I am waiting for the photo of the notice of the entrance fee of RM50 for the charity - Joshua(see below)
Questions/comments by Joshua
I am going to reflect on the following:-
1. Was it a public function of public interest?
2. Who was the organiser and can simply fix public collection without Police Permit?
3. Where would the money go to when SGCC also expected to charge RM10 for the coffee / tea and sandwiches ?
4. How to go without dinner when registration starts at 5.30pm and actually event/debate starts at 7pm and possibly may end sometime at 10pm?
5. We would expect the event starts at 6pm and likely finish before 8.30pm when dinner can still be OK.
6. The name of the charity is not announced.
7. Can anyone be a body of Charity to receive the fund so raised?
8. From the mouth of the organiser when
asked at the staircase, it was confirmed that collection of entrance fee would take place and at 5.20pm the organiser said "we have not yet collected any money" which in a way confirmed the intention not to be denied later.
9. Assuming 300 persons to turn up and at RM50 and RM10 per person, the amount could come up to RM18,000 an indeed a big sum for little effort and possibly an illegal activity collecting money from the public.
10. It would have been different if there is accountability and transparency for this money /EF if a registered NGO organised the event.
11. Why no NGO wanted to do it?
12. What would happen after collection that one or two parties did not turn up or stay long enough in the debate, would the money be refunded if indeed the EF was collected?
13. Who are the losers now - SGCC, YTL, HS, TSSS, and the general public?
14. If the debate is aborted, would a better one be organised in the near future for the public interest involved?
15. Would the Police now take appropriate action at least for educational purpose?
16. Those who turned up to see the show are very disappointed when TWO exCMs are involved, and so any compensation for the effort?
17. If a debate is not possible, make it a PUBLIC forum as it was promised at the function in conjunction with the Golden jubilee on the Memory of Malaysia by leaders in the 1960s including Peter Lo, Gani Gilong, Harris Salleh, Thomas Jayasuriya (absent) and Majid Khan to sort out various pressing issues then and now. Invite more speakers and panellists.
theborneopost.comhttp://www.theborneopost.com/2013/10/11/all-set-for-yong-harris-debate-2/
All set for Yong-Harris debate – BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News
Posted on October 11, 2013, Friday
KOTA
KINABALU: The stage is all set for the much anticipated debate between
two former chief ministers, Datuk Yong Teck Lee and Tan Sri Harris
Salleh, today.Yesterday, Yong went to the Sabah Golf and Country Club (SGCC) here yesterday to check the place for the debate.
Harris’ last minute change of date, time and place and change of organiser and moderator for the debate has not deterred Yong, who will be there since the debate is of public interest.
According to the club’s spokeman, Gary Tan, the management only charges RM10 per head which includes coffee or tea and sandwiches. There are 300 seats available to the public for the debate.
Tan confirmed to Yong that the club is not responsible for the RM50 collection imposed by Harris and had nothing to do with the club or management.
Yong had argued that since the public debate is to raise awareness, it should not be used to raise funds by the organiser and should be free.
The debate issues are on 20 points/Malaysia Agreement, 1976 Oil Agreement, NBT-SAS Shares, Federalisation of Labuan, 1985 Istana power grab, 1986 riots leading to the Karamunsing fire and rampant issuance of ICs.
<><><> 10th October, 2013
theborneopost.comhttp://www.theborneopost.com/2013/10/10/changes-like-ambush-to-kill-off-debate-yong/
Changes like ambush to kill off debate – Yong
Yong
Harris changed the time and venue of the debate with Yong to October 11 at the Sabah Golf and Country Club as the Sabah Society had declined to sponsor and organise it.
Yong said the last minute, unilateral change of date, time and place and change of organizer and moderator is like an ambush to kill off the debate even before it started.
“But in the interest of public awareness and Sabah’s future, I hereby accept the changes,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Harris, who is a former chief minister, said in a statement on Tuesday that he had tried to contact and send message via SMS to Yong about the changes but there was no response.
He said the moderator is Tan Sri Simon Sipaun, and an entrance fee of RM50 will be charged for the debate beginning at 5.30pm.
Yong, who is a also former chief minister and president of Sabah Progressive Party, said that he did not receive any SMS from Harris.
He said the public debate should be free of charge since it is “to raise awareness, not to raise funds.
“Everybody is welcome to attend. Seats should be reserved for senior citizens and reporters from the media,” he said.
On September 19, Harris had announced the debate would be held on October 12 at Hyatt Hotel ballroom and the moderator was Dr Heng Aik Cheng.
The debate issues are on the 20 points/Malaysia Agreement, 1976 Oil Agreement, NBT-SAS Shares, Federalisation of Labuan, 1985 Istana power grab, 1986 riots leading to the Karamunsing fire and rampant issuance of ICs.
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