Today, the international press reported that the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigator conducting criminal investigation into 1MDB-linked funds is encountering problems as several possible witnesses are too scared to speak out.

US media network Bloomberg reported that some people in “certain foreign countries” already assisting the criminal probe, are concerned for their safety, while others say it’s too dangerous to co-operate, FBI said in a Federal Court filing in Los Angeles yesterday.

The report said FBI has requested to keep the names of its informants secret from the alleged masterminds of the 1MDB conspiracy.

Individuals who were otherwise willing to provide information said they were worried about putting “the safety and security of both themselves and their families at serious risk,” FBI said in its filing.

FBI also cited Malaysian news reports, where local officials arrested due to their role in probing the 1MDB embezzlement and the driver of former attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail, who was shot at his house in Ampang Perdana late last month. Read the rest of this entry »

By Edvard Pettersson
Bloomberg
September 6, 2017

Possible witnesses to the alleged looting of billions of dollars from 1Malaysia Development Bhd are too scared to talk to U.S. investigators because they fear retaliation, according the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Some people in “certain foreign countries” already assisting the criminal probe are concerned for their safety, while others say it’s too dangerous to cooperate, according to an FBI request to keep the names of its informants secret from the alleged masterminds of the 1MDB conspiracy.

Individuals who would otherwise be willing to provide information have told the government they’re worried about putting “the safety and security of both themselves and their families at serious risk,” the FBI said Tuesday in a federal court filing in Los Angeles. Read the rest of this entry »

Next week, a new drama will be enacted on the world stage – “MO1” visits the White House and meets US President Trump.

Will it be a national honour or a national shame for Malaysia?

In fact, the Najib-Trump meeting at the White House next Tuesday on Sept. 12 has sparked two questions:

First, is it right for Trump to invite Najib to visit him in White House?

Second, is it proper for Najib to accept Trump’s invitation to visit the White House to meet Trump?

The first question would have to be posed and answered by American political leaders and opinion makers.

Already there is an opinion piece in Washington Post yesterday entitled “Trump’s hosting of Malaysia’s prime minister marks another setback for the rule of law”, pointing to the “striking”: similarities between the two leaders – with both of them “wrapped up in major investigations that involve the US Justice Department”. Read the rest of this entry »