With Anwar’s support and offer of assistance, there is even less reason to delay RCI into Bank Negara forex losses more than 20 years ago, as well as probe into 1MDB and BMF scandals
Posted by Kit in Anwar Ibrahim, Financial Scandals, Najib Razak on Wednesday, 22 February 2017, 4:48 pm
Malaysians welcome Anwar Ibrahim’s support for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the Bank Negara foreign exchange (forex) losses in the 1990s and his offer of assistance if the RCI was established but not a Cabinet task force.
With Anwar’s support and offer of assistance, there is even less reason to delay the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Bank Negara forex losses more than 20 years ago, as well as probe into the 1MDB and BMF scandals.
Anwar’s support and offer of assistance are most significant, as Anwar was the Finance Minister at the relevant period of the Bank Negara forex losses, being Finance Minister of the country from 1991-1998. Read the rest of this entry »
Where Crony Capitalism Rose and Prosperity Fell (and Vice Versa)
Posted by Kit in Economics, Financial Scandals, Najib Razak on Wednesday, 22 February 2017, 1:25 pm
Matthew A. Winkler
Bloomberg
FEB 20, 2017
With populists emulating autocrats from Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe, free markets are being forced to confront crony capitalism.
One response is visible in the reversal of fortunes of Malaysia and Indonesia. The two nations still wrestle with the politics of ethnicity and religion at odds with the capitalism of market competition. In Indonesia, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, a Chinese Christian who is the governor of Jakarta, is running for office while defending himself against charges of blasphemy against Islam in a country of predominantly Muslim voters. Malaysia’s embrace of an ideology of Malay supremacy and the low interest rates that invite a debt bubble are impediments to a dynamic economy.
But the historic advantage that Malaysia, with just 30 million people, has enjoyed over its Southeast Asian neighbor of 250 million is disappearing amid a barrage of corruption allegations challenging Prime Minister Najib Razak. Read the rest of this entry »
Call on Cabinet to give priority to my private member’s bill to establish IPCMC to restore public confidence in the police by ending police corruption, misconduct and abuses of power – as IPCMC should have been established 10 years ago if not sabotaged by police officers
Posted by Kit in Parliament, Police on Wednesday, 22 February 2017, 1:06 pm
I call on the Cabinet to support and give priority to my private member’s bill to establish the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to restore public confidence in the police by ending police corruption, misconduct and abuses of power – as the IPCMC should have been established 10 years ago if it had not been sabotaged by police officers.
The IPCMC was the most important recommendation of the Police Royal Commission set up by the fifth Prime Minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in the first flush of his premiership to transform a Malaysia with “First World Infrastructure, Third World Mentality” into an advanced nation in all dimensions, especially good governance and government accountability and transparency.
We seemed to have regressed to the period more than a decade ago before the establishment of the Police Royal Commission headed by the former Chief Justice, Tun Dzaiddin with former Inspector General of Police Tan Haniff Omar as Deputy Chairman when public confidence in the police was at an all-time low, with widespread complaints about police corruption, brutalities and indiscipline resulting in many deaths in police lock-ups. Read the rest of this entry »
Martin Jalleh: Happy Birthday! (2)
Posted by Kit in Martin Jalleh on Wednesday, 22 February 2017, 10:50 am
By Martin Jalleh
Martin Jalleh: Happy Birthday!
Posted by Kit in Martin Jalleh on Wednesday, 22 February 2017, 10:47 am
By Martin Jalleh
Enacting harsh laws makes us less Islamic
By Ahmad Farouk Musa
Islamic Renaissance Front
February 20, 2017
Every rule that turns justice into tyranny, mercy into cruelty, good into evil and wisdom into triviality does not belong to the Shariah.
Much has been debated about the amendments to the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965. A massive demonstration in support of the bill was held last Saturday and tensions are running high.
PAS has insisted that the main aim of the proposed amendment is not to introduce hudud but to strengthen the shariah laws and shariah courts.
But if that is true, then PAS for sure must have identified the weaknesses. To the general observer, the weaknesses are apparent and appalling. Read the rest of this entry »
Annuar Musa’s statement is an example of what a patriotic Malaysian should not be – full of venom, hatred, prejudice even lies and deceit
Posted by Kit in Corruption, Financial Scandals, Najib Razak, UMNO on Tuesday, 21 February 2017, 5:48 pm
In my 76th birthday statement yesterday, I expressed the hope that Malaysians will try to be more Malaysian in their thinking, outlook and responses regardless of race, religion, region or culture.
This is because Malaysia’s diversity of races, languages, religions and cultures is the nation’s greatest strength and asset.
Malaysia should be the showcase of peace, tolerance, understanding, inter-action and unity of diverse races, religions and cultures in the world to build a new global civilization of justice, freedom, dignity and excellence of humanity.
I want to thank the UMNO Information chief, Datuk Seri Annuar Musa for personifying the very anti-thesis of a such model Malaysian, as illustrated by his statement rejecting my offer to speak at the UMNO/BN nation-wide roadshow on the Cabinet’s decision to set up special task force to probe Bank Negara’s forex losses more than two decades ago.
Annuar Musa’s statement is “must study” by all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or political affiliation, for it is a statement no patriotic Malaysian should ever make – steeped with venom, hatred, distrust, prejudice even lies and deceit!
I do not know why the UMNO leadership is so frightened of me, that its Information Chief had to invent eight reasons why I would not be welcome on the UMNO/BN roadshow on the government probe into the Bank Negara’s forex losses more than two decades ago.
Does Annuar know that he had told eight lies in his statement yesterday? Read the rest of this entry »
Himpunan PAS RUU 355 : A Big Flop
Posted by Kit in Corruption, Financial Scandals, Najib Razak, PAS, UMNO on Tuesday, 21 February 2017, 6:17 am
Koon Yew Yin
21.2.2017
The recent PAS RUU rally in support of the private member’s bill tabled by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, to amend the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 turned out to be a damp squib or in simple English – a big flop!
It was a flop in several ways. Firstly, although PAS had targeted a crowd of 300,000 to show the country that the Malay electorate was behind the controversial amendment, police and analysts estimated the crowd at only 20,000. The turnout – so much smaller than even Bersih or Hindraf organized past rallies – not only shows that this issue does not resonate with the Malay public. It also shows that the reputed grassroots support for PAS has been overrated.
Although in the past we have seen the organizational ability of PAS in drawing the Malay Muslim crowd to rally alongside non-Muslims in Bersih and Pakatan rallies, this time round the Malay public stayed away.
If the thinking in PAS ulama leaders led by Hadi is that his proposed amendments would serve as its main political strategy in order to attract greater support, it is clear that grassroots supporters do not want to give wider powers to shariah courts and to be made use of by Hadi in his ambition to push for an Islamic state in Malaysia.
Which Malay in his right mind wants to see an increase in maximum punishment for shariah offences to 30 years’ jail, fine of up to RM100,000 and up to 100 strokes of the cane for offences?
Which rational Malaysian wants to see the introduction of a two tier legal system in which Muslims will be discriminated against as proposed by Hadi and his men, and which could also result in hudud law being a reality in our multi-racial Malaysia? Read the rest of this entry »
Malaysia PM stepson’s lawyers warning to DOJ: Don’t undermine 1MDB
Posted by Kit in Corruption, Financial Scandals, Najib Razak on Monday, 20 February 2017, 6:49 pm
The Independent
February 19, 2017
Lawyers of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak’s step son Riza Aziz taunted the American justice not to take the closure of the 1MDB case in Malaysia lightly.
In documents submitted by the lawyers Riza Aziz – to fight back against the US Department of Justice (DOJ) attempt to seize his property in the US – the lawyers said:
“Seizure of the assets would require a US court to ‘second-guess and undermine’ a decision made by Malaysia’s attorney-general.
Mohamed Apandi Ali, the attorney-general, has ordered Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency to close an investigation into the transfer of $681m into the prime minister’s personal bank account, ruling that the money was a donation.
Apandi Ali also shut down a separate inquiry into SRC International, a 1MDB subsidiary. Read the rest of this entry »
My 76th birthday wish is that Malaysians will try to be more Malaysian in their thinking, outlook and response regardless of race, religion, region or culture
Posted by Kit in Johor Bahru, Najib Razak, nation building on Monday, 20 February 2017, 3:38 pm
I thank all who have sent their best wishes in various forms on the occasion of my 76th birthday today.
My birthday wish is that Malaysians will try to be more Malaysian in their thinking, outlook and responses regardless of race, religion, region or culture.
Malaysia will celebrate the 60th National Day on August 31 to mark Malaysia’s independence in 1957 and the 54th Malaysia Day on September 16.
Malaysia is a nation of diverse races, languages, religions and cultures and this diversity is Malaysia’s greatest strength and asset.
Malaysia should be the showcase of peace, tolerance, understanding, inter-action and unity of diverse races, religions and cultures in the world to build a new global civilization of justice, freedom, dignity and excellence of humanity.
But we have still a considerable distance to go to reach this goal which must be predicated on the resolve and unity of diverse peoples of Malaysia to build a great Malaysian nation.
The horrific Johor Baru disaster in the early hours of Saturday, where eight teenagers died and eight were seriously injured when a car rammed into a group of some 30 to 40 cyclists out for a joyride at JB Middle Ring Road, is one example of why Malaysians need to be more Malaysian in their thinking, outlook and responses regardless of race, religion, region or culture. Read the rest of this entry »
I volunteer to speak at the UMNO/BN nation-wide roadshow on the Cabinet’s decision to set up special task force to probe Bank Negara’s forex losses more than two decades ago
Posted by Kit in Corruption, Financial Scandals, Najib Razak on Monday, 20 February 2017, 11:00 am
Umno information chief Datuk Seri Annuar Musa has announced that Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties will be going on a nationwide roadshow to inform the public about the special task force set up by the Cabinet to probe Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) foreign exchange trading losses in the 1990s.
He said that the roadshow, scheduled to start on Feb 25, was mooted following attempts by certain parties to question the need for a task force.
Last Friday, I responded promptly to the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, who said that I should assist the special task force set up to probe the foreign exchange losses incurred by Bank Negara more than two decades ago as I had been so vocal in the 1990s in the Dewan Rakyat bringing up various motions to propose the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to probe the losses.
I declared that I am prepared to serve on a public probe into Bank Negara forex losses, but the scope of investigations should be expanded to cover the BMF and 1MDB scandals, in view of the new dimension of the country suffering the ignominy and infamy of being regarded worldwide as a global kleptocracy because of the international multi-billion dollar 1MDB money-laundering scandal touching the honour, credibility and integrity of the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak himself.
But there is thunderous silence from Azalina in the past three days. Read the rest of this entry »
‘Wolf of Wall Street’ Financier Challenges U.S. Government’s 1MDB Seizures
Posted by Kit in Corruption, Financial Scandals, Najib Razak on Sunday, 19 February 2017, 4:53 pm
by Eriq Gardner
The Hollywood Reporter
FEBRUARY 16, 2017
Red Granite co-founder Riza Aziz says through court documents he’s an “innocent owner” of assets allegedly derived from embezzlement.
In court papers quietly filed this past week, various entities connected to Red Granite Pictures co-founder Riza Aziz are attacking the U.S. government’s attempt to seize real estate properties in the huge $1 billion action targeting alleged corruption of Malaysian public funds.
The Justice Department has touted the 1MDB case as its biggest kleptocracy case to date, but Aziz’s lawyer, Matthew Schwartz, a former assistant U.S. attorney who once prosecuted Bernie Madoff, slams the U.S. government for failing to include “essential detail” about the supposed crimes. He’s demanding a dismissal.
Aziz is the stepson of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and, along with Joey McFarland, founded Red Granite, which financed The Wolf of Wall Street, Dumb and Dumber To and Friends With Kids.
Back in July, the Justice Department made its big move by seeking the civil forfeiture of rights to Wolf of Wall Street, Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-nominated film, as well as other assets allegedly traced to foreign corruption.
According to the government, high-level officials in Malaysia diverted assets into a fund called 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and then into shell companies with the assistance of big banks, including Goldman Sachs. Some of the money, it’ is asserted, went into Red Granite productions, and now the government is looking to claw proceeds.
Later this month, Red Granite is due to file its response to the government’s attempt to seize rights to Wolf of Wall Street, and, in advance of this, Aziz’s lawyers have foreshadowed the line of attack in motions to dismiss separate complaints filed over real estate property in Beverly Hills, New York and London. Read the rest of this entry »
RUU355’s six intolerant and fanatical practices
— Joshua Woo
Malay Mail Online
February 19, 2017
FEBRUARY 19 — There were about 25,000 people gathered for the RUU355 rally yesterday. Non-Muslims were among the supporters for the proposed amendment.
One of the non-Muslims, who self-identified as a Roman Catholic, was recorded saying that he was there because he believed that we should “respect each other’s religion”.
(https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=2qWPAGzeTnM) One Muslim participant pleaded with non-Muslims to “respect the Muslims. Do not protest Act 355.” (https://sg.news.yahoo.com/ruu-355-rally-kelantan-mb-094420651.html)
They are right that we should respect each other’s religion. Unfortunately, supporting RUU355 is nothing of that sort. Therefore those who are pro-RUU355 have wrongly imply that anyone who does not support the motion are not respecting others’ religion.
What I want to point out here is that the support for RUU355 is not only disrespectful of Islam but actually approves and respects at least 6 extremely intolerant and fanatical practices that are detrimental to many, including Muslims: Read the rest of this entry »
My name is Mujahidin, I am a Muslim and I reject Hadi’s bill
Mujahidin Zulkiffli
Free Malaysia Today
February 19, 2017
“Maybe many will question why I reject Abdul Hadi Awang’s proposed amendments to Act 355. If I am a Muslim, aren’t I compelled to accept shariah law?”
COMMENT
I am a Muslim. I am far from a perfect Muslim but I believe in Allah.
Maybe many will question why I reject Abdul Hadi Awang’s proposed amendments to Act 355. If I am a Muslim, aren’t I compelled to accept shariah law?
My first response is that this is not Allah’s law. It is a man-made law. It does not state in the Quran and hadiths that punishments is paid in ringgit or any currency for that matter.
There is no summons or punishment prescribed in shariah, What is prescribed is compensation in place of Qisas (law of retaliation). So my question is where does the punishment of paying a fine come from?
From Allah? Or has Hadi become God?
In the Quran, Allah says: Allah will not burden his people with that which they have no ability to bear (Surah Albaqarah).
Who can afford to pay the RM100,000 fine which Hadi is seeking? Only the rich and if the proposed amendments are passed, where is the social justice should the fine be too heavy for the poor? Read the rest of this entry »
The most urgent task is to ensure that the horrible tragedy in Johor Baru yesterday, taking the lives of eight teenagers and injuring four others, can never recur anywhere else in Malaysia in the future
Posted by Kit in Johor Bahru, Johore on Sunday, 19 February 2017, 1:48 pm
Together with DAP Johor Chairman and MP for Kluang, Liew Chin Tong, DAP Johor State Assembly representatives Cheo Yee Hau (Pengkalan Rinting), Andrew Chen (Stulang) and Liow Cai Tong (Johor Jaya), I was at the Tanah Perkuburan Bukit Alif Kempas yesterday for the burial rites of one of the eight teenage casualties of the horrible tragedy at Middle Ring Road in Johor Baru in the early hours of yesterday.
I grieved for Shahrul Izwan, 14, who was buried at the cemetery, the seven other teenage cyclists who died in the accident, Fauzan Halmijah, 13; Muhammad Harith Iskandar Abdullah, 14; Mohammad Azrie Danish Zuldefli, 14; Muhammad Shahrul Nizam Maruddin, 14; Mohamad Azhar Amir 16; Muhammad Firdauz Danish Mohd Azahar 16; Haizal Kasrin, 16; and eight other kids were injured in the horrible accident.
I grieved for the parents and family of Shahrul Izwan; the parents and families of the seven other casualties; as well as the parents and families of the those injured in the accident.
I grieved for the 22-year-old saleswoman driver who will have to live with a life-long trauma of having caused the death of eight teenagers and injuring many others, although this was never her intention whatsoever. Read the rest of this entry »
Just as the grit, commitment and stamina of DAP members for a just, democratic and progressive Malaysia had defeated four major “Black Ops” to destroy the DAP in past half a century, the most ambitious “Black Ops” campaign underway against DAP will also fail
In a month’s time on March 18, 2017 DAP will be celebrating our 51st anniversary since the registration of the party on 18th March 1966.
DAP is today solely because of the contributions, sacrifices and selflessness of veteran DAP leaders and members of the past half a century, and today we gather here to pay tribute to these DAP veterans in Johor, which has now been transformed from a political back-water state into a front-line state for the 14th General Elections, which will decide not only who will run Johor state government but also the Federal Government for the next five years after the 14th General Elections, which appears likely to be held this year.
The following tables showing the vote-share obtained by the various political parties from the 1969 to 2013 General Elections give an idea of how the Barisan Nasional, which had won as high as 77.3% of the total votes cast in the state in 1978 GE and fallen to 53.9% in the 2013 GE, is now fighting a life-and-death struggle to retain power in the Johor State Government in the 14GE.
Johor Party Vote Share GE1969 to GE2013 Read the rest of this entry »
I am prepared to serve on public probe into government financial scandals, provided its terms of reference includes 1MDB and BMF scandals
Posted by Kit in Corruption, Financial Scandals, nation building on Friday, 17 February 2017, 5:23 pm
I arrived in Gelang Patah from Kuala Lumpur and my attention has been drawn to the statement by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Azlalina Othman Said, who said that I should assist the special task force set up to probe the foreign exchange losses incurred by Bank Negara more than two decades ago.
Azalina said I should be the first man to support the task force.
She said:
“This is because he was so vocal in the 1990s in the Dewan Rakyat by bringing up various motions to propose the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to probe the losses.
“Thus, this is the best opportunity for him to prove he had basis to bring up the motions in 1993 and 1994. He should assist the task force by reviewing thoroughly all the relevant facts. Or, was he just confusing the House at the time?” Read the rest of this entry »
Ministers have shown that they lack Malaysian patriotism as they are indifferent and unmoved by Malaysia’s infamy and ignominy of being regarded worldwide as a global kleptocracy as a result of 1MDB international money-laundering scandal
Posted by Kit in Corruption, Financial Scandals, Najib Razak on Friday, 17 February 2017, 12:04 pm
All Barisan Nasional Ministers are not only guilty of colossal negligence and irresponsibility of the first degree when at Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, they could set up a special task force (STF) to conduct a probe into Bank Negara forex losses more than two decades ago but dare not breathe a word on the monstrous 1MDB kleptocratic money-laundering scandal, they have done worse.
They have shown that they lack Malaysian patriotism, that they could be indifferent and unmoved by Malaysia’s infamy and ignominy of being regarded world-wide as a global kleptocracy.
At the last Parliamentary meeting, I had explained that kleptocracy is a government of 3Ps – Pencuri, Perompak and Penyamun.
Which Malaysian who loves Malaysia and is patriotic can be indifferent to the country’s shame, infamy and ignominy of being regarded as a global kleptocracy – when even ordinary Malaysians fight shy of admitting that they are Malaysians when abroad for they will be confronted with a load of questions about Malaysia being a global kleptocracy!
I call on all Barisan Nasional Ministers to resign as Ministers if they are not prepared to do anything to give top priority to clear or purge Malaysia of the infamy and ignominy of being regarded worldwide as a global kleptocracy.
Are there no other leaders in the 13 parties in Barisan Nasional who are patriotic enough to want to make the clearing or purging of Malaysia’s international infamy and ignominy as a global kleptocracy the top national agenda of the country?
If so, then it is a very sad day for Malaysia, when even the PAS President Datuk Hadi Awang has no problem with Malaysia being regarded worldwide as a global kleptocracy so long as Muslims are the leaders in the country – ignoring the fact that even if UMNO is ousted from Putrajaya in the next general elections by Pakatan Harapan and Bersatu, it is a Malay and Muslim who will be Prime Minister and not a non-Malay or a non-Muslim. Read the rest of this entry »
Home Minister Zahid should propose the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) in March Parliament to end criminal police custodial deaths as the EAIC is just a toothless creature
Together with the DAP for Klang, Charles Santiago, I visited Natthanan Yoochomsook, the widow of the latest police custodial death, S. Balamurugan, 44 and his 14-year-old daughter Yanika Balamurugan at their house at Solok Bukit Mertajam off Jalan Kapar in Klang.
As Charles said, quoting Suhakam, Balamurugan is the 243rd death in police custody since 2000.
This is most shocking and outrageous, as 12 years ago, a Royal Commission was established to end criminal police custodial deaths and to create in the police force a culture of zero tolerance for criminal police custodial deaths.
But the situation has not improved and may have even worsened when compared to more than 12 years ago.
What has happened?
Why are we regressing instead of improving in good governance, accountability and transparency in all aspects of our public institutions?
Balamurugam’s death in police custody, and the latest case of official impunity for breach of the rule of law and the utter disregard for the sanctity of human life in the case of Penang prison inmate Chandran Muniandy, who nearly met death from his treatment in prison, must be the final cases of a broken-down criminal and penal system. Read the rest of this entry »
All Cabinet Ministers guilty of colossal negligence and irresponsibility of the first degree when they could set up a special task force (STF) to conduct a probe into Bank Negara forex losses more than two decades ago but dare not breathe a word on the monstrous 1MDB kleptocratic money-laundering scandal
Posted by Kit in Corruption, Financial Scandals, Mahathir, Najib Razak on Thursday, 16 February 2017, 8:52 am
ll Cabinet Ministers are guilty of colossal negligence and irresponsibility of the first degree when they could set up a special task force (STF) to conduct a probe into Bank Negara forex losses more than two decades ago but dare not breathe a word on the monstrous 1MDB kleptocratic money-laundering scandal.
Only yesterday, a Swiss newspaper gave a two-page spread to what it described as “Biggest Misappropriation of Funds in History”, referring to the international multi-billion 1MDB kleptocratic money-laundering scandal, in a coverage under the headline “LA FACE SUISE D’UN SCANDAL” which is google-translated as “THE SWISS FACE OF A SCANDAL” with photographs of the Malaysian Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak in the company of Justo, Sturzengger and Di Caprio, with Najib described as “L’INSTIGATUR” (“THE INSTIGATOR”).
But all the Ministers of the Najib Cabinet yesterday preferred to play the role of traditional three monkeys, with eyes that see not, with ears that hear not, with mouths that speak not what the whole world and Malaysians can see, hear and speak – to the extent that Malaysia is regarded worldwide as a new and instant “global kleptocracy” under the sixth Malaysian Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Read the rest of this entry »
