What could you do with RM207 billions? I could do a lot with just RM40 millions, thank you. Probably win the next GE13 for Sabah. That amount could pay for 12 months of the Government of Malaysia's expenditure. The figure of RM251 for Budget 2013 would probably has lots of padding for BN's nonsense and waste.
Would you steal from the Rakyat, dead or living? Some 30,000 were enslaved by the Japs in World War II and that money of RM207 billions was some means of assuaging their conscience and ours. But, Malaysian government ministers and public servants with their grubby crooked fingers have made the money vanished. It left some traces of its disappearance and a Pakatan member of Parliament is demanding answers!
Forced labor: Did RM207 billion compensation money disappear?
Harakahdaily | October 22, 2012
KUALA LUMPUR: The BN government is called upon to explain where the money worth RM207 billion that was given by the Japanese government as compensation to 30,000 forced laborers railway construction from 1942 to 1946 has gone to.
Until now it has not been rightfully handed over to the victims or their heirs although it was received 10 years ago.
Member of Parliament for Bukit Gantang, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nizar Jamaluddin told the House of Representatives, he has documents confirming its receipt by the Government
Shocked he said, on December 13, 2004, the Central Bank issued banker's checks worth RM107 billion and RM100 billion allocated in the form of registered shares of Maybank on 13 December 2004.
This is further evidence that the RM207 billion compensation money for 30,000 victims of forced labor was duly received by the government prior to December 13, 2004 again about 10 years ago.
But until now, the money is not given to the victims or their heirs.
As a result, said Mohamad Nizar, former Chief Minister of Perak, the Association of Former Welfare and Labor Heritage Railway Construction Siam to Burma 1942 - 1946 (Persatuan Kebajikan Bekas dan Warisan Buruh Binaan Landasan Keretapi Siam ke Burma 1942 - 1946) had sent a letter to the government of Malaysia to claim the money.
The letter had been sent to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak on July 27, 2011 demanding due payment of the money.
"A total of 30.000 Malaysians were involved in the construction of the railway, 60% of whom were Malays, 20% Indians and 15% Chinese. The remaining 5% were of other races. "
According to Nizar, the Prime Minister's Office upon receipt of the letter handed a copy for submission to the Ministry of Human Resources there Aug. 9, 2011.
He also understands that all parties in the government, including the Department of the Attorney General has agreed that the money should be transmitted to the 30,000 victims or their heirs.
"I wish to state here that if the matter was presented and approved by the Cabinet, then why it should be kept by the Treasury or Finance Treasurer for so long?" Nizar questioned in his speech in Parliament.
He said some of those involved have died, but their heirs are still there.
"The father of Tan Sri Datuk Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin, Chief Judge of Malaya today was one of those who were mobilized by the Japanese government at the time to build the railways. And he is still alive."
"He is still in Ipoh and can describe how terrible it was for the 30.000 Malaysians," Nizar told Parliament.
Nizar added, "If compensation has been duly made, why is the government still keeping silent over the matter?"
For him, this is a solemn duty of trust, breached by namely the Ministry of Finance, Bank Negara, Ministry of Human Resources despite the clear instructions from the Prime Minister's Office that the Cabinet approve its disbursement.
"So I want an affirmation that there is an appeal from the association. They have asked that compensation be rightfully given. Why has it been denied?" he demanded.
He added that the governments of the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam had also received similar compensation and which were dutifully paid out to the rightful receipients.
TRANSLATED FROM Harakahdaily
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