Parliament skirts questions on Tajudin Ramli settlement

By S Pathmawathy | 2:16PM Mar 13, 12
Malaysiakini

Four questions related to the out-of-court settlement between former Malaysia Airlines chairperson Tajudin Ramli and government-linked corporations (GLCs) were rejected by the Dewan Rakyat today on grounds that these are sub judice.

The questions were turned down on the reasoning that the matter could have an implication on other ongoing legal battles in the Court of Appeal and pending cases in the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

tajudin ramli 1The questions were submitted by DAP MPs Lim Guan Eng (Bagan), Lim Lip Eng (Segambut), Jeff Ooi (Jelutong) and Tony Pua (Petaling Jaya Utara), and were interrelated to the government’s instructions in ordering the GLCs to end the long-drawn battle.

“These questions are important… we want to know the rationale and benefit to the rakyat by settling out of court the multi-million ringgit that Tajudin was ordered to pay by the High Court,” Guan Eng told a press conference at the Parliament lobby today.

Last month, Tajudin came to a settlement with Pengurusan Danaharta Bhd (Danaharta) putting an end to a six-year dispute over millions of ringgit that Tajudin owed to the national asset management firm.

A settlement shrouded in secrecy

Guan Eng’s questions also demanded that the government reveals the claims before the court involving the two parties and losses incurred by Danaharta and MAS.

Meanwhile, Lip Eng called on the prime minister to explain in detail the savings or the losses to the government as a result of the out-of-court settlement.

The opposition, anti-graft watchdog Transparency International Malaysia and minority shareholders have hit out at the deal for being shrouded in secrecy.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court had on Dec 7, 2009, ordered Tajudin to pay RM589.14 million plus two percent interest a year to Danaharta, which manages Tajudin’s unpaid loans, backdated to Jan 1, 2006. The same court had earlier dismissed Tajudin’s RM13.46 billion counter-claim.

However, Tajudin withdrew his lawsuit against Danaharta as well as numerous other litigants, including Telekom Malaysia Bhd, Naluri Corporation, Celcom (M) Bhd, Atlan Holding Bhd and CIMB Group.

Tajudin’s settlement resulted from a directive issued by the government in August last year, “advising” all related GLCs, including MAS, to drop their suits against him.

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5 Replies to “Parliament skirts questions on Tajudin Ramli settlement”

  1. 81 points put out by Balan giving vivid details that Rosmah was involved in Altantuya’s murder…. confirmed by 3 lawyers that Balan was telling the truth……after questioning Balan…all ignored.
    You expect 4 questions put out to them.. to be answered?
    Come on man…be realistic…they are telling oppositions ..all can go to hell….and even have a bunch of hooligans …..shouting and supporting them too.
    This is the final stage towards 13th GE….no answering…even 100 questions asked.
    Najib knows cannot delay 13th GE much longer.
    UMNO b government says….let voters decide.

  2. This ‘settlement’ could not have been done without the full participation of the PM/Finance Minister. The question really to be ask, why do it now when he desperately need to avoid MORE controversy. So why do it?

    This ‘settlement’ plus several others like the WCE, Kidex, etc. all point to rush to do projects and worst its not even for the purpose of improving economy because these projects have significant lead periods that will not see result only after the GE..

    The answer must be that these things are almost certaintly done for the purpose of money – money for UMNO coffers and for ‘buy-election’. It points to a very desperate President of UMNO who has ran out of options and desperate.

    And if that is true, then the next GE will be EPIC in every underhanded and despicable act the most perverted political minds can come up. It will be the surprise if emotions don’t get carried away and unprecedented ugliness and even terrible things did not happen.

  3. Dear readers and commentators…there is a long long post at
    “KTEMOC KONSIDER” blog…about Lim Kit Siang.
    As usual…there are pro BN saying they support LKS and not Anwar as PM….thus confusing readers.
    I hope few will help expose this cunning double talks…they have come out to actually favor no change of Govt.

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