BUKIT MERTAJAM, Aug 21 (Bernama) -- Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate in the Permatang Pauh by-election, Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah, today clarifed that he had never been directly involved in any of the companies of his elder brother Tan Sri Amin Shah Omar Shah's, once a prominent businessman in the country.
Arif Shah said instead, his involvement in his brother's companies was only in the form of appointments to posts normally made in other companies.
"Many people do not understand it, but the thing is I have never been involved in any of the companies that my family has a hand in.
"I have never been a member of the board of directors, except in some instances I was put as an appointee that was not even in the ROC's registration.
"That is the situation, but there have been news reports linking me to companies linked to my family," he said.
Arif Shah said he could not elaborate on the companies owned by his brother as he had no knowledge of their operations.
The opposition, in its by-election campaign, has claimed that Arif Shah had shares in and was a director of his brother's company, Business Focus Sdn Bhd (BFSB) that had wound up.
Amin Shah, who was declared a bankrupt after failing to pay up his companies' debts and believed to be residing overseas now, still owes Penang Development Corporation (PDC) RM9 million in the RM29 million purchase of PDC subsidiary, Penang Shipbuilding Corporation Sdn Bhd (PSC).
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had last Sunday claimed that his predecessor Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, who was also the then PDC chairman, in early 1998 gave special privileges to BFSB and failed to take action to recover the balance from the company.
Koh then responded, saying that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who was then deputy prime minister and finance minister, adviced him face-to-face and through telephone conversation not to take legal action against BFSB for the default in payment because of the economic downturn and extended the repayment period to six years but FBSB still owed PDC RM9 million.
Meanwhile, Anwar at a press conference in Taman Cermai, Permatang Pauh, near here, yesterday denied that he had "whispered" with Koh over the matter.
He also said that the matter should not be raised during the by-election as it happened 12 years ago.
The Permatang Pauh by-election on Aug 26 will see a three-cornered contest involving Anwar, Arif Shah and Hanafi Mamat from Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia (AKIM).
-- BERNAMA
1 comment:
Looks like we have to keep promoting awareness of what Good Governance is all about until it becomes a reality in our beloved Malaysia.
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Universal principles of good governance and rule of law .....
Can we learn from the Iraqi experience???
A global consensus recognizing that good governance is vital for economic development and poverty alleviation has emerged. Good governance provides an enabling environment for general economic development, human resources development, ensuring the prevention and resolution of conflict. All these elements are essential to build a firm common ground for Iraqi national reconciliation. Good governance, as we know, is a pillar of democracy. Finding a consensus on a definition of the concept of good government has not been easy. Does it apply to just sound administration and management or does it also refer to the political domain and political leadership? Is it a universal principle or does it vary according to context? This vagueness raises the risks associated with applying a concept, which may not be rooted in the particular socio-cultural and political environment of Iraq. It is generally accepted that in the context of a political and constitutional environment that upholds human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law, good governance is the transparent and accountable management of human, natural, economic and financial resources for the purpose of equitable and sustainable development. Citizens expect the government to respond to their needs through a systematic process of accountability, transparency, and checks and balances. Good governance ensures that political, social, and economic priorities reflect broad consensus, that decision-makers represent the voices of the poorest and the most vulnerable in allocating development resources, and that the rights of the people are respected. It entails clear decision-making procedures at the level of public authorities, transparent and accountable institutions, the primacy of law in the management and distribution of resources and capacity building for elaborating and implementing measures aimed in particular at preventing and combating corruption. Essentials of Good Governance, The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) defines good governance as “the responsible exercise of political, economic and administrative authority in the management of a country’s affairs at all levels”. Good governance, among other things, is participatory, transparent, accountable, effective, equitable, and fair. It promotes the rule of law. Participation ensures an open, inclusive, participatory political system. It involves citizens in the decision-making process and in implementing public projects orother government activity. Participation goes beyond mere consultation and implies the existence of opportunities to contribute through gainful employment; opportunities to move in the mainstream of political, economic, and cultural processes and the eradication of the marginalization of groups and discrimination, poverty, and deprivation; and freedom from vulnerability through a guaranteed system of social safety nets and social security systems. To this end, good governance embraces the concept of devolution of power to local authorities and communities. The right of citizens to participate in the conduct of public affairs is more directly exercised at local levels. The existence of local authorities that are given real responsibilities can provide an administrative system that is both effective and close to the citizen. Transparency involves establishing appropriate lines or forms of accountability between the government and the public, which should include access to information through suchmeasures as freedom of information legislation, open decision-making, and rules ofsubstantive and procedural fairness. The rule of law assumes the existence of inalienable rights and liberties for every citizen, which governments should not touch or violate. To some extent the essence of the rule of law lies in its juxtaposition to “the rule of men or women”. This aphorism seeks to state the following basic principles: that all state power ought to be exercised under the authority of law; and rules of law should govern the election and appointment of those who make and execute policy, as well as the manner in which such policies are made and executed to ensure rationality and fairness in the decision-making process. In addition, good governance must assure the equal participation of women with men in all processes of governance. Only complete equality between men and women in all legal, political, and social arrangements can create the proper conditions for human freedom and good governance. Establishment and protection of good governance whatever the case, it is agreed that good governance is above all a domestic issue and inadequate domestic policies have played a role in widening the gap between rich and poor and achieving good governance is a process which must come from within andsteps must be taken to support and recognize genuine initiatives to attain it. Transparency, good governance and development are closely linked and together they become a vehicle to improve the human condition. The promotion of good governance requires a determined campaign against corruption, which is one of the most concrete expressions of misadministration. The quality of the administration of a country’s resources is an essential factor that explains its development performances — good or bad. Good governance is the true test of democracy. A government, which administers scarce resources in accordance with the real needs of the population, must be fundamentally democratic.
The political, judicial and intellectual elite must be benchmark and models of integrity. The political leadership must be genuinely determined to attack the problem of corruption and must demonstrate that determination. Good governance like democracy must not be allowed to become just another slogan - a false front to placate the providers of funds. Experience shows that it is unrealistic to hope to change things at the instigation of civil society alone. The essential first step is to influence public opinion and make decision-makers and the public at large aware of the devastating effects of misadministration. Underemployment, inadequate or sporadic employment and low wages continue to contribute to a high level of poverty in Iraq which in turn feed the militias and terrorists groups. We have to extricate ourselves from our backwardness by building a strong and democratic Iraq. Debates on national issues are healthy and should continue even after the national reconciliation. Different point of views should be respected. After all, “in a democracy dissent is an act of faith, like medicine, the taste of its value is not in its taste, but in its effects.”
Conclusion
The success of efforts to improve governance, the respect of human rights and the rule of the law throughout Iraq will depend on the development and strengthening of institutions that underpin good governance, democracy and the rule of law. With respect to the current political process, these efforts cannot succeed unless economic conditions in Iraq improve and develop to a level where Iraq is able to develop and sustain the institutions necessary to promote governance, the protection of human rights and the rule of law. Good governance cannot flourish along side grinding poverty and weak state institutions.
Dr. Widad Al-Ali,
Executive Director
Al-Yaqeen Centre for Training, Studies and Development
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