Zahid Balun Kek Seorang2

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According to a witness, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi received a monthly contribution of between S$200,000 and S$520,000 from 2014 to 2018 in relation to the Foreign Visa System contract.The High Court here was told today that Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) sponsored former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s overseas trips, his wife’s birthday and Hari Raya celebrations.
Former UKSB director Harry Lee said the sponsorship was on top of the monthly contributions from the company from 2014 to 2018. “There were also months that we did not make the monthly payment, but we doubled the payment for the next month, to cover the month that we missed.“I personally did not keep records of the delivery, but I do know that David Tan (administrative manager for UKSB from 2012 to 2018) kept a sort of ledger on the monthly payments, which he would show me from time to time. “I can confirm that I have seen David’s ledger, but I don’t think I would be able to explain the details in it,” he said when reading his witness statement during the examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Abdul Malik Ayob.
Earlier, the 15th prosecution witness told the court that UKSB delivered cash of between S$200,000 and S$520,000 to Zahid on a monthly basis from 2014 to 2018 in relation to the Foreign Visa System (VLN) contract.
The third prosecution witness, former home ministry immigration affairs division deputy secretary Siti Jalilah Abd Manap, had previously told the court that Zahid had extended the UKSB contract for the VLN project even though the existing contract was valid for three more years. Explaining how the contributions started, Lee said Zahid indicated that he needed them for his political fund and asked the witness to assist him in matters relating to Umno. “What I understood from this request was that Datuk Seri Zahid wanted financial assistance from UKSB. He never mentioned the amount he wanted although he did say that the contribution should be made in cash and in Singapore dollars.
“The cash money was prepared by David Tan. Once ready, David Tan would give me the envelope containing the money and I would make the delivery. “Usually, the three of us – Wan Quoris Shah Wan Abdul Ghani, UKSB director, David Tan and myself would go together to Datuk Seri Zahid’s house, but the handing over of the money is done by one person only.”

Lee said the delivery dates were not set and it would be done at Zahid’s convenience. “Thus, the delivery can take place on any date of the month as decided by Datuk Seri Zahid. The handing over of the money would be done at his residence at night, usually after 10pm, and we would ensure that there were no other visitors at his house before entering. “We would call him first before going to his house. Both his private and official residences had security guards or policemen, but we would always be allowed to go in without the need to report at the guardhouse,” he said.
He added that even though the payments were said to be political contributions, UKSB never made any payments into Umno’s account nor was it issued receipts or any acknowledgment for the payments. Lee also said UKSB would never have given Zahid any money if he had not asked for it. “While it is true that Datuk Seri Zahid did not explicitly ask us to give him money, he never questioned us about the money that we gave and not once did he ever ask us to take back the money,” he said.
The 15th prosecution witness said the first time he met Zahid was in May 2013 at Tawakal Hospital when the Umno president’s son had an accident and was treated there. “It was a short meeting, Wan Quoris and I spoke briefly about our contracts with the home ministry. Datuk Seri Zahid didn’t say much but acknowledged what we told him.”
Zahid, 69, is facing 33 charges of receiving bribes amounting to S$13.56 million from UKSB for himself as home minister to extend the contract of the company as the operator of the One-Stop Centre in China and the VLN system, as well as to maintain the contract agreement to supply the VLN integrated system to the same company by the ministry. For another seven counts, he is charged with obtaining for himself S$1,150,000, RM3 million, €15,000 and US$15,000 from the same company in connection with his official work. He is charged with committing the offences at Seri Satria, Presint 16, Putrajaya, and Country Heights, Kajang, between October 2014 and March 2018. - Bernama
Tajuddin’s diplomatic blunder...
Many Malaysians will agree that the appointment of Tajuddin Abdul Rahman as the Malaysian ambassador to Indonesia is a diplomatic blunder, although Ismail Sabri Yaakob and the bureaucrats in Putrajaya may think otherwise.Why did Ismail risk the unique relationship we share with Indonesia?
Anyone contemplating a career in foreign service, or as a diplomat, needs to be of high integrity and have good judgment. His communication skills should be of a high standard and he must be able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
He should also master at least one foreign language and in his career, may have to learn several other languages.He should possess strong analytical, leadership and organizational skills. So, why was Ismail badly advised when Tajuddin became our man in Jakarta?
Tajuddin lacks the finer points of decent behavior. As ambassador, his duty is to represent the country, but his lack of control over his emotions is potentially embarrassing and extremely damaging. He may risk the cordial relations we have with our neighbor that has taken decades of genuine diplomacy to nurture.
Over many decades, Malaysians were appalled by Tajuddin’s behavior as MP of Pasir Salak. He lacks diplomatic skills and becoming an ambassador is an insult to many Malaysians. The appointment also paints a picture that the leadership in Putrajaya is clueless and insensitive to the needs of both Malaysia and Indonesia.
Tajuddin’s track record of racist rants, sexist comments and tantrums in parliament is well documented in many press reports of both mainstream and alternative media. So, why is he being rewarded for bad behavior with this diplomatic post?
Why were senior career diplomats who are well versed in foreign relations and who have probably majored in international relations, foreign policy, cultural anthropology or sociology, and political science ignored? Did no one care to advise Ismail?

Tajuddin is a bully and time waster. He does not just bring shame to himself, but also to his party, his family and his race. He is so arrogant and does not care when he shows utter contempt for parliament. Why was Ismail badly advised when Tajuddin became our man in Jakarta? His awful behavior can be seen in one of many altercations in the Dewan Rakyat.
In July 2019, Tajuddin asked the then deputy agriculture and agro-based industry minister Sim Tze Tzin about the cash crop program for farmers. Dissatisfied with the deputy’s response, Tajuddin demanded that the minister Salahuddin Ayub provide the answer.
When deputy speaker Nga Kor Ming intervened, Tajuddin became obstructive and embarked on a prolonged slanging match against Nga by repeatedly interrupting parliament’s “question time”. When Nga finally ordered Tajuddin to leave the Dewan Rakyat, he attacked the deputy speaker by saying his face was like a communist. Why should we tolerate MPs who behave like thugs in parliament?
What if in his new role as ambassador Tajuddin lets rip and risks upsetting the Indonesians? He appears to easily lose control of his emotions! Anyone who observes parliamentary proceedings from the viewing chamber would have been appalled by Tajuddin’s antics. He sends out the wrong message to children or young adults who may have seen him on television.
Why should we be surprised? Tajuddin is a career politician, and his behavior is symptomatic of most of Umno-Baru politicians’ intransigence and arrogance. One social political observer said, “We do not need to be reminded that the former chairman of Prasarana is foul-mouthed and shoots from the lips before getting his thoughts in order.
“What was Ismail thinking by appointing Tajuddin as ambassador? One only has to look at his past performance in Prasarana and other GLCs like Felcra to know that his track record is terrible.” Another said, “Why can’t we have a more dynamic person, someone who is younger and not tainted with allegations of racism and corruption?”

This appointment has exposed Ismail’s poor leadership. It looks as if he is rewarding politicians who support him with plum positions. It does not look like he values meritocracy or good performance. Tajuddin was sacked as chairman of Prasarana. Making him an ambassador is like he is rewarding failure. People like Tajuddin also give Muslims a bad name.
On the eve of the Sungai Kandis by-election a few years ago, he told a Malay crowd of around 100 people in Kampung Jawa not to support a “Christian-led” Pakatan government. He lied about a video which featured Christian pastors celebrating Harapan’s victory at GE14. This video did not exist. He lied to influence the vote.
Tajuddin’s sexist credentials were completely overlooked by Ismail, when he chose him to be our ambassador to Indonesia. He should recall how in February 2017 Tajuddin referred to Teresa Kok, the MP for Seputeh, as “the only woman with a kok”.
Like father, like son. So when MP Khalid Samad called Tajuddin “sial” for making these crude and sexist remarks against Teresa and for refusing to apologize for being sexist, Tajuddin’s son then caused a riot in parliament, while trying to defend his father’s name. The punishment for causing mayhem in parliament was a mere RM100 fine!
Malaysians abhor rude and crude behavior from their MPs, but the real pity is that the top brass of Umno-Baru refused to punish their senior politicians! So, instead of doing the right thing, Ismail has rewarded thuggish behavior by making Tajuddin an ambassador. What is happening in the foreign ministry? - Mariam Mokhtar
Tajuddin’s appointment puts Jakarta in tough spot...
Putrajaya has put Indonesia in a “difficult position” by appointing Tajuddin Abdul Rahman as the ambassador to the republic, a former diplomat said.
Dennis Ignatius (below), who today doubled down on his criticism of Tajuddin, said no country would want the likes of the Pasir Salak MP as its ambassador, adding that the latter was “crude, rude and entirely lacking the kind of skills required”.
“But given the close relationship between Malaysia and Indonesia it would be difficult for Indonesia to say no,” he told FMT.

Putrajaya has put Indonesia in a “difficult position” by appointing Tajuddin Abdul Rahman as the ambassador to the republic, a former diplomat said.
Dennis Ignatius, who today doubled down on his criticism of Tajuddin, said no country would want the likes of the Pasir Salak MP as its ambassador, adding that the latter was “crude, rude and entirely lacking the kind of skills required”.
“But given the close relationship between Malaysia and Indonesia it would be difficult for Indonesia to say no,” he told FMT.
cheers.

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