A tale of two prime ministers

This is exactly how it should be done. This is what you do if you have nothing to hide. This is undoubtedly a man of honour with impeccable integrity. He not only apologised for the conduct of others but has also called on the entire nation and all members of the Singapore parliament, irrespective of party affiliations, to examine him. - https://youtu.be/h76nx_5gRBc

Singapore must be proud of her Prime Minister who is man enough to grab the bull by its horn and face his critics, even if the critics are just siblings. 

It may be a personal issue but Lee Hsien Loong is wise enough to note that his family feud has tarnished the seat of the prime minister and the government of Singapore. Such is his respect and responsibility to the office of the Prime Minister.

His Loong's late father Mr Lee Kuan Yew would certainly be proud of his eldest son for walking in his footsteps, for standing tall with his morals intact. 

Bravo Mr Prime Minister !

Meanwhile Malaysians on this side of the causeway are hoping that Hsien Loong's counterpart would take a leaf or two from his conduct as a leader, prime minister and an elected representative of the people. 

In Malaysia the state of affairs are very different although Najib Razak the Prime Minister is embroiled in a far more serious scandal which is criminal in nature. 

1MDB's international financial scandal and the US Department of Justice (Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative unit) investigations is now world news. 

Malaysia's international image today is at its lowest ebb. Almost every international news outlets from Australia to Africa and Europe have been reporting the biggest kleptocracy scandal in the history of the USA. The root of the scandal is in Malaysia and Najib Razak is very much in the midst of it. DoJ has all the evidence.

Billions of ringgit in funds stolen from 1MDB have been laundered in the US and investigations show that RM2.6billion has made its way into Najib Razak's personal bank account. DoJ has also exposed a more than RM100 million pink diamond link to Najib's wife Rosmah.  

In Singapore the prime minister has apologised over a personal family feud and presented himself for public scrutiny but in Malaysia the embattled prime minister's lackeys are screaming at the top of their voice demanding to know who reported the crime to DoJ. 

In Singapore the prime minister has called on all Members of Parliament to scrutinise/debate the handling of his family feud and the matter's negative impact on his position and that of the government.

In Malaysia the Auditor General's report on 1MDB has been classified a secret under the Official Secrets Act although such classifications of an AG's report is unheard of and could most probably be against the constitution. 

The Speaker of Dewan Rakyat in the Malaysian parliament even threatened to quit if the 1MDB scandal was debated in the house. Any debate on the matter was later disallowed on the pretext of being subjudice. 

In Malaysia the prime minister is bending over backwards to politicise the 1MDB scandal although its is purely criminal in nature. 

The Attorney General who acts more like the prime minister's counsel has unilaterally cleared Najib Razak of any wrongdoing despite RM2.6 billion dollars making its way into Najib's personal account. 

A multi agency task force that initially investigated the 1MDB scandal was also disbanded and the then Attorney General sacked. 

Hsien Loong of Singapore too could have attempted to silence his critics and threaten to sue anybody who deliberated on his family feud on social media but he did not. Probably he didn't have anything to hide. 

The Singapore PM came out to clear the air because 'he is a public servant' but Najib has gone to court to argue that as prime minister he is not a public servant. 

In Malaysia exposing the 1MDB scandal and the theft of billions of ringgit in public funds is treated as crime. Whistle blowers and critics are taunted and hunted. 

Instead of wanting to nail the thieves who robbed the nation the ruling party's political operatives and lackeys are questioning who reported the crime. 

Whistle blowers are branded as traitors in a climate where truth is treated with contempt. 

Such is the tale of two prime ministers who are separated by a narrow body of water but a gaping difference in integrity.

p/s 

The initial heading for this post was - 

How to be a man and a Prime Minister, by Lee Hsien Loong

1MDB - Department of Justice continues the hunt

MO1

JUSTICE NEWS

Department of Justice

Office of Public Affairs

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, June 15, 2017

U.S. Seeks to Recover Approximately $540 Million Obtained From Corruption Involving Malaysian Sovereign Wealth Fund

The Justice Department announced today the filing of civil forfeiture complaints seeking the forfeiture and recovery of approximately $540 million in assets associated with an international conspiracy to launder funds misappropriated from a Malaysian sovereign wealth fund. Combined with civil forfeiture complaints filed in July 2016, seeking more than $1 billion, and civil forfeiture complaints filed last week seeking approximately $100 million in assets, this case represents the largest action brought under the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative. Assets now subject to forfeiture in this case total almost $1.7 billion.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco, Acting U.S. Attorney Sandra R. Brown of the Central District of California, Assistant Director Stephen E. Richardson of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Deputy Chief Don Fort of the IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) made the announcement.

According to the complaints, from 2009 through 2015, more than $4.5 billion in funds belonging to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) was allegedly misappropriated by high-level officials of 1MDB and their associates. 1MDB was created by the government of Malaysia to promote economic development in Malaysia through global partnerships and foreign direct investment, and its funds were intended to be used for improving the well-being of the Malaysian people.  

“The Criminal Division is steadfast in our efforts to protect the security, safety, and integrity of the American financial system from all manner of abuse, including by kleptocrats seeking to hide their ill-gotten or stolen wealth,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Blanco. “Today’s complaints reveal another chapter of this multi-year, multi-billion-dollar fraud scheme, bringing the total identified stolen proceeds to $4.5 billion. This money financed the lavish lifestyles of the alleged co-conspirators at the expense and detriment of the Malaysian people. We are unwavering in our commitment to ensure the United States is not a safe haven for corrupt individuals and kleptocrats to hide their ill-gotten wealth or money, and that recovered assets be returned to the victims from which they were taken.”

“These cases involve billions of dollars that should have been used to help the people of Malaysia, but instead was used by a small number of individuals to fuel their astonishing greed,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Brown. “The misappropriation of 1MDB funds was accomplished with an extravagant web of lies and bogus transactions that were brought to light by the dedicated attorneys and law enforcement agents who continue to work on this matter. We simply will not allow the United States to be a place where corrupt individuals can expect to hide assets and lavishly spend money that should be used for the benefit of citizens of other nations.”

“Today’s filing serves as a reminder of the important role that the FBI plays in rooting out international corruption. When corrupt foreign officials launder funds through the United States in furtherance of their criminal activity, the FBI works tirelessly to help hold those officials accountable, and recover the misappropriated funds,” said Assistant Director Richardson. “I applaud all my colleagues and our international partners who have worked to help recover an immense amount of funds taken from the Malaysian people, who are the victims of this abhorrent case of kleptocracy.”

“Today’s announcement is the result of untangling a global labyrinth of multi-layered financial transactions allegedly used to divert billions of dollars from the people of Malaysia and fund the co-conspirators’ lavish lifestyles,” said Deputy Chief Fort. “The IRS is proud to partner with other law enforcement agencies and share its world-renowned financial investigative expertise in this complex financial investigation. It’s important for the world to see, that when people use the American financial system for corruption, the IRS will take notice.”

As alleged in the complaints, the members of the conspiracy – which included officials at 1MDB, their relatives and other associates – diverted more than $4.5 billion in 1MDB funds.  Using fraudulent documents and representations, the co-conspirators allegedly laundered the funds through a series of complex transactions and shell companies with bank accounts located in the U.S. and abroad. These transactions allegedly served to conceal the origin, source and ownership of the funds, and ultimately passed through U.S. financial institutions to then be used to acquire and invest in assets located in the U.S. and overseas.

The complaints filed today allege that in 2014, the co-conspirators misappropriated approximately $850 million in 1MDB funds under the guise of repurchasing certain options that had been given in connection with a guarantee of 2012 bonds. As the complaints allege, 1MDB had borrowed a total of $1.225 billion from a syndicate of banks to fund the buy-back of the options. The complaints allege that approximately $850 million was instead diverted to several offshore shell entities. From there, the complaints allege, the funds stolen in 2014, in addition to money stolen in prior years, were used, among other things, to purchase a 300 foot luxury yacht valued at over $260 million, certain movie rights, high-end properties, tens of millions of dollars of jewelry, and artwork. A portion of the diverted loan proceeds were also allegedly used in an elaborate, Ponzi-like scheme to create the false appearance that an earlier 1MDB investment had been profitable.  

As alleged in the earlier complaints, in 2009, 1MDB officials and their associates embezzled approximately $1 billion that was supposed to be invested to exploit energy concessions purportedly owned by a foreign partner. Instead, the funds were transferred through shell companies and were used to acquire a number of assets, as set forth in the complaints. The complaints also allege that the co-conspirators misappropriated close to $1.4 billion in funds raised through the bond offerings in 2012, and more than $1.2 billion following another bond offering in 2013.

The FBI’s International Corruption Squads in New York City and Los Angeles, and the IRS-CI are investigating the case. Deputy Chief Woo S. Lee and Trial Attorneys Kyle R. Freeny and Jonathan Baum of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Kucera and Christen Sproule of the Central District of California are prosecuting the case. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs is providing substantial assistance. 

The Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative is led by a team of dedicated prosecutors in the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, in partnership with federal law enforcement agencies, and often with U.S. Attorney’s Offices, to forfeit the proceeds of foreign official corruption and, where appropriate, to use those recovered asset to benefit the people harmed by these acts of corruption and abuse of office. In 2015, the FBI formed International Corruption Squads across the country to address national and international implications of foreign corruption. Individuals with information about possible proceeds of foreign corruption located in or laundered through the U.S. should contact federal law enforcement or send an email to kleptocracy@usdoj.gov(link sends e-mail) (link sends e-mail) or https://tips.fbi.gov/.

A civil forfeiture complaint is merely an allegation that money or property was involved in or represents the proceeds of a crime. These allegations are not proven until a court awards judgment in favor of the U.S.

Attorney General Apandi Ali may want to take a second look at the 1MDB scandal before its too late for him.

p/s 

Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar appears a bit busy clarifying his much talked about Gopi-link. 

A workable and peaceful exit for Najib

1. There seems to be no end to it for Najib and the country, one crisis after another, the latest being the infighting in FELDA. It would seem more and more negative information is coming out which may implicate him, especially on the 1MDB saga, which the DOJ in the US (and perhaps in other countries too) is expected to pursue criminal proceedings against people close to him.

2. It does not matter who is right or wrong anymore, the country is heading towards a terrible economic slowdown and a major social political confrontation, which would benefit no one. The race/religious politics is going to complicate things more and make it easy for innocent people to suffer from violence and collateral damage. Past experiences from other countries suggest that a violent upheaval seeking vengeance and retribution may not be a sustainable answer and may bring more instability, which the country can ill-afford at this time.

3. A recent secret poll on the outcome of the next general election suggested that BN might lose badly. For example, it predicted that BN would only win in 3 states - Sarawak, Terengganu and Pahang.

4. Najib has implied openly on 8 June 2017 that he is facing much stress as the PM and he was not getting enough sleep, which would definitely have an adverse and severe effect on his health and well-being.

5. Najib must accept that enough is enough. The sooner the better for him and the country, before the situation gets out of control. Time and his health are not on his side as the deadline (August 2018) for the election draws closer. What if the secret poll is right and the tide turns against BN, by then and whatever “Plan B” he may have, may not work anymore? He is still in a good position to negotiate a workable and peaceful exit to save himself and his family and also to preserve whatever legacy that is left of his great father.

6. The whole world and the country is watching his every move closely and it is time that he must demonstrate responsibility, leadership, humility and common sense for the sake of the country and the safety of him and his family.

7. It may be now or never as history may also judge him harshly if he does not do the right things now and he ends up as the loser in the end.

8. There is a wise saying - “Always have a successful exit than a favourable entrance. Because what matters is not being clapped when we arrived, but being remembered when we leave.”

Note: The above is a jotting from a senior member of Barisan Nasional and an old friend of Najib who believes there is still room for manoeuvre. 

p/s 

I know exactly how Najib will be remembered. 

Transparency International - Independent investigation on the 700 million dollar man

Listen to the gentleman in the video. He is Michael Hershman an International Anti Corruption Conference (IACC) council member. 

He was commenting on the USD 700 million (RM2.6 billion) in Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak's personal bank account. This was in September 2015 during the 16th IACC in Putrajaya.

- Don't cover up, don't obstruct justice because it doesn't work. Tell the truth. 
- It is not going to go away. Delay is not going to make this issue go away. The truth will come out.

Transparency International chief Jose Ugaz who spoke at the opening of the conference too was openly critical of the suspected criminal. 

- There are two questions that need to be answered: Who paid the money and why? Where did it go?

- One man could answer those questions. If that does not happen then only a fully independent investigation, free from political interference, can uncover the truth.

- Until that happens, no claim from the government on anti-corruption will be credible.

- "Most insidious of all is political corruption. The twisting and distorting of the law by governments plagued by cronyism and captured by special interests"

Almost one and a half years have gone by since global anti-corruption movement leaders spoke out against the Umno president's infamous billions of ringgit in his personal bank account. 

That one man who could answer those questions have not done so. In fact he is bolder in his lies and deception without regards to rule of law or morality. There is not even an iota of decency, dignity or trustworthiness left in him. 

A fully independent investigation, free from political interference, to uncover the truth, as suggested by Jose Ugaz, is now timely. 

Ordinary Malaysians would welcome such an open investigation led by prominent, independent international investigators who seek truth above everything else.

Probably Transparency International could take the lead to uncover the evasive truth surrounding the approximately USD700 million in the Malaysian Prime Minister's personal bank account.

We must start somewhere to try and recover the billions of ringgit siphoned from the government of Malaysia via multiple financial tricks and investment scams. 

Why not start the ball rolling with the 700 million US dollars in Najib's Ambank account. After all he is the root cause of the biggest financial/corruption/kleptocracy scandal in the history of Malaysia.

p/s 

"You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time." - Abraham Lincoln

Leaders don't create fake followers Mr Prime Minister

After Twitter its Facebook. What next?

GO check out Najib's followers

In our comparison of eight political leaders from the US, Australia, Malaysia, India, Thailand, Japan, Singapore and Vietnam, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak topped the list for having the largest proportion of fake followers.
A recent check using Fake Follower Check showed a whopping 70 per cent of Prime Minister Najib’s 1.41 million followers were fake. - MELDMAGAZINE

The above was Najib Razak's achievement in microblogging site Twitter. What about Facebook?

We have seen a lot of comments on Najib's FB with #RespectMyPM hashtag. Many tend to dismiss them as comments posted by fake accounts to create the impression that PM has a lot of support among the youth.

But how do we know for sure? Read more to have your doubts cleared.

Take this posting:

Just take a random comment... in this case someone called Hanis Hanisa. It seems that she created the account in the middle of May this year. And her profile picture looks sweet enough.

Do a bit more ground work, and you'd realise that she's actually a pretty lass, said to be from Terengganu who's got over 123,000 followers on Instagram under @adirasalahudi. The picture used as "Hanis Hanisa's" profile photo on FB originated from here, which already has over 2,000 likes on Instagram.

Ok, jom survey gambar lain pulak. Tengok gambar ni.

Kau rasa handbag Helen Clark lagi mahal ke, Rosmah punya lagi mahal? Eh, itu trick question! Kau tengok seorang lagi bernama Daniel Xixii komen #RespectMyPM

The person bearing that image is actually Hasan Santiago. That picture was sourced from Myspace (social media platform long dead now) and the dude lived in Brooklyn, New York, not Kajang as what Daniel Xixii claimed.

Did you realise that Daniel Xixii also created the FB page in mid-May? That's the same time as Hanis Hanisa, whose bodek-ing comment also appeared in this Helen Clark's post, right below Daniel's. Coincidence? Hmmm....

Let's look at the third posting below:

This chap goes by Amar Amri. If you can't see his FB profile picture, click here. But hold on.... perhaps this guy's actual name is Syafiq Syazwan and has a Twitter account here. Either Syafiq or Amar has a split personality or one person is taking another's profile picture without permission.

Seemingly, Amar's FB account was created in April this year... and the best part was, look what he posted on 26 April:

Is Amar Amri / Panglima Cyber Bugis / Anak Buah Mat Maslan trying to drop us some clues? Someone should also teach him how to spell swear words correctly.

Almost all the highly questionable FB profiles have been set to restricted public access ie if you are not friends with him / her, you can't see their postings. Which is kinda uncharacteristic of young people these days as they crave for attention, even from strangers. Most people from that age group would open up their FB accounts for the world to see.

The list of fake accounts go on and on and on. But I guess the few examples above suffice to conclude that, YES, the most powerful man in Malaysia is being propped up via fake Facebook accounts.

Selamat menyambut bulan yang mulia!

Note: Najib's fake FB dwellings were researched and submitted here by reader Zianah Zain following the Australian magazine's expose of the Malaysian Prime Minister's fake Twitter followers. 

I doubt such cheapskate propaganda and manipulation stops at Twitter and Facebook. We should keep an eye on the voters registry as well. 

p/s Thank you Zianah Zain. How to #RespectMyPM lah kalau menyangak macam ni? 

I think you are wrong...

One must either be embarrassingly naive or simply not clever to think Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad would develop a sudden hiccup if you revoke the services of his Royal Malaysian Police traffic outriders / escorts. 

You cannot be right with such childish acts because even the staunches of his critics agree that the decision reflects the level of political maturity or rather the lack of it. This could be a classic case of power abuse too but that's not the point yet. 

Has the Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar explained the revocation of the traffic outriders? 

Those in the position of power, including the IGP, must remember to state the relevant legal provisions and Government regulations governing the services for a former Prime Minister of this nation. Let's stick to facts. 

I'm quite sure the IGP would not parrot the many statements by politicians, some repeatedly accusing Dr Mahathir of trying to topple a democratically elected Government. This 'trying to topple the Government' is nothing but a fictitious tale by birdbrained politicians who are fighting for their very own survival. There is nothing more to that. 

Opposition parties have been trying to topple the government since time in memorial. Is that a crime now? 

Dr Mahathir and other prominent leaders from a cross section of the society, plus the hundreds of thousands of Malaysians who have to-date signed the Citizen's Declaration are just demanding for a new Prime Minister.

What is wrong in urging for the current Prime Minister to make way for a new leader? This cannot be trumpeted as trying to topple the Government. It cannot possibly be, unless the Prime Minister is of the opinion that he is the Government of Malaysia. 

The whole world seems to know what Deklarasi Rakyat is, except for Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Abdul Razak, his minions and a shrinking number of subservient media outlets. 

Please read HERE before opening your mouth and making a fool of yourself again. Maybe you don't mind being branded 'stupid' but we are tired of shallow propaganda and outright stupidity. 

I think you are wrong if you think Malaysians are so stupid that you can continue to fool them with carrots and sticks. Dedak cannot be for public consumption.  

Spreading lies by whatever scale and means cannot possibly transform into truth. Whatever the justifications are, intentionally spreading lies for political survival cannot be accepted especially when its the interests of the nation up against that of an individual. 

Don't confuse the people with such cheap, tactless propaganda because a majority of the thinking populace get more information and could do cross references online. They cannot possibly be fooled by those subservient journalists and broadcasters. The traditional media is no longer the mainstream media. 

The mainstream media now is the online media. You can continue to block and ban but you cannot possibly contain this new mainstream media within your mould.

The sole aim of the Citizen's Declaration / Deklarasi Rakyat is to seek the immediate removal of our scandalous Prime Minister who is famous for the wrong reasons. Malaysians who agree with the move have been inking the declaration. The numbers must have been causing sleepless nights for some.

How many of you are not aware why Najib Razak and his strategic investment marvel 1MDB are famous all over the world now? 

How many of you know the truth but choose to defend the elephant in the room solely due to your greed and personal interests? 

I think you are wrong if you think the people don't know about the elephant. Millions from all around the world are surprised, not jealous, as we lead towards being crowned for the biggest financial scandal in world history. 

I think you are wrong if you think we should be proud of the scandalous 1MDB. 

I think you are wrong if you think the people of Sarawak would swallow all hook, line and sinker and love you till dooms day (Kiamat) because you are splashing them with 'allocations' and projects. 

I think you are wrong if you think that the Sarawak state election is about you and a landslide victory an endorsement of your leadership. Don't be fooled by the crowd around you, Najib Razak. 

Is the Sarawak state election not a state affair of an 'equal partner in Malaysia' ? 

None of the peninsula based Barisan Nasional political parties are contesting in the Sarawak state elections.  Lets state facts as they are. 

The Sarawak state election is about Barisan Nasional under the leadership of Sarawak's new Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem.  

From the state BN's point the outcome must reflect the continued unity in BN, slightly over two years after the smooth transition of power from Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud. 

Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib is currently the Governor of Sarawak and he retired after 33 years as the chief minister. During his tenure Tun Taib carried himself more like the Prime Minister of Sarawak, not another chief minister in Malaysia. 

There maybe shortcomings and mistakes but that is how it was as I have explored and experienced. Tun Taib carried Sarawak as an equal partner and that is Adenan's real challenge, to fill the shoes of his larger than life predecessor. 

As a man who is famous for having stood tall in times of political turbulences of yesteryear, in particular during the famous Ming Court saga, Adenan must be experienced enough to feel the pulse and understand the sentiments.

Many local leaders have repeatedly stated that the Sarawak state election is not about Najib Razak. A lot of people are surprised what the Umno president was doing campaigning in the election which was not even about him. 

The Sarawak state election is a democratic process for the people of Sarawak to elect their representatives to the Dewan Undangan Negeri or Council Negeri. An elected leader who commands majority support of the new 82-seat Council Negeri would then be duly appointed as the Chief Minister. 

The BN is widely expected to sail through this election with a clear 2/3 majority. Its just about the exact numbers now. Adenan would most likely be re-appointed as the legitimate chief minister. 

Winning or losing a couple of seats won't change the equation although someone desperate may be disappointed for lack of credit.

The election is about the people's continued endorsement of the Sarawak BN government to lead and administer Sarawak. All Sarawak BN components are local political parties. Lets get the facts right.

It must be emphasises that, despite the Team Adenan and presidential election styled campaigns, the election is very much about retaining the time tested Sarawak Barisan Nasional state government. 

I think you won't go wrong if you put your ears to the ground. 

It must be 'we' and not 'I'. Adenan should know this. I'm sure your personal library holds more wisdom than this simple fact about leadership. 

I think you should stand tall together with all vital components of the state BN coalition. That is your base. That is the heart of your political power. Standing together makes a team, not standing alone.

I think you are wrong if you think standing alone is leadership. 

Watch that fever CM

p/s 

1. I don't think the Umno president wants to 'sabotage' the state elections to clip Adenan's popularity and growing political clout, as a local daily reporter opined... although I agree that it is not very clever to appear  frequently in the heat of the Opposition's "1 Vote for Adenan = 1 Vote for Najib " campaigns. 

1MDB - The dysfunctional Malaysian Cabinet

Head of government[edit]

Main article: Prime Minister of Malaysia

The Prime Minister of Malaysia (Malay: Perdana Menteri Malaysia) is the indirectly elected head of government (executive) of Malaysia. He is officially appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state, who in HM's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat), the elected lower house of Parliament. He heads the Cabinet, whose members are appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong advice of the prime minister. The Prime Minister and his Cabinet shall be collectively responsible to Parliament. The Prime Minister's Department (sometimes referred to as the Prime Minister's Office) is the body and ministry in which the Prime Minister exercises its functions and powers.

Do the Prime Minister and the other members of Cabinet have to take an Oath?

Yes, the Prime Minister and other members of the Cabinet must swear an oath that they will faithfully discharge their duties to the best of their ability and bear true faith and allegiance to Malaysia and will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.

Something is very wrong with the Malaysian Cabinet. There must be a serious rot in there because despite being the highest authority they have failed to protect the interests of the nation, over and above the interests of a certain politician and his bootlickers. 

The 1MDB scheme to scam Malaysia is an international scandal that has exposed many things to many people but the crux of it all is that members of the cabinet have collectively betrayed the people.

We are in a situation where instead of identifying who the rotten ones are, we are putting in gargantuan efforts to identify who is not rotten. Such is the state of affairs in our nation now.  

Finding a people's representative with his/her integrity intact now is like looking for needles in a haystack. Don't you think so? 

A big majority of those we trusted, elected and elevated to positions of power to serve Malaysia and Malaysians have proven to be nothing but self serving pretenders. A big majority have sold their soul to the devil.  

Who among members of the current cabinet are protecting the rights, interests and well being of the country and her people, without fear or favour, as enshrined in the Malaysian constitution?

How many are living up to their oath of office? 

The level of trust of the Government and its ministers is so low that more jokes than debates shoot off official announcements, loud thinking ministers and big mouthed politicians. 

We can't blame critics because we have become just that, a big joke. We are a bigger joke in the international arena for the only country in the world that has a sovereign debt fund. 

Our standard of governance and public administration used to be the envy of many developing nations in the past. Now we are known the world over for all the wrong reasons. 

Malaysia is now on the front lines of international news on a daily basis for massive Government-linked financial scandal, corruption, money laundering and abuse of power, compliments from Najib Razak and his 1MDB. 

What is happening to us? 

The latest poll among university students clearly outlines the picture. Varsity students' trust level in the Government is hovering around the 10% mark. Such polls speak volumes but it won't mean a thing on deaf ears.  

The sorry state of affairs in the country in the last 18 months or so, and our inability to address the rot reflects our predicament. We, as a nation, are in the doldrums. 

Quite a number of BN Members of Parliament, Ministers included, often bounce back with 'What can I do?' as their line of defence when queried of the systemic paralysis caused mainly by cash the King. 

"Even the Deputy PM is sacked. What do you expect us to so," an elderly MP from Perak questioned expressing fears he would be 'stripped naked' and humiliated with past misdeeds if he spoke out against Najib Razak's 1MDB. Such is the fear, either real or perceived. 

Human beings who don't consume dedak must be made to understand that choices are always there if your heart and mind is clear of the purpose and objective. Some were sheepish while discussing their rights and role as people's representatives. Many just laughed it off with the 'I have to cari makan too' look blinking across their face. 

Members of the cabinet with even an ounce of integrity in them should quit the cabinet and strive to put Malaysia back on the right track.

We cannot afford to ignore the elephant in the room just because a big majority of our elected representatives who run the Government are cowards whose integrity has been compromised. 

Their hands could be tied or it could also be that they are pretending to be tied up due to the overwhelming influence of 'Cash the King?    

Why are the members of the Malaysian Cabinet quiet like a church mouse when foreign investigators and authorities have confirmed that the Government owned 1MDB has been used to rob us of billions of ringgit. 

When well concealed crimes and misdeeds are exposed suddenly 1MDB says they may be a victim of fraud. At the rate this scandal unfolds the bunch of liars who have been taking us for a ride may soon require psychiatric help.  

Authorities half a world away are busy tracking our lost, of money and reputation. What are our authorities doing to redeem our lost pride and dignity? 

The Swiss attorney general is working vigorously with Singapore, Luxembourg, US, Hong Kong and a few other nations including the Arabs from the Middle East. 

Don't ask me about the Malaysian Attorney General and our level of cooperation in uncovering the 1MDB scandal and recovering the billions lost. 'I don't know' is now a famous excuse for all and sundry. Even Najib Razak doesn't know the papers he signed, says his learned lawyer. Is Najib Razak such an idiot? 

Hope Apandi Ali the Attorney General is keeping well and good. He may have his hands full in the not so distant future. 

I strongly urge that the entire Malaysian Cabinet is made to face a Royal Commission of Inquiry once the culprits behind the 1MDB scam and those involved in the cover up are identified and brought to book. 

Most if not the entire Malaysian cabinet members are complicit. Remaining silent and allowing the hoodwinking to continue is a crime. If it is not it must be classified as a serious crime. A crime as grave as treason. 

1MDB is wholly owned by the Government of Malaysia and billions of ringgit is reported missing from the company. The Prime Minister has personally signed dubious deals and agreements concerning 1MDB.  

The facts are crystal clear. Members of Cabinet are still standing (and sitting) together with a suspected criminal who also happens to be the Prime Minister.  

The facts have been laid bare. The choice is yours.  

Even the cat is leaving the cabinet.

You can't walk in later and say I don't know. There won't be any second chance as this is not partisan politics and/or a intra-party power struggle. 

This is about a crime against this nation. 

If you are not with the people, you must be against us. There is no grey area in this matter.

Malaysia doesn't deserve a bunch of dysfunctional leaders and a morally bankrupt leadership. 

This is the last train, the choice remains yours.

p/s 

There may be no permanent friends or enemies in politics but remember that treachery is no politics. 

Fighting fit to take on 1MDB

Google filepix of a now fighting fit pahlawang

Najib fighting fit, downsizing from XXL to XL
By Jonathan Chia

KUCHING: Prime Minister Datuk Seri NajibTunRazak wants his critics to know that he is “fighting fit” and ready to take on anyone.

Speaking at the launching of GREAT 2016, Najib said: “I changed and saw two shirts hanging with the sizes of XL and XXL.

I’m proud to say I chose XL and I could wear it.The message is clear, I’m fighting fit and I will take on anyone,” he said. However, he did not elaborate his battle further. - BorneoPost

"However, he did not elaborate his battle further" ! 

How could he elaborate when no one is actually interested in fighting the 'fighting fit' Prime Minister. He might just roar (like in the pic above) and scare his enemies away.  

All able minded Malaysians are asking for is for you, Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, to come clean on the billions of ringgit in donations which you seem to have received in your personal bank account. The whole world is talking about it. 

Are you involved in any international money laundering syndicate? 

The last few days saw you and your flamboyant wife's pictures splashed in the pages of a few foreign and international newspapers. None of them called for a street fight. Save the thug-like 'I will take on anyone' salvo for another day. People are just wondering where you got so much money to splash.

With love from Indonesia

Turkish delight

Dear 'fighting fit' Najib, a big majority of those who were elated when you took over from Abdullah Ahmad Badawi are now eager to hold you accountable for your actions. You took over about a year after the 2008 elections without toppling the democratically elected Barisan Nasional government, you remember that Najib? We are just demanding for something similar now.

No Malaysian in the right frame of mind would want to pick a fight with a desperate politician who happens to be a 'fighting fit' Prime Minister, Finance Minister and probably the only man vested with soo much power and authority in the country today. If not for Appandi the Attorney General I would proclaim you as the most powerful man. 

People are not crazy, we are just asking for explanations. 

Malaysians are not numb. We may be different in many ways but we are not numb and stupid to be hoodwinked by pirates and pretenders. We just expect our elected representatives to not steal, plunder and tell lies on a daily basis. Is that too much to ask for?

Dear Mr 'fighting fit' Najib Razak, you owe Malaysia and Malaysians a long list of explanation beginning from the billions of ringgit in your personal bank accounts to the dubious wheeling and dealings in and around 1Malaysia Development Berhad - 1MDB, your baby.

Interferences into the various investigations plus the removal/transfers of Government servants involved in the probe of your suspected criminal acts didn't go unnoticed. Don't think Malaysians are ignorant. The ignorant are all in your cabinet.

People are watching your antics. It looks like even those around you have become increasingly concerned about their possible fate in the not too distant future. Maybe that answers the question why some have begun trading for 'immunity', actively.

Even Arul Kanda Kandasamy appears to be signing out with his recent 'My job is done' motherhood statement.

Dear Najib, I sincerely hope that you're fighting fit to take on 1MDB because that is your fight for survival. Don't waste time punching in the dark when the enemy is within you. You created it. Your enemy is 1MDB. 

Good luck. Tender your resignation soonest possible and save us all the trouble.

Don't sabotage Adenan Satem

Just thought of advising you to stay out of Sarawak until the state election is over. Please don't go there and ruin all those goodwill and support which the new Chief Minister has regained since taking over from Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud (without toppling the democratically elected government that is). 

The Sarawakians are very polite, humble and nice people. No matter who they are, they are generally nice. Adenan won't possibly tell you not to come to Sarawak but you should know better (if you don't, try taking a quick peek at all those flowery comments in Facebook after your latest walkabout in a shopping mall in Kuching). 

Why sabotage Adenan and Sarawak BN ? Don't take advantage of Adenan Satem's hospitality and be a thorn on his side. Stay out for the greater good of BN. Stay out and fight your own battle like a man.

A vote for Adenan cannot be a vote for you. You are not Adenan Satem!

p/s 

Sarawak BN lynchpin Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) would most likely emerge as the saviours of the 13-party coalition when the others lay grasping for their last breath. If no remedial steps are taken we could witness this scenario after the next general elections.

Don't sabotage your saviours.     

1MDB - Australian Broadcasting Corporation's lies about Prime Minister Najib Razak ?

Well, hear ABC out and draw your own conclusions afterwards. 

In the meantime, if the report is nothing but another 'Jewish conspiracy' to topple him, Najib Razak the Prime Minister of Malaysia must initiate necessary legal actions to protect the badly beaten up image of Malaysia. 

I'm quite sure a big majority of Malaysians don't care what the world thinks about Najib the son of Tun Abdul Razak but every Malaysian care and would want to protect the good name of Malaysia. 

Stop dragging this nation into your never ending scandals, and into the dungeon of failed states.


p/s 

Next Tuesday is exactly a week away.

The famous Prime Minister of Malaysia

While UMNO continues to live in denial the party's president Najib Razak continues to bask in the limelight as one of the most famous prime minister in the world. 

UMNO and the 12 others in Barisan Nasional, the ruling coalition, continue to jump in joy due to the international recognition enjoyed by their leader. 

Don't even try asking them why Najib is so popular in the eyes of the world. They may turnaround and accuse you of trying to topple a democratically elected Government. 

Due to his overwhelming popularity and service to this beloved nation Najib is now going around preaching for fellow Malaysians to uphold the good name of Malaysia. 

Malaysians must be dumb and not listen or trust anyone else but Najib because he is one of the most famous politician albeit for the wrong reasons.

Najib continues to think that he is doing Malaysia proud. Never mind that even foreigners liken him to the naked Emperor in Hans Christian Andersen's The Emperor's New Clothes tale.

Such is the level of hypocrisy in this blessed land. Watch the video again as food for some thought. Thinking is still allowed in Malaysia at this point of time. There is no assurance that thinking would still be legal next week.

I pray the moral compass is recovered soon enough before this nation is further ruined by the naked emperor and his goons. 

God save Malaysia. 


p/s

The Emperor's New Clothes - A vain Emperor who cares about nothing except wearing and displaying clothes hires two weavers who promise him the finest, best suit of clothes from a fabric invisible to anyone who is unfit for his position or "hopelessly stupid". 

The Emperor's ministers cannot see the clothes themselves, but pretend that they can for fear of appearing unfit for their positions and the Emperor does the same. 

Finally the weavers report that the suit is finished, they mime dressing him and the Emperor marches in procession before his subjects. 

The townsfolk play along with the pretense, not wanting to appear unfit for their positions or stupid. 

Then a child in the crowd, too young to understand the desirability of keeping up the pretense, blurts out that the Emperor is wearing nothing at all and the cry is taken up by others. 

The Emperor suspects the assertion is true, but continues the procession.

Endless possibilities in Malaysia

aPandi says Najib has done no wrong

Najib Razak, the scandal-ridden Malaysian Prime Minister has been cleared from any criminal wrongdoings and corrupt practices by none other than the Attorney General whom Najib appointed to replace the prematurely retired former AG Tan Sri Gani Patail.

All must be well and good in my country now. It must be. 

The Guardian reports HERE

The learned Attorney General has also been recently appointed to the board of Tabung Haji. Don't ask me if it is appropriate or even morally right for a serving AG to sit on the board of a national pilgrims fund. The AG may excuse himself if any legal cases against Tabung Haji passes before him but which position he chooses to excuse himself from could be a tough call. 

Could the Tabung Haji appointment be a pre-retirement golden handshake for possibly the shortest serving AG in our history? I don't know.

Whichever way this develops the right hand man would certainly strive to make sure that Tabung Haji doesn't go into a tail spin, as many depositors, including me, fear. 

Tabung Haji CEO Tan Sri Ismee has also come out with a convincing statement assuring depositors and Malaysians in general that all is well and good in Tabung Haji. It must be true. We must trust these guys. 

A long time journalist friend who was at the AG's press conference where aPandi read out a prepared text earlier today thinks she may have seen the soon to be 'promoted' Chief Commissioner of the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC).

Is Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed, the serving chief of the MACC, also looking at a pre-mature retirement like in the case of Gani Patail? That has been the talk, she quips.    

She says rumours has it that this guy from the AG's chambers helped clear up the '2.6b' and SRC mess and was promised the post in return for his professional favour in clearing the innocent Prime Minister from baseless slander. It was kind of a national service for 'DZ' the humble servant. 

Najib is innocent because he has returned the unused portion of the more than 2 billion ringgit to the Saudi family. Don't ask me who in the Saudi family donated and accepted back his/her money, I don't know. I don't think anybody knows for sure who that individual is, not even Najib. 

Even Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi was a little confused if the Saudi royal family donor was an individual or a group of individuals. Maybe he is still confused.

Najib also don't know how 42 million ringgit landed in his personal account. He is innocent. The SRC guys who approved the 42 million ringgit transfer must have been intoxicated or outright out of their mind. It could have been just a naughty prank but Najib is believed to have issued cheques from his account without knowing he had billions in cash in his account. It's a bit confusing, I know, but Najib is innocent. 

Sarawak Report says Najib charged millions of ringgits in expenses and purchases to credit card/s issued to SRC. They even produced details including the alleged credit card numbers to prove their claim but it cannot be true because Najib is innocent. Apandi the learned former judge turned AG has clearly indicated that Najib has done no wrong. We must trust Apandi.

We must put our right and left hands together and clap because Najib has been cleared by Apandi Ali, who is also a newly appointed board member of Tabung Haji.

All must be well and good but is Apandi also looking at retirement?  If so who would be the next Attorney General? Here comes the next obedient servant of the ruler.

Oh Ya! Tan Sri Zeti of Bank Negara will also leave the scene sometime in March/April. Ismee Ismail of Tabung Haji is said to be among those in the running for the Governor's post. 

All must be well and good. 

After having managed Tabung Haji with such professionalism and ethics since their appointment I think both Ismee and Tabung Haji Chairman Datuk Seri Azeez Rahim qualify to run Bank Negara Malaysia next. We must trust these guys.

The possibilities are endless. 


p/s 

When good men and women do nothing, ... 

Shamelessly famous

Above are copies of the Jan 15 edition of The National newspaper from UAE. A Malaysian who had to hang his head low among friends there snapped the news article and sent it back home. 

Gathered in UAE for an exclusive think tank on world economy, this Javanese banker from Selangor relates that many of the movers and shakers were keen to understand as to how Malaysians have managed to keep rule of law at bay while continuing to shower a scandal ridden politician with power. 

"Some thought Malaysia was an absolute monarchy ruled by a flamboyant couple," he chuckled before ending the conversation with 'Saya malu lah bro!

Maybe its not too late to wish readers a Happy New Year. It is 2016 and Malaysia continues to make headlines all over the world. In this new year and the year before Malaysia is famous for all the wrong reasons. 

Even within Asean, everybody is surprised at our sudden slide in the anti-corruption index. Corruption has now become the No 1 enemy of the state. 

We are famous for the wrong reasons and it is certainly not mere perception, as some would like to make us believe.

Is Jho Low the 'a financier linked to the prime minister of Malaysia' mentioned in the Bloomberg's report?

Dear Mohd Najib Bin Tun Abdul Razak, you better take legal action against Bloomberg (if the report is not true) because you are repeatedly tarnishing the image of this beloved nation. You are ruining our good name because you appear to be a different type prime minister than your illustrious father the late Tun Abdul Razak. 

You tak malu ker ? Kami malu bila orang luar mentertawakan negara ini.

Below is the full report as dispatched by Bloomberg

Luxury-Home Market Seen Threatened by Scrutiny in NYC, Miami

For luxury-home developers and brokers in Miami and Manhattan who are already contending with slumping prices and slowing demand, the U.S. government’s decision to start scrutinizing all-cash buyers was more bad news.

The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network said Wednesday that it will seek out the identity of individuals behind limited-liability companies that pay cash for high-end residential real estate in Manhattan and Miami-Dade County. Starting in March, title insurers will be required to name the true “beneficial owner” behind the anonymous entities, FinCen said in a statement.

FinCen is concerned that such opaque deals -- used by wealthy investors seeking to avoid the public gawking that comes with buying expensive property -- may also be made by people attempting to hide assets and launder money, according to the statement. By casting such a wide net, the new disclosure rules may discourage legitimate purchases and further damp interest in high-end sales in the two markets, which are already bracing for a slowdown.

“Part of the large swath of people who purchase under LLCs do it for privacy -- celebrities, the wealthy -- and are not doing something illegal,” said Jonathan Miller, president of New York-based appraiser Miller Samuel Inc. “I’m not downplaying that there aren’t people who are using ill-gotten gains to purchase apartments, but it stereotypes the whole segment and it seems to be some kind of overreach by the federal government. In a cooling market, it certainly isn’t helpful.”

Prices Slipping

Demand for Manhattan’s most-expensive homes is slipping while apartments from a high-end construction boom aimed at wealthy investors pile up on the market. Resale prices for the top 20 percent of the market peaked in February and have fallen every month since then, according to an analysis through October by listings website StreetEasy.

In Miami-Dade County, the stronger dollar is turning away Latin American buyers while 36,000 new units are in the construction pipeline, according to an estimate by South Florida development tracker CraneSpotters.com. The U.S. government measure will hurt sales and may drive investors to other locations such as Panama, said Peter Zalewski, owner of CraneSpotters. Their disappearance may lead to price declines in the market because overseas buyers, seeking a haven from the financial turmoil of their home countries, are often willing to pay more, Zalewski said.

“It’s a killer for Miami -- not because we’re afraid of drug buyers,” said Related Group of Florida Chief Executive Officer Jorge Perez, the billionaire developer known as the state’s “Condo King.” “You have to remember that a lot of wealthy people, particularly in South America, are very, very shy about disclosing their wealth.”

One57 Penthouse

Many deals at New York’s ultra-luxury towers are made by LLCs, including the first to close at 432 Park Ave., the tallest completed residential building in the Western Hemisphere. The 35th-floor condominium was purchased in December for $18.1 million, according to city property records made public last week. The most expensive closed sale of an apartment in New York City, the $100.5 million purchase of a penthouse atop Extell Development Co.’s One57, was to a buyer known only as P89-90 LLC.

“Just hearing that it’s going to be scrutinized by the United States government is going to give people pause on certain high-end purchases,” said Keith Pattiz, head of the real estate group at New York law firm McDermott Will & Emery, who has helped overseas buyers acquire property in some of Manhattan’s glitziest new condo developments. “People just don’t want everyone to know that they’re buying a $50 million apartment.”

Wealthy and foreign buyers might choose to keep their names hidden because of concerns about their personal security or a desire for privacy, said Leonard Steinberg, president of New York brokerage Compass.

‘Crazy Paparazzi’

“I challenge them to walk one day in the shoes of a really famous person to know what it feels like to be hounded like an animal,” Steinberg said of the government. “I’ve seen crazy paparazzi driving the wrong way down a one-way street just to get one stupid picture. Famous and rich people have children, too, and there’s a level of protection that should be provided for these people.”

The New York Times last year examined the increasing use of anonymous shell companies by global buyers seeking havens for cash. Among the findings were that 64 percent of condos at Manhattan’s Time Warner Center were owned by shell companies, and that at least 16 foreigners who have owned in the building have been targeted by government investigations. Secret buyers included former Russian senators, a Greek businessman who was arrested as part of a corruption sweep in his home country and a financier linked to the prime minister of Malaysia, according to the paper. Nationwide, almost half of the most-expensive homes are bought through shell companies, the Times reported.

The disclosure rules will take effect on March 1 and expire on Aug. 27, according to the statement from FinCen, the part of the Treasury Department that collects and analyzes data to safeguard the financial system from illicit use and combat money laundering.

Developer Scrutiny

The scrutiny may not be able to go beyond what some developers already apply to their buyers, said Kevin Maloney, principal and founder of Property Markets Group, which builds condos in both New York and Miami. As many as 60 percent of his firm’s sales are to buyers making their deals through LLCs, he said.

“For us, we meet and we talk and we get to know at some level the face of the LLC,” said Maloney, whose projects include a 1,400-foot (427-meter) tower under construction on Manhattan’s West 57th Street and the 190-unit Echo Aventura outside of Miami.

“We have turned away people who we think have unsavory pasts, so we do as much due diligence as possible.” Maloney said. “But if you want to put a guy up front and have him be the financial face of the LLC, there’s not much you can do.”

Perez of the Related Group, which has 10 condo towers under construction in South Florida, said the Treasury Department should find a way to make sure buyers “tell the truth about where their money is coming from” without forcing them to make a public disclosure.

“Remember, in their countries, they are afraid of being kidnapped, they are afraid of being killed, so privacy is a huge thing,” Perez said. “They don’t want the press to say in Colombia, ‘This guy buys $20 million condos.”’

- Bloomberg 

p/s 

Tuesdays have been reserved for the Wall Street Journal and they are still waiting. You guys in Bloomberg better be ready on Wednesdays. ;-)