Thesun 2008-12-10 Page01 Double Billing

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Stench leads to dog carcass

No. 4656 PP 2644/12/2008 (020369)

wednesday

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SUN ZULKIFLI ERSAL/THE

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Race against time ... search and rescue personnel dig with shovels at the site of Yogeswari’s buried home yesterday.

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by Charles Ramendran KUALA LUMPUR: Rescuers using sniffer dogs to search the buried home of veterinarian Dr N. Yogeswari for her Sri Lankan maid after they detected a stench, ended up finding the carcass of a dog instead yesterday. The rescuers had moved tonnes of soil which buried the house and searched the area, including the kitchen and the room of the maid, Lourdes Mary, but did not find her body. They called off the search at 7.20pm and are expected to continue early today. Selangor police chief DCP Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar told reporters they will extend the search to other parts of the doublestorey bungalow in Bukit Antarabangsa today, the fifth day of the rescue operation following Saturday’s landslide. Yogeswari was killed while trying to save one of her children in the incident, which killed three others. Earlier in the day, there was talk among the rescue workers that the body of Lourdes Mary, in her 30s, had been found by searchers using sniffer dogs. Selangor state Fire and Rescue Department director Saimon Jahid said his men had discovered the stench on Monday and went on to dig the area hoping to find the maid’s body. Yogeswari’s elder sister Vasantha and nephew Raja were at the scene. Vasantha said she had gone there on hearing Lourdes Mary’s body had been found. She and Raja carried several items, including a family portrait and a photo album, which rescuers retrieved from the house. Khalid said Yogeswari’s house, which broke into two, was under 7m of earth. Search and rescue work since Saturday had been slow because the searchers had to dig manually and each time they went

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December 10, 2008

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Double billing by Terence Fernandez [email protected]

ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION AND JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS BILLS TO BE TABLED TODAY

PETALING JAYA: What was to be the tabling of just the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) Bill at the Dewan Rakyat today has turned out to be a double billing. The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) Bill will also be tabled for first reading, bringing two components of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s reform agenda closer to fruition. It is learnt that the proposed JAC Bill, which was deliberated twice by the

cabinet, was approved last Friday. The JAC is expected to comprise four former judges and four eminent people, who will decide on the appointments of all upper court judges. Abdullah is expected to table both Bills. While debate on the MACC Bill will start immediately, deliberations on the JAC are expected to take place next week. The current Parliament meeting was to end tomorrow but has been extended by four days to allow for passage of these Bills. If all goes according to plan, the MACC Bill will become law on Jan 1 and the JAC should follow soon after. However, it is learnt that while the Opposition MPs support the MACC, a good number of backbenchers do not favour giving the ACA farreaching powers. Several MPs had tried to derail the tabling of the Bill by petitioning the Dewan Rakyat not to extend the meeting specially for the MACC. According to sources, having failed in their attempt, the MPs may be absent when the Bill is put to the vote. “Some plan to return to their constituencies while a few others are organising events and functions. There are even others who plan to call in sick!” said a source. “It seems that the new powers of the MACC will stretch far and wide, even investigating

money politics more effectively,” said the source. At present, the ACA refers to the AttorneyGeneral (A-G)’s office to prosecute cases, but the MACC gives the prosecution powers of a senior federal counsel to the MACC Commissioner. In addition, several senior DPPs will also be seconded to the MACC; thus removing the need to consult the A-G’s office when it comes to prosecution. “Moreover, the A-G himself can be prosecuted by the Commission,” said another source. “Currently the argument is how can the A-G prosecute himself? “With the MACC, there is a clear check and balance between these law enforcement agencies with no one party having sole discretionary or ultimate powers,” the source added. While DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang is unhappy with the short-notice, saying it was impossible for MPs to consult stakeholders, he sees no reason for anyone to oppose something that was good for the rakyat. “If anyone is opposed to something that benefits the people and promotes transparency, then this is worrying. “Of course, we wish to have more time to study the Bills, but if what you say is true, then this is much better than what we have now,” he said, referring to the report in theSun last Wednesday which said MACC will have five oversight committees. The JAC, meanwhile, had initially not received the support of many MPs as they were opposed to the Bar Council’s request for representation. “The prime minister had explained to the Bar that by having a practising lawyer on the JAC is not conducive,” said a source. “How can you appoint someone whom you may appear before later?”