Declassify if you dare: Stop the half-truths and lies, Nizar slams Zambry on VALE

Pakatan Rakyat Perak would like to reject all the condemning and false accusations made by the Barisan Nasional ministers that the former Pakatan EXCO was involved in permitting and approving the land for the VALE project in Gulf of Rubiah.

It is very ridiculous to say that the PR government offered resort land in the Gulf of Rubiah to VALE because it is private land. Perak state government had proposed Tanjung Hantu as the iron ore plant and distribution center which was also suggested by VALE.

Tanjung Hantu is located about 45km from the Gulf of Rubiah and is a deforested place and has only a small number of people. The proposed land is state-owned. We stand firm on this stance.

The facts

My letter was to act as a welcoming statement, to agree to consider all proposed sites including Gulf of Rubiah. As with any Minister in charge, I showed courtesy and positivity to a potential foreign investor to the state, where they should feel welcomed pending investigation and a decision being made.

The proposal was then only at the beginning stage. Reports from the relevant state agency had not yet been collected or discussed, neither was it discussed in any meeting of the EXCO. Therefore, no decision was or could have been made on the issue. Note that the issue can only be approved after the Environmental Impact Assessment has been conducted and the results shown to be satisfactory. In addition, the following agencies would need to be consulted:

> TNB: Who has a power generating station near the Gulf of Rubiah

> International Trade and Industry Malaysia (MITI)

> Department of Fisheries and Marine

> Land and Mines Office

> Ministry of Defence: To ensure that it will not impact on protocols related to the Navy, the Ministry of Investment, Development and Industry.

Something fishy in how Zambry is rushing to help Harta Makmur

When we examined the potential sites, we were quite surprised by our findings. Property Prosperous Sdn Bhd which owns Rubiah Bay’s resort land was facing financial problems. The company owes the state more than RM20million in assessment. It also has a number of outstanding debts and loans with various financial institutions in excess of RM200million. Therefore, we had a few questions we needed answers to before we could proceed further.

Is the decision to approve the project in the Gulf of Rubiah influenced by considerations to help Harta Makmur's financial condition, albeit it is against the will of the people? The site and surrounding area is to focus on tourism in Manjung. Millions of dollars was spent to beautify the area in order to make it the focus of tourism. I would also like to know why is current Perak chief minister Zambry Kadir so protective of the interests of Harta Makmur, although it is clearly contrary to the welfare of the people.

Courts in Singapore - is BN admitting Malaysian judiciary untrustworthy?

It is understood that if there is any dispute arising on this project, it was stated in the agreement between BN and VALE that the arising dispute will be resolved in the courts of Singapore. This is a blatant insult to our country, our state and our people in which both parties do not recognize this country's judicial system. I want Zambry to give a comprehensive explanation regarding this.

Although my EXCO was invited to Brazil for further negotiations by VALE, unlike BN, we rejected it because VALE had not furnished answers to our previous questions. So what good is a trip to Brazil or a new set of questions?

BN approved the current conditions for the project and land conversion, not Pakatan

We reject and deny, without any compromise that state government had a role in approving the project and land conversion.

I as Chief Minister at that time, with any of the former EXCO, cannot independently decide or approve projects of such size. We as the state government of Perak at that time would have to make a collective decision on an issue of such magnitude as VALE's and we will continue to do so when we go back into government.

Declassify if you are innocent, Zambry

Zambry can not be selective in providing information to the public. Zambry’s picture is the picture given in the best half-truths and deception game played by the BN.

If Zambry sincerely serves the people and does not resort to cheap politics, which he accused us of, then we demand and challenge him to declassify and declare the following:

1. All minutes of meetings by VALE-linked government agencies

2. BN EXCO’s approval for the project

3. The permission letter signed by Zambry to VALE

4. Investment agreement between the State government and VALE

We believe that the people of Perak, without the declassification of the above information, will not believe in all the lies told by the Barisan Nasional.

Perakians can and will rise to an intelligent and well thought-out decision, restoring justice to Perak and restoring democracy to our country.

Translated by Ashrul Afham, Malaysia Chronicle