Pelancaran Program Cari DUN Sg Limau

Di dalam gerakerja saya sepanjang menjadi Naib Ketua Bahagian, saya telah menziarahi ramai orang di dalam kawasan Jerai yang mempunyai pelbagai masalah kehidupan (seperti tertera di atas dalam gambar-gambar). Mereka ini termasuklah yang terlantar di atas katil kerana sakit, lumpuh, Orang Kurang Upaya, ibu tunggal,Warga Emas dan sebagainya. Ramai daripada mereka ini tidak mendapat lagi bantuan kebajikan dari Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat dan menghadapi kesempitan hidup. Bukan salah JKM kerana terlalu ramai yang memerlukan bantuan manakala JKM tidak mempunyai kakitangan mencukupi untuk ‘cover’ keseluruhan kawasan dengan cepat. Sebagai contoh, Parlimen Jerai mempunyai lebih daripada 60,000 pengundi berdaftar dan jikalau dari segi UMNO, mempunyai lebih kurang 150 cawangan. Ini bermakna kawasan Jerai ini amat luas dan ramai penduduk.

Saya juga sedar bahawa saya sendiri tidak dapat ‘cover’ keseluruhan kawasan dengan cepat dan akan memakan masa yang terlalu lama. Maka, dalam usaha untuk membantu mereka ini yang memerlukan bantuan dengan lebih cepat dan efektif, baru-baru ini saya telah mengadakan satu majlis pelancaran dan taklimat Program Cari untuk semua Ketua Cawangan / Pengerusi JKKKP dan Setiausaha Cawangan / JKKKP DUN Sg Limau.

Sebagai Penyelaras DUN Sg Limau dan melalui Pejabat Pembangunan Negeri, saya telah menjemput Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat Kedah dan Daerah untuk memberi taklimat mengenai program-program dan bantuan yang mereka sediakan terutamanya di bawah Program Cari. Taklimat ini merangkumi bantuan-bantuan yang disediakan oleh JKM dan kelayakan-kelayakan yang diperlukan. Berbekalkan maklumat ini yang juga telah disediakan secara bertulis, saya mengharapkan ketua-ketua cawangan serta JKKKP akan mengenalpasti individu-individu yang layak di dalam kampung masing-masing untuk diberi bantuan kebajikan, tanpa mengira fahaman politik agama ataupun kaum. Pada hemat saya, mereka lebih mengetahui secara mendalam masalah yang ada di dalam kampung mereka sendiri dan dapat ‘cover’ dengan lebih berkesan dan cepat. Cara ini juga dapat merapatkan ketua-ketua cawangan / JKKKP dengan anak buah mereka serta menunjukkan Kerajaan Pusat dan UMNO sememangnya ingin mendekati dan membantu rakyat di peringkat akar umbi.

Alhamdulillah, hampir semua ketua cawangan / pengerusi JKKKP atau setiausaha mereka telah hadir untuk taklimat dan pelancaran program kerjasama JKM, JKKKP dan UMNO ini. Sambutan amat menggalakkan dengan pelbagai soalan dan pendapat telah dilontarkan kepada pihak JKM. Walaupun pihak kami telah menyediakan lebih kurang 200 borang Program Cari untuk diedarkan, ianya telah habis seperti pisang goreng panas. Sambutan ini menunjukkan kesungguhan dan keikhlasan ketua-ketua cawangan / JKKKP / Setiausaha untuk membantu rakyat di peringkat kampung-kampung mereka. Saya yakin, dengan cara ini, banyak masalah dan individu-individu yang tertinggal sebelum ini dapat dibantu, lebih-lebih lagi dengan kerjasama baik daripada JKM.

Moga Allah merahmati dan membalas budi dan jasa pegawai-pegawai JKM, Ketua-Ketua Cawangan / Pengerusi JKKKP dan Setiausaha-Setiausaha serta semua yang menjayakan Program Cari ini. Saya telah mencadangkan kepada Ketua bahagian / Penyelaras Parlimen Jerai supaya program ini dapat dijalankan di peringkat Parlimen.

InsyaAllah, sama-sama kita membantu mereka yang memerlukan bantuan.

MACC - III

I am glad to learn that the Cabinet has agreed to the setting up of a Royal Commission to probe into Teoh's untimely death. It proves to me that the Government is serious about taking care of the rakyat's wellbeing and listening to the Rakyat.

At the same time, given the serious nature of the case including the possible negative effect on MACC's integrity and credibility, the action to be taken must and is nothing less than a Royal Commission. However, the Royal Commission will need all the help it can get, especially from the forensics (police), MACC and any other party that might be involved including individuals and politicians.

I also hope with the setting up of the Commission, everyone especially PKR and DAP would respect this Commission enough to allow them to do their work. The opposition acted very irresponsibly by organising a gathering last Sunday, supposedly due to Teoh's death. What happened was that some of the speakers touched a bit on Teoh's death, and a whole lot about other things. That was really using Teoh's untimely death to their political advantage.

I actually agree with a colleague who said that even if there such a gathering, it should have been to pray for Teoh and his family who are in pain along with the nation as a whole.

Please give the Royal Commission all the cooperation, space and time to do their work. We asked for it, let it work.

CCTV - MACC Part II

Having read all the responses on the blog and the media, I have come to the following preliminary conclusions:-

i. CCTV is a must. That would help to objectively answer many questions and even put those interrogating in check. This will curb any abuses of power and even assist authorities to clear their names when unfairly accussed by parties out to get cheap publicity.

ii. MACC must re-look at their policies and guidelines when interrogating or questioning a witness or suspect. I can understand the concern that a suspect or an unfriendly witness could possibly destroy evidence or even get threatened by certain parties if any questioning is stopped half way and the witness is allowed to go home, but authorities might want to consider other methods or approaches to ensure the integrity and safety of the witness. A crazy idea might include putting the witness at an undisclosed location for rest before restarting the next morning.

iii. I have to record my appreciation to TS Koh Tsu Koon for visiting the family on behalf of the Government. At the same time, I am happy that DS Najib himself had sent his condolences to the family and promised along with DS Hishammuddin to instruct the police to investigate thoroughly. And as DS Hishammuddin said, he will personally attend to the case.

iv. Stop blaming MACC. Let the authorities do their work and investigate. 4 pathologists (2 from UMMC, 1 from subang Medical, 1 from Klang hospital) are involved in the autopsy. Let them do their work. I was told that TS Khalid Ibrahim and YB Gobind Singh Deo got into a shouting match with each other at the mortuary yesterday. Only family members are allowed to see the deceased whilst YB Gobind is not one. On this matter, I agree and applaud TS Khalid for being objective and allowing the pathologists and staff do their work.

v. Oppostion leaders should allow the authorities do their work and stop fanning the already highly charged emotions. I am told that opposition will try to use this issue as much as possible to divert attention from the problems that they are facing. Heartless but that is what I had heard.

vi. The authorities should state a timeline how long the whole investigation process might take and provide updates periodically.

I am also happy that MACC has stated that it will go on with its investigations on the case including several other State Assemblymen. Whilst what happened to the late Teoh is most regrettable and heart wrenching, this should not stop MACC from continuing its primary duty.

At the same time, I urge MACC to inform the public, as long it does not affect investigations, whether it has initiated investigations on several cases including DS Khir Toyo, his boys and the PKFZ financial scandal. These cases directly affect MACC's integrity and reputation in the eyes of the public. In fact, I believe this is one of the best way for DS Khir Toyo and whoever else implicated along with him and the PKFZ scandal to clear their names if they are not involved or have done nothing wrong.

On another note, my heart goes out to Teoh's fiancee and their unborn child. I am happy that she is continuing with her pregnancy. May Teoh's legacy and spirit live through the child.

CCTV

I was sad and shocked when I heard the news that Mr Teoh Beng Hock, who was the political secretary to YB Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead on the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam yesterday.

Now, I do not want to use this forum to question what had happened preceeding to his death. At this point in time anyone and everyone might have a theory of his own . I have heard of both the suicide and murder theories. One said he committed suicide because he could not take the pressure of how long and how tough the questioning was, another of how he committed suicide out of shame and to restore honour to his family. Or the murder theory where he was murdered to keep information being spilled out to the MACC.

However, all these remain theories and as far as I am concerned, the correct secret will be kept forever in his grave. All these theories are nothing more but coffee shop talk.

I would however like to point out the harsh fact that the MACC office does not have a CCTV monitoring system. And as Mr Teoh’s body was found by a cleaner, I wonder if the building itself has a CCTV system.

I urge the MACC to ask for allocation to install CCTV in all its offices around the country. This would ensure:-

i. The monitoring and recording of the suspect’s / witness’ movement around the MACC office;
ii. The monitoring of any unusual activities or movements within its premises to ensure that it is free from all or any allegations of misjustice;

I would also like the Government to introduce a law that requires all buildings to be fitted with a CCTV monitoring system. I wish to argue that in doing so, many activities, crimes and such can be curbed and prevented.

A CCTV monitoring system would provide answers to many questioned left unanswered.

Ahmad Ikmal Ismail
Naib Ketua UMNO Jerai