Mokhzani Denies Getting Government Projects
2001-04-29
The Prime Minister's second son, Mr Mokhzani Mahathir, in
his alleged withdrawal from the corporate scene, said:
"Lately there have been many wild allegations linking me
with government projects or mega projects which are not
true, and I feel this is an irresponsible move to tarnish my
name and that of my father." Perhaps he would care to say
how Tongkah came to get the privatisation of hospital
support services. When the bids were open, three companies
were shortlisted for the three contracts -- for the
northern, central and southern regions: Faber, Readycare,
Hicom.
In fact, Hicom had the best bid; somehow, after a
re-evaluation, with the criteria changed midway by the
Economic Planning Unit under the skilful guidance of one Tan
Sri Ali Abul Hassan (who went to higher heights as Bank
Negara Governor and is now economic adviser to the Prime
Minister), Hicom was dropped and Tongkah chosen in its
place. At that time, Tongkah's turnover was RM12 million,
after this hospital support services contract, it rose to
RM175 million.
He admits only to getting out of Tongkah and Pantai
while saying he is out of all listed companies in which he
had a stake. He does not mention what they are. Why not?
He has "full" tell-all interview in the New Sunday Times
today, which spawns more questions than answers. He insists
upon being respected by Malaysians for what he did, but
leaves no room for that when he talks as a spoilt brat,
insisting he demands respect for what he did. He lied about
his father not knowing about it. The man who bought his
32.9 per cent shares, a soap-manufacturer named Mr Lim Tong
Yong, says he had been negotiating for the stake for months.
Yet Mr Mokhzahi tried to call his father in Dubai to tell
him what he did.
He is even dismissive of how the Suharto clan acquired
its wealth. That was given to them by a doting father; in
his case, a stern father prevented his children from
involving themselves in government business. We are
expected to believe these assertions said to fawning
journalists. When he and his ilk would not allow an
introspective look at what he has done, his motives must be
suspect. The timing could not be worse. He still does not
explain why he walks away from the hospital support services
and its RM350 million a year.
Has his decision got to do with what could happen if
how he acquired Pantai be a matter of dispute? What he told
a former Sun journalist about how it was done through a
Hongkong company in which all parties were shareholders
could put him in hot water. The journalist was dismissed
for writing it. Mr Mokhzani is due to appear as a witness
in that journalist's action in the Industrial Arbitration
Court next month.
Too many strands cannot be explained in this alleged
corporate seppukku. He is a pawn in a larger political
battle -- that of his father and the finance minister, Tun
Daim Zainuddin. Like the Suharto family, the Bin Mahathir
clan would fall by the wayside under a new regime, whoever
succeeds Dato' Seri Mahathir. Like all Bolehland business
men cronies, courtiers and siblings of the Establishment,
they spun a business empire with all official help at their
command. The Malaysian banking system is testimony to their
avarice. So Danamodal and Danaharta. At one time, the
three sons of the Prime Minister had debts, in Malaysia and
Singapore, of billions of ringgit.
It is curious that only Mr Mokhzani is bothered about
his father's reputation. There is no talk of his other two
siblings doing what he did. As for Mr Mokhzani, by law he
can sit on five listed company boards. But what about the
88 private companies he controls. If he is out of the
corporate scene, is he disposing of his business empire a
well. Either way, he should come clean. But he should not
expect a grateful Malaysia welcoming his decision with open
arms. There is a catch in it somewhere. If you insist on
living in a glass house, you must expect to be stoned.
M.G.G. Pillai
pillai@mgg.pc.my
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