was removed."

Korakora said...

Ha ha ha habisDAH

Anonymous said...

http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=10354

verbatim Q&A session..

Anonymous said...

Kek yang kecil direbut-rebut menjadi habuk. (Tok R)

sinaganaga said...

Rimau,
Kek tu besarlah! Cuma, kau dan aku tidak dibenarkan untuk makan kek tu. So, kita makan roti canai + kuah sardin bawang lebih je...

lilo said...

dr m still the best prime minister ever...pak lah done nothing.. still doing nothing...setua tua che det...dia tetap hebat...

spyz said...

bila dr m bersara, sorang kolumnis majalah tulis 'adalah satu cabaran besar menjadi 'bekas perdana menteri'. dr m pun pernah kata dlm sebuah wawancara akhbar "kadang2 bila ada isu negara, saya rasa nak bercakap.. sangat2.. tapi saya kena tutup mulut sbb saya dah tak ada kuasa dan akan mengganggu pentadbiran kerajaan..'(lebih kurang camtu laaa..). hishamudin pun pernah cakap.. hussin onn pun pernah merasa apa yg dr m hadapi skrg..