| Written by John Berthelsen and A. Lin Neumann | ||
The current scandal over patronage funds exposes deeper truths about the country's feudal ways
The Philippines' multibillion dollar Pork Barrel, the center of a massive and growing scandal, is a river of money that enriches those most at its confluence but then flows down to mayors and other local political leaders, corrupting the democratic process as it goes, with a trickle eventually reaching impoverished voters in the form of favors and benefits intended to buy loyalty for the local congressman.
The Pork Barrel, formally known as the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), provides each of the country's 24 senators with P200 million (US$4.8 million) per year, or P1.2 billion for an entire six-year term. Congressional representatives receive P70 million per year, or P210 million for their three year terms. For months, attention has been riveted on the activities of Janet Lim Napoles, who made herself and her family massively rich after she set up a series of phony NGOs that were the recipients of PDAF funds that were then apparently recycled back to the lawmakers in cash after Napoles took a 30 percent cut. That story has been told extensively and is the subject of an official government audit report; at least six senators and 28 congressmen could be liable for criminal charges. Mother's Milk But the other part of the story is how these funds even when "properly" used perpetuate an almost unbreakable system, helping to create a long chain of political dynasties. In effect the PDAF has been a government-funded way to sustain a corrupt and feudal system. The way the funds are used illustrates the enormous difficulty of ending or reforming a system that makes a truism of the phrase that money is the mother's milk of politics. The funds were intended to finance rural development projects for constituents but investigations have shown that while many districts benefit from them, more often they are used as a method of delivering patronage and furthering the business interests of powerful local families. The poorly audited PDAF funds and other sources of money that flow down from lawmakers to district officials or mayors are sometimes used to fund outright illegal operations including smuggling of drugs or weapons and munitions sales, according to a former military officer, virtually unstoppable by an outmanned, outgunned and often corrupt customs service trying to police an archipelago of 7,100 islands, about 2,000 of which are inhabited.Read more. | ||
Showing posts with label Corruption. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Corruption. Show all posts
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Philippine Pork and its Many Bedfellow
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Good Cops,Bad Cops And Bad Home Minister
Hantu Laut
Home Minister Zahid Hamidi shouldn't have jumped the gun and defended the police without any concrete evidence to support his claim. He rubbished talk of police involvement after allegation made by former IGP Musa Hassan of dirty cops in the force.
There are good cops, bad cops everywhere and Malaysia is no exception.
Zahid Hamidi being the minister responsible for the police force and internal security should have assured the people that he will leave no stone unturned to investigate the shooting and attempted murder of crime watchdog activist R. Sri Sanjeevan instead of defending the police blindly
It seems we are out of the frying pan and into the fire. After the vacuous and vapid Hishammudin Onn, I would have thought there would be a better man to helm this highly sensitive and important ministry. As Nelson Mendela verbalised "You don't have that idea when you are arrogant, superficial and uninformed"
Is Zahid competent to be the Home Minister ?
Here, he said "I know Sanjeevan personally and I will make sure that there are no police involved in the incident"
I wonder whether one can consider this as intelligent statement when a crime had been committed and the person is fighting for his life. How can he make sure dirty cops are not involved when the person has already been shot? Sanjeevan was shot soon after his attempt to reveal the names of dirty cops in the force.
The video that probably trigger off the hit against him.
Kuala Lumpur is now definitely a crime capital of the world. There have been too many drive by shooting and most cases remained unsolved.
Yesterday, another man fell victim to the assassin's bullets. Arab Malaysian Development Bank founder Hussain Ahmad Najadi was shot dead in his car and his wife who was with him injured.
The hit on Sanjeevan must be by hired killer hired by someone who want to silence him.
Dirty cops are the lowest of the low life and should be hunted down and brought to justice.
In spite of the increase in organised and dangerous crime and spate of drive-by killings the police seem to be sitting on its laurel, preferring to direct its effort to prosecute opposition politicians and bloggers over trivial issues.
Example must come from the top, the IGP and Home Minister must adopt zero tolerance against dirty cops and criminals under their protection.
Home Minister Zahid Hamidi shouldn't have jumped the gun and defended the police without any concrete evidence to support his claim. He rubbished talk of police involvement after allegation made by former IGP Musa Hassan of dirty cops in the force.
There are good cops, bad cops everywhere and Malaysia is no exception.
Zahid Hamidi being the minister responsible for the police force and internal security should have assured the people that he will leave no stone unturned to investigate the shooting and attempted murder of crime watchdog activist R. Sri Sanjeevan instead of defending the police blindly
It seems we are out of the frying pan and into the fire. After the vacuous and vapid Hishammudin Onn, I would have thought there would be a better man to helm this highly sensitive and important ministry. As Nelson Mendela verbalised "You don't have that idea when you are arrogant, superficial and uninformed"
Is Zahid competent to be the Home Minister ?
Here, he said "I know Sanjeevan personally and I will make sure that there are no police involved in the incident"
I wonder whether one can consider this as intelligent statement when a crime had been committed and the person is fighting for his life. How can he make sure dirty cops are not involved when the person has already been shot? Sanjeevan was shot soon after his attempt to reveal the names of dirty cops in the force.
The video that probably trigger off the hit against him.
Kuala Lumpur is now definitely a crime capital of the world. There have been too many drive by shooting and most cases remained unsolved.
Yesterday, another man fell victim to the assassin's bullets. Arab Malaysian Development Bank founder Hussain Ahmad Najadi was shot dead in his car and his wife who was with him injured.
The hit on Sanjeevan must be by hired killer hired by someone who want to silence him.
Dirty cops are the lowest of the low life and should be hunted down and brought to justice.
In spite of the increase in organised and dangerous crime and spate of drive-by killings the police seem to be sitting on its laurel, preferring to direct its effort to prosecute opposition politicians and bloggers over trivial issues.
Example must come from the top, the IGP and Home Minister must adopt zero tolerance against dirty cops and criminals under their protection.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Corruption's "Great White Shark"
Hantu Laut
Money the roots of all evil they say.
Corruption in government is the scourge that besieged many countries that can lead to failure of the delivery system and hampers progress and development, the building of basic services and essential infrastructure.
Can corruption makes a progressive country become regressive?
It can, depending on the degree and how widespread it is.
In some countries jobbery has become a way of life with politicians and high level officials actively and openly involved in corruptions.
You can't completely wipe out corruptions, at best even the best government can only help reduce it.
Human greed is something difficult to control, not only greed for money, greed for power is equally contemptuous.
The opposition Pakatan Rakyat had won the popular votes riding on the waves of its anti-corruption battle cry.
Is Malaysia really that corrupted?
Though, made to sound as evil and bad as could be by the opposition, corruptions in Malaysia are certainly not one of the worst in the world. We are no where near any of our neighbours, with the exception of the little dot south of the Peninsula.The squeaky clean city nation stood proudly tall in the corruption index, as clean as the Scandinavian countries.
Any form of corruption is bad and every government must adopt zero tolerance on corruption if it wants a progressive society.
The corruption index by TI (Transparency International) of Asean countries is shown below.
Country Ranking Score
____________________________________
Singapore 4 87
Malaysia 54 49
Thailand 88 37
Philippines 105 34
Indonesia 118 32
Vietnam 123 31
Burma 172 15
Depending who you asked and from which perspective one look at it. The answers can be astonishingly divergent.
Those in government and its supporters would not view it as corruption per se, but as part of the NEP to help the Malays/Bumiputras to raise their living standards and narrow the economic gap with the non-Malays.
All said and done, this argument do not hold much water anymore as the system have been abused to enrich those in power, their families and their cronies. It has left a legacy of institutionalised corruptions.
We are looking forward to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's transformation policy and his promise of reducing corruptions in government.
Read the "Great White Shark" corruption in Indonesia of a low ranking official, who has racked in hundreds of million in ill gotten gains.
Asia Sentinel
Low-ranking official running what appears to be a massive illegal conglomerate
Indonesia is so used to corruption that the steady parade of crooked lawmakers, policemen, generals, lawyers and others through the offices of the Corruption Eradication Commission and into jail hardly evokes a yawn.
But Adjutant First Inspector Labora Stores, a seemingly low-ranking cop in Papua, has pretty much stopped the country in its tracks. The Papua Police revealed that the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center, the government's anti-money laundering watchdog, had identified transactions amounting to Rp1.5 trillion (US$154 million) passing through Labora's bank accounts from 2007 to 2012.
Given his position at the sixth-lowest rank on the force, Labora earns a monthly salary of Rp8.5 million (US$870), or did until he was arrested last Saturday. He claims his wife, brother-in-law and children run PT Rotua, a timber company, and PT Seno Aid Vijay, a mining and fuel company.
Brig. Gen. Arief Sulistyanto, the National Police director for special and economic crimes, told reporters police had been investigating Labora since mid-March after seizing a boat in Sorong, a West Papua coastal city, that was carrying 400,000 liters of government-subsidized diesel. Labora was later identified as the owner of the craft.
In addition to his suspected fuel smuggling operation, Labora's wood processing business appeared to be thriving, partly by allegedly selling rare woods into China. Senior Cmdr. Setyo Budi Setyanto, the Papua Police director for special crimes, told reporters the force was also investigating Labora's alleged ownership of 115 containers of timber now being held at Surabaya's Tanjung Perak port. Read more.
But Adjutant First Inspector Labora Stores, a seemingly low-ranking cop in Papua, has pretty much stopped the country in its tracks. The Papua Police revealed that the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center, the government's anti-money laundering watchdog, had identified transactions amounting to Rp1.5 trillion (US$154 million) passing through Labora's bank accounts from 2007 to 2012.
Given his position at the sixth-lowest rank on the force, Labora earns a monthly salary of Rp8.5 million (US$870), or did until he was arrested last Saturday. He claims his wife, brother-in-law and children run PT Rotua, a timber company, and PT Seno Aid Vijay, a mining and fuel company.
Brig. Gen. Arief Sulistyanto, the National Police director for special and economic crimes, told reporters police had been investigating Labora since mid-March after seizing a boat in Sorong, a West Papua coastal city, that was carrying 400,000 liters of government-subsidized diesel. Labora was later identified as the owner of the craft.
In addition to his suspected fuel smuggling operation, Labora's wood processing business appeared to be thriving, partly by allegedly selling rare woods into China. Senior Cmdr. Setyo Budi Setyanto, the Papua Police director for special crimes, told reporters the force was also investigating Labora's alleged ownership of 115 containers of timber now being held at Surabaya's Tanjung Perak port. Read more.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Shaming The Shameless Doesn't Work Here
Hantu Laut
Anti-Sabahans and Sarawakians Facebook
Don't lose sleep over it. It's a political ploy, probably, set up by a Sabahan or Sarawakian working in tendam with local political party to rile up Sabahans and Sarawakians to vote against Malayan based parties.
If I have a choice I would prefer local party, but we live in unfortunate times, there is no credible one around. Those around are led by leaders, beyond any doubt, as crooked and as dangerous as the slithering snake.
The last one we had screwed up the state good and proper selling states assets like no tomorrow. The assets stripping went through the entire spectrum from sponge iron plant, methanol, pulp and paper mill to 5 star hotel and many more, not forgetting vast stretch of agricultural land.
This most unfortunate episode in Sabah history had deprived ordinary Sabahans of land ownership, the initiative of former Chief Minister Harris Salleh, who had the dream and ambition of giving land to every rural Sabahan. It went out the window when PBS took over the administration.
They threw out a capable man for someone who could hardly run a junkyard, hence the assets stripping, as the business was too complicated for them to understand and manage.
Will Sabahans make the same mistake again, ruled by the heart, not the head and let history repeat itself.
In the old days one can drive from Kota Kinablu to Tawau, on terribly bad roads, but still enjoy endless stretch of Mother Nature, virgin jungles on both sides of the road that exude innate and everlasting freshness of unsullied forests.
Today, the whole stretch from Telupid to Tawau are sullied with oil palm and 70% of the land are owned by Peninsula based companies. Some of the lands were still under NT titles, leased for 99 years from the owners, a felony legislated by the then PBS government, which were later repelled by the BN government and limited to a maximum of 30 years.
Not that I am against progress, but there must be a balance between Mother Nature and economic development.
There is nothing wrong in giving land to foreign companies for economic development if it is done properly and with maximum benefit going to the state, not to politicians, who got it dirt cheap through corrupt means and sold them for quick profit.
Today, these same leaders who have sold NCR lands to outsiders are stirring up trouble on the NCR land issue, again to serve their own selfish agenda.
See who is joining Anwar's PKR, the same corrupt leaders, some of whom had been through USNO, Berjaya, PBS and UMNO and now seeking new pasture under Pakatan Rakyat. These leaders do not know how to make money other than through politics.
How could Anwar claims his fight is against a corrupt regime when he goes round collecting the same garbage that have, either been discarded, or found that their tickets to ride the gravy train of the current regime had expired.
The same "dogs of war" who suddenly found the high moral ground as if they have not been patrons, sponsors and recipients of corruptions in their previous undertakings. They forgot that the rakyat knew of their past. Fitful memory had given them selective amnesia.
Pecuniary reward had become so anabolic to them, the vicious circle will continue its round.
Adios!
Anti-Sabahans and Sarawakians Facebook
Don't lose sleep over it. It's a political ploy, probably, set up by a Sabahan or Sarawakian working in tendam with local political party to rile up Sabahans and Sarawakians to vote against Malayan based parties.
If I have a choice I would prefer local party, but we live in unfortunate times, there is no credible one around. Those around are led by leaders, beyond any doubt, as crooked and as dangerous as the slithering snake.
The last one we had screwed up the state good and proper selling states assets like no tomorrow. The assets stripping went through the entire spectrum from sponge iron plant, methanol, pulp and paper mill to 5 star hotel and many more, not forgetting vast stretch of agricultural land.
This most unfortunate episode in Sabah history had deprived ordinary Sabahans of land ownership, the initiative of former Chief Minister Harris Salleh, who had the dream and ambition of giving land to every rural Sabahan. It went out the window when PBS took over the administration.
They threw out a capable man for someone who could hardly run a junkyard, hence the assets stripping, as the business was too complicated for them to understand and manage.
Will Sabahans make the same mistake again, ruled by the heart, not the head and let history repeat itself.
In the old days one can drive from Kota Kinablu to Tawau, on terribly bad roads, but still enjoy endless stretch of Mother Nature, virgin jungles on both sides of the road that exude innate and everlasting freshness of unsullied forests.
Today, the whole stretch from Telupid to Tawau are sullied with oil palm and 70% of the land are owned by Peninsula based companies. Some of the lands were still under NT titles, leased for 99 years from the owners, a felony legislated by the then PBS government, which were later repelled by the BN government and limited to a maximum of 30 years.
Not that I am against progress, but there must be a balance between Mother Nature and economic development.
There is nothing wrong in giving land to foreign companies for economic development if it is done properly and with maximum benefit going to the state, not to politicians, who got it dirt cheap through corrupt means and sold them for quick profit.
Today, these same leaders who have sold NCR lands to outsiders are stirring up trouble on the NCR land issue, again to serve their own selfish agenda.
See who is joining Anwar's PKR, the same corrupt leaders, some of whom had been through USNO, Berjaya, PBS and UMNO and now seeking new pasture under Pakatan Rakyat. These leaders do not know how to make money other than through politics.
How could Anwar claims his fight is against a corrupt regime when he goes round collecting the same garbage that have, either been discarded, or found that their tickets to ride the gravy train of the current regime had expired.
The same "dogs of war" who suddenly found the high moral ground as if they have not been patrons, sponsors and recipients of corruptions in their previous undertakings. They forgot that the rakyat knew of their past. Fitful memory had given them selective amnesia.
Pecuniary reward had become so anabolic to them, the vicious circle will continue its round.
Adios!
Monday, January 7, 2013
Editor Not Worth His Salt, Empty As The Vessels
Hantu Laut
Most citizens of high rectitude would not condone corruptions.
Any talk against corruptions by the oppositions, I'll take with a pinch of salt. Never trust Greeks bearing gifts, which the Trojans paid for dearly.
As they say "hypocrisy is homage that vice pays to virtue".
Something is rotten in the Pakatan states. They also catch small fish to hoodwink the people that they tolerate no corruption. A false portrayal of zero tolerance for corruptions.
It does not matter if it was RM1.00 or RM1.0 million, corruption is corruption, as reprehensible as it can be, it can't be eradicated completely. Even in squeaky clean Singapore there is corruption.
Pakatan anti-corruption slogan to fish for votes is nothing more than typical salesman's baloney, a deceptive talk, as empty as the vessels.
This ass of an editor can't tell the difference between real corruption and institutionalised affirmative action, just another deceptive writing to hoodwink the public.
A short excerpt from his editorial below:
There is a world of difference between the two, while one is real corruption the other is an extension of legitimate government policy.
Failure to build the project is breach of contract and has nothing to do with corruption as he made it out to be.
As long as the covenant is still alive and there is no legal impediment against sale, transfer or disposal of the project/land to another party, the recipient has not broken any law.
There are laws to take care of such breach, or criminal action, if there was such misdeed.
You can call it cronyism or institutionalised and legalised corruption, but it is legal and government can choose who they want to give the project to, with or without track record..
If given to Syed Mokhtar Al-bukhary the oppositions also make noise, say give him to much and that he may go bust and break all the banks in the country, give to Malay without track record also make noise.
Make up your mind mate! You want the pie or the cake?
If you need track record than no Malays can ever be in business.
This is Malaysia lah! Not U.S, Britain, France or Germany, we have our own government policy.
My two cents worth of salt!
Is he worth his salt, or eating the opposition's salt?
Most citizens of high rectitude would not condone corruptions.
Any talk against corruptions by the oppositions, I'll take with a pinch of salt. Never trust Greeks bearing gifts, which the Trojans paid for dearly.
As they say "hypocrisy is homage that vice pays to virtue".
Something is rotten in the Pakatan states. They also catch small fish to hoodwink the people that they tolerate no corruption. A false portrayal of zero tolerance for corruptions.
It does not matter if it was RM1.00 or RM1.0 million, corruption is corruption, as reprehensible as it can be, it can't be eradicated completely. Even in squeaky clean Singapore there is corruption.
Pakatan anti-corruption slogan to fish for votes is nothing more than typical salesman's baloney, a deceptive talk, as empty as the vessels.
This ass of an editor can't tell the difference between real corruption and institutionalised affirmative action, just another deceptive writing to hoodwink the public.
A short excerpt from his editorial below:
So, while it is refreshing and laudatory to see mainstream newspapers reporting the Penang case that involves a civil servant and a political aide, questions remain why the local media is silent on the RM100 million National Defence Education Centre (Puspahanas).
Read more here.There is a world of difference between the two, while one is real corruption the other is an extension of legitimate government policy.
Failure to build the project is breach of contract and has nothing to do with corruption as he made it out to be.
As long as the covenant is still alive and there is no legal impediment against sale, transfer or disposal of the project/land to another party, the recipient has not broken any law.
There are laws to take care of such breach, or criminal action, if there was such misdeed.
You can call it cronyism or institutionalised and legalised corruption, but it is legal and government can choose who they want to give the project to, with or without track record..
If given to Syed Mokhtar Al-bukhary the oppositions also make noise, say give him to much and that he may go bust and break all the banks in the country, give to Malay without track record also make noise.
Make up your mind mate! You want the pie or the cake?
If you need track record than no Malays can ever be in business.
This is Malaysia lah! Not U.S, Britain, France or Germany, we have our own government policy.
My two cents worth of salt!
Is he worth his salt, or eating the opposition's salt?
Friday, December 21, 2012
Asia Sentinel Apologised; Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar
Hantu Laut
An apology from Asia Sentinel:
An apology from Asia Sentinel:
On 12th March 2012, Asia Sentinel published an article entitled "Malaysia’s Securities Watchdog Head Quits" and with the sub-heading "Plagued by questions of conflict of interest, chairwoman steps down" in reference to the departure of Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar as chairman of the Securities Commission Malaysia.
It has since been pointed to Asia Sentinel that a number of the statements and allegations contained in the said Article are factually incorrect and misconceived.
Asia Sentinel now accepts the error in publishing the defamatory statements in the said articles and has removed it from the Asia Sentinel website. We withdraw all imputations and allegations upon Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar and thus upon the office which she then held as Chairman of the Securities Commission Malaysia with immediate effect.
Asia Sentinel expresses its deepest regrets for any and all distress and embarrassment caused by the publication of the defamatory words of and concerning Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar and to her husband, Azizan Abdul Rahman. Asia Sentinel also withdraws all imputations and aspersions cast upon Datuk Azizan Abdul Rahman on his personal and business reputation. Asia Sentinel further expresses its sincere and deepest regrets for any and all distress and embarrassment caused by the publication of the defamatory words and unequivocally and unreservedly apologizes.Read more.
Asia Sentinel now accepts the error in publishing the defamatory statements in the said articles and has removed it from the Asia Sentinel website. We withdraw all imputations and allegations upon Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar and thus upon the office which she then held as Chairman of the Securities Commission Malaysia with immediate effect.
Asia Sentinel expresses its deepest regrets for any and all distress and embarrassment caused by the publication of the defamatory words of and concerning Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar and to her husband, Azizan Abdul Rahman. Asia Sentinel also withdraws all imputations and aspersions cast upon Datuk Azizan Abdul Rahman on his personal and business reputation. Asia Sentinel further expresses its sincere and deepest regrets for any and all distress and embarrassment caused by the publication of the defamatory words and unequivocally and unreservedly apologizes.Read more.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Worked To Death:Malaysia's Shame
Hantu Laut
Can we call ourselves a civilised nation.
The Al Jazeera report is not a figment of someone's imagination.
I was in Myanmar last month. My group of 4 hired a van with a driver and a guide and visited many places in Myanmar.
Much to our surprise, our guide speaks Bahasa Melayu as well as English. Upon enquiring where he learned to speak Malay, he told us he worked in Malaysia for almost a year but eventually had no choice but to escape back to Myanmar due to brutal treatment by his employer, who subjected him to long working hours and harsh working conditions, did not pay his wages and held his passport.
He had become victim of human trafficking and had to endure abuses from his employer, low income and non payment of wages. Adding to his woes, harassment by the police and other enforcement agencies.
He had to escape through the jungles of Malaysia and Thailand to avoid detection as he had no passport to travel through the normal channel. His Chinese employer refused to return his passport to him.
Two days ago the Immigration Dept made a swoop on an employment agency in KL and rescued 105 women migrant workers locked in two floors above the agency office and made to work without wages and proper living quarters.
Why is our government oblivious to this horrendous and shameful act that have put this country to shame?
Can we call ourselves a civilised nation.
The Al Jazeera report is not a figment of someone's imagination.
I was in Myanmar last month. My group of 4 hired a van with a driver and a guide and visited many places in Myanmar.
Much to our surprise, our guide speaks Bahasa Melayu as well as English. Upon enquiring where he learned to speak Malay, he told us he worked in Malaysia for almost a year but eventually had no choice but to escape back to Myanmar due to brutal treatment by his employer, who subjected him to long working hours and harsh working conditions, did not pay his wages and held his passport.
He had become victim of human trafficking and had to endure abuses from his employer, low income and non payment of wages. Adding to his woes, harassment by the police and other enforcement agencies.
He had to escape through the jungles of Malaysia and Thailand to avoid detection as he had no passport to travel through the normal channel. His Chinese employer refused to return his passport to him.
Two days ago the Immigration Dept made a swoop on an employment agency in KL and rescued 105 women migrant workers locked in two floors above the agency office and made to work without wages and proper living quarters.
Why is our government oblivious to this horrendous and shameful act that have put this country to shame?
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Pesky French Lawyer Seeks to Return to KL
Sub scandal lawyer, booted out in 2011, scheduled by opposition to address parliament
French lawyer William Bourdon, the leader of an investigation into a long-running scandal involving €150 million in kickbacks over the sale of submarines to the Malaysian defense ministry, was due to land in Kuala Lumpur today to testify on the probe before the Dewan Rakyat, or house of parliament.
It was questionable, however, whether Bourdon would be allowed into the country. He was unceremoniously bundled out by authorities in July of 2011 after giving details of the alleged scandal in a speech in Penang to hundreds of people at a fundraiser to continue his investigation. Bourdon was taken off a flight at Kuala Lumpur International Airport by immigration officials and was put on another plane out of the country over his protests.
Bourdon and his team, who had been hired to by Suaram to look into the scandal in dissatisfaction over the government’s investigation of the 2006 murder for hire of the Mongolian translator and party girl Altantuya Shaariibuu, were asked by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim to answer questions in parliament tomorrow about the affair.
Bourdon and Suaram have been battered by both the mainstream press, which is largely government-owned, and an army of bloggers who say the scandal has been overblown and that no trial had been ordered by French authorities. Neither Bourdon, Suaram nor Asia Sentinel, which has reported extensively on the case, have ever said a trial was imminent. But the investigation is continuing and investigating magistrates have been appointed by the French courts.
As Asia Sentinel reported in June 2012, French police acting on a request from Bourdon’s legal team raided the headquarters of the state-owned defense giant DCN and its subsidiaries and came up with a wealth of detail that enmeshed former French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, current Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and a host of others in the scandal, as well as top officials with DCN. Read more.
It was questionable, however, whether Bourdon would be allowed into the country. He was unceremoniously bundled out by authorities in July of 2011 after giving details of the alleged scandal in a speech in Penang to hundreds of people at a fundraiser to continue his investigation. Bourdon was taken off a flight at Kuala Lumpur International Airport by immigration officials and was put on another plane out of the country over his protests.
Bourdon and his team, who had been hired to by Suaram to look into the scandal in dissatisfaction over the government’s investigation of the 2006 murder for hire of the Mongolian translator and party girl Altantuya Shaariibuu, were asked by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim to answer questions in parliament tomorrow about the affair.
Bourdon and Suaram have been battered by both the mainstream press, which is largely government-owned, and an army of bloggers who say the scandal has been overblown and that no trial had been ordered by French authorities. Neither Bourdon, Suaram nor Asia Sentinel, which has reported extensively on the case, have ever said a trial was imminent. But the investigation is continuing and investigating magistrates have been appointed by the French courts.
As Asia Sentinel reported in June 2012, French police acting on a request from Bourdon’s legal team raided the headquarters of the state-owned defense giant DCN and its subsidiaries and came up with a wealth of detail that enmeshed former French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, current Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and a host of others in the scandal, as well as top officials with DCN. Read more.
Musa Cleared By ICAC:PKR's Geobbels Rafizi Faces Legal Action
November 27, 2012
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 — Hong Kong’s anti-graft authority had written privately to Datuk Musa Aman last December to inform the Sabah chief minister that he was no longer under probe for corruption for a RM40 million donation to the state Umno chapter, according to the letter sighted by The Malaysian Insider.
In the December 22, 2012 letter, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) explained to the long-serving state chief minister that it had started the probe after receiving a complaint against him, saying that this was required by Hong Kong’s laws on corruption.
But the agency said that upon completing investigations and filing a report with its Operations Review Committee (ORC), both the committee and the ICAC Commissioner had agreed not to take further investigative action “on the basis of the facts now known”.
The letter, which bore the ICAC’s letterhead, was signed off by principal investigator Tso Wai-Yan and was addressed solely to Musa at his office in Kota Kinabalu. No other individual was carbon copied on the document.
Sabah BN secretary Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, who showed The Malaysian Insider a picture of the letter on his iPad, said the one-page correspondence could vindicate Musa and the ruling Umno against the firestorm of allegations from opposition leaders here of a major scandal cover-up ahead of the coming polls. Read more.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
In God We Trust, Politicians Pay Cash
Hantu Laut
Even before getting the big guns they already behaved like absolute monarchs, worse than the one they want to get rid off......the abominable UMNO.....looking more and more democratic under Najib.
They have their own lese-majeste law that forbids anyone under their rule to criticise them.
In Penang you have "Dear Leader" who talked democracy but practised autocracy. Anyone or any media who gets on the wrong side of him will be banned from his press conference. His deputy thinks he is a "tokong" worshipped by the Chinese of Penang. The Malays think he is anti-Malay. He thinks he doesn't need the Malay votes, so be it.
His Majesty Azmin Ali not happy with his subject Faekah.
Poor Faekah, for speaking out loud, they want her head on the chopping board. The PKR's Court of Retribution will hear her case.Read here.
It's "Pakatan's Way", the only way.
Democracy, freedom of speech, freedom to assemble is a lie to fool the fools and there are many out there who wanted to be fooled.
Fools who lives under the coconut shell and opportunists looking for new ride.....plenty are coming to PKR.
Now, you know why so many left this political hell hole.
See for yourself who they have collected recently from the Rogue's Gallery in Sabah......the "orang-orang kechewa" looking for new ride.
They take new shithead at the expense of old unhappy shithead who had to leave as there is not enough room to keep too many shithead who want to be YBs.
Do you believe they really want to wipe out corruptions?
Joseph Astrada said that when he was running for president and Gloria Macapagal said the same thing when she was running for president.
Both were caught for corruptions
In God we trust, politicians pay cash!
Kuala Lumpur
Even before getting the big guns they already behaved like absolute monarchs, worse than the one they want to get rid off......the abominable UMNO.....looking more and more democratic under Najib.
They have their own lese-majeste law that forbids anyone under their rule to criticise them.
In Penang you have "Dear Leader" who talked democracy but practised autocracy. Anyone or any media who gets on the wrong side of him will be banned from his press conference. His deputy thinks he is a "tokong" worshipped by the Chinese of Penang. The Malays think he is anti-Malay. He thinks he doesn't need the Malay votes, so be it.
His Majesty Azmin Ali not happy with his subject Faekah.
Poor Faekah, for speaking out loud, they want her head on the chopping board. The PKR's Court of Retribution will hear her case.Read here.
It's "Pakatan's Way", the only way.
Democracy, freedom of speech, freedom to assemble is a lie to fool the fools and there are many out there who wanted to be fooled.
Fools who lives under the coconut shell and opportunists looking for new ride.....plenty are coming to PKR.
Now, you know why so many left this political hell hole.
See for yourself who they have collected recently from the Rogue's Gallery in Sabah......the "orang-orang kechewa" looking for new ride.
They take new shithead at the expense of old unhappy shithead who had to leave as there is not enough room to keep too many shithead who want to be YBs.
Do you believe they really want to wipe out corruptions?
Joseph Astrada said that when he was running for president and Gloria Macapagal said the same thing when she was running for president.
Both were caught for corruptions
In God we trust, politicians pay cash!
Kuala Lumpur
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Anwar The Famous Rockstar !
Hantu Laut
There is nothing wrong if your rich friend give you a free ride in his private jet or private yacht if you are not a politician running for the highest office in the country.
"Carry fire in one hand and water in the other" from Plautus of Latin literature that depicts a person who is prepared to act in totally contradictory ways to achieve his purposes.
As always, Anwar contradicts himself again.
From this luxury coach with only 19 seats, a massage chair and toilet for 2 people (?)
To this Falcon 900 private jet. This is one of the few private executive jets with head standing room.Estimated cost new US$40 million.
Anwar Ibrahim talked about transparency, incorruptibility and integrity of the highest order and accused the current leaders in government of corruptions and abuse of powers and, he, the prime minister wannabe accepted a free ride in a Falcon 900 private jet funded by a rich businessman, whom he called friend.
He admitted he needs not have to pay for it and think that was the right thing to do and had the cheek to say he asked the photographs to be taken to show transparency. What transparency if you refused to divulge the name of the businessman, the benefactor to your political cause.
He is lucky he is in Malaysia where most people do not consider it's morally wrong for politicians to accept freebies. In the U.S, if he is running for president the press wolves would tear him to pieces if the name of the giver is cloaked in secrecy and the wannabe president asked the press to check the name with Civil Aviation.
In Western politics that would be suicidal but than we are not Westerners and most Malaysians are cut from the same cloth, they can't separate the wheat from the chuff.
Haven't you heard of nominees and trust companies where one can hide one's identity? To find out Anwar's benefactor would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Well, Mr Anwar Ibrahim, of all people, you should know well enough that nothing is free in this world. As with all very rich businessmen in this world they hope and some may even demand a return on their investment. They look at you as an investment first and a friend second and if they made a bad business decision, they are prepared to write you off as a loss and account it as tax deductible expenditure.
Politics and business are calculated risks that, sometimes, don't pay off and some businessmen are prepared to take the gamble.
Pakatan Rakyat claimed they are poor, have no money and pleaded to the rakyat to donate money to their political cause.
Do you, the rakyat, see this as true, judging from how the de facto leader and your probable future prime minister already living the high life of a famous rockstar?
Read:
Anwar says paid nothing for private jet trip
There is nothing wrong if your rich friend give you a free ride in his private jet or private yacht if you are not a politician running for the highest office in the country.
"Carry fire in one hand and water in the other" from Plautus of Latin literature that depicts a person who is prepared to act in totally contradictory ways to achieve his purposes.
As always, Anwar contradicts himself again.
From this luxury coach with only 19 seats, a massage chair and toilet for 2 people (?)
To this Falcon 900 private jet. This is one of the few private executive jets with head standing room.Estimated cost new US$40 million.
Anwar Ibrahim talked about transparency, incorruptibility and integrity of the highest order and accused the current leaders in government of corruptions and abuse of powers and, he, the prime minister wannabe accepted a free ride in a Falcon 900 private jet funded by a rich businessman, whom he called friend.
He admitted he needs not have to pay for it and think that was the right thing to do and had the cheek to say he asked the photographs to be taken to show transparency. What transparency if you refused to divulge the name of the businessman, the benefactor to your political cause.
He is lucky he is in Malaysia where most people do not consider it's morally wrong for politicians to accept freebies. In the U.S, if he is running for president the press wolves would tear him to pieces if the name of the giver is cloaked in secrecy and the wannabe president asked the press to check the name with Civil Aviation.
In Western politics that would be suicidal but than we are not Westerners and most Malaysians are cut from the same cloth, they can't separate the wheat from the chuff.
Haven't you heard of nominees and trust companies where one can hide one's identity? To find out Anwar's benefactor would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Well, Mr Anwar Ibrahim, of all people, you should know well enough that nothing is free in this world. As with all very rich businessmen in this world they hope and some may even demand a return on their investment. They look at you as an investment first and a friend second and if they made a bad business decision, they are prepared to write you off as a loss and account it as tax deductible expenditure.
Politics and business are calculated risks that, sometimes, don't pay off and some businessmen are prepared to take the gamble.
Pakatan Rakyat claimed they are poor, have no money and pleaded to the rakyat to donate money to their political cause.
Do you, the rakyat, see this as true, judging from how the de facto leader and your probable future prime minister already living the high life of a famous rockstar?
Read:
Anwar says paid nothing for private jet trip
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
The Rentier Leeches
Hantu Laut
Last night my wife told me how someone at a "buka puasa" she was invited to rambling away about corruptions in Malaysia, how corrupt the BN government is, how bad the government is and how Sabah was shortchanged by the Federal government.
The usual ranting of those who rely on herd instinct instead of their own evaluations.
There are those who have from day one rode the gravy train and made tens/hundreds of millions as rentier leeches yet vehemently complained how bad their once good government was when they are no more getting what they want.
These bunch of people think they have God given rights to plunder the nation until their last breath.
As the incumbent host appeared weaker the political leech will look for new host to continue sucking blood to nurse back its already weakening body.
Yes! We all agree there is much corruptions in Malaysia, that much is true, but Malaysia is not alone.There are corruptions everywhere, not that we should condone it, but that's the reality. As long as there are strong economic activities corruptions will be there.
There are massive corruptions in China, US and other countries that have gone undetected because of clever cover-ups.
Power attract the corruptible, the corruptible attracted to power.
If you think for one moment Pakatan Rakyat government is going to clean up corruptions, you need an IQ test.
See who is collecting all the throwaways!
The man much defended by America and the West and one who portrays himself as honest to goodness politician. An anti-corruption messiah.A man full of contradictions offering candies to the very people he despised, the venal politicians of BN.
If you think America is squeaky clean, read on.
Comment:
Last night my wife told me how someone at a "buka puasa" she was invited to rambling away about corruptions in Malaysia, how corrupt the BN government is, how bad the government is and how Sabah was shortchanged by the Federal government.
The usual ranting of those who rely on herd instinct instead of their own evaluations.
There are those who have from day one rode the gravy train and made tens/hundreds of millions as rentier leeches yet vehemently complained how bad their once good government was when they are no more getting what they want.
These bunch of people think they have God given rights to plunder the nation until their last breath.
As the incumbent host appeared weaker the political leech will look for new host to continue sucking blood to nurse back its already weakening body.
Yes! We all agree there is much corruptions in Malaysia, that much is true, but Malaysia is not alone.There are corruptions everywhere, not that we should condone it, but that's the reality. As long as there are strong economic activities corruptions will be there.
There are massive corruptions in China, US and other countries that have gone undetected because of clever cover-ups.
Power attract the corruptible, the corruptible attracted to power.
If you think for one moment Pakatan Rakyat government is going to clean up corruptions, you need an IQ test.
See who is collecting all the throwaways!
The man much defended by America and the West and one who portrays himself as honest to goodness politician. An anti-corruption messiah.A man full of contradictions offering candies to the very people he despised, the venal politicians of BN.
If you think America is squeaky clean, read on.
Comment:
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Would Some Of You Ladies Like Your Head On A Beautiful Body Of A Porn Star?
Hantu Laut
FMT reports here.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a political analyst pointed out that just because the records do not show her entering France, it did not mean that she was not there.
Malaysiakini reported that in 2007 news portal Asia Sentinel had published a series of photographs depicting Altantuya in Paris, among others, posing in front of the Notre Dame Chatedral.
Can you spot the difference?
Would some of you ladies like you head on the body of a porn star, a really beautiful body?
FMT reports here.
As anticipated, the spinning wheel continue to spin the improbable probables.
In the words of a political analyst in Hong Kong the late Altantuya was airdrop into Paris under the cover of darkness, that's why there was no record of her entry into the country.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a political analyst pointed out that just because the records do not show her entering France, it did not mean that she was not there.
So! Who is this freaking political analyst who suddenly become an expert in criminology?
Malaysiakini reported that in 2007 news portal Asia Sentinel had published a series of photographs depicting Altantuya in Paris, among others, posing in front of the Notre Dame Chatedral.
The one below certainly looked like her, the head only, the body belong to someone else.
Don't believe?
Remember the haughty Raja Petra Kamaruddin and his bevy of beauties.The doctored photograph below. Well crafted, isn't it?
Can you spot the difference?
Remember Tian Chua, the moronic PKR half-baked forger with his shoddy handiwork below.
With today's technology switching different heads onto different bodies is as simple as ABC.
Altantuya! The Truth Will Out.
Hantu Laut
As they say "the truth will out".
Anwar has, in many of his ceramahs, linked Najib to the Altantuya murder.
The Suaram sponsored enquiry into corruptions on the Scorpene submarines deal unearthed a completely different story, lies fabricated by elements in the Malaysian oppositions about Altantuya and Najib.
The poor lady according to French police had never entered France and was never involved as interpreter in the Scorpene scandal.This so-called interpreter can't even speak French. The elusive photo of her dining with Najib and Baginda in Paris, which Anwar and his posse, including the dead girl's father claimed many people have seen, obviously, did not exist. Till today, there was not a shred of evidence to show that the photo or any other photo of Najib's dalliance with her ever exists.
Suara Anak Haram ..Wikipedia (Suaram) did not expect the probe sponsored by them to open another Pandora's box, exposing the lies and smear campaign of the opposition not only in Malaysia but internationally with the help of foreign elements.
In the video above calling a press conference to reframe the lies on the PM and to defame him.
Who's the liar, Najib or Anwar?
What next?
The blatant lies will continue and for sure, the opposition and its supporters, as always, see conspiracy creeping in every nooks and crannies they imagined and would say Najib paid the whole French government to lie for him? Did the French government also erased her name from their immigration records?
Is the FMT story a lie?
They are not exactly known for responsible reporting but for this one, I'll give them benefit of the doubt.
French probe: Altantuya never entered France
PETALING JAYA: A French police investigation has revealed that a person named Altantuya Shaariibuu has never entered France from 1999 to 2006.
Their investigation finds that there are no immigration records of an “Altantuya Shaariibuu” entering France in that period, raising a red flag on the existence of a photograph of the Mongolian, Najib Tun Razak and Abdul Razak Baginda in Paris, allegedly taken between 2004 and 2006.
This is revealed in confidential investigative documents submitted to the French judicial inquiry which is looking into alleged kickbacks in the Scorpene submarine deal between French firm DCNS and the Malaysian government.
The French investigation also revealed that there are no immigration records to show that Prime Minister Najib and his close aide Abdul Razak had entered France from 1999 to 2006.
However, another investigative document revealed that Najib, then a defence minister, and Abdul Razak were part of an official entouarge to Paris from June 16 to June 18, 2000.
Najib made further visits to France in July 2001, July 2003, June 2005 and October 2007 but it is possible that Najib and his entourage could have entered France through diplomatic channel.
The confidential documents also revealed that DCNS officials had also informed French police that they never met a person named Altantuya and do not know who she is in the course of their negotiations for the Scorpene deal.
The DCNS officials had further informed the French police that the negotiations for the submarines were done in Malaysia and not in France.
One official – DCNS’ former sales manager to Malaysia Fredric Faura – told the French investigators the negotiations were in English and not in French, so there is no need for an interpreter.
Furthermore, Altantuya did not speak French so she could not have acted as an English-French interpreter.
He also alluded that he had not met or known Altantuya.
“You ask me if Altantuya was present at these meetings; I say that all Malaysians have perfect English and an interpreter is unnecessary,” was his response to a question by the French police.
Likewise, Jasbir Singh Chahl, who is reported by Malaysian NGO Suaram as being the first Malaysian to be subpoenaed as a witness in the Scorpene case, also told the French police that he has never met Altantuya and that she was not involved in the submarine negotiations.
What photo?
What photo?
If there are no records of Altantuya entering France, questions are bound to rise over the so-called photo being taken of herself, Najib and Abdul Razak in Paris.Read more.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Malaysia:Monkey Business No More
Anti-Corruption Program in Malaysia -- A Comprehensive Approach
Clear goals and commitments to anti-corruption have been demonstrated in Prime Minister Najib's Economic and Government Transformation Programs. They will and should continue in the months and years ahead, regardless of who leads the Malaysian government.
High risk countries offer the most challenging environment for large-scale, comprehensive reform. But as the Arab Spring showed, when these problems of corruption have appeared and have been allowed to fester, a popular movement will demand action. It would behoove these leaders to take a look at the Malaysian model instead.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
A Leopard Can Never Change Its Spots, Sabah Political Has-Beens Joining Anwar?
Hantu Laut
At least three are the ultimate frogs jumping from one political party to another when they can't get what they wanted......position and money.
Is there truth in FMT's report? Lajim has, on a number of occasions, denied the rumour.
Rumour has it that Anwar is coming to Sabah on 2 June, planning a demonstration in the state.
Rumour has it that Anwar is coming to Sabah on 2 June, planning a demonstration in the state.
"Among the names being mentioned here and in Beaufort as well as in Labuan are Upko’s deputy president Wilfred Bumburing, former deputy chief minister during the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) government, Amir Kahar Datu Mustapha, former federal deputy minister, Yahya Lampong, and the CEO of state-owned Suria Capital, Ibrahim Menudin".
Read more: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/05/31/june-10-victory-for-lajim-anwar/
Among the four, only Lajim may have the chance of retaining his seat, the rest have very slim chance of winning if they stand for elections.
Ibrahim Menudin's entry, if true, is a surprise, he was never in real politics.
Ibrahim Menudin's entry, if true, is a surprise, he was never in real politics.
Though, some join for the largesse, to maintain their lifestyle.
Isn't it obvious that the UMNO corrupt culture that Anwar pretends to despise is inherent in him.
A leopard can never change its spots.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Do Clothes Make The Man?
Hantu Laut
I have never been impressed by this man.As a matter of fact I find him repulsive, can't even remember the last time he made a smart statement.He, definitely, is not a chip of the old bloke.
Home Minister Hishmuddin Onn has poohed on himself so many times I am wondering why is Najib still keeping him as a minister in this very important ministry.
Senator Maijol Mahap asked him about the licenced slot machine clubs mushrooming in Penampang. His response is most pathetic, gone like a runaway train, didn't answer the Senators's question, instead, yapping away about illegal gambling.
I must say, it's a case of two not very clever chaps having a face off that did not bring to bear.The questioner fizzled.
There are so many of these clubs, not only in Penampang, but all over Sabah, which licences were issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance to West Malaysian companies, some, in collaboration with Sabah businessmen.
These clubs are the sources of many family troubles and robbing poor Sabahans of their money.
Are the Federal government so desperate for this petty revenue that they closed their eyes to the social problems that these clubs created.They are not bona fide clubs, but created for the purpose of gambling and enriching some political cronies.
Read his mumbo-jumbo:
Kota Kinabalu: The Home Ministry is aware of illegal gambling activities in Penampang and in fact has taken steps to stop the menace.
Just look at the way he handled the Bersih debacle, he says one thing and the police say another thing, which shows he never consulted the police before opening his big mouth.
Let's hope Najib drop him in the next GE, he is an embarrassment.
I have never been impressed by this man.As a matter of fact I find him repulsive, can't even remember the last time he made a smart statement.He, definitely, is not a chip of the old bloke.
Home Minister Hishmuddin Onn has poohed on himself so many times I am wondering why is Najib still keeping him as a minister in this very important ministry.
Senator Maijol Mahap asked him about the licenced slot machine clubs mushrooming in Penampang. His response is most pathetic, gone like a runaway train, didn't answer the Senators's question, instead, yapping away about illegal gambling.
I must say, it's a case of two not very clever chaps having a face off that did not bring to bear.The questioner fizzled.
There are so many of these clubs, not only in Penampang, but all over Sabah, which licences were issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance to West Malaysian companies, some, in collaboration with Sabah businessmen.
These clubs are the sources of many family troubles and robbing poor Sabahans of their money.
Are the Federal government so desperate for this petty revenue that they closed their eyes to the social problems that these clubs created.They are not bona fide clubs, but created for the purpose of gambling and enriching some political cronies.
Read his mumbo-jumbo:
Kota Kinabalu: The Home Ministry is aware of illegal gambling activities in Penampang and in fact has taken steps to stop the menace.
Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, however, said the State police's aim is not only to eradicate such activity in Penampang but also throughout Sabah. He was replying to Senator Datuk Maijol Mahap at Dewan Negara, Thursday.
Maijol had asked the Home Ministry to explain why it had allowed this, as if encouraging the growing number of gambling machines in Penampang.
He said the scenario is worrying because if the machines are combined, the number is similar to the number of gambling machines in a large casino.
To this, Hishammuddin pointed out that rapid development in computer technology has contributed to the mushrooming of cyber cafes in Sabah.
According to him, Sabah police in 2011 carried out a total of 438 raids and inspections on premises throughout the State during which they managed to seize a total of 2,145 slot machines.
"Police also arrested 281 people for various offences including the caretakers of the premises, its employees and the patrons as well during the raids and inspections," he said.
From January to March this year, he said police conducted a total of 184 raids and inspections in Sabah where a total of 429 slot machines were seized and 81 people arrested on various offences.
In Penampang's case, he said, the district police have been gathering intelligence and are taking action on all the information received.
Last year, Hishammuddin said police carried out a total of 15 raids and inspections that netted 331 machines and saw 61 people charged with gambling offences.
From January to March this year, he said police carried out a total of 13 raids and inspections in Penampang where 75 gambling machines were seized and 11 people arrested.
"The State police at all levels, including at district level, will continue their concerted efforts to impose stricter action in curbing this criminal offence.
The police are also always ready to work with all quarters in their efforts to overcome and address the problem," he said.
Let's hope Najib drop him in the next GE, he is an embarrassment.
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Why doesn't Homeland Security run this stuff? Not that Napalitano could do any better, but isn't airport security one of their primary responsibilities? It sounds like this deal needs to be audited at least. Can someone in Congress get to the bottom of this Raytheon robbery please! As a defense contractor they should be shut down until this is cleared up at least. If they can't build a basic security system at a reasonable price then everything they do is suspect.
Read more here.