In Malaysia whenever you exit the country you will notice a sign warning travellers that you have to declare to the customs if you carry cash in excess of $10,000. That is also applicable in most countries to restrict travellers from carrying big amounts of cash out of the country..Perhaps the only difference is the quantum allowed to be taken out.The sign warning travellers of this notice is not an advisory. It is a criminal offence punishable with a fine ,confiscation and in some circumstances even imprisonment.
Under such circumstance, the Hong Kong ICAC should be transparent and inform publicly the manner and nature of the apprehension of the $16 Million (Singapore Dollars) that was discovered by the Hong Kong's ICAC. And more importantly it should revealed its subsequent investigation as to the fate of the $16 million cash that was purportedly to be taken out from Hong Kong.If indeed there was any transgressions of Hong Kong currency laws then why was no action taken to confiscate , fine or even charge Michael Chia who was the bag carrier.The ICAC is doing a great disservice to its own reputaion by remaining silent on such an important transgression of its currency law.It does not augurs well for its integrity if it is seen to be protecting some important political figure by forgoing further investigation of the money exiting illegitimately from Hong Kong.The ICACC should also provide clarificarion whether there are any provisions in its currency law to defer or exempt prosecution of the offence if the money was for political donations as claimed by our Malaysian Govt?In short, Hong Kong's ICAC cannot evade responsibility in this whole sordid episode by merely refusing to comment . This will only serves to confirm the widely held belief that the ICAC was also a party to the concealment and evasion of the transgression which till todate was not satisfactorily explained.
On our local front, it is unfathomable how our de facto Law minister Nazri could proclaimed proudly that the money was a political donation meant for the coffers of Sabah's UMNO. By declaring the status of the $16 million as political donation , Nazri was naive to think that such a flimsy and idiotic excuse could avoid the guilt of receiving such a huge amount..Did Nazri ponder for a moment that in order to receive such a huge donation, the political party UMNO has to perform certain task in order to earn that money.?And its no secret that UMNO is the power behind the govt. That in essence clearly meant that the money received by Musa Aman or Sabah UMNO was money obtained from corruption.
Our Central Bank, should also be castigated for its flagrant neglect of duty. If they can act swiftly on a $10,000 transgression by ordinary mortals exiting the country why is it dragging its feet on an amount of $16 miillion taken into the country?Does Bank Negara has two laws in the country? One for UMNO and one for the ordinary rakyat?
Lastly, what can you say when our P.M himself can defend the whole sordid episode by regurgitating what Nazri had trumpeted. It was for a political donation. It was for Sabah UMNO , he said. That sums up what calibre leader we have at the helm of our country..
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