GEORGE TOWN: More than RM60mil collected from developers as drainage contributions in Seberang Prai has reportedly not been given to the state Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID).
Pulau Betong assemblyman Datuk Muhammad Farid Saad, who lashed out at Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) for withholding the money, said only RM2.2mil of RM63.39mil collected from 2008 to June last year was disbursed so far.
He said that according to the Auditor-General’s Report 2016, the move went against the directive which required contributions from developers to be channelled to a trust account maintained by the state DID director who would act as its controlling officer.
“MPSP’s failure to transfer the funds has resulted in many stalled flood mitigation projects.
“In 2016 alone, four places in central Seberang Prai were hit by flash floods 21 times.
“The rakyat are at the receiving end, all because MPSP wants to portray itself with a nice balance sheet.
“In the state assembly, the state government on April 2014, announced that it had increased the contributions from RM10,000 per acre to RM50,000 per acre.
“Did they spend part of the contributions on something else instead of drainage and irrigation or flood mitigation?” Muhammad Farid asked in a statement.
He said the Auditor-General also reported that MPSP’s Treasury Department was instructed to hand over RM400,000 annually to DID in 2010.
“That instruction did not get the approval from the state government. This is improper and action has to be taken.
“It is inappropriate for the local authority to make decisions behind the backs of the Chief Minister and state government.
He criticised MPSP for showing a lack of commitment in tackling floods.
“It is an irony that a local council which has won international accolades does not follow directives.
“The exposure by the Auditor-General has dented MPSP’s integrity.
“Its delay in handing over the contributions shows that it did not adhere to the state government’s CAT (competency, accountability and transparency) policy.
“Are they trying to secure another award — a local council with the healthiest coffers?”
MPSP president Datuk Rozali Mohamud said he would comment after reading Farid’s report in print.
Checks on local news reports show EBA bestowed ‘awards’ not just to Penang councils but also other Malaysian institutions.
GEORGE TOWN: Before the dust could settle on a shock expose that Penang municipal councils received “excellence” awards from a questionable outfit exposed by a UK newspaper, checks show that other Malaysian companies, universities and GLC execs were also recipients.
Checks by FMT show Malaysian companies, public universities and top executives of Malaysian government-linked companies had won awards from the dubious Europe Business Assembly (EBA) before.
UK’s The Times had alleged that EBA, run by Ukrainian businessmen, made use of the renowned Oxford University’s name and reputation to hand out awards to those who paid a sum.
According to EBA’s website, this year, seven Malaysian companies and their bosses were listed as award recipients.
Among them is a public-listed utilities company and an education provider.
Based on Malaysian news reports, past winners of EBA’s awards include three Malaysian public universities — namely Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), Universiti Teknikal Malaysia (UTeM) and Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP).
USIM, UTeM and UniMAP received the “Best Regional University” award from EBA in 2013, according to a report by Utusan Malaysia on Dec 25, 2013.
Their vice-chancellors were reported in local Malaysian dailies to have won “Best Manager of The Year” in the same year as well.
One of the vice-chancellors was reported to have won “Best Scientist” separately from EBA’s “Oxford Summit of Leaders Science & Education”.
Another VC was reported to have won “The Name in Science” award, too.
EBA’s ‘International Socrates Award’
According to EBA’s website, the group is “an international corporation of social partnership” established in Oxford, UK, in 2000.
It lists developing and promoting social and economic links between companies, investors, education establishments, cities and countries worldwide as its main objectives.
The Times had reported that EBA advertises itself as an Oxford institution to sell “made-up prizes” such as “The International Socrates Award” and “The Queen Victoria Commemorative Award” for a price of up to £9,300 (RM52,000).
The report claimed the EBA outfit was run by Ukrainian businessmen, targeting areas where people had the financial power to buy such accolades.
A former employee told The Times that the outfit was told to focus on customers from the Middle East, eastern Europe and Russia “where the idea that money buys you credentials is still there”.
EBA was also revealed to have used images of Oxford colleges and even the same typefaces in its publicity materials.
It also claimed “exclusive” access to special lectures from Oxford, the report said.
However, the University of Oxford told the daily it has no relations with EBA.
“On the face of it, the guests gathered that evening did not have much to unite them.
Representatives from a Nigerian maritime security company rubbed shoulders with the vice-president of a Bulgarian mine.
“The founder of an international school in Malaysia mixed with the director of an Indian private medical institute,” The Times report read, in explaining the holding of an elaborate awards presentation ceremony.
Penang Island City Council and Seberang
Perai Municipal Council accused of having paid for awards from a
‘bogus’ organisation, which was exposed by a UK daily.
BEIJING -- President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is moving rapidly toward "strong" informationized armed forces.
Xi said the PLA has transformed from a "millet plus rifles" single-service force to one that has fully-fledged services and has basically completed mechanization.
He said that the PLA must be bold in reform and adept in innovation while staying away from rigidity and stagnation at any time and under any circumstances.
Xi reaffirmed the Communist Party of China (CPC)'s absolute leadership over the PLA.
"To build a strong military, [we] must unswervingly adhere to the Party's absolute leadership over the armed forces, and make sure that the people's army always follow the Party," he said.
Xi called for a new generation of "capable, brave and virtuous" army "with souls" in order to build a strong military.
Calling political work the "lifeline" of the PLA, Xi said troops must have ironclad faith, beliefs, disciplines and responsibilities, and retain their nature and tenet as the people's army.
Xi has urged the country's armed forces to bear in mind the sacred duty of fighting for the people.
The PLA is deeply rooted in the people and the strength comes from the people, said Xi.
Xi called on the PLA to maintain its close relationship with the people and "go through thick and thin" with them.
The PLA should also actively contribute to the economic and social development in stationed areas to benefit the people with actions, said Xi.
Xi urged boosting integrated military and civilian development amid efforts to build a strong military.
China must build a national strategic system and capacity of military-civilian integration, he said.
The CPC has established its thoughts on building a strong military in a new phase, Xi said.
The Party has put forward a series of new ideas and requirements concerning national defense and military building in the past five years since the 18th CPC National Congress, which together constitute the CPC's thoughts on building a strong army in the new phase, Xi said.
The Party's military strengthening theories should be constantly enriched and developed to cope with new challenges and solve new problems under new circumstances, he said.
He stressed "coordinated, balanced and inclusive development" of economic and national defense construction.
China will never compromise on its sovereignty, security or development interests, Xi said.
"The Chinese people love peace. We will never seek aggression or expansion, but we have the confidence to defeat all invasions. We will never allow any people, organization or political party to split any part of Chinese territory out of the country at any time, in any form," Xi said.
"No one should expect us to swallow the bitter fruit that is harmful to our sovereignty, security or development interests," he said.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while addressing a grand gathering in celebration of the PLA's 90th founding anniversary.
Source: China Daily/Asian News Network
PLA ready to guard sovereignty
Standing ready: Chinese paramilitary policemen stand in formation at Tiananmen Square after attending a ceremony to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. — AFP
BEIJING: The Chinese army will step up its pace of improving its joint combat capabilities and “stand ready to fight and win at any time”, State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Chang Wanquan said.
Speaking about the cross-Straits situation, Chang said yesterday the People’s Liberation Army is “confident, capable and fully prepared to resolutely safeguard State sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
Chang made the remarks during a speech at a grand reception marking the 90th anniversary of the founding of the PLA, which fell yesterday.
President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee as well as chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the reception along with other party and state leaders.
The PLA has come a long way since its birth during the armed uprising in the city of Nanchang on Aug 1, 1927, when it had only 20,000 soldiers.
Xi oversaw and addressed a grand military parade on Sunday marking the 90th anniversary at the Zhurihe Training Base in North China’s Inner Mongolia region.
Yesterday morning, Xi attended a grand ceremony in Beijing commemorating the 90th anniversary and delivered a speech.
Led by Xi, the PLA has been advancing reform, technological upgrades, boosting training and combat readiness, Chang said.
Through this, it has achieved thorough restructuring and greatly enhanced its combat effectiveness, he added.
The military will press ahead with reforms and staunchly focus on winning in combat and training for readiness, Chang said.
Speaking of the cross-Straits situation, Chang said adherence to the 1992 Consensus and opposition to Taiwan independence constitute the political foundation of peace and development of cross-Straits relations.
Any form of secessionist attempt by anyone at any time would surely be opposed by the whole Chinese people and nation, he added.
Noting the Chinese military’s role as a contributor to world peace, he said the PLA facilitates global development and supports international order.
As of June, the Chinese military had participated in 24 UN peacekeeping missions, sending 31,000 personnel, 13 of whom lost their lives on duty. — China Daily/Asia News Network
Over a month ago, Indian troops crossed into China at the Sikkim section of the border between the two countries, instigating a standoff with Chinese troops. This is arguably the biggest crisis facing the two countries since the 1962 border war, since there is still no sign of the Indian troops ending their trespass into Chinese territory.
The Sikkim section of the China-India boundary was delimited in 1890 with the Convention Between Great Britain and China Relating to Sikkim and Tibet, and the boundary demarcation is recognized by both China and India.
However, India claims that a road being legitimately constructed by Chinese troops in Chinese territory has "serious" security implications for India. It fears it will lead to the cutting of the so-called chicken's neck — the corridor, 20 kilometers wide, that links the Indian mainland to its northeastern states. As a result, New Delhi decided to make a"preemptive" move.
Knowing the Chinese border troops will refrain from "firing the first bullet", Indian soldiers have time and again employed such shady tricks in disputed areas. But this time, New Delhi has sent troops into China's Donglang area, which is not disputed, and which is nowhere near the trilateral junction that separates China, India and Bhutan.
India has harbored the belief that Beijing would compromise due to the upcoming ninth BRICS Summit in Xiamen, Fujian province. And because of this misperception, New Delhi has been emboldened to "dig in".
India's border provocation constitutes a diplomatic and military challenge to China, carries strategic implications for it.
With its troops trespassing in Chinese territory, New Delhi has taken a dangerous step by inciting confrontation. So far, China has exercised restraint, but its patience will not last forever.
China has repeatedly stated that it will defend its core interests, which include its territorial integrity. China does not have any strategic ambition to manipulate South Asian or Indochinese Peninsula affairs, but that does not mean it will allow its own territory to be encroached upon.
It seeks to handle border issues in line with international laws and documented evidence, but it does not fear a clash on its borders with a neighbor, if that is what is necessary to defend its territory. It has abundant resources to keep the risks controllable should a showdown occur. The 1962 border war between China and India is history. China can now force illegal intruders back across the border more easily than it could 55 years ago.
While continuing to be engaged in diplomatic efforts to persuade India to withdraw its troops from Chinese territory, China should be prepared for military action should that prove to be its only recourse.
As China has repeatedly emphasized, although the diplomatic channels are unimpeded, the withdrawal of the Indian border troops who have illegally crossed into China's territory is the prerequisite for any meaningful dialogue between the two sides.
Although the crisis is fundamentally an outcome of India's perception of its geopolitical role and worries about the rise of China, playing up the idea of an all-out geopolitical clash between the two countries is uncalled for.
After all, China and India are close neighbors and a healthy bilateral relationship meets the need of both for a favorable environment for development. The two countries should seek to reconcile their border issues and jointly strive to maintain regional stability.
Source: By Ang Gang, China Daily/Asia News Network
The author is a senior researcher at the Pangoal Institution, a think tank.
Dubious honours: (Above) Former Penang Island City Council mayor Patahiyah Ismail with the trophy and certificate for Best Municipal Manager awards in 2013 while her Seberang Prai counterpart Maimunah (pictured here with the Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and his aide Wong Hon Wai) received the same latter award in 2014
Penang local councils ‘fell for vanity awards scam’
GEORGE TOWN: Two European NGOs have exposed the European Business Assembly (EBA) which piled honours on Penang’s local councils as a vanity awards scam.
It is on a list of 10 organisations in Europe and China that hold elaborate ceremonies and create beautiful trophies to go with hundreds of awards.
“In many cases, those awards are bogus, sold by unscrupulous organisations that prey on human vanity,” the Center for Investigative Reporting of Serbia (CINS) and the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) researchers wrote in a 2014 report.
The report states that such organisations sent solicitation letters to companies and government agencies in the world, telling them that they had been nominated for various awards.
“Anyone who replies, shows interest and agrees to pay gets an award. Most of the letters contain the ceremony programme generally held in an attractive European capital, pictures of the trophies and information about costs,” the report added.
CINS was founded in 2007 by the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia to support investigative journalism.
OCCRP comprises investigative reporters throughout Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America.
The two local councils in Penang were left red-faced for getting EBA awards in 2013 and 2014.
The now retired Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk Patahiyah Ismail was awarded the Best Municipal Manager while the council was given the Best Municipality Award in 2013.
A year later, Seberang Prai Municipal Council got the Best City award while its then president Datuk Maimunah Mohd Sharif won the Best Municipal Manager award.
On Monday, it was reported that EBA was generating millions of pounds by selling fake University of Oxford awards and certificates.
Pulau Betong assemblyman Datuk Muhammad Farid Saad said he found many articles online exposing EBA as a vanity awards organisation.
“Did they spend ratepayers’ money to get those honours? It’s like buying fake academic degrees,” he said in a statement.
Penang MCA secretary Tang Heap Seng said the state government should explain to the people whether it had purchased the awards to enhance its reputation.
In a statement, MBPP said it regretted that the awards were suspected of being false and had applied to the organiser to reaffirm the recognitions.
State Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said he hoped both councils would be more discerning and careful in future.
Source: The Star/ANN by Tan Sin Chow
Councils: We won EBA awards after paying entry fees
Mayor: I apologise if accolade not genuine
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/07/30/councils-we-won-eba-awards-after-paying-entry-fees-mayor-i-apologise-if-accolade-not-genuine/?jwsource=cl
https://youtu.be/MHDK2DuHsAI
GEORGE TOWN: Two councils in Penang have admitted that they won the awards given by the Europe Business Assembly (EBA) without any assessment after paying a total of 7,800 euros (RM39,088) in entry fees.
Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk Maimunah Mohd Sharif said EBA did not send any auditor or judge to review the performances of the then Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) and Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP).
“We received letters via email from EBA that we were nominated for the awards. We then corresponded on the matter.
“EBA stated their judging criteria in the letters which they would be basing their assessment on.
“As far as I know, they did not come and talk to us but assessed us (themselves),” Maimunah told reporters yesterday, adding that theMPPP and MPSP had paid £4,400 (RM20,680) and £3,400 (RM18,408.10) for the entry fees.
Maimunah, who just returned from a conference in Manila, was commenting on the EBA controversy which was reported as a vanity awards scam.
It was reported that in 2014, the Centre for Investigative Reporting of Serbia and the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project researchers had exposed the EBA for giving out the awards.
“If it is true that the award is not genuine, then I apologise. I wish to stress that the local councils do not have any intention to spend taxpayers’ money to buy any award or recognition from any group,” said Maimunah.
She said at that time, both MPPP and MPSP had considered the awards as a prestigious recognition based on the assessment criteria, which included economic environment, educational infrastructure, public services and transport, recreation and entertainment.
“The entry fee is a package inclusive of the participation cost for the conference. Both of us (Patahiyah and herself) went alone and we flew economy class although we were both entitled to business class.
“We did check on the awards but we did not receive any information which would have raised suspicions.
“There are other Malaysian local authorities, agencies, universities and individuals who have received the EBA awards before us.
“As such, the councils were of the opinion that the awards ceremony were worth joining,” she said.
Both councils, she said, were still waiting for a reply from EBA to clarify the matter.
Source: The Star by Chong Kah Yuan
MPSP to participate in awards despite 'vanity awards' controversy
BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) will continue to participate in international awards despite the controversy on so-called 'vanity awards' received by the council from the Europe Business Assembly (EBA).
The council's newly appointed president Datuk Rozali Mohamud said they would continue to take part in international awards, but would heed the advice of state Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation exco Chow Kon Yeow to be more cautious.
"Up to this moment, we have decided to take part in the Wego (World e-Governments Organisation of Cities and Local Governments).
"The awards are held annually, and it is free. We do not have to pay any entry fee," he told reporters at a press conference.
On July 24, it was reported that the EBA was generating millions of pounds by selling fake University of Oxford awards and certificates.
Researchers from two NGOs wrote in a 2014 report that such organisations sent solicitation letters to companies and government agencies in the world, telling them that they had been nominated for various awards.
"Anyone who replies, shows interest and agrees to pay gets an award," the report stated.
The now retired Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk Patahiyah Ismail was awarded the Best Municipal Manager award while the council was given the Best Municipality Award in 2013.
A year later, MPSP got the Best City award while its then president Datuk Maimunah Mohd Sharif won the Best Municipal Manager award. Maimunah is now MBPP mayor.
New Delhi’s delusion - Illustration: Shen Lan/GT
