Last week, Jasin MP Mohd Said Yusof caused uproar in the parliament, when he admitted that he had asked the Malacca Customs and Excise office to ‘close one eye’ in a case involving the import of sawn timber which had breached the regulations, but argued he was not abusing his power.
This led to the resignation of Shahrir Samad as the Backbenchers Club (BBC) chairman, after Barisan MPs distanced themselves from a DAP motion related to an alleged interference by Mohd Said in the duties of the Malacca Customs Department.
Today, the MP admitted part of the consignment of timber seized by the Malacca Customs for exceeding the size limit belonged to the client of his company Binyu Sof Enterprise. He then apologized to the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
"I went to see them as Mohd Said, owner of BinYusuf and also as an MP, and the case is in my constituency. There are many players in the port and I admit, I am one of them. "I have an interest there. What’s wrong about it?
Later, he sang a different tune.
"I don’t know whether my company was involved. Maybe yes, maybe no. If yes, so what?"
Never mind the serious fact that we missed a window of opportunity to reform the Parliament and make it truly an instituition with integrity, we Malaysians (especially those who voted and put them into the highest legislature body) are left to witness the resignation of a man with principle and an ungrateful bugger who spoke beyond one’s arrogance limit.
Is this what we asked for, after nearly half century of independence?
Malaysia, macam-macam ada.
Related posts:
[...] Now, the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has begun to investigate on the "close one eye" allegation, Melacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam wanted him to explain and even Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi requested him to appear before a special meeting. [...]
[...] Ignore the close one eye Jasin MP Mohd Said Yusof, his confession can’t stand valid for real. Look for another context from another perspective. The trouble with many politicians is that while they are quick to criticise what they perceive to be sinful, the same decibel is not heard when it comes to corruption. [...]