International drama of “MO1” visits White House and meets US President Trump begins next week – is it a national honour or a national shame for Malaysia?
Posted by Kit in Corruption, Financial Scandals, Najib Razak on Wednesday, 6 September 2017, 10:07 am
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 »
Najib’s 4 failures
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Najib Razak, nation building, NEM on Wednesday, 6 September 2017, 4:40 am
Athena Angel
The Malaysian Insight
Sept. 5, 2017
“THERE go the people. I must follow them, for I am their leader.” – Alexandre Ledru-Rollin
Most Malaysians are feeling economically worse off today than they were 10 years ago, youth unemployment spiked by 13% last year, Malaysia is less respected around the world, inflation is making it harder for Malaysians to buy the things they need, and a recent Pew survey found that 73% of Malaysians expected the country’s economic situation to worsen or stay the same over the following 12 months.
Najib Razak is feeling nervous about this lack of success. He has four big failures to be ashamed of. Read the rest of this entry »
Najib’s statement on “Give us two-thirds to end unilateral conversion” is the Prime Minister’s second most irresponsible and morally reprehensible action after the international 1MDB money-laundering scandal which turned Malaysia overnight into a global kleptocracy
Posted by Kit in Constitution, Najib Razak, Parliament, Religion on Tuesday, 5 September 2017, 1:20 pm
I am shocked beyond words by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s most cynical, contemptible and hypocritical urging to women to give Barisan Nasional to rule with two-thirds majority if they would like to see the proposed Section 88A introduced in the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act (LRA).
This is Najib’s second most irresponsible and morally reprehensible action under his premiership after the international 1MDB money-laundering scandal which turned Malaysia overnight into a global kleptocracy. Read the rest of this entry »
Trump’s hosting of Malaysia’s prime minister marks another setback for the rule of law
Posted by Kit in Najib Razak on Tuesday, 5 September 2017, 11:20 am
By Josh Rogin
Global Opinions
Washington Post
September 3, 2017
When President Trump hosts Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak at the White House next week, he may find he has quite a lot in common with the Southeast Asian leader, who is a nationalist with authoritarian tendencies. But that doesn’t mean rolling out the red carpet for him is a good idea.
The similarities between the two leaders are striking. Both Trump and Najib are wrapped up in major investigations that involve the U.S. Justice Department. Both have fired top law enforcement officials in their own governments to try to influence those investigations. Both play politically toward their rural, ethnically homogeneous base and use nationalist rhetoric to stir up anger against their more urban, ethnic opposition. Both men won their last election despite losing the popular vote. Both love golf, and they even played together once. Read the rest of this entry »
For first time, Najib’s right-hand man has admitted that UMNO/BN could lose the Federal government in forthcoming 14GE
Posted by Kit in Corruption, Elections, Malays, Najib Razak, UMNO on Tuesday, 5 September 2017, 9:33 am
I thank the Minister for Communications and Multimedia, Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak for his candour in admitting that Malaysians are now on the cusp of major political changes with the possible defeat of UMNO/BN and the formation of a Pakatan Harapan Federal Government in the forthcoming 14th general election because of three factors:
• UMNO has lost the support of the majority of Malays in the country.
• UMNO losing support of the majority of the 1.6 million civil servants in the country.
• the highest percentage of UMNO members (at present, 3.5 million UMNO members) in UMNO history likely to vote against UMNO President, Datuk Seri Najib Razak and UMNO in the 14GE.
What are the reasons and causes for UMNO losing the support of the Malays and facing the prospect of losing the majority support of 1.6 million civil servants and the highest percentage of UMNO rank-and-file voting against the UMNO President and UMNO in UMNO history?
Read the rest of this entry »
A Pakatan Harapan Johore State Government will ensure that Johore will be among the top five states with the highest per capita GDP in the country, and not at present listed as even below Malacca, Negri Sembilan and Pahang
Posted by Kit in Elections, Johore, Pakatan Harapan on Monday, 4 September 2017, 10:19 am
Malaysians are on the threshold of the 14th General Elections.
The four parties in the Pakatan Harapan coalition – DAP, PKR, Amanah and Pribumi Bersatu – must give hope and confidence to the voters that in the forthcoming general elections, which could take place within weeks or months, a seismic political change is possible, which includes the change to a Pakatan Harapan government both in Putrajaya and Nusajaya to form a Pakatan Harapan Federal Government as well as a Pakatan Harapan Johore state government.
There are three things a Pakatan Harapan Johore State Government can do if PH is given the mandate to take over Nusajaya in the 14th General Election.
Firstly, I agree with the Chairman of the PPBM Batu Pahat Division, Drs. Mohd Zaid Md Yusuf that there should be a public inquiry into the Johore GLCs to curb the abuses of power, breaches of trust and deviations in the state institutions to ensure that their foremost and primary task is to promote the welfare of the people and not to enrich a few in the state.
Secondly, a Pakatan Harapan must ensure that Johore can become one of the top five states with the highest per capita GDP, and not as at present, when Johore is listed as No. 9 among the list of state GDPs in Malaysia – even below Malacca, Negri Sembilan and Pahang.
Read the rest of this entry »
DAP supports Islamisation based on Constitution which promotes a nation-building process based on tolerance and mutual respect in a plural society and not one which engenders bigotry, hatred and extremism
I was attracted to a commentary by the former ASEAN secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan, a Thai Muslim who is former Thai foreign minister, who was in Kuala Lumpur yesterday for a regional conference entitled “State of Democracy in Southeast Asia: Achievements, Challenges, Prospects”.
Surin said right up to the 80s, Islamisation used to be a good word where people integrated Islamic values and norms into every aspect of their life including in education, work and economic development.
However, now he said the meaning has taken a turn to becoming more restricted, less tolerant and complicating the efforts in governing a diverse country like Malaysia and other countries in the Islamic world.
Read the rest of this entry »
Pakatan Harapan parties must be prepared for three-cornered electoral tests in the 14GE, including in Selangor, and start explaining to PAS members why a vote for PAS is a vote for UMNO
Today’s 14th general election preparations meeting for DAP Johor in Batu Pahat may be the last pre-election meeting as we do not know when the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak will dissolve Parliament, followed by the dissolution of the various State Assemblies, leading to the 14th General Elections – whether on his return from his shameful and humiliating visit to the White House and US President Trump on Sept. 12 in his capacity as a “kleptocrat” and “MO1”; or after Najib’s 2018 Budget presentation in Parliament on Oct 27; or the beginning of next year by May when the puasa month for Muslims next year begins.
Be that as it may, the 13th Parliament is already in the final fifth year and three months, and the dilly-dallying about dissolution of Parliament and the calling of the 14th General Election stem from the weakness and not from the strength of Najib and UMNO/BN government.
Pakatan Harapan parties must seize the political initiative and momentum sparked off by the seismic political milestone on July 14 when the four Pakatan Harapan parties of DAP, PKR, Amanah and Pribumi Bersatu decided to put their differences aside and get their act together, announcing the structure, logo and new leadership line-up of Pakatan Harapan.
There is no doubt that the July 14 decision of Pakatan Harapan reignited the hopes and expectations of the people, regardless of race, religion or region, on the possibility, however how difficult, of political changes in the country.
Read the rest of this entry »
Najib is maker of biggest fake news in Malaysia that the international multi-billion dollar 1MDB scandal does not exist and a sheer figment of imagination
Posted by Kit in Corruption, Financial Scandals, Najib Razak on Sunday, 3 September 2017, 9:02 pm
Malaysians should not be surprised that the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Paul Low yesterday expressed sympathy with US President Donald Trump with regard to the proliferation of “fake news” on the social media in the US, giving another example to the saying “Birds of the same feather flock together”.
This is because the maker of the biggest fake news in Malaysia is none other than the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, himself – in his pretence in the last two years that the international multi-billion dollar 1MDB scandal does not exist and a sheer figment of the imagination.
The former Cabinet Minister and current UMNO Information Chief, Tan Sri Annuar Musa, want Malaysians to believe that the Bank Negara’s forex loses a quarter of a century ago were real while 1MDB losses are only on paper.
I am still waiting for Annuar’s response whether 1MDB’s payment of some US$350 million to IPIC a day before the August 31 deadline was “just only on paper” and another one of the fake transactions by 1MDB.
Read the rest of this entry »
Restrictive education against spirit of Islam, says ex-Asean chief
Minderjeet Kaur | September 2, 2017
Free Malaysia Today
Former Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan says until the 80s, Islamisation meant good Islamic values but now it has turned to mean more restrictions, less tolerance.
KUALA LUMPUR: The former secretary-general of Asean, Surin Pitsuwan said a restrictive and limited form of education was generating a shallow mindset among Muslims.
“There is an emphasis on the fundamentalist message that it has to be interpreted in one way and no other way.
“I don’t think that is the spirit of Islam. The spirit of Islam is to allow individuals with his or her own intelligence to be able to make judgements on some of the issues with the spirit of Islam in mind.”
He said when it is interpreted so literally, which is the fundamentalist approach, there is a tendency to limit mindset, and limit space in interaction with the world.
“The world is a diverse space. Everyone is a minority in the globalised world. We are not living on the planet alone. If our way is the only way exclusive of the rest, then that will turn us into an island.
“An island of insecurity and lacking confidence in interacting with the world,” Surin told FMT. Read the rest of this entry »
Corruption is a word and subject Najib conspicuously omitted in his many speeches, statements and messages during the 60th Merdeka anniversary celebrations although it has become one of the four apocalypses of Malaysia
Posted by Kit in Corruption, General, Najib Razak on Saturday, 2 September 2017, 9:30 am
The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak has said many things in his speeches, statements and messages during the 60th Merdeka Anniversary celebrations, but one word and subject which Najib has conspicuously omitted is corruption, especially grand corruption or the abuse of high-level power that benefits the few at the expense of the many and causes serious and widespread harm to individuals and society.
This was a most conspicuous omission as corruption has become one of the four apocalypses of Malaysia, giving the country the infamy and ignominy of a global kleptocracy in the last two years under his premiership and Najib.
Najib was the only head of government who backed out in the last-minute from delivering a key-note opening address at the 16th International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) Conference in Putrajaya in September 2015 on the theme: “Ending Impunity: People. Integrity. Action.” because Najib was fully aware that Malaysia had become a kleptocracy.
In ten days’ time, Najib would have the dubious honour of being the first government leader in the world who have been branded as a “kleptocrat” by the US Government through the US Department of Justice (DOJ) under the US Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative to pay homage to the US President Donald Trump.
Should Malaysians regard this Najib-Trump meeting in the White House on Sept. 12 as an honour to Malaysia or a national shame and disgrace to Malaysia, as for the last two years, Najib had done nothing to clear or cleanse himself of the US DOJ charge that he is a “kleptocrat” as “MO1” as well as to get the US government to concede that Malaysia has not become a kleptocracy under Najib? Read the rest of this entry »
Chinese flood Johor in Malaysia to invest in US$100b ‘eco city’ billed as the ‘next Shenzhen’
Posted by Kit in Johor Bahru, Johore on Friday, 1 September 2017, 8:07 pm
BY SYLVAIN OURBIS
South China Morning Post
1 SEP 2017
Lured by its proximity to Singapore, investors from China are making a beeline for southern Malaysia, where an ambitious US$100 billion real-estate development called Forest City is changing the face of the landscape
The moment I set foot in the immigration building, I am approached by two customs officers in army fatigues, buzzing walkie-talkies strapped at the shoulder. Before I start worrying about what’s in my backpack, they address me in a friendly, almost conspiratorial tone. My jaws unclench as I realise the object of their concern – the queue. It’s long. Frighteningly so.
I am at the Tuas checkpoint, on the southern side of the Malaysia-Singapore border, waiting to leave the Lion City for a visit to the state of Johor. It’s Friday afternoon, probably the worst time of the week for such an undertaking, but the queues have been made significantly worse of late by an overwhelming number of tourists from China crossing the Johor Strait.
“We’re not really prepared for such waves of people,” says one of the officers. The immigration building is modern and spacious, with several counters open, but looking at the queues, I understand what he means. “We’ll let you out through this other lane, you’ll just have to swipe your passport at the machine,” he continues, sotto voce, pointing at an empty lane reserved for Singaporean citizens.
I feel like I’m being smuggled out, and I can’t help blushing when I look again at those desperate faces sulking their way through never-ending lines. One swipe, and I’m out of Singapore. Read the rest of this entry »
We must re-ignite hope among Malaysians to get out of the prevailing sense of hopelessness by stating the truth and not resort to UMNO/BN tactics of lies, fake news and false information
Posted by Kit in DAP, Elections, Johor Bahru, Johore, Pakatan Harapan on Friday, 1 September 2017, 8:29 am
I told a news conference at Taman Mutiara Rini in Gelang Patah on Tuesday two things about the forthcoming general elections:
Firstly, that from the general election results in 2004, 2008 and 2013, UMNO/BN is likely to lose Johor Baru as the sole capital won by UMNO/BN candidates, losing two if not all the three parliamentary constituencies in the Johore capital, namely Tebrau, Pasir Gudang and Johor Baru; and
Secondly, that DAP is keen to contest in one of the three Johor Baru parliamentary constituencies, even the most difficult one of Johor Baru parliamentary constituency, but that the final decision will be made by the Pakatan Harapan leadership.
In the last two days, I had declined questions by the media to discuss critical responses to my statement as I do not want to involve in any public polemics on the matter.
However lies, fake news and false information whether from UMNO/BN or any other quarter cannot be left unchallenged. Read the rest of this entry »
Make Malaysia Tanah Melayu Again? – Reflections on the Sixtieth Anniversary of Merdeka
M. Bakri Musa
31st August 2017
The deadly white supremacists’ riot in Charlottesville, Virginia, on August 12, 2017, and the much less lethal but no less dangerous fracas at the Nothing-to-Hide 2 Forum in Shah Alam the following day, may have occurred at literally opposite ends of the globe and in a diametrically different cultural milieu, nonetheless the underlying racial and socio-political dynamics share many eerie and frightening similarities.
Factoring time zone differences, the two events took place at about the same time. There were other similarities but before pursuing them it is worth recalling the differences.
While mega terabytes were consumed by tapes of and commentaries on that Charlottesville riot, as befit a tragedy that shook and shocked the comfortable core assumptions of America, the Malaysian fracas was remarkable for the silence of the establishment and mainstream media, reflecting their tacit approval. Only with the vigorous alternate media was this shameful and glaring deficit exposed. Read the rest of this entry »
How did we lose our way in our journey started 60 years ago to pursue the Merdeka Dream?
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Corruption, Malaysian Dream, nation building on Thursday, 31 August 2017, 8:39 am
Congratulations to the 844-strong Malaysian contingent for the golden harvest of 145 gold medals, 92 silver and 86 bronze at the 2017 SEA Games which concluded yesterday.
This is the only silver lining and glimmer of hope in the 60th Merdeka Anniverary celebrations today – a far cry from this day sixty years ago when we set out as a young nation, brimming with hope and confidence, dedicated, in the words of the Merdeka Proclamation 1957 and reaffirmed in the Malaysia Proclamation six year later, that the nation “shall be for ever a sovereign democratic and independent State founded upon the principles of liberty and justice and ever seeking the welfare and happiness of its people and the maintenance of a just peace among all nations”.
The remarkable and unprecedented Merdeka video “Citizen” by Pete Teo where the MCA President and Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai took on a double acting role, captured the Malaysian malaise sixty years after Merdeka – the sense of hopelessness even despair, felt by patriotic Malaysians at the state of Malaysia today. Read the rest of this entry »
Malay Tsunami in Malaysia: A 10% Malay swing possible
Posted by Kit in Elections, Pakatan Harapan on Thursday, 31 August 2017, 3:05 am
The Independent
Singapore
August 29, 2017
“A Malay swing against the BN of 15% would bring BN’s Malay support to about 50% which would leave BN teetering on a knife’s edge.” said Dr Ong.
How much of a Malay swing against the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) is needed for the opposition Pakatan Harapan to win the upcoming General Elections in Malaysia?
This has been the question asked by many, though on the ground, there is a feel that the BN has lost a significant percentage of support among the Malay community.
But as Dr. Ong Kian Ming Member of Parliament (MP) for Serdang explained in a recent media statement issued from his office as MP, a swing in support from Malays, Chinese and Indians (the largest ethnic groups in Malaysia) has happened before and it would not be surprising if it were to repeat in the next GE. Read the rest of this entry »
Let Malaysians make a common commitment on 60th Merdeka Anniversary to be more patriotic than the Cabinet Ministers and resolve to save Malaysia from kleptocracy and extremism and to revive the Merdeka Dream for Malaysia to be a world-class nation in every field of human endeavour
Posted by Kit in Corruption, Financial Scandals, Malaysian Dream, Najib Razak, nation building on Wednesday, 30 August 2017, 9:55 pm
On the occasion of the 60th Merdeka Anniversary, I call on all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, region or politics, to make a common commitment to be more patriotic than the Cabinet Ministers and resolve to save Malaysia from kleptocracy and extremism and to revive the Merdeka Dream for Malaysia to be a word-class nation in every field of human endeavor.
Two days ago on Monday, I issued an Open Letter to all Cabinet Ministers asking them to take a patriotic stand at the Cabinet meeting today on the eve of the 60th Merdeka Anniversary to veto Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak from visiting White House to meet President Trump on Sept. 12 to spare 30 million Malaysians international shame and humiliation as the US Government had virtually branded the Malaysian Prime Minister as kleptocrat by being “MO1” in the United States Department of Justice (DOJ)’s kleptocratic litigation to forfeit US$1.7 billion 1MDB-assets in the United States, the United Kingdom and Switzerland.
In the last two years, Najib has not cleared or cleansed himself after being branded by the American Government as a kleptocrat by being “MO1” in the US DOJ’s largest kleptocratic forfeiture suits.
Najib cannot deny that he is “MO1” as his Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Economic Planning Unit, Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan, had told the world in a BBC interview last September that only an idiot would not know that the US DOJ reference of “MO1” was referring to none other than Najib.
The corruption problem in Malaysia has come to a stage where even Perak Sultan Nazrin has declared publicly that sixty years after Merdeka, corruption has become one of Malaysia’s major ills. Read the rest of this entry »
Even Perak Sultan Nazrin agrees that sixty years after Merdeka, corruption has become one of Malaysia’s top problems
Posted by Kit in Corruption, Najib Razak on Wednesday, 30 August 2017, 2:43 pm
In two days’ time, Malaysians will be celebrating the 60th Merdeka anniversary, which should be an occasion for jubilation and joy, especially with the country’s success with its largest haul of gold medals at the ongoing SEA Games.
But this will be most inappropriate for Malaysia, as the country has fallen on bad times.
The 60th Merdeka anniversary should be an occasion for all Malaysians to ponder deep and hard why Malaysia has lost its way – with the Malaysian Dream and Vision 2020 never been so distant in recent decades.
In the last two years, Malaysia shot to international infamy when we were regarded worldwide as a global kleptocracy!
I do not believe that the founding fathers of the nation, like Bapa Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman and his deputy, Tun Razak, had ever expected Malaysia to fall so low as to be regarded worldwide as a global kleptocarcy.
Even Perak Sultan Nazrin has agreed that sixty years after Merdeka, corruption has become one of Malaysia’s major ills.
Nazrin said that if Tun Razak were alive today, he would be disappointed to see four scenarios happening in the nation – one of which is the rampant corruption in the country. Read the rest of this entry »
In the forthcoming 14th General Election, UMNO/BN likely to lose Johor Baru as the sole state capital won by UMNO/BN candidates
Posted by Kit in Johor Bahru, Johore, UMNO on Wednesday, 30 August 2017, 2:13 pm
The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak boasted at the opening of the Johor Baru UMNO division delegates’ conference last Friday that UMNO is a political party that can also flourish in Malaysia’s urban areas.
He said the party’s success in Johor Baru, for example, proved that the nation’s largest Malay-based political party continues to receive the people’s support even though the city had undergone a rapid urbanisation process.
He said: “I’m very impressed with the success of Johor Baru Umno because in the political history of our country, if there is an urbanisation phenomenon, demographic change and rapid development in any city, sooner or later, the (administration of the) city will be transferred from Umno or BN to the opposition.
“There is no state capital that has remained as Umno-BN constituency, but congratulations to Johor Baru Umno for being able to balance the urbanisation process and retain Umno-BN’s power.
“Based on this fact, if anyone should say that Umno is a ‘village people or rural folks political party’, then Johor Baru Umno has proved them wrong.
“The support for Umno does not necessarily come from rural areas only because the party can indeed flourish in urban areas.”
From recent electoral trends in the last three general elections since 2004, Najib’s boast may be debunked in the forthcoming 14th General Election. Read the rest of this entry »
PAS under Hadi and the five “tembikai” leadership only want PAS candidates to be “suicide bombers” to ensure victory of UMNO candidates in 14GE to protect Najib as Prime Minister
Posted by Kit in Elections, Pakatan Harapan, Pakatan Rakyat, PAS, UMNO on Tuesday, 29 August 2017, 1:13 pm
In the “Mood of the Nation Ahead of GE14” survey from August 11 to 15, the Institut Darul Ehsan (IDE), it was found that an united Opposition comprising Pakatan Harapan and PAS can control seven states and the federal territory in peninsular Malaysia and gain 59% of the national popular vote.
The seven states are Penang, Selangor, Kelantan, Kedah, Perak, Pahang and Malacca.
Furthermore, Barisan Nasional will lose its two-thirds majority in the almost all remaining states.
IDE chief executive director Dr Mohammad Redzuan Othman who presented the results of the survey which involved 4,486 respondents said the respondents were asked which party they would vote for if GE14 was held six months from now.
He said:
“If you obtain 52% of the popular vote (which Pakatan Rakyat did in the 13GE) you are still not secure, like what happened in Perak.
Read the rest of this entry »
