fauzi

Sunday, April 1 1:02 AM SGT

In Blow To Mahathir, Senior Malaysian Party Member Quits
KUALA LUMPUR (AP)--A senior member of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's ruling party quit after accusing party leaders of corruption, forcing a special election that will test Mahathir's popularity, news reports said Saturday.
Fauzi Abdul Rahman, a former deputy minister, resigned Friday as assemblyman in central Pahang state after claiming that leaders of the United National Malays Organization sabotaged him in internal elections through "money politics," The New Straits Times reported.

But Mahathir told the national news agency, Bernama, that Fauzi had not yet stepped down.

"We don't want him to resign but we have no way of forcing him (not to)," he said.

Fauzi, who has angered the party by openly sympathizing with jailed former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, accused party leaders of handing out large amounts of cash and gifts to influence voting in party elections among his constituents.

Mahathir said late Saturday that the party will immediately set up a committee to investigate the allegations.

Fauzi also lodged a police report against Khalil Yaakob, the party's secretary-general and information minister, accusing him of abusing government funds. Police said they would investigate.

Fauzi said he would not leave the party, of which he has been a member for 30 years.

"Money politics is rife in my area and because my branches were lured by such gifts I did not get their support," The Star daily on Saturday quoted him as saying.

The ruling party has dominated politics and commanded support from the majority ethnic Muslim Malay population since Malaysia achieved independence from the British in 1957. But in recent years, it has been hit by rampant vote-buying for posts at the lower levels, which carry considerable clout in choosing senior government positions and tenders for lucrative public projects.

If Fauzi has indeed stepped down, Mahathir's ruling party will face its second by-election in less than six months in a constituency of nearly 24,000 voters, the majority of them Malays.

Politician quits over alleged corruption in ruling party: reports

KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 (AFP) - A Malaysian politician has resigned in protest at alleged corruption at branch nomination meetings in Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's party, reports said Saturday.
The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the backbone of the ruling coalition, is currently holding branch meetings nationwide to nominate candidates for its division elections next month.

The division polls are closely watched by political observers as a precursor to the UMNO top leadership elections in two years.

Fauzi Abdul Rahman resigned as an assemblyman in the central state of Pahang after he failed to secure enough nominations to defend his post as Kuantan division chief, The Star newspaper said.

But Fauzi said his resignation was to protest at corruption in the UMNO meetings, citing the rampant use of money and gifts to gain support from party members.

"I am unhappy with money politics in UMNO even at the branch level," he was quoted as saying.

"I want the party to investigate my allegations and not brand me as a frustrated person. Money politics is rife in my area and because my branches were lured by such gifts, I did not get their support."

The Sun daily said Fauzi, prior to his resignation, had also complained to police about alleged irregularities in the management of state funds under ex-chief minister Khalil Yaacob.

Khalil is now Malaysia's information minister and UMNO secretary-general.

Fauzi's resignation, if accepted by UMNO, could trigger a by-election in his Beserah constituency. He has said he was prepared to withdraw his resignation if UMNO investigates his claims.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad meanwhile said UMNO members who failed to receive enough nominations to contest should give way and not create problems.

The premier was quoted by the New Straits Times as saying he would study Fauzi's allegations before deciding on the next course of action.

Lim Kit Siang, chairman of the opposition Democratic Action Party, called on the anti-corruption agency to investigate Fauzi's claims.

In a statement Saturday, Lim also urged the premier to demand for Khalil's resignation from the cabinet and UMNO until he has been cleared from the allegations.

Fauzi is lucky to be able to successfully pressurise Mahathir to have an inquiry into money politics in UMNO as the Prime Minister is mortally frightened of a by-election in Beserah which UMNO is sure to lose badly

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Media Statement
by Lim Kit Siang
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(Penang, Monday): Pahang State Assemblyman for Beserah and Kuantan UMNO division chief Datuk Fauzi Abdul Rahman said yesterday that he would not withdraw his police report against party secretary-general and Information Minister, Tan Sri Khalil Yaakob.
He said: “I have no intention or reason to withdraw my police report because it contains important state matters that ought to be investigated.”

He told New Straits Times that the authorities must be allowed to carry out their duties without interference.

He said his report contained “basic facts” which, if investigated, would show malpractices that had incurred losses to the Pahang Government running into millions of ringgit.

Fauzi should realise that withdrawal of the police report is not an option open to him, as he must stand or fall by the police report he has made against Khalil.

Once Fauzi has lodged a police report against Khalil for abuse of power and corrupt practice during his tenure as Pahang Mentri Besar by giving out logging concessions without following regulations as laid out by the National Forestry Policy, flouting the yearly quota for Pahang of only logging approximately 28,000 acres of land, a withdrawal of the police report by Fauzi raises one of two implications: either he had made a baseless and frivolous police report in which case he should be charged for the offence of false reporting or that he has decided to aid and abet the commission of abuse of power and corrupt practice in which case Fauzi should be charged as an accomplice after the fact.

Fauzi, who was former Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, also called for the inclusion of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) officials and the police in UMNO’s ad hoc committee to investigate into his allegations.

This is completely unthinkable and impermissible, as the ACA is not a department of UMNO and it must exercise completely untrammelled powers vested in it under the law to investigate all cases of corruption without fear, favour or interference from any quarter.

In fact, the ACA should warn the UMNO ad hoc committee headed by Tengku Ahmad Rithaudeen to stay off from investigations into Fauzi’s police report against Khalil as this could be an improper and illegal interference with the ACA’s investigatory powers.

The UMNO ad hoc committee can investigate into Fauzi’s allegations about rampant money politics in UMNO such as the "rampant use of money, hampers and distribution of meat to party members" at UMNO branches, as these allegations have not yet been the subject of a police report by Fauzi.

Fauzi is lucky to be able to successfully pressurise the UMNO Supreme Council and the UMNO President Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad to have an inquiry into money politics in UMNO as Mahathir and all the UMNO leaders are mortally frightened of a by-election in Beserah which UMNO is sure to lose badly.

Fauzi had won with a very narrow majority of 985 votes in Beserah in the 1999 general election largely on Chinese support, and there is no doubt that in a by-election in Beserah, the Barisan Alternative candidate would win with a thumping majority.

This is why the UMNO leadership, despite being publicly humiliated by Fauzi, has decided on a “kid-gloves” approach as illustrated by the public appeal of the UMNO youth leader, Datuk Hishammuddin Husein to Fauzi, for the simple reason that neither Mahahtir nor the UMNO leadership could afford a by-election which UMNO is destined not only to lose, but to lose badly!

Fauzi should know, however, that his days in UMNO are numbered unless there is a total change of the UMNO leadership.

Khalil, in the meantime, cannot honourably continue as Information Minister until he is cleared of Fauzi’s police report of abuse of power and corrupt practice on the completion of ACA investigations and MPs, whether Barisan Nasional or Barisan Alternative, should use the current meeting of Parliament to send a clear message to Khalil that if he is not prepared to resign as Minister, the least he should do for good name of the government and country is to take long leave until he is fully cleared.

Whether Khalil continues as UMNO Secretary-General is no business of Parliament as it is a matter for UMNO, although PAS is clearly justified in raising questions about Khalil’s credentials and credibility to lead UMNO’s team at the technical level in discussions with PAS in connection with UMNO’s initiated “Malay unity” talks.

If the UMNO leadership cannot sense the embarrassment that would be felt by the UMNO rank-and-file when their technical team in talks with PAS is led by a leader who is under investigation by the ACA, this would be the latest factor that would further alienate the UMNO leadership from the UMNO grassroots.

(2/4/2001)

Tuesday April 3

Fauzi mencabar siapa?
TANAHAIRKU
Aman Rais

2:41pm, Tue: Nampaknya sandiwara politik Malaysia menyiarkan ulang tayang ‘peletakan jawatan’ Presiden MCA Datuk Seri Ling Liong Sik dan Naib Ketua Pemuda Umno Datuk Abdul Aziz Sheikh Fadzir.

Cuma pelakon utamanya kali ini ialah Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Beserah, Datuk Fauzi Abdul Rahman.

Sejak awal lagi drama ‘Gertak Fauzi’ ini dijangka berakhir dengan ‘happy ending’ seperti juga drama Ling dan Aziz pada hujung tahun lalu. Walau Fauzi belum mengumumkan secara rasmi penarikan surat itu, namun beliau telah memberikan isyarat jelas akan berbuat demikian.

“Saya akan menghantar salinan surat peletakan jawatan saya kepada Speaker Dewan Undangan Negeri Pahang selepas Menteri Besar, Datuk Adnan Yaakob menerima peletakan jawatan saya,” katanya Isnin lalu.

Fauzi juga menyatakan: “Saya menghormati pandangan Sultan, Perdana Menteri, Menteri Besar, Datuk Najib Razak, Datuk Hishamuddin Hussein dan Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.”

Semua personaliti yang disebut oleh Fauzi itu meminta beliau mengkaji semula keputusan melepaskan jawatannya. Apabila Adun itu menyatakan beliau menghormati pandangan-pandangan tersebut, beliau memberikan isyarat bersedia mematuhinya.

Begitu juga dengan Adnan. Menteri Besar itu tentunya akan menolak hasrat peletakan jawatan Fauzi. Apabila beliau menolaknya, Fauzi akur dan terus kekal sebagai Adun Beserah.

Inilah yang paling baik bagi Fauzi dan Umno. Beliau telah menyatakan dari awal lagi bahawa peletakan jawatannya akan ditarik balik jika Umno menyiasat dakwaan politik wang yang berlaku di bahagian Kuantan.

Majlis Tertinggi pula bersetuju untuk menyiasat dakwaannya itu. Satu jawatankuasa bertindak telah ditubuhkan dan siasatan segera akan dilakukan. Permintaannya dipenuhi dan beliau nampaknya sudah menang!

Jawatan bukan isu pokok

Jangan mimpi Adnan akan menerima peletakan jawatan Fauzi itu kerana Umno dan Barisan Nasional tidak mampu menghadapi satu lagi pilihanraya kecil selepas kekalahan yang memalukan di Lunas tahun lalu.

Lebih-lebih lagi dalam keadaan kerajaan terus-terusan dipersoal kewibawaannya dan Umno yang kelam-kabut sekarang, satu lagi pilihanraya kecil bakal menjadi tragedi bagi parti Melayu yang semakin terpinggir itu.

Fauzi dijangka akan membuat pengumuman rasmi penarikan surat peletakan jawatannya bila-bila masa sahaja. Apabila ia berlaku, bukan sahaja pengundi Beserah, malah seluruh negara akan hilang kesempatan untuk ‘berpesta politik.’

Sejak pilihanraya kecil kecil Sanggang, Pahang pada April tahun lalu dan kemudian diikuti pilihanraya kecil Teluk Kemang, Negeri Sembilan dan disusuli pula Lunas, pilihanraya kecil diberi penuh perhatian oleh rakyat seolah-olah pilihanraya umum.

Namun begitu para pemerhati politik berpendapat, soal sama ada Fauzi meletakkan jawatan atau menarik balik keputusannya bukanlah perkara pokok sekarang. Perkara yang dianggap lebih penting daripada jawatan Adun Beserah itu ialah laporan polis terhadap Setiausaha Agung Umno merangkap Menteri Penerangan, Tan Sri Khalil Yaakob.

Sama ada Fauzi kekal atau tidak dalam politik Pahang sudah tidak penting lagi. Laporan polis berhubung penyelewengan kuota tanah balak terhadap bekas Menteri Besar Pahang itu lebih besar dampaknya. Tindakan Fauzi mendedahkan perkara itu menunjukkan gejala rasuah dan politik wang kuat bersarang dalam Umno dan di kalangan para pemimpinnya.

Arang sudah diconteng pada muka Umno walau Fauzi membatalkan hasrat untuk meletakkan jawatannya dan menarik balik laporan polisnya terhadap Khalil selepas ini. Seluruh rakyat sudah tahu apa yang berlaku dalam politik balak di Pahang.

Walau ia sekadar satu laporan dan belum dibuktikan kesahihannya, ia tetap menjadi isu dan modal politik yang baru dan segar untuk musuh-musuh politik Umno. Laporan polis terhadap Khalil itu akan terus disebut oleh parti-parti pembangkang sebagai bukti Umno dan para pemimpinnya bergelumang dengan rasuah dan penyelewengan.

Kini bertambah sukar tugas Umno untuk menepis dakwaan-dakwaan rasuah dan penyelewengan terhadap parti itu dan para pemimpinnya kerana laporan terhadap Khalil itu dibuat sendiri oleh seorang wakil kerajaan dan pemimpin parti.

Jawatan bukan isu pokok

Laporan itu dibuat oleh Fauzi. Selain Adun Beserah, beliau juga bekas ahli Parlimen dan bekas Timbalan Menteri. Tambahan, beliau seorang tokoh yang dihormati di Pahang dan juga peringkat nasional.

Fauzi tidak akan membuat laporan polis jika tidak mempunyai bukti-bukti kukuh. Beliau sedar tindakannya itu mengundang risiko besar - bukan sahaja kepada dirinya dan Khalil, malah kepada Umno dan kerajaan.

Khalil bukannya sebarangan orang. Beliau seorang menteri kanan dalam kabinet dan Setiausaha Agung Umno. Seorang ahli politik tidak akan bertindak seberani Fauzi jika ilmu tidak penuh di dada.

Tentunya Fauzi telah berfikir panjang, mengkaji tatacara pentadbiran Pahang dan bidang kuasa Menteri Besar serta mendapatkan nasihat para peguam sebelum membuat laporan polis itu.

“Saya bersedia dikenakan tindakan jika laporan dan dakwaan saya tidak betul,” demikian tegas beliau semasa mempertahankan tindakannya itu.

Kalau laporan itu dibuat oleh Ketua Pemuda Keadilan Mohamad Ezam Mohd Noor atau Pengerusi DAP Lim Kit Siang, tentunya mudah kerajaan dan Umno menepisnya dengan menuduhnya sebagai usaha jahat parti pembangkang untuk merosakkan nama baik pemimpin Umno.

Tetapi laporan polis itu datang daripada Fauzi, pemimpin Umno sendiri! Apa lagi yang dihendak diperkatakan oleh Umno dan pemimpinnya?

Presiden Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad hanya mampu berkata: “Khalil tidak dianggap bersalah selagi dia tidak terbukti bersalah oleh mahkamah.”

Benar, itulah kata mahkamah negara tetapi makamah rakyat telah membuat keputusannya.

Wednesday, April 4, 2001
Fauzi puts plans on hold

By Nik Naizi Husin
KUANTAN: Beserah Assemblyman Datuk Fauzi Abdul Rahman, who threatened to quit his seat following allegations of money politics in Umno, said he was now keeping his next step on hold.

"Many voters have appealed to me to reconsider my intentions to vacate the seat.

"I have told them that my plans have been put on hold until the top-level investigation team looking into the use of money politics ends its probe,'' he said.

Fauzi was speaking to reporters after meeting MCA leaders from seven branches including Air Putih, Semambu, Bukit Pelindung and Beserah on Monday night.

Over 60 of them attended the meeting held at his service centre in Beserah here.

"I am waiting for the green light from (Pahang Mentri Besar) Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob to either proceed with my intention to vacate the seat or otherwise.

"I will send my letter of resignation to the State Speaker Datuk Wan Mohd Razali Wan Mahussin if Adnan accept my intention to vacate the seat,'' he said.

He added that should he vacate the seat, it would be done with a heavy heart as he knew that his voters had appealed to him to stay on.

Fauzi, who only managed to secure 10 nominations out of 65 branches, is technically disqualified from defending his post as the division chief.

He said since he had lost support from his own branches, it was only fit that he vacate the Beserah seat and allow the branch chairmen to choose their own leaders.