M. Krishnamoorthy
A media coach, adjunct professor and author
As a journalism news and feature writing teacher, I have always emphasised to students that it is essential to get extensive news breaks through follow-up news that affects the people and the nation.
As journalists, it is their responsibility to expose any wrongdoings in the administration of the Government, especially if RM207 billion can be recovered to pay part of the RM 1.5 trillion in debts.
What affects the people at large and the nation is big news. A case for great follow-up news is the RM207 billion paid to Malaysia in 2004. If this money can be recovered, a large portion of RM 1.5 trillion in national debts can be paid off.
As a journalist, you must continually develop the skill of asking questions to get breaking news. This is explained in a bestseller, The You in Journalism Malaysia’s first English journalism textbook (2004), which I co-authored with former NST Group Editor P.C. Shivadas, while teaching at Monash University. It was used as a textbook for journalism in universities and colleges.
For example, the RM207 billion awarded by the Japanese government to Putrajaya in 2004.
The When, Why, What, Who, Which and How questions should be raised about this payment of a humongous amount.
Some of the questions to be raised are:
- How did the Auditor General miss RM 207 million sent to Malaysia by the Japanese Government in 2004?
- Why was it not picked up by the Audit Report in 2004?
- How many other such payments has the Auditor General missed in its annual reports?
- Will the Auditor General continue the probe now that it was brought up in Parliament by an MP?
- Has the PMO requested further information from the Auditor General on the whereabouts of the RM 207 billion?
- In the first place, did the money come into the Treasury or go into the pocket of a Prime Minister?
- What is the progress of the MACC and Police investigations on the missing RM 207 billion?
- Was the RM207 billion compensation paid by the Japanese government to Malaysia for the loss of lives in the construction of the infamous “Death Railway” during World War II?
- PMX Anwar Ibrahim, more than a decade ago, then the opposition leader, claimed that Japanese and Malaysian officials had “evidence”.
- What happened to three MPs who brought this up in Parliament – RSN Rayer, M Kula Segaran and PMX Anwar?
- When will the investigation reports be published?
- Will the Government charge those in court for siphoning the money away?
- Was the money sent to the government but did not go through the Treasury?
- Has the team of economic advisers to PM followed up on this matter to pay off debts?
- Many other questions also can be asked
In June this year, in Parliament, R.S.N Rayer (Jelutong-PH) called on the Auditor-General’s Department to look into the RM207 billion awarded by the Japanese government to Putrajaya in 2004.
The Jelutong MP explained that the money was the Japanese government's compensation for the atrocities committed during the construction of the Death Railway.
“I want to take this opportunity to ask the Auditor-General’s Department whether an audit can be performed on a report highlighting that RM207 billion was paid by Japan to the Malaysian government when Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was prime minister.
“This is a big amount. If this is true, what happened to the money?” Rayer asked the Dewan Rakyat.
In 2013, reports surfaced that the Japanese embassy in Kuala Lumpur had stated that it never confirmed that RM207 billion was paid to the Malaysian government as compensation for the victims of the Death Railway.
The statement by the Japanese embassy was in response to a Harakah Daily article published the same year titled “Embassy confirms huge compensation paid to Malaysian government”.
Meanwhile, during his debate on the Auditor-General Report 2021, Rayer took further swipes against Dr Mahathir, demanding the former prime minister refrain from attacking the royalty.
The Jelutong MP then urged the government to withdraw Dr Mahathir’s “Tun” title if he continued his attacks.
“I want to appeal to Dr Mahathir to stop attacking our royal institutions.”
M Kula Segaran (PH-Ipoh Barat) had asked the finance ministry yesterday to explain the payment status, following claims that victims and their next of kin have not received the compensation.
He urged the government to reveal the findings of a police investigation into the alleged RM207 billion compensation paid by the Japanese government to Malaysia for the loss of lives in the construction of the infamous “Death Railway” during World War II.
It is estimated that 30,000 Malaysians who were forcefully recruited to build the Thai-Burma “Death Railway” died.
Freelance Writer M. Krishnamoorthy (www.imkrishna.net) is a media coach, adjunct professor and undercover journalist. He has freelanced with Bernama, NST, The Star, and Malaysiakini. He also freelances as a fixer/coordinator for CNN, BBC, German and Australian Television networks and the New York Times. As an undercover journalist, he has highlighted society's concerns about going undercover as a beggar, security guard, blind man, disabled salesman, and Member of Parliament.
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