Investigations are still pending - that's what Malaysians are often told when the authorities are quizzed on the many scandals which surfaced over the years. Often these cases, which are being probed by either the police or the Anti-Corruption Agency, do not see the light of day. Remember Perwaja? Or more recently PUNB?
Here are 10 unsolved cases of the year. This list is by no means complete. And don't expect answers anytime soon.
1) Racial clashes in PJ
In March this year, a neighbourhood quarrel between the Malay and Indian communities in Kampung Medan escalated into a full-blown ethnic clash resulting in the death of six persons and left 52 injured.
In the aftermath of the riots, police arrested 190 people for various offences including murder and rioting but in the midst of the arrests were also allegations of police bias and their failure to respond quickly to early reports of fighting.
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad lashed out angrily that the clashes were result of attempts by certain opposition groups to overthrow the government by inciting the poor to riot, a charge strongly denied by the opposition.
Non-governmental organisations, however, criticised
the government for neglecting the welfare of the socially and economically depressed, and for denying the extent of racism in the country while promoting it in its actions and policies.In face of accusations that it is failing in its duties, the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) said it was conducting an investigation
but not an open inquiry. Suhakam also acknowledged that it has received reports from the police and the National Unity and Social Development Ministry but none have been made public so far.
2) CLP double scandal, law students get courtroom practise
On Oct 29, the Malay Mail exposed that leaks have occurred in the Certificate in Legal Practice examinations not only for this year but over the past five years.
The Legal Profession Qualifying Board later announced that it would nullify the results of this year's main examination held in July and the supplementary examination in October due to suspected leaks.
On Nov 26, another scandal was revealed when the board announced that there were irregularities
between the marks awarded by the examiners and the marks disclosed by board director Khalid Yusoff to board members, hence the papers would be regraded.The board said that it would leave it to the police to investigate the two cases. With regard to the leaks, a clerk working for the board and five students were arrested while on the matter of the tampered results, board president Khalid was arrested
but is now on police bail.
3) A publisher takes on the Selangor MB
Since late October, media activist Ahmad Lutfi Othman has lodged three reports
with the Anti-Corruption Agency against Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo. He alleged that the young menteri besar had abused his powers to award land and government projects worth over RM100 million to a band of cronies.The latest allegation was that Khir, 37, had purchased a plot of land offered by the state government with a 50 percent discount on the price. Lutfi had provided the ACA with details of the individuals and companies involved in his allegations. The ACA, however, gave no assurance that it will investigate the matter.
Lutfi is not without troubles of his own. Two days after he lodged his first report at ACA, he was arrested for publishing without a permit and had some 20,000 copies of the tabloid he publishes confiscated. That issue had reported extensively on graft allegations against Mohd Khir.
The ACA has yet to comment on the matter, along with its investigations into other glaring cases which it said were "almost completed" early this year. These include Perwaja Steel's astronomical losses and its US$421 million loan which was not signed for by the finance ministry; and the Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd (PUNB) RM19 billion fake bonds scandal.
4) Logging sham
Umno's tarnished image did not get much help when its secretary-general Khalil Yaakob was alleged to have abused his 13-year tenure as the Pahang state chief in logging concessions
worth some RM900 million.Logging sites reserved from year 2000 to 2004 were said to have been cleared way ahead of schedule but the logging premium paid to the state government was questionably low.
A police report was made in March by state assemblyman Fauzi Abdul Rahman. Umno supreme council subsequently set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the case while the police report was referred to the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA).
Umno disciplinary committee headed by party deputy president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had in May and August suspended at least nine party officials guilty of vote-buying attempts in the divisional-level elections earlier.
But as it was last reported, Abdullah said no disciplinary committee meeting had been convened regarding graft allegations against Khalil who has been the information minister since 1999.
5) What's smoking with DTC fire?
Six months it has been and still no culprit identified. Started as a crime story with the Dewan Tunku Canselor in Universiti Malaya gutted to ashes, the June 29 pre-dawn blaze soon turned into a political issue.
Umno leaders such as Puteri pro-tem chief Azalina Othman Said said the fire was linked to 'anti-government' elements - Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was supposed to attend a symposium at the venue a day after the incident.
Four relevant authorities - police, Fire and Rescue Department, Chemistry Department and Tenaga Nasional - conducted their respective investigations. In July, all the reports - except that of the police
- were completed and submitted to Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.According to the Fire and Rescue Department, the cause of the fire was faulty wiring and not arson. Yet leaders remain evasive on the cause of the fire. "Inconclusive" was all they said about the reports. Will the public ever be told about the truth behind the fire which incurred an estimated loss of RM12 million? We are waiting.
6) Eusoff Chin's phone call
In June, the now-retired High Court judge Justice Muhammad Kamil Awang ruled that the 1999 Likas state election in Sabah was null and void. The politician from the ruling coalition was said to have won the seat with the help of 'phantom voters'.
In the judgment, Muhammad Kamil disclosed that he received a directive
by phone to drop the case from a top officer in judiciary. This sparked a furore in the country where critics have long claimed that the judicial independence was under threat.Former chief justice Eusoff Chin later conceded telephoning Muhammad Kamil but denied instructing the latter to strike out the case. Eusoff said he merely asked the judge to "speed up the case" and described this as normal practice.
A year before that, Eusoff's impartiality came under questions. A United Kingdom-based private investigation agency revealed that the then chief justice was spending a controversial holiday
with a prominent lawyer overseas.Police subsequently investigated Muhammad Kamil's allegation and completed their work in late July. The results were not revealed. Minister in Prime Minister's Department Dr Rais Yatim said it was for the public prosecutor to peruse it for further action. There are no actions as yet.
7) Daim exits but what role did he play?
Rumours about Daim Zainuddin stepping down as the finance minister and Umno treasurer long shadowed his actual resignation
on June 1, a day after he came back from a two-month leave.It was seen as the parting of ways between Mahathir and his once most-trusted ally and the second most powerful man in Malaysia. However, Mahathir has insisted that Daim's decision to leave was his (Daim's) alone. During the Umno annual meet in late June, not a single word was uttered about the party treasurer's premature resignation.
There are many theories on Daim quitting. One suggests that his rift with Mahathir resulted from a conflict of interest - particularly in the bank merger exercise - arising between Mahathir's second son, Mokhzani, and Daim who benefitted the most from the takeover of corporate assets belonging to companies linked to jailed former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim.
False alarms reverberated throughout July that Daim was arrested over commercial crimes. Some say the rumours were deliberately started to deter
Daim, who has been in the government since 1984, from "spilling the beans". Daim has vanished from the public eye since but his unceremonious exit from government, party and politics then shall be remembered as one opening more chapters rather than closing the book.
8) AG too, departs, but why?
Ainum Mohd Saaid took over as Malaysia's first woman attorney-general on Jan 1 this year on a two-year contract. Eleven months later, she suddenly tendered her resignation citing "health reasons". She said she was suffering from thyroid and other related ailments.
The grapevine had it that Ainum was being probed by the Securities Commission with regard to her role in "certain affairs" during her tenure with the commission. Ainum was the SC's deputy chief executive from April 1999 until her appointment as AG.
However, Ainum denied
any knowledge of investigations involving her and she was backed up by the SC itself and de facto Law Minister Dr Rais Yatim.One day after the sudden resignation, Rais announced the appointment of controversial Abdul Gani Patail ( photo ) as the new AG. Gani's speedy appointment as well as the rumours of SC investigations against Ainum have raised doubts on the actual reason
behind her resignation.
9) Woman seeks justice after daughter raped, husband killed
The plight of an Indian mother whose eight-year-old daughter was raped and whose family was harrassed by gangsters after she lodged a police report
garnered widespread public sympathy as it did consternation.Newspapers reported that following the police report lodged by the mother, gangsters issued threats, kidnaped and assaulted another child of hers, murdered her husband and had her beaten up too, for good measure.
The woman has claimed that police failed to take any action despite numerous police reports but police have countered this by saying that with a force of only 83,000 policemen for a population of 22 million, it could not provide 24-hour protection for every citizen.
The matter is now pending at the Kuala Lumpur High Court where the mother has filed a suit against the police accusing them of negligence.
The story has highlighted the fact that there are deep-set social problems at play in our society with gangsters, poverty, and a families trapped in between.
10) Death stalks drug rehab centre
In June, the deaths of six inmates within days of each other at a drug rehabilitation centre in Sungai Ruan, Pahang, sparked off public health concerns. The situation was not helped when rumours circulated that the deaths were due to a mysterious disease.
An investigation into the matter revealed that three of the inmates were suffering from myocarditis (inflammation and infection of the heart), one from broncho-pneumonia, one from hepatitis and the last from asthma. Two of the victims were also said to be infected with HIV.
Authorities pointed to the inmates history of intravenous drug abuse as contributing to the problem but the some quarters have pointed out that the deaths could also be attributed to poor cleanliness and the overcrowded conditions within the rehabilitation facilities.
During the outbreak, at least 30 inmates with unusual symptoms were treated at a nearby hospital. Most suffered from swelling of the feet, difficulty in breathing and vomiting. Four of the patients were also transferred to the Kuantan hospital for further treatment.
The Sungai Ruan rehabilitation centre houses about 300 inmates. To date, no consensus has been arrived at for the cause of the six deaths.
The Malaysiakini Yearender was produced by our writers: Tong Yee Siong (co-ordinator), Susan Loone, Leong Kar Yen, Kevin Tan, and Yap Mun Ching.
