Gun Shock At Power Deals Talk

Gun shock at power deal talks

Quote:

Gun shock at power deal talks   Marc Lourdes

The incident occured during negotiations between TNBsubsidiary Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) and the IPP on Thursdayafternoon.

The IPP is also said to be Sabah-based.

Present were 14 people, including TNB officers, representatives fromthe IPP and the TNB subsidiary, as well as lawyers and an official fromthe Energy, Water and Communications Ministry.

The discussion was to thrash out a deal for TNB to purchase power from the IPP, which has a 100MW capacity.

The going was tough and one of the SESB officials told the IPP representatives not to twist their arms.

"The leader of the IPP's team said 'arm-twisting is nothing', then tookout his pistol and brandished it in front of them," said a source.

The move left the negotiating team in shock, which only intensifiedwhen the man, a Datuk, took out his gun again and laid it on the tableas the discussions went on.

The incident was all the more alarming as it happened at TNB's NationalLoad Dispatch Centre (NLDC) in Bangsar -- a top security facilitydesignated "Key Point Level 1", for areas of national securityimportance.

The NLDC is responsible for maintaining the flow of power to the entirecountry. Anyone carrying any weapon into the premises has to declare itat the entrance -- something which was not done by the IPP's teamleader.

TNB's top management is furious over the incident, and a police report was lodged yesterday.

It is believed that Special Branch had also been informed.

According to sources, TNB is also going to write to the Energy Commission on what transpired.

The progress of the negotiations is unknown.

When contacted, Brickfields deputy police chief Supt Azri Abd Rahman confirmed that a report had been lodged.

However, he noted the report did not indicate any element of threat orintimidation. "We are still investigating and will ascertain the truthof the matter."


© NSTonline http://www.nst.com.my

http://nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/Frontpage/2485798/index.pda

Please guess who is the farqer drew out the gun?

http://www.sesb.com.my/bod.cfm

Hints: 48 years old.

Pistol and bullets seized from Datuk
2009/02/23
[url=]KUALA LUMPUR: Police have seized a pistolfrom a Datuk who is being investigated for allegedly pulling out theweapon during negotiations between Tenaga Nasional Bhd subsidiary SabahElectricity Sdn Bhd and an independent power producer in Bangsar here,on Thursday. City CID chief Datuk Ku Chin Wah said the 48-year-old manhad also lodged a report on Saturday, denying the contents of a newsreport, which was published on the same day.

"We have recorded the man's statement and seized a Glock pistol and 10   bullets from him to facilitate investigations.

"We view this matter seriously and the case is being investigated for criminal intimidation," said Ku yesterday.

Ku added that so far, police had recorded statements from three people.

"We will also record statements of all those present at the meeting."

It was reported that 14 people, including TNB officers,representatives from the Sabah-based IPP and the TNB subsidiary, aswell as lawyers and an official from the Energy, Water andCommunications Ministry, were present at the meeting on Thursdayafternoon at TNB's National Load Dispatch Centre (NLDC) in Bangsar.

It is a top-security facility designated "Key Point Level 1" forareas of national security importance. Anyone carrying any weapon intothe premises has to declare it at the entrance, something which was notdone by the Datuk.

The NLDC is responsible for maintaining the flow of power to the entire country.

The discussion was to work out a deal for TNB to purchase power from the IPP, which has a 100MW capacity.

As the meeting became heated, the Datuk, who led the IPP team, allegedly took out his pistol and brandished at those present.  

He allegedly laid the gun on the table as the discussions went on.

TNB had lodged a police report on the incident and would also explain to the Energy Commission what had transpired.[/url]

© Copyright 2009 The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad. All rights reserved.

[ Last edited by davis at 2009-2-23 11:04 AM ]