Tan Sri Yahaya Ahmad

Bill

Can anyone give background and information about the late Tan Sri Yahaya Ahmad....

Bill

Asiaweek's article :

  A BLOW TO THE NATION
The deaths of tycoon Yahaya Ahmad and his wife in a helicopter crash have left family and country in shock. To whom will Yahaya's No. 1 backer, PM Mahathir Mohamad, now turn to help him achieve his vision of a developed Malaysia?
By Matthew Fletcher and Steven K.C. Poh / Kuala Lumpur


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOOKING BACK, SOMETHING TRAGIC seemed almost destined to happen. Yahaya Ahmad, 50-year-old boss of a slew of Malaysian blue-chip companies, was having dinner March 3 in Kuala Lumpur at the home of old chum Anwar Ibrahim, the deputy PM. The occasion was a "Class of '64" reunion for the alumni of the Malay College, which has produced many of the country's movers and shakers. That's where Yahaya got the news his ailing mother, living in northeastern Trenggannu state, had taken a turn for the worse. He decided to leave right away on a corporate helicopter. Anwar told him to wait until daylight, saying that night-flying was too dangerous. But Yahaya was in no mood to delay. He had always regretted not being present when his father died.
On their way to the helipad, Yahaya and wife Rohana, 48, used a handphone to call their two sons, studying at the University of Birmingham in Britain. They talked for an unusually long 30 minutes, their chauffeur later told the newspaper Utusan Malaysia. Normally the conversations, though frequent, took less than five. The helicopter took off at about 10:45 p.m. Half an hour later, it disappeared from the radar. More than two hours passed before authorities found the wreckage in a remote part of central Pahang state. Along with the dead pilot were the charred and mangled bodies of Yahaya and Rohana, locked in a final embrace. How the helicopter crashed is unclear. A young villager in the area said he first heard the sound of an aircraft in trouble, saw it circling, then explode in mid-air before hitting the ground. Said the local police chief: "We will take all factors into consideration, including sabotage."

The deaths of all three are tragic and untimely. The pilot leaves a widow and two children. But the demise of Yahaya and Rohana is particularly jarring. They have four children: two daughters -- Yatina, 24, and Nadiya, 13 -- besides the boys Othman, 22 and Faez, 21. Yatina, a banking executive, will soon give birth to her own child. Yahaya was due to receive an honorary doctorate this summer from his British alma mater, Loughborough University. The calamity is one that any family can commiserate with -- a loving couple and devoted parents are suddenly snatched away.

But because of who he was -- a friend of Anwar, a prot?? of PM Mahathir Mohamad, an industrialist whose companies were a pillar of corporate Malaysia -- Yahaya's death is a cause of national shock and mourning. Thousands jammed roads to his hometown of Marang in Trengganu for the couple's burial. On hand to pay their respects were Mahathir, who wept openly, Anwar, royalty and a host of top politicians and businessmen. "This is awful," said Mahathir's daughter Marina. "The country will miss him."

Because Yahaya was nothing less than a nation-builder. His death leaves rudderless some of the country's most important companies. Groomed by Mahathir, he was one of the small circle of favored, mainly bumiputra (indigenous) businessmen selected to play a key role in the PM's vision of a developed Malaysia. None rose as quickly or as far as Yahaya. His empire extended to auto distribution, aviation, banking and property. The jewel in the crown was the national car maker Proton.

If Yahaya's rise had been dramatic, it had not come at the expense of family and friends. "Yahaya and Rohana were two of the few people in corporate circles whom you could talk to about things other than business," recalls Marina. Yahaya was rare: a savvy businessman who was widely liked. He was also determined to prove he thoroughly deserved the PM's blessings. Says Wong Yee Hui, a senior analyst with brokerage Merrill Lynch in Kuala Lumpur: "Among the bumiputra tycoons, he was someone who rose through the ranks, and he created value in the companies he controlled."

From a rural Trengganu background, Yahaya demonstrated his future promise by securing a scholarship to the prestigious Malay College. He recalled later how he was surprised to study under electric lights, not the gasoline lamps he was used to back in the village. It was at school that he came to know Anwar. Both vied for the post of head boy -- a contest Yahaya won.

While Anwar went on to become a firebrand student leader, Yahaya put his own political ambitions on the backburner. At school, he is said to have vowed that he would become rich in business before entering politics. Soon he was swept up in the whirl of corporate life. But insiders report that Yahaya had for some time been marked down as the most likely next treasurer of dominant party UMNO, a key post that demands a candidate acceptable to both Mahathir and his deputy Anwar.

It was in the car industry that Yahaya proved his drive for success. Starting out as a salesman for a Jaguar distributor, he left the firm in 1979 and set up his own company, Automotive Corp., which secured the franchises to assemble Isuzu, Mitsubishi and Tata models. His big break came in 1993 -- a visit from Mahathir. Troubled by the slow pace of production at Proton, the premier was swayed by Yahaya's assembly facilities and his ability to deliver. Rumor has it that Yahaya built a new Proton prototype within a month, to impress the PM. Soon another of Yahaya's companies, Diversified Resources, had signed a joint venture deal with Proton to produce new models.

In October 1995 Yahaya secured the title of Malaysia's "auto king." He purchased the government's 32% stake in listed Hicom Holdings, which controls Proton -- and with it over 60% of the Malaysian auto market. Most took that as the highest compliment Mahathir could give his lieutenant, entrusting him with one of his pet projects: a vibrant national car industry for the 21st century.

Through his Diversified Resources group, Yahaya also controlled auto distribution and assembly operations. To add technology and cachet to the mix, he and Proton last year bought 80% of British sports-car manufacturer Lotus. "Yahaya had a great vision for the company's future," says Lotus director and ex-chairman Romano Artioli.

Close aides recall Yahaya's tireless working pace. As the majority owner of Kuala Lumpur's fledgling Intrakota Komposit bus company, the businessman made a point of occasionally doing the rounds of the city by motorbike to find out how bad the service's teething problems were. Says Proton Corp. CEO Rashid Rahim: "When you have been entrusted with the huge task of revamping the nation's transport system and of bringing about change at Proton, it gets the adrenalin flowing."

What now for his extensive corporate empire? To many in Malaysia's business circles, Yahaya's stature is such that his companies are virtually inseparable from the industrialist himself. Some fear his replacement will lack the prowess, or the government backing, to hold it all together. "Is there anyone there with Yahaya's drive and intelligence to pull the group through?" wonders Merrill Lynch's Wong. "He may have capable aides, but it won't be the same."

Proton also faces a tougher future. The possibility of a stronger yen could hit import costs. Also, Kuala Lumpur is under pressure to scrap the high tariffs on foreign autos and car kits that have kept Proton in the black. A member of the World Trade Organization, it is committed to gradually dismantling barriers to free trade. "As a tiny nation of 20 million, Malaysia has to believe in an open market," Yahaya once told reporters. Not all citizens are happy about the prospect. "Yahaya's death couldn't have happened at a more critical time," notes Wong. "It's just when Proton's getting ready to be a serious exporter."

And while Proton itself is cash heavy, other Yahaya companies are believed to be indebted. He is said to have been in talks with his bankers to restructure the group and cut its debts. But without the "invisible collateral" of an inside track to the PM, creditor banks -- most of which are blue-chip -- may start calling in loans.

Many predict a restructuring of the entire group. It may be dismantled and the different parts awarded to fresh corporate chiefs. One candidate is Nasaruddin Jalil, Anwar's former private secretary. He is a key shareholder in Master-Carriage, Yahaya's privately owned holding company. But the ultimate decision rests with Mahathir.

Who else could take charge of the revamped group? Saleh Sulong, managing director of both Diversified Resources and Hicom, has been put in place for now. He is expected to push ahead with negotiations to take over assembly franchises for Peugeot and Cherokee vehicles from MBf Holdings, widening the group's auto operations. But few expect him to be in the driver's seat indefinitely. "Yahaya had the mandate of the government," says Low Kwong Choong, research manager at Pengkalen Securities. "The position takes more than just a capable person. It's a question of stature." And for corporate Malaysia, a question now of learning to live without Yahaya Ahmad.

-- With reporting by Roger Mitton / Kuala Lumpur

Bill

Rising to the Occasion
Saleh continues a dear friend? legacy


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WITHIN DAYS OF THE tragic death on March 3 of Malaysia? automobile tycoon Yahaya Ahmad, his right- hand man Saleh Sulong became chairman of the flagship DRB-Hicom group, which controls national carmaker Proton. Both men attended the prestigious Malay College and finished their studies in Britain. Having been partners from 1980 until Yahaya? demise, they regarded one another as brothers. Like Yahaya, Saleh, 46, has big plans for Proton. He recently spoke with Asiaweek? Steven K. C. Poh:

What? ahead for Proton?

Yahaya was an extraordinary entrepreneur. We started auto assembler Master-Carriage in 1980, and people within the [DRB-Hicom] group accept that I am here to ensure his legacy lives on. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad asked me to take over because he too wants to see Yahaya? work continued. When one has been asked to assume a responsibility as heavy as this, you have to rise to the occasion.


How did Yahaya get the national car?

In 1992, we invited the PM to visit our assembly facility in Pahang state. He was impressed to find a plant in the boondocks capable of producing 46 different models. Here was Yahaya, a bumiputra [indigenous] businessman who had succeeded in the auto industry without government assistance. A door was opened for Yahaya. He and I had an understanding that we both could not run one group. We decided he should be the boss. It was natural. He was five years my senior and head boy at the Malay College.


How important is political backing?

Our business is very diversified. If we just assembled cars, perhaps it would not be necessary to seek patronage. But with Proton, we must have the government? approval. After the PM? visit, we were given the chance to make a new Proton variant, the Satria. It took about three months. Once we proved ourselves, other projects followed. The government started to believe in our ability to deliver. I have been given assurances [of continued government support] after Yahaya? death.

Some question the permanency of your appointment.

It? not something I worry about. If I don? perform well as head of the DRB-Hicom group, I will still remain a shareholder, but someone else will run the show. But I have every intention to make good as I am responsible for the 36,000 or so employees within the group.


Is Proton competitive enough to survive?

To become a global player, Proton must be more competitive. We have to prepare for when the tariff protection we enjoy is no longer there. That means being price competitive, especially against models that are direct rivals. Our target is to cut costs by a third. While trimming costs, performance and reliability must not suffer. The styling of our cars must remain attractive. These are our top concerns. But we are moving in the right direction.


Are you concerned about Proton? lackluster exports?

Yes, but not to the extent that I am worried. Volume in the domestic market has risen steadily. In 1996, total passenger car volume was over 275,000 units, of which Proton had a 63%-plus share. By 1998, we expect the [nationwide sales] figure to be around 400,000, climbing to 500,000 by 2000. We definitely need to study how we can improve. And we must be prepared for the export market.

Bill

MOTORCYCLES
Reviving a 1980s Dream
Can Malaysia Repeat Proton's Success on Two Wheels?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAN MODENAS MATCH THE success of Proton, the Malaysian national car? That's the task tycoon Yahaya Ahmad gave his former Malay College classmate Rashid Din, 49, when he tapped the British-trained mechanical engineer to head the national motorcycle project. Though favored by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, the government shelved the two-wheeler venture in the 1980s. Planners concluded that, given Malaysia's small market, the undertaking could survive only with huge exports. Now, Yahaya, who also controls heavily protected Proton, has revived the idea -- and local motorcycle assemblers and dealers are worried.
Modenas is owned by his Diversified Resources Berhad (DRB, with 70%), motorcycle maker Kawasaki (19%) and trading giant Nissho Iwai Corp. (11%), which distributes Kawasaki outside Japan. The multinationals have been Yahaya's partners in Kawasaki Sunrock, a local assembler. All that was uncontroversial -- until DRB recently bought control of state-owned Heavy Industries Corp. of Malaysia. Among Hicom's diverse tie-ups are motorcycle assembly and engine development ventures with Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha. "The Japanese are not happy," says an industry executive. "When Hicom was a government entity, it was a different story. Now it is in private hands."

Rashid has declined to comment on the apparent conflict of interest. He prefers to talk about Modenas as a major plank in Malaysia's industrialization: "If we can't manufacture a motorcycle from scratch, we can't call ourselves developed." He puts a premium on making engines. "First, the motorcycle, minus the engine, will be manufactured," he says, requiring some $120 million in investment. Then another $80 million will be spent to raise output and set up engine production. The two phases will take three to five years, says Rashid. The first 100,000 units of motorcycle is forecast to have at least 60% local content. The CEO hopes Modenas will take off much faster than Proton, which needed to set up a dealership network.

Starting September, Modenas will roll out from its Gurun plant in Kedah state 110-cc four-stroke and 115-cc two-stroke models. Sports models will be developed at a later stage. Once the first phase is completed, Rashid expects the 28-ha plant to employ 1,000 workers in two shifts. Two-stroke models make up approximately 70% of the domestic motorcycle market, and four-stroke bikes the rest. Despite the limited market, explains Rashid, Modenas's move into four-stroke cubs "is in line with the government's plan to check pollution."

Some rival assemblers and distributors fear a price war. To meet its target of 50%-to-60% market share, Modenas may have to sell below $1,500 for a cub model with a 105-to-110-cc engine. They now cost an average of $1,580. Its rivals won't say how they would counter such a tack, noting that most bikes are under price control. A Kuala Lumpur distributor believes "the expanding local market can accommodate another entrant. And there's ASEAN, itself a huge market." From 83,501 units in 1987, motorcycle sales in Malaysia hit 283,849 in 1994, 80% below 250 cc. Last year's tally was tipped to reach 320,000, which is expected to rise another 8% in 1996.

But one industry observer says: "Some assemblers may just find it more profitable to supply parts to Modenas." Even the new player may have some red ink for a time. "Like most other ?ational' projects, manufacturers were prepared to stomach early losses to build market share," says an analyst. Rashid retorts: "Our finance people say we'll make money from day one." But he admits: "We definitely won't have a positive cash flow in the first year."

In any case, Modenas has submitted a request for preferential treatment to the government. Proton has thrived on it, paying only 13% duty in imported parts while its rivals forked out 42%. Today, the car is moving into overseas markets like Britain and the Philippines, and a second national car project was launched in 1994. But applying the same strategy to motorcycles may not work. Bike buyers are less affluent than car customers and may balk at the prices protectionist duties would impose.

Moreover, the impact of tariffs on Modenas's rivals may not be that much, since about 95% of their body parts are locally made. Only the engines and some transmission and control units are from Japan. "We've complied with all requirements on local content," says one assembler. "We can produce even the imported parts, but the investments are huge." Other analysts wonder whether the relatively low-tech, labor-intensive motorcycle is worth all the expense. Rashid cites a non-economic benefit: "Imagine everyone on a motorcycle. Traffic jams will be reduced." But that aim won't be helped by raising bike prices to favor a local make.

Bill

MASTER CARRIAGE



Master Carriage adds another giant



The Master Carriage Group?hich includes Diversified Resources Bhd (DRB) and Gadek Malaysia Bhd?dded another corporate heavyweight to its stable with the purchase of a 32% stake in Hicom Holdings. Led by tycoon Datuk Seri Yahaya Ahmad, the deal was signed through family owned Mega Consolidated Sdn Bhd for between $672.5m and $712m. Analysts expect Yahaya to shift Hicom and five other publicly listed firms?ncluding Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Bhd or Proton?o DRB, his flagship company. DRB is the assembler of Proton, Satria, Citro?, Land Rover, Mitsubishi Pajero and Isuzu Trooper cars. Hicom is also transport-focused, with a 27.5% stake in Proton and 30% in Edaran Otomobil Nasional (EON), the sole distributor of Proton cars. This gives the group the lion? share of Malaysia? automotive market.



Formed in 1982, Master Carriage? diverse businesses include property development and construction, information technology, oil and gas equipment and services, engineering, financial, insurance, freight forwarding services and plantations. But even with the latest acquisition, the group remains focused on the motor industry?t holds three motor franchises, Mitsubishi, Isuzu and Citro?. Diversification into other areas has been for the purpose of creating synergies rather than simple diversification. To round out the transportation stable for example, the group (through DRB) took a 70% stake in Motosikal dan Enjin Nasional Sdn Bhd or Modenas. Modenas plans to build a $120m motorcycle plant?alaysia? first ?ational motorcycle?in a joint venture with Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Nissho-Iwai Corp. (January 1996)

Bill

MALAYSIA

Tan Sri Yahaya Ahmad is presently the Chairman of DRB-Hicom Group of Companies, Malaysia. He has served on many government bodies, including The National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia of which he is the President. Tan Sri Yahaya also holds the position of President of the Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia. DRB-Hicom Group comprises more than 100 companies active across a wide spectrum of industries, including automotive engineering, manufacturing, transportation service, financial services, information technology, agriculture, construction and property development.

Bill

Some articles from the Internet :

Tragedi TS Yahaya - Rahsia Dibongkar
Telah berlalu 20 bulan tragedi yang telah mengemparkan negara dimana Pengerusi Kumpulan DRB-Hicom, Tan Sri Yahaya Ahmad (TSYA)  terbunuh bersama isterinya dan juruterbang helikopter peribadi beliau.  Berita pilu yang diterima di awal pagi bulan Mac 1996 oleh rakyat Malaysia disambut dengan rasa tidak percaya.

Cerita bagaimana seorang usahawan yang terkenal dengan kegigihannya disingkatkan kecemerlangan kerjayanya masih dirasai terutama oleh syarikat-syarikat Kumpulan DRB-Hicom dan kakitangannya.  Ketangkasan dan wawasan beliau lebih-lebih lagi dirindukan di dalam suasana kumpulan yang diasas beliau lemas tersempit oleh kegawatan ekonomi.

Ramai yang masih ingat akan kesungguhan beliau untuk menyelesaikan rungutan penumpang bas Intrakota terhadap tahap perkhidmatannya.  Dengan menunggang sendiri motosikal "cub" beliau meredah di celah-celah kesibukan kenderaan KL tanpa mengira di awal pagi sebelum matahari terbit ataupun sewaktu panas yang terik.  Tiada protokol yang dipentingkan beliau.

Yang lebih menyayatkan hati orang ramai ialah kerana beliau terbunuh ketika dalam menziarahi ibunya yang sedang sakit tenat (dan meninggal beberapa ketika selepas itu).  Betapa di dalam kesibukan beliau mengejarkan jadual yang ketat dengan pelbagai perkara yang riuh bermain di dalam kepala, beliau masih sanggup terbang pada waktu larut malam demi menunaikan kesetiaan sebagai anak yang ingin membalas jasa ibu.

Siasatan tragedi memakan masa lebih setahun untuk siap.  Selepas siap, laporan tersebut mengambil masa yang lama pula untuk diumumkan.

Pesawat Agusta-109P yang mempunyai 6-tempat duduk itu menjunam 2,900 meter ke celah-celah pokok getah berdekatan dengan sebuah kampung dekat Kuala Lipis. Pesawat yang dengan rasminya dimiliki oleh syarikat TSYA, Gadek Aviation Helicopter Sdn Bhd, adalah sebuah pesawat yang baru dibeli dan adalah model tercanggih yang dikeluarkan oleh pembuat pesawat Agusta dari Itali.  Syarikat pembuat telah menghantar jurutera mereka untuk menyiasat punca kemalangan tersebut.

Pelbagai andaian telah dibuat tentang punca kemalangan.  Laporan rasmi kerajaan menyatakan TSYA sendiri yang memandu pesawat tersebut dan akibat ketidakcekapan beliau memandu di waktu malam menyebabkan pesawat tersebut jatuh menjunam. Namun tidak ramai yang tahu rahsia yang terselindung disebalik tragedi tersebut.

Yang amat jelas di mata masyarakat ialah TSYA amat disenangi oleh PM DrM.  Hampir setiap bulan kalau akhbar menceritakan pelbagai projek yang diusahakan dan juga diperolehi hasil hubungan rapat beliau dengan Dr. M.

Tetapi beliau turut juga rapat dengan DS Anwar Ibrahim. Telah diketahui ramai juga bahawa TSYA, sebelum berlepas ke Kuala Terengganu, telah menhadiri majlis jamuan di rumah DSAI.  Jamuan yang dihadiri oleh rakan sedarjah MCKK berlarutan melampaui jam 10.00 malam.  TSYA meninggalkan majlis tersebut menuju ke Helipad Segambut untuk menaiki pesawat yang malang dan berlepas pada jam 10.45 malam.

Memang benar, TSYA selalu memandu pesawat tersebut, tetapi pada malam tersebut beliau telah keletihan dan tidak bersedia untuk memandu kerana inginkan untuk berehat dalam perjalanan satu jam ke rumahnya di Marang.

Agenda beliau pada hari tersebut adalah antara yang tersibuk di hari-hari akhir beliau hidup dimuka bumi ini.  Dalam seminggu tersebut beliau telah berulangkali terbang di antara KL-KT kerana ingin berbakti dengan ibu beliau di saat-saat akhir hayat ibunya dan menyempurnakan tugas perniagaan yang makin berkembang.

Siasatan yang dikumpul dan laporan yang dibuat menyatakan bahawa pesawat tersebut berlegar kerana masalah teknikal sebelum terhempas.  Dan bukannya menjunam kerana kegagalan pemandu memandu dalam suasana gelap. Pesawat telah meletup sebelum jatuh ke bumi.  Kalau seseorang yang cekap pun pasti tidak dapat berbuat apa-apa apabila injin pesawat berhenti dan meletup di udara walaupun kalau ianya dipandu oleh komputer sepenuhnya. Pesawat Augusta 109 turut dilengkapi dengan sistem instrumentasi ILS yang membolehkannya terbang dengan mudah di waktu malam.

Ingin saya bahawa pemerhatian pembaca ke beberapa perkara untuk difikirkan bersama:

1. TSYA tidak memandu pesawat tersebut pada masa tersebut (suatu percanggahan dengan laporan rasmi kerajaan).  Beliau dilihat menaiki pintu penumpang dan bukan pintu pemandu.  Beliau amat keletihan dan memerlukan kerehatan.

2. Pemandu pada masa itu adalah Mej Azlizan.  Di kalangan rakan beliau semasa di TUDM, Mej Azlizan memang terkenal dengan kecekapannya dan pengalamannya.  Sebab itu lebih mudah untuk mempersalahkan TSYA yang memandu ketika itu kerana "track record" kemahiran Mej. Azlizan.

3. Pesawat tersebut berlabuh dan di simpan di Segambut dan diservis oleh sebuah syarikat yang miliknya dikaitkan dengan tokoh ternama di Malaysia.  (Saya ingin membiarkan pembaca mencari maklumat ini)l  Tempat tersebut memang dikawal rapi - dan hanya perkeja di situ sahaja yang dibenarkan keluar masuk.

4. Suatu yang tidak dihebohkan sebelum ini ialah - Pada 4hb Mac DSAI dan TSYA dijadualkan terbang bersama di dalam pesawat yang malang tersebut. Nasib menyebelahi DSAI kerana pesawat tersebut jatuh sebelumnya.  Pada malam yang malang itu, ketika di rumah DSAI, DSAI bersungguh merayu TSYA agar tidak terbang pada malam itu kerana terpaksa pulang ke KL untuk jadual mereka bersama keesokkannya.  (Perbualan itu didengari oleh beberapa orang pada malam tersebut malah dilaporkan di dalam akhbar-akhbar tempatan.

5. Masih ramai yang ingat akan peristiwa pesawat VIP TUDM yang dalam perjalanan untuk mengambil DSAI dari lawatan ke utara terhempas di Kepala Batas membunuh beberapa kakitangan TUDM.  Ajal belum tiba untuk DSAI pada ketika itu (yang pada ketika itu telah menjawat sebagai TPM hampir nyata bahawa beliau akan mengambil alih tapuk pemerintahan negara).
  

Kesimpulan:

Kalaulah benar bahawa DSAI memang tidak dikehendaki sejak sekian lama, saya tidak dapat menyangkal bahawa telah ramai korban yang digugurkan demi untuk menjaga kepentingan beberapa kerat manusia di Tanah Air yang tercinta.

Sama-sama kita berdoa kepada Allah Azzawajala agar bala dijauhkan dari kita dan bersembahyang hajat beramai-ramai (jika dihalang buat  sendirian di masjid mahupun di rumah).

Bill

H-Net* Kes Pembunuhan Yahya Ahmad (DRB Haikom)
Concorde
Mon, 27 Sep 1999 11:53:09 -0700

BERITA MALAYSIA


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
September 27 , 1999 20:21PM  



ENJIN HELIKOPTER TIDAK BERFUNGSI SECARA NORMAL

   

RAUB, 27 Sept (Bernama) -- Mahkamah Koroner di sini hari ini diberitahu bahawa enjin helikoper Agusta A109E Power yang membawa Ketua Kumpulan dan Pengerusi DRB-Hicom, Tan Sri Yahaya Ahmad tidak berfungsi secara normal sebelum terhempas.

Timbalan Pengarah Bahagian Airworthiness, Jabatan Penerbangan Awam (DCA), Suhaimi Abdul Ghani berkata enjin yang tidak berfungsi secara normal itu tidak dapat memberikan kuasa kepada putaran kipas helikopter berkenaan.

Katanya putaran kipas akan membolehkan helikopter terbang tetapi apabila putaran itu terlalu perlahan atau dalam keadaan luar biasa, kipas itu akan terjungkit dan tidak seimbang.

"Apabila sampai ke tahap melebihi kekuatan struktur, kipas itu akan patah," katanya kepada Majistret Kamal Azira Hassan yang bertindak selaku Koroner pada siasatan inkues yang masuk hari keempat hari ini.

Suhaimi ialah saksi kelapan siasatan inkues terhadap kemalangan helikopter yang mengorbankan Yahaya, isterinya Puan Sri Rohana Othman dan juruterbang Mej (B) Azlizan Abdul Manas.

Inkues itu untuk menentukan punca tragedi berkenaan, sebab dan cara kematian semua mangsa dan sama ada kematian serta tragedi itu berlaku kerana apa-apa perbuatan atau pengabaian yang menyalahi undang-undang.

Helikopter Agusta A109E Power itu, milik Gadek Aviation Services Sdn Bhd, anak syarikat DRB-Hicom, terhempas pada 3 Mac 1997, di Kampung Atong, Jerangsang di Kuala Lipis, mengorbankan Yahaya, 51, Rohana, 49, dan Azlizan, 32.

Mubashir Mansor dan Trevor J.M Pandasian merupakan peguam pemerhati bagi pengeluar helikopter itu, Moses Susayan dan Datuk A. Ramiah bagi pihak estet dan keluarga Yahaya serta Rohana manakala Shakuntala Sharma pula ialah untuk DRB-Hicom.

Semasa disoal oleh Timbalan Pendakwa Raya Mohamed Shariff Abu Samah, Abdul Ghani, 48, berkata beliau pergi ke tempat kejadian pada 4 Mac 1997 dengan menaiki sebuah helikopter dan ternampak bangkai pesawat itu dalam keadaan pecah-pecah dan terbakar.

Katanya satu daripada empat bilah kipas helikopter yang terhempas itu berada antara 200 hingga 300 meter dari tempat helikopternya mendarat dan mempunyai kesan patah.

Tiga lagi bilah kipas helikopter yang ditemui di tempat kejadian turut mempunyai kesan patah. Bagaimanapun, tiada kesan yang menunjukkan kesemua bilah kipas itu telah tercabut, katanya lagi.

Berdasarkan penyiasatan yang dijalankan, beliau mendapati bilah-bilah kipas itu patah semasa helikopter berkenaan sedang berada di udara.

Suhaimi yang berpengalaman 19 tahun bersama DCA, turut terbabit dalam penyiasatan beberapa kes kemalangan udara termasuk kemalangan Skyvan di Sarawak, pesawat Cessna yang membawa bekas menteri luar Tan Sri Ghazali Shafie yang terhempas di Pahang, pesawat Jumbo Jet Syarikat Flying Tiger di Puchong dan pesawat Airbus MAS di Kampung Subang.

Antara bidang tugasnya di Bahagian Airworthiness DCA ialah urusan pendaftaran pesawat, pengeluaran kad akuan layak terbang pesawat dan pengeluaran lesen jurutera penyenggara pesawat.

Mengenai pesawat Agusta A109E Power itu, beliau berkata berdasarkan dokumentasi, helikopter itu layak membuat penerbangan pada hari ia terhempas.

Suhaimi menjelaskan perakuan layak terbang akan dikeluarkan setelah semua proses yang membabitkan kira-kira 30 keperluan dijalankan mengikut perundangan.

Antara syarat untuk pengeluaran perakuan layak terbang itu termasuk ujian layak terbang dan ujian radio penerbangan yang meliputi alat-alat navigasi serta perhubungan pada pesawat terbabit.

Beliau berkata perakuan layak terbang bagi pesawat Agusta A109E Power itu dikeluarkan pada 28 Dis 1996 setelah semua keperluan teknikal dipenuhi manakala tempoh akhir bagi perakuan layak terbang itu ialah pada 27 Dis 1997.

Siasatan inkues itu disambung esok. -- BERNAMA

Bill

Many Malay Collegians, the most prominent being the late Tan Sri
Yahaya Ahmad and the now-out-of-favour Tan Sri Halim Saad, have reaped
the benefits of the New Economic Policy.

Bill

DCA TO PROBE CAUSE OF CHOPPER CRASH
*
*   KUALA LIPIS: The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) will set
up an inquiry board to investigate the cause of the helicopter
crash which killed corporate leader Tan Sri Yahaya Ahmad and his
wife early.
*   Its director-general Haji Zaini Omar said the board would be
led by Kapten Yahaya Abdul Rahman from DCA's flight operations
division, pilot Haji Suhaimi Abdul Ghani and two engineers.
*   "The investigation is quite complicated, it may take a
week...we can only conduct the preliminary investigation today
and the full probe will be made once the two engineers arrive
this evening," he told reporters at the scene of incident here
Tuesday.
*   He said wreckage of the ill-fated Agusta-109 helicopter owned
by Gadek Aviation would be brought to Kuala Lumpur for
investigation purposes.
*   "The helicopter's wreckage may be brought back and the DCA
will request help from the military," he said. -- Bernama

Bill

Yahaya Ahmad

An industrialist's demise does not usually send a nation into shock and mourning. Malaysian "auto king," Yahaya Ahmad, right, was an exception. When he and wife died in a helicopter crash in March, the news cast a pall in Kuala Lumpur. Thousands later lined the roads to the couple's burial in Marang, the town where Yahaya grew up. For he embodied not just the new, dynamic face of bumiputra (indigenous) business, but also the country's hopes for the future. He was among the few entrepreneurs chosen to help realize Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's vision of a developed Malaysia. It was not mere personal ties that made Yahaya a key corporate player, though he was a school chum of deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim. The tycoon had already made his mark in car-assembly in 1995 when Mahathir offered him his big break -- the purchase of the government's controlling stake in Hicom, the conglomerate whose subsidiaries included the national car-maker Proton. Yahaya, 50, proved his mettle by revving up Proton and was fueling it for global competition when tragedy struck.

Bill

Pusara Yahaya terus dikunjungi

MARANG 5 Mac - Tanah Perkuburan Islam Bandar Marang, tempat bersemadinya Allahyarham Tan Sri Yahaya Ahmad dan isteri, Puan Sri Rohana Othman, terus dikunjungi oleh saudara-mara, kenalan rapat dan orang ramai hari ini.

Selain datang menziarahi, mereka turut menghadiahkan al Fatihah dan bacaan Yassin.

Mereka termasuklah salah seorang anak Allahyarham, yang mengiringi seorang kenalan rapat Allahyarham untuk menziarahi kuburnya.

Ahmad Faez, anak ketiga Yahaya yang menuntut di England menaiki sebuah kenderaan pacuan empat roda bersama rakan Allahyarham, bagaimanapun dia enggan ditemuramah.

Dua anak lelaki Allahyarham yang menuntut di luar negara, Ahmad Othman dan Ahmad Faez tiba di Kuala Terengganu kira-kira pukul 7.30 malam tadi setelah jenazah kedua ibu bapa mereka selesai dikebumikan.

Kawan rapat Allahyarham, Abdul Rahman Maulud, 46, ketika ditemui di kawasan perkuburan itu berkata, beliau mengenali Allahyarham sejak tahun 1970-an ketika tinggal berjiran di Lorong Gurney, Kuala Lumpur.

Malah, katanya, sejak perkenalan dari dahulu sampai sekarang, Allahyarham merupakan seorang yang merendah diri, tidak suka menunjuk-nunjuk dan sentiasa bersikap lemah lembut.

Beliau yang baru pulang dari Jakarta, tiba di Terengganu petang semalam, dengan ditemani isterinya, Halimah Ramli, 43.

Mereka dihantar oleh anak ketiga Allahyarham, Ahmad Faez dan ditemani oleh seorang lagi rakannya ke kawasan perkuburan itu.

"Seminggu sebelum berangkat ke Jakarta iaitu pada Jumaat lalu, saya ada berjumpa dengannya dan Allahyarham sempat mengucapkan selamat berangkat kepada saya," katanya.

Beliau yang bertugas di Jabatan Perdana Menteri melahirkan rasa amat terkejut apabila menerima panggilan daripada isterinya, Halimah, mengenai nahas yang menimpa Allahyarham serta isteri.

Sementara itu, suasana sedih masih dirasai oleh saudara-mara dan kenalan rapat yang mengunjungi rumah Allahyarham dan isteri di Kampung Kijing di sini.

Di samping itu, keluarga Allahyarham juga terus menerima ucapan takziah termasuk dari dalam dan luar negara.

Bill

Man behind Lotus revival is killed in air crash
By Andrew Cave

THE Malaysian entrepreneur Yahaya Ahmad, who engineered Proton's £51m investment in the sports car manufacturer Group Lotus last October, has died in a helicopter crash, it was announced yesterday.

Mr Yahaya's wife and his pilot were also killed when the helicopter went down on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Marang in Malaysia, where the industrialist planned to visit his sick mother.

Yesterday Proton was unable to say what would happen to Mr Yahaya's 16.5pc stake in Group Lotus, which he obtained by personally investing £14m in Proton's acquisition of an 80pc stake in the car firm.

Group Lotus's chief executive, Mohamed Zainai, said: "This sad event will not in any way affect the financial stability, investment programmes or commitments made by Proton. With regard to Lotus, the expansion of both engineering and manufacturing will continue as planned."

Bill

AMBIL PERHATIAN KES INI

From:
Date: 29 Jun 1999
Time: 04:55:18
Comments

ULASAN

KITA KENA IKUTI KES INI KERANA IA DIKENDALIKAN OLEH GADEK YANG ADA KAITAN DENGAN SYARIKAT ANAK MAHATHIR. HELIKOPTER INI HELIKOPTER BARU. SYARIKAT ITU YANG KENDALIKAN. TIADA SYARIKAT LAIN YANG TERLIBAT. LAGIPUN PERISTIWA ITU BERLAKU SERTA MERTA SELEPAS SATU PERTEMUAN DENGAN BEKAS-BEKAS PELAJAR MCKK DI RUMAH DSAI.

YANG KEDUA DSAI SEPATUTNYA NAIK HELIKOPTER ITU PADA PAGI TERSEBUT.

NAMPAKNYA ADA HATI-HATI YANG BERDEBAR MENDENGAR KES INI.

====================================================================================================

HELIKOPTER YAHAYA TIDAK MELETUP SEMASA DALAM PENERBANGAN

KUALA LIPIS, 29 Jun (Bernama) -- Helikopter yang membawa pengerusi dan ketua eksekutif Kumpulan DRB-Hicom Tan Sri Yahaya Ahmad tidak meletup semasa dalam penerbangan, demikian Mahkamah Majistret di sini diberitahu hari ini.

Timbalan Pendakwa Raya Mohd Shariff Abu Samah berkata kemalangan yang mengorbankan Yahaya, isterinya Puan Sri Rohana Othman dan juruterbang Mejar (B) Azlizan Abdul Manas itu dipercayai disebabkan kipas utama pesawat berkenaan tertanggal atau patah semasa helikopter masih di ruang udara.

Bilah kipas yang pertama dipercayai tertanggal dari helikopter itu semasa ia tinggi di udara, menyebabkan kedudukan penerbangan helikopter itu tidak stabil, katanya semasa mengemukakan permohonan supaya diadakan siasatan inkues berkaitan kemalangan itu.

Berikutan itu tiga lagi bilah kipas terpelanting menyebabkan pesawat berkenaan terhempas tanpa sebarang kipas utama lalu helikopter itu dipercayai meletup dan terbakar apabila terhempas.

Siasatan inkues itu ialah bagi mengenal pasti punca kemalangan, sebab-sebab dan cara kematian kesemua mangsa dan sama ada kematian serta kemalangan itu berlaku kerana apa-apa perbuatan atau pengabaian yang menyalahi undang-undang yang dilakukan orang lain.

Hakim Kanan Mahkamah Sesyen Kuantan Idris Othman yang mendengar permohonan itu kemudian menetapkan supaya siasatan inkues itu didengar di Mahkamah Majistret Raub mulai 16 Ogos.

Beliau juga membenarkan permohonan Mohd Shariff supaya 28 keping wang kertas RM1,000 yang ditemui di tempat kejadian, ditukarkan kepada wang kertas RM100 dan setiap wang kertas RM1,000 itu dibuat salinan serta dicatatkan nombor sirinya.

Permohonan itu selaras dengan arahan Bank Negara Malaysia bahawa wang kertas RM1,000 dan RM5,000 tidak sah diperlakukan selepas 1 Julai ini.

Peguam Shakuntala Sharma mewakili Gadek Aviation Services Sdn Bhd sebagai peguam pemerhati.

Pada 3 Mac 1997, helikopter jenis Augusta A 109E milik Gadek Aviation Services Sdn Bhd, anak syarikat DRB-Hicom Corporation, terhempas di Kampung Atok, Jerangsang, Kuala Lipis yang mengorbankan Yahaya, 51, Rohana, 49 dan Azlizan, 32.

Mohd Shariff berkata pada pukul 8.30 malam 3 Mac 1997 pengawal pusat kawalan trafik udara Lapangan terbang Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah, Subang (LTSAAS) menerima permohonan untuk penerbangan dari Segambut ke Marang, Terengganu melalui Kuala Terengganu daripada Azlizan yang akan memulakan penerbangannya pada pukul 10 malam.

Menara kawalan mengizinkan permohonan itu tetapi pesawat berkenaan dikehendaki mendarat di Lapangan Terbang Kuala Terengganu sahaja dan Azlizan juga diminta melaporkan kedudukannya 15 minit sebelum penerbangan.

Bagaimanapun, penerbangan itu ditunda dan hanya berlepas pada pukul 10.45 malam serta dijangka mendarat di Kuala Terengganu pada pukul 11.45 malam.

Beliau berkata kenyataan daripada pegawai bertugas menara kawalan trafik udara LTSAAS Subang menunjukkan helikopter itu mencapai ketinggian 10,000 kaki pada jarak 57 batu nautika dari Batu Arang, Rawang, Selangor di kawasan Kampung Atok.

Menara itu kemudian mendapati hubungan VHF dengan helikopter berkenaan tidak berfungsi dan kedudukan pesawat yang dilihat pada skrin radar telah menurun dari 10,000 kaki ke 8,000 kaki dan seterusnya 6,000 kaki.

Setelah itu terdapat tanda "coastal target" yang bermakna kemungkinan helikopter itu terus mendarat atau terhempas dan pada peringkat ini kedudukannya tidak dapat dilihat pada skrin radar.

Mohd Shariff berkata menara kawalan telah meminta bantuan daripada dua buah kapal terbang - Penerbangan Malaysia (MAS) dan Japan Airlines (JAL) - yang kebetulan berada di kawasan laluan yang sama supaya menghubungi helikopter itu, tetapi gagal.

Setelah menunggu 15 minit tanpa sebarang maklum balas daripada juruterbang helikopter itu, menara kawalan trafik udara LTSAAS Subang memulakan operasi mencari dan menyelamat.

Tempoh 15 minit merupakan prosedur standard untuk membolehkan juruterbang menghubungi mana-mana pusat kawalan trafik udara sekiranya ia terpaksa membuat pendaratan cemas ataupun menghadapi apa-apa masalah. -- BERNAMA

Bill

The Proton Tiara was a vehicle based on the Citroën AX, built under licence by the automobile manufacturer Proton from 1996 to 2000. It was borne from a relationship between Proton's then CEO, Tan Sri Yahaya Ahmad, and PSA Peugeot Citroën.

Tan Sri had expressed that he wished Proton to be independent of Mitsubishi platforms, and wished to cooperate with PSA Peugeot Citroën on gaining access to its diesel engines.

The Tiara was known as the cheapest Malaysian car in its market. Its appearance mimicked that of more powerful AXs, such as the AX GT, but the grille was restyled to match the existing Saga and Wira models. Other cosmetic differences included different bumpers and taillight clusters. It was only available with a 1.1L 45kW engine.

Tan Sri was killed in a helicopter crash in 1997 and Proton continued with various Mitsubishi-based models.

In 2005, Proton Savvy was produced to replace Proton Tiara.

Bill

There's an Institut Kemahiran MARA named after Allahyarham :

Institut Kemahiran Mara Tan Sri Yahaya Ahmad
IKM Tan Sri Yahaya Ahmad Kawasan Perindustrian Peramu Jaya, Pekan, 26600
26600 Pahang, Malaysia

Bill

SELLING THE CROWN JEWELS
A Mega-Deal Raises Questions About Malaysian Privatization
By Steven K.C. Poh, Kuala Lumpur


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IT WAS ONE OF THOSE transactions - again. In October, Khazanah Holdings, the Malaysian government's investment arm, sold its 32% stake in listed Hicom Holdings, which controls Proton, maker of the country's first national car. The buyer: private company Mega Consolidated, controlled by Malay industrialist Yahaya Ahmad. Public coffers were enriched by nearly $712 million, 12% more than Khazanah's estimate of the shares' value. But some argue that the Hicom stake could have fetched between $1.2 billion and $1.6 billion in open bidding, even though the law does not require it. "There are some good assets in Hicom," says an investment analyst. "In Proton itself, there's a cash pile of some $360 million. Then there's also the bank, two stockbroking houses and a land bank which is still held at nominal value in the books."
The sale had surprised many in the business community. "How did a mega-deal like this go through so fast?" asks a stockbroker. "How was it financed? How will it be rationalized and restructured? What will be the value added? Why create a monopoly in the automobile industry?" Diversified Resources Berhad (DRB), also controlled by Yahaya, assembles and distributes cars and commercial vehicles. The Hicom deal echoed the $702-million privatization of Malaysia Airlines last year, when the central bank sold its 32% share in the national carrier without a public tender to another Malay tycoon, Tajudin Ramli. It is also seen as similar to the recent sale by state-controlled National Equity Board of its 25.8% stake in property and finance conglomerate Lion Corp. to Mirzan Mahathir, son of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Not that Yahaya - or Tajudin and Mirzan - have no track records. Academic Terence Gomez says Yahaya, a 49-year-old automotive engineer, has the experience to run a giant like Hicom (market cap.: $6 billion). "He fits well in the mold of the new bumiputras [Malays and other indigenous groups]," he adds. "Besides, the PM seems to be impressed by him." More than making a tidy profit for the state, these seem to be the key considerations in Malaysia's privatization and choice of private-sector partners in state projects. Asked recently about the Hicom divestment, Mahathir said the group will benefit if the manager is also the owner: "There are still a few companies in Hicom that have not performed to the mark." Last week, Yahaya took over from Jamil Jan as Hicom president.

But business - and politics - being what they are, the deal has gotten flak. "This is a good example of cronyism," charges Lim Guang Eng of the opposition Democratic Action Party. "It is deals like this that will make Malaysians feel that equal opportunities are hard to come by." There is also grumbling within Mahathir's UMNO party. "When the idea was hatched in a private plane over Myanmar, the 32% [in Hicom] was intended to be sold to a consortium made up of protŽgŽs of [UMNO treasurer] Daim Zainuddin," says a party insider. "So you can imagine the disappointment." Says Gomez: "There's a prevailing feeling that there are not too many profitable mega-projects left to be privatized, hence the restlessness on the part of some people." Among the companies: power company Tenaga Nasional, Telekom Malaysia, Bank Bumiputra and shipping firm MISC.

Yahaya is eager to justify the government's confidence in him. It is a daunting task. Hicom has more than 25 companies directly under its control. These firms have their own high-flying subsidiaries. Proton distributor EON, owned 30% by Hicom, owns or controls 13 other firms, including EON Bank and stockbrokerage Leong & Co. Proton has 12 more. In addition, Yahaya holding company Master-Carriage boasts some 35 companies, including DRB and Gadek, a listed plantation concern diversifying into financial services. "This is where the rubber hits the road," says an analyst. Yahaya has turned the ignition. Saleh Sulong, managing director of Gadek, says Mega Consolidated - and thus Hicom - will be injected into Gadek. DRB, he adds, will eventually become Gadek's holding company.

The restructuring will be massive and complex, but there are synergies that can be harnessed. "Putting the automotive business all under one big umbrella makes a lot of sense," says an auto industry watcher. "It will create economies of scale in the manufacturing and assembly operations. Also, rationalizing financial services in Gadek will create a financial supermarket for Yahaya in an instant. EON Bank, finance firm CCM, South East Asia Insurance and stockbrokerages Leong & Co. and Halim Securities all fit together well."

Is Yahaya up to the challenge? A former schoolmate of Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, he started out with Wearnes, which sold cars in Malaysia and Singapore in the 1970s. With Saleh, Yahaya later acquired Automotive Corp., which assembles France's Citršen cars and commercial vehicles from Japan's Isuzu and India's Tata. They injected it in 1992 into ailing textile and property company Imatex, now Diversified Resources. In September 1993, DRB won the right to operate the Road Transport Department's lucrative commercial-vehicle inspection operations. The company was also given the green light to head a consortium to streamline bus services in Kuala Lumpur.

DRB's 51%-owned Usaha Sama Proton-DRB - Proton has a 30% stake - was created in the same month. Mahathir himself attended the signing ceremonies. The PM wants the venture, which also distributes motor vehicles and parts, to make all-Malaysian Proton models for export as well as homegrown commercial vehicles. Japan's Mitsubishi Motors is a direct shareholder in Proton, which prevents the Malaysian company from tapping other carmakers. Proton-DRB is developing a coupe variant of the national car. Through Automotive Corp., DRB is also a 50% partner in Proton Pilipinas, which assembles and distributes Proton autos in the Philippines.

Last year, DRB teamed up with Korea's Daewoo Group to study the feasibility of making excavators, forklifts, infantry vehicles and diesel engines in Malaysia. Earlier this year, Yahaya signed an agreement with Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Nissho-Iwai Corp of Japan to manufacture a national motorcycle. Its most recent project is a Proton-DRB tie-up with Citršen to develop Malaysia's third national car. (Local group Perodua launched the second car, the 660-cc Kancil, in 1994.) Yahaya also expanded into financial services. Notes an analyst: "His involvement in motor manufacturing, assembly and distribution offers vast opportunities for his finance company."

That's Gadek, which acquired 90% of CCM, Malaysia's 10th-largest finance company, in 1994. Four months ago Gadek laid out $16 million for South East Asia Insurance, which has 7% of the country's general insurance business. Gadek also paid $1.1 billion for 70% of Pernas Precision Engineering and Construction, which has a $660-million contract to build terminals for the new Kuala Lumpur International Airport. "Having a piece of the airport pie should contribute quite handsomely to DRB's bottom line, which has been weighed down by debts as a result of heavy capital expenditures and rapid expansion," says an analyst.

Last year, DRB announced plans to raise $160 million from international markets with a convertible bond issue. For its part, Gadek has proposed a rights issue and the float of other financial instruments. (Trading in both counters, suspended two days before the Oct. 18 announcement of the Hicom deal, had yet to resume as of Nov. 7.) Given Yahaya's acquisition binge, many wonder how he will raise the $712 million he needs for Hicom. The Union Bank of Switzerland has reportedly been asked to arrange an offshore loan. "The price is no small potatoes, even if he currently has four quoted companies," says an analyst with a French financial house in Kuala Lumpur.

Other rumors abound. Daim, a close friend and adviser of Mahathir, is widely believed to be lending a hand. Some say the former finance minister, who is credited with starting Malaysia's eight-year economic boom, owns a chunk of Yahaya's shares in Hicom. The speculation is of a piece with rumors about Daim's alleged interest in conglomerate Renong, acquired in 1990 by his former business associate Halim Saad, and in engineering group Promet, which was recently bought by little-known businessman Soh Chee Wen. Daim should perhaps expect more of the same. Halim is said to be first in line for the government's sale of its holdings in Telekom Malaysia. Some Renong companies were previously owned by UMNO.

The trend worries academic Gomez. "If you look at the way state patronage is practiced in Malaysia, what we see is the passing of state monopolies to private monopolies," he says. "That's bad. In Hicom's case, even if Yahaya fits the bill, how sure is the government that he is the best person from the private sector to take the company further? If the state had been more transparent, it would have been in a much better position to assess the situation." Others are equally blunt. "This is one form of allocation of wealth among the supporters of UMNO," says another political scientist. "But the Hicom deal this time has caused an outcry. And the impact will be seen in all levels of UMNO politics."

Bill

How about the effect on Hicom? The stock market is not excited by its new parentage. "What Hicom will ultimately be is a mixed bag of investments," says Long Shih Rome of HG Asia in Kuala Lumpur. "If the investor wants exposure to the motor sector, it would be much cheaper to buy into the individual stocks like Proton or EON." Agrees another investment adviser: "Listed Hicom companies are producing better price fluctuation upsides and better dividends, especially Proton, EON and Kedah Cement. Although anticipated earnings for 1996 and 1997 should improve, we recommend underweighing Hicom." Company profits reached $79 million in the year ending March 1995. For all the caveats, Yahaya does not seem worried. He is said to be eyeing a development in Lake Kenyir in Trengganu state, his first big venture into tourism. Given the empire he has to run, however, don't expect Yahaya to go waterskiing too often.

Bill

MoU' Yahya-Saleh
TEPAT pukul 8.30 pagi Sabtu lalu, Datuk Mohd. Saleh Sulong telahpun berada di pejabatnya, di Diversified Resources Berhad (DRB) dan Master-Carriage (M) Sdn. Bhd.
Suasana di tingkat 21, Shahzan Prudential Tower - aras yang menempatkan pejabat beliau (selaku Pengarah Utusan Kumpulan DRB-Hicom), pulih seperti sedia kala, keadaan asal yang pernah disaksikan dahulu, saat-saat sebelum Allahyarham Tan Sri Yahaya Ahmad terkorban dalam nahas udara.

Bagi Saleh, 8 Mac merupakan hari kedua memikul tanggungjawab sebagai Pengerusi Kumpulan DRB-Hicom bagi meneruskan kepimpinan konglomerat itu yang kini mendapat perhatian sama ada di peringkat domestik ataupun luar negara.

Selepas menghabiskan kira-kira lima minit di biliknya serta melayani panggilan telefon, Saleh keluar dari kamar lalu menjemput saya masuk.

Beliau yang dahulunya disifatkan sebagai perancang kejayaan ataupun `orang kuat' di sebalik tabir kepimpinan Allahyarham Yahaya, mengakui peranannya kini lebih besar dan semakin mengembang.

``Ketika dalam kesedihan, kita tidak seharusnya dilanda kehampaan sehingga kita hilang pedoman dan panduan. Ini bukan merupakan satu perkara yang ringan untuk saya pikul, untuk saya jalankan.

``Tetapi saya sedar secara spontan setelah sah dan pasti bahawa Allahyarham Yahaya sudah tiada maka pucuk pimpinan harus saya ambil alih,'' kata Saleh, 46, yang mendapat didikan di Kolej Melayu Kuala Kangsar (MCKK).

Di MCKK, perbezaan usia selama lima tahun dan kedudukan Allahyarham Yahaya sebagai ketua murid telah memisahkan kemesraan dan pergaulan kedua-dua mereka.

Bagaimanapun kedua-dua faktor itu hanya menjadi halangan sementara sahaja. Mereka kemudiannya `dijodohkan' selepas memasuki alam pekerjaan menerusi industri kereta kira-kira 15 tahun kemudian.

Temu bual dengan Utusan pada penghujung minggu lalu adalah antara atur cara pertama bagi Saleh sebelum beliau menemui Menteri Pertahanan, Datuk Syed Hamid Albar satu setengah jam kemudian. Ia diikuti dengan pertemuan dengan Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sebelum hadir pada majlis pelancaran Dewan Perdagangan Malaysia-Afrika Selatan serta menemui beberapa wartawan tempatan secara berasingan sehingga pukul 6 petang.

``Sebagai orang kedua dalam kumpulan maka sudah menjadi tanggungjawab saya untuk memastikan keadaan dalam kumpulan tenang, tidak kelam kabut,'' kata beliau.

``Rasa sedih itu merupakan sesuatu yang semula jadi tetapi tidak harus dijadikan sebagai satu perkara sehingga keadaan menjadi kecoh,'' kata beliau secara spontan sebelum temu bual dimulakan secara formal.

Ketika memikul satu tanggungjawab yang amat berat, Saleh yang menyeru kakitangan-kakitangannya meneruskan tugas seperti biasa, sebenarnya tidak dapat menyembunyikan perasaan sedih dan pilunya.

Dalam kesedihan ini, kita harus mengambil sikap bertenang... menunjukkan keyakinan bahawa walaupun Allahyarham Yahaya sudah tiada, segala rancangan, program dan agenda yang telah beliau pelopori harus diteruskan.

``Kalau tidak, akan sia-sia segala impian dan inspirasi Allahyarham Yahaya. Allahyarham Yahaya harus tinggal dalam kenangan sebagai seorang yang telah berjaya menubuhkan sebuah kumpulan yang kukuh, yang dapat menahan segala cabaran dan tragedi.''

Ketika Saleh memasuki MCKK pada tahun 1965 sebagai penuntut tingkatan satu, Allahyarham Yahaya yang menuntut di tingkatan enam rendah adalah salah seorang pengawas sekolah dan kemudiannya dilantik sebagai ketua pengawas setahun kemudian.

``Kita budak-budak di tingkatan rendah memberi nama jolokan Pak Yah kepada Allahyarham,'' jelas beliau dalam temu bual yang berlangsung selama sejam.

Tambah beliau, panggilan itu diteruskan sehingga kini kecuali apabila kedua-dua mereka bertemu pada majlis-majlis rasmi.

Hubungan dan persahabatan sungguhpun tidak menebal ketika era persekolahan, tetapi mula membentuk asas yang kukuh untuk muncul sebagai tokoh korporat disegani sejak dua dekad yang lalu.

Malah, hubungan Yahaya-Saleh tidak setakat terbatas sebagai rakan kongsi perniagaan tetapi lebih dari lingkungan tersebut.

Kami adalah dua sahabat karib yang bukan sahaja sama di pejabat dan tempat perniagaan tetapi kami juga dari segi ikatan kekeluargaan,'' kata beliau dengan merujuk kemesraan yang turut diperlihatkan oleh anggota kedua-dua keluarga berkenaan.

Saleh turut memberi jawapan kepada situasi tersebut.

``Ini adalah kerana kedua-dua kami telah menyedari bahawa kami adalah generasi yang memulakan perniagaan ini.

``Apabila kami dah tiada, generasi pelapis adalah anak-anak kami. Mereka perlu meneruskan urusan ini,'' kata lagi.

Saleh mempunyai tiga orang anak iaitu Azmil (20), Azril (15) dan Azrul (12) manakala Allahyarham Yahaya pula meninggalkan empat orang anak, Yatina (24), Ahmad Othman (22), Ahmad Faez (21) dan Nadiya (13).

``Kita ingin memastikan bahawa generasi kedua ini bukan sahaja kenal tetapi rapat kerana selepas ini, mereka akan menjadi rakan kongsi,'' katanya.

Menjelaskan ikatan persabahatan kedua-dua keluarga itu, Saleh, isterinya Akmal Abdul Salam, 43, begitu remuk hati apabila dimaklumkan tentang nasib yang melanda Allahyarham Yahaya dan Puan Sri Rohana Othman, kira-kira 1.30 pagi Selasa lalu.

``Saya terpaksa memujuk beliau selama dua jam untuk datang ke rumah Allahyarham Yahaya selepas mendengar berita helikopter tidak sampai di Marang.

``Keadaan menjadi kelam kabut di rumah saya. Dan, beliau (isterinya) tertekan dengan emosi dan saya terpaksa memapah beliau untuk ke rumah Allahyarham Yahaya.''

Dalam bidang perniagaan, mengatur langkah secara strategik merupakan elemen asas bagi memastikan kejayaan. Perkara ini seolah-olah tidak diabaikan oleh Allahyarham Yahaya dan Saleh.

Yang menariknya ialah kedua-dua mereka telah mencapai satu `persefahaman' bagi memastikan rangkaian perniagaan yang dibina itu berterusan untuk beberapa generasi akan datang. Tidak harus berakhir setakat usaha kedua-dua tokoh korporat itu.

Malah, atas dasar permuafakatan dan keyakinan sesama sendiri, Allahyarham Yahaya dan Saleh telah `berjanji' akan menjaga kepentingan kedua-dua keluarga sekiranya sesuatu terjadi pada salah seorang mereka.

Ketika ditanya benarkah wujudkan permuafakatan sedemikian, kata beliau: ``Ya.''

``Bila dikatakan pemilikan saham adalah pemilikan keluarga, kita perlu memastikan ini berterusan. Kami merasakan ini penting kerana sebelum ini kita selalu dengar terdapat perkelahian, perselisihan faham antara anak-anak dan cucu-cucu (kerana aset).

``Ini tidak bagus kerana kita ingin melihat kesinambungan yang berterusan,'' kata beliau.

Pertamanya, Kumpulan DRB-Hicom yang mempunyai kira-kira 184 anak syarikat dengan sembilan darinya disenaraikan di Bursa Saham Kuala Lumpur dan menyediakan peluang pekerjaan kepada lebih 36,000 orang.

``Jadi, tanggungjawab kepada mereka adalah berat,'' katanya.

Kedua, projek-projek yang ditangani oleh kumpulan berkenaan membabitkan kepentingan awam.

Justeru itu, tegas beliau, tugas untuk memastikan amanah itu dipenuhi dengan sebaik yang mungkin bukan sahaja terletak pada mereka tetapi pengganti-pengganti dari keluarga berkenaan.

Tambah Saleh beberapa faktor telah menyumbang kepada perhubungan rapat kedua-dua selepas memasuki alam pekerjaan.

``Industri automobil pada masa itu tak besar. Kita yang terlibat, berligar dalam kumpulan yang kecil. Saya kenal dia, dia kenal saya melalui pelbagai aktiviti.

``Malah, Allahyarham dari dahulu lagi peramah orangnya, ringan mulut dan sentiasa senang didampingi,'' katanya.

Saleh juga memberi faktor yang beliau menyifatkan sebagai campuran `kimia' dari segi kedudukan geografi.

``Saya juga datang dari pantai timur... dilahirkan di Kota Bahru dan dibesarkan di Dungun. Malah, Allahyarham juga orang Terengganu, di mana beliau juga dibesarkan di Dungun.

Oleh itu, Saleh menekankan, perhubungan dan niat mengadakan perkongsian perniagaan bukan bermula dalam satu hari sahaja.

Beliau yang menyifatkan ciri-ciri itu sebagai sesuatu yang amat penting berkata:

``Ini kerana Allahyarham adalah seorang yang berwibawa tinggi.

``Dalam pada itu, pula beliau sentiasa memastikan satu-satu kerja dijalankan segera dengan jaya dan mengikut harapan beliau.

Alhamdulliah, saya telah dapat dapat menyesuaikan diri dengan sifat beliau ini dan kami dapat meneruskan persahabatan dan perkongsian tanpa masalah,'' katanya.

Tempoh persahabatan selama dua dekad sudah tentu dipenuhi pelbagai dugaan dan ranjau. Dalam hal ini ketika ditanya sama ada pernah menghadapi situasi yang sukar, Saleh dengan ringkasnya memberitahu:

``Perselisihan faham, saya rasa tiada tetapi perbezaan pendapat ada.''

Saleh berkongsi rahsia persahabatan. Apa yang perlu dibanggakan ialah katanya, kesediaan untuk bertoleransi telah menjadi asas bagaimana persahabatan kedua-dua melawan arus masa.

``Alllahyarham Yahaya tahu bahawa tak semua apa yang beliau nak buat, apa yang difikirkan betul. Saya pun begitu juga.

Oleh: G. MANIMARAN

mea

gambar Tan Sri Yahaya Ahmad