Police urged to take action against govt hands in MAS
Keadilan today urged police to book the government officials responsible for the alleged management irregularities in the Malaysian Airline System (MAS), which are said to involve millions of ringgit
The party's deputy Youth chief Saifuddin Nasution Ismail asked Bukit Aman criminal department deputy director Maizan Shaari to investigate and monitor all forms of criminal intent with regard to the company even if they stemmed from those closely linked to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
"The police should widen their scope of investigation to include not only MAS officials but those who actually gave out directives to them," he said in a press conference in Permatang Pauh, Kedah.
"The police should also trace closely where the money has been channelled to and bring to book those who are guilty," he added.
Praising MAS for lodging a police report on the matter, Saifuddin said police should carry out their duty without fear or favour even if the case involved former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, former MAS chairperson Tajudin Ramli and their business associates.
MAS said in a media statement on Monday that it has asked police to probe into the matter. An informed source was reported to have told news agency Reuters the same day that MAS lodged the report on Jan 9, saying it focused on possible contraventions of the Companies Act when Tajudin was in charge.
The report, which had been confirmed by MAS, was lodged following an audit ordered by the new management after the government bought back control of the airline from Tajudin early this year.
The report alleged that Tajudin had failed to disclose his interests in a German cargo firm that MAS had contracted to use as its European cargo hub, a source said.
Tajudin sold his 29 percent stake back to the government early last year in a controversial deal, at more than twice the prevailing market price.
Dr Ling responsible
Meanwhile, PAS member of parliament for Kubang Kerian, Husam Musa said he had on many occasions called for Transport Minister Dr Ling Liong Sik to be responsible for the losses and management irregularities of MAS.
"All decisions made by MAS are under the supervision of the ministry. The ministry is responsible for monitoring the management of the national carrier and it has a representative in the MAS board of directors, therefore any irregularities should have been noticed much earlier," said Husam.
"The ministry's negligence and ignorance have contributed to the problem. If the ministry concerned is not taken to task for this blunder, other ministries who make the same mistakes would also take the opportunity to escape punishment when blunders occur," he added.
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