The man who used his column in NST to lie
Former Dark Lord of Media Kalimullah “Riong Kali” Hassan denied he met Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Temasek Holdings CEO Madam Ho Ching in Singapore on 12 August 2011.
Azman, Kalimullah deny allegations
2011/10/02KUALA LUMPUR: A member of Malaysia Airlines board of directors, Datuk Mohamad Azman Yahya, has denied having knowledge of a dinner reportedly attended by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, businessman Datuk Seri Kalimullah Hassan and several senior leaders of Singapore’s People’s Action Party (PAP).Responding to a report in the New Sunday Times, Azman said in an email sent to the NST: “I wish to categorically state that I was not aware of, let alone attended, the alleged dinner for senior politicians of Singapore PAP and (Penang chief minister) Lim Guan Eng.
“Furthermore, I have no knowledge of any meetings arranged between PAP and DAP.
“I hope Perkasa is satisfied with my explanation. I only wish that Perkasa had checked the facts with me before issuing the statement.”The NST had quoted Perkasa information chief Ruslan Kasim as saying that a dinner was arranged for three Malaysian personalities, including a chief minister, and Singapore’s top politicians in August.
Ruslan urged the three to clear the air over the matter in the interests of the country.
Yesterday, Ruslan said he had been misquoted in the news report.“What I’ve said in my statement issued on Saturday was that Azman should answer allegations that he has information on a secret meeting between Lim and PAP’s top leaders during a dinner on Aug 12 in Singapore that was also attended by Kalimullah.”
He asked what were the topics discussed as the people had the right to know whether it involved Malaysian national security.
“I also asked if Azman was aware of the allegation that Kalimullah had reportedly arranged meetings between top leaders of DAP and PAP.”Meanwhile, Kalimullah said he “categorically denied the entire allegation by Perkasa” and demanded his statement of denial be published in the NSTP group of newspapers today.
“I am currently overseas and have just been made aware that the New Sunday Times in its edition today published the article. The allegations in the article are completely false.”
He also said claims that he had arranged the dinner for the meeting were not true.
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So Riong Kali denied that he arranged for the dinner for the meeting. What was reported by NST on 2 Oct 2011,
“Perkasa information chief Ruslan Kasim questioned the motive behind the dinner that was attended by Malaysia Airlines board member Datuk Mohamad Azman Yahya, businessman Datuk Seri Kalimullah Hassan and Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng with several senior leaders of Singapore’s People’s Action Party (PAP).”
Probably if was presented like that, then its likely to be inaccurate. Azman Yahya was never in the picture and there was no inter-party (DAP-PAP) arrangements that involved Riong Kali.
The “Thirteen Million Ringgit Plus Question” now is, did Riong Kali attend the private dinner with Lim and Mrs Lee on 12 August?
Then again, it was reported that the private dinner was scheduled in Chinese Chauvinist DAP Secretary General’s itinerary of the two day visit in Singapore, 11 and 12 August. If it was not supposed to happen, then it would not be included in the itinerary.
Lim, lied about what he said at the Singapore Foreign Correspondent luncheon. After proofs presented in mainstream media, including national TV and NST published a story how HRH Sultan Ibrahim of Johor was offended, Lim apologised. The apology is for the statement he said about Johor, which was deemed offensive. However, Lim never apologised for lying to Malaysians.
Whether or not Riong Kali actually did not attend the dinner, its something that probably would surface in the bloggosphere within these next few days. We all shall know whether he was telling the truth or doing a ‘Lim Guan Eng’. Being ‘accurate’ isn’t one of Riong Kali’s best of traits. Then again, Riong Kali did lie using his column in NST on 11 June 2006 when he was then the powerful Dark Lord of Media during PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s bleak five-and-a-half years administration.
Have we all forgotten about that?
*Updated 1000hrs
The "thirteen million plus Ringgit" guy rambles.... 
Roslan Kassim was a very staunch supporter of Anwar Juburi Ibrahim. He is just extending his lifeline by being unnecessarily vocal. He only cares for his pertsonal self. Untthrustworthy, Selfish, Non Islamic although he likes people to call him Ustaz, Not a Qualified lawyer and a back stabber. Beware of that Perkasa Dog, formerly PKR’s Pig.
This Riong Kali…is he a Singaporean?
Riong Kali is a Perak born man (Kroh if I’m not mistaken). He served in various capacity as a journo but he was notable with Straits Times (Singapore) as their Malaysian correspondent for a while.
Interesting fact, when En Ghafar Baba became the Deputy Prime Minister in 1986, he wanted Riong Kali as his Press Secretary. However, the latter ‘failed’ the ‘security test’.
Presumably his feelings for Malaysia were questionable.
I read about his grouses against the Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara Offcier refusing to register him as a Malay.
The Police vetting must have been thorough but somehow Tun Dol got him the NST boss job, didn’t he.
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