Umno throwing sand into people's eyes

Umno is trying to fool the rakyat over the issue of illegal sand-smuggling in Selangor and posing as their jaguh kampung (village champ).

In a hard-hitting statement today, political secretary to the Selangor menteri besar Faekah Husin (left) said this is shown by Umno leaders pointing fingers at the state government over illegal sand-mining in Selangor while washing their hands of any role in the matter.

“Wild accusations, factual errors and ignorance of the laws clearly illustrates their true intentions, which is not to solve the problem of sand-smuggling but to only project themselves as political jaguh kampung,” said the lawyer-cum-political activist.

National as well as state Umno leaders have not let up in criticisms of the Pakatan Rakyat-led Selangor government over illegal sand-mining after the issue was first exposed by Kapar MP S Manikavasagam of PKR.

Most recently, Selangor Umno Youth yesterday submitteddocuments to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on the sand mining issue, a few days after state Umno deputy chairperson Noh Omar claimed he had proof of irregularities last Saturday.

Faekah, however, said such moves and attacks against Selangor MB Abdul Khalid Ibrahim by Umno leaders such as Sementa state assemblyperson Abdul Rahman Palil (right) over the matter belie their ignorance, or shallow knowledge, of federal and state laws and powers.

Abdul Rahman had criticised Khalid for calling for federal assistance in tackling sand-smuggling.

“It is as if he (Abdul Rahman) does not know the powers possessed by the federal government and that enforcement directives can be issued by federal authorities without having to refer to the state government,” said Faekah.

She also expressed disappointment with the federal government's failure to tackle the crime of sand-smuggling despite being empowered to do so.

“The federal constitution clearly states that security and enforcement of laws in the states are the responsibility of the federal government,” Faekah pointed out.

courtesy of Malaysiakini