Mainstream Malay newspapers apparently do not find the shocking statements on ‘citizenship-for-votes' scheme revealed at yesterday's hearing of the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on immigrants in Sabah worth publishing.
The three major Malay dailies - Berita Harian,Utusan Malaysia and Sinar Harian - that were monitored today showed no report on the hearing inUtusan Malaysia andSinar Harian.
Although Berita Harian, owned by Umno-linked Media Prima, published a short report on the hearing, it completely left out information given on the ‘citizenship-for-votes' scheme.
The report, printed on Page 8, quoted Sabah National Registration Department (NRD) special unit deputy chief Roslan Alias, the ninth witness in the RCI, as saying that he believes in the existence of a clandestine operation dubbed 'Project IC' to issue identity cards to immigrants in Sabah.
"In my view, it may exist due to the arrest of NRD officers under the Internal Security Act (ISA). What is certain is that all applications for identity cards were in accordance to the laws," Berita Harianquotes Roslan as saying.
The three major Malay dailies - Berita Harian,Utusan Malaysia and Sinar Harian - that were monitored today showed no report on the hearing inUtusan Malaysia andSinar Harian.Although Berita Harian, owned by Umno-linked Media Prima, published a short report on the hearing, it completely left out information given on the ‘citizenship-for-votes' scheme.
The report, printed on Page 8, quoted Sabah National Registration Department (NRD) special unit deputy chief Roslan Alias, the ninth witness in the RCI, as saying that he believes in the existence of a clandestine operation dubbed 'Project IC' to issue identity cards to immigrants in Sabah.
"In my view, it may exist due to the arrest of NRD officers under the Internal Security Act (ISA). What is certain is that all applications for identity cards were in accordance to the laws," Berita Harianquotes Roslan as saying.
Same tune adopted by Bernama
National news agency Bernama adopted the same line of reporting, quoting another part of Roslan's testimony that a total of 127,949 identity cards issued in the state from 1979 until 1996 were believed to be questionable.
Both Berita Harian and Bernama left out the testimonies of other important witnesses said they were instructed to facilitateimmigrants to vote during the 1990s and help install a BN-friendly government in Sabah.
During yesterday's hearing, former Sabah National Registation Department director Ramli Kamaruddin said he was instructed by the then-deputy home ministerMegat Junid Megat Ayub to issue identity card receipts to immigrants for them to vote in the 1994 Sabah state election.
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's political secretary Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin (right) was also implicated in the covert operation.
Megat Junid died in 2008 while Abdul Aziz was appointed a federal minister, from 2004 to 2008 in the cabinet of former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Abdul Aziz is now the chairperson of Admuda Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Brahim's Holdings Bhd, in which Abdullah's younger brother Ibrahim Ahmad Badawi, is the major shareholder and executive chairperson.
Aziz not included
Both Berita Harian and Bernama left out the testimonies of other important witnesses said they were instructed to facilitateimmigrants to vote during the 1990s and help install a BN-friendly government in Sabah.
During yesterday's hearing, former Sabah National Registation Department director Ramli Kamaruddin said he was instructed by the then-deputy home ministerMegat Junid Megat Ayub to issue identity card receipts to immigrants for them to vote in the 1994 Sabah state election.Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's political secretary Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin (right) was also implicated in the covert operation.
Megat Junid died in 2008 while Abdul Aziz was appointed a federal minister, from 2004 to 2008 in the cabinet of former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Abdul Aziz is now the chairperson of Admuda Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Brahim's Holdings Bhd, in which Abdullah's younger brother Ibrahim Ahmad Badawi, is the major shareholder and executive chairperson.
Aziz not included
English newspapers New Straits Times and The Star reported on the public hearing, but not theSun.
The Star, which placed its article on Page 30, named Megat Junid but not Abdul Aziz, whileNew Straits Timesdid not name either of them in its reporton Page 13.
New Straits Timesalso did not report on testimony given that the purpose of increasing the number of bumiputera Muslim voters in Sabah was to topple the Parti Bersatu Sabah state government in the 1994 state election.
In contrast, all major Chinese dailies - Sin Chew Daily, China Press, Oriental Daily News and Nanyang Siang Pau gave significant coverage to the hearing, each publishing more than one report.
They also carried evidence provided by witnesses linked to Megat Junid and Abdul Aziz in their reports.
The Star, which placed its article on Page 30, named Megat Junid but not Abdul Aziz, whileNew Straits Timesdid not name either of them in its reporton Page 13.New Straits Timesalso did not report on testimony given that the purpose of increasing the number of bumiputera Muslim voters in Sabah was to topple the Parti Bersatu Sabah state government in the 1994 state election.
In contrast, all major Chinese dailies - Sin Chew Daily, China Press, Oriental Daily News and Nanyang Siang Pau gave significant coverage to the hearing, each publishing more than one report.
They also carried evidence provided by witnesses linked to Megat Junid and Abdul Aziz in their reports.
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