UMNO unable to reform as it has not tasted real defeat...

UMNO unable to reform as it has not tasted real defeat....

 

The biggest lesson following Umno’s decision to not allow its top two party posts to be challenged in the upcoming party elections – possibly in May – reflects how problematic the party structure is. Political analyst Dr Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk said Umno’s party structure gives a lot of power to the president. It is a culture that has been in place for over 40 years.

“The party president is very powerful. He is able to appoint all the state chiefs. Supreme Council members are also appointed – by the president – into highly coveted positions, including secretary-general and information chief,” said Azeem.

“The party’s decision to not allow any challenges to the president’s, and deputy president’s posts, was anti-climatic. Although there are factions that are unhappy, Ahmad Zahid has clearly emerged victorious.”

Azeem, who is director of Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Centre for Policy Research and International Studies however, said that the simmering dissatisfaction within Umno will not boil over into a full-blown crisis, similar to that in 1987.

The 1987 crisis saw the party being declared unlawful. It also gave birth to a splinter party, Semangat 46. “In the 1987 crisis, Tengku Razaleigh (Hamzah) (who went toe-to-toe with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for the party presidency) managed to mount a strong challenge. “What we are seeing today is an anti-climatic verdict,” said Azeem.

He said the argument that the top two posts in Umno should not be contested to preserve its position in Putrajaya, also did not hold water.

“Khairy Jamaluddin (who had openly called for the top two positions in the party to be open for contest) had made it clear that they would continue to support the unity government. “Contest is healthy. At the end of the day, whoever emerges victorious will have legitimacy and the authority. That’s the whole point of having a democratic exercise,” said Azeem.

Azeem added Umno’s inability to reform was because it had not “tasted real defeat”. “Since 2018, Umno has only been out of the government for 22 months. It was part of (Tan Sri) Muhyiddin (Yassin’s) government, and even managed to appoint one of their own (Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob) as prime minister. And now, it is part of the ruling government.”

However, Azeem said the upcoming state elections will be an indicator to see if people were still with Umno. Six state elections are scheduled to be held simultaneously in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu, this year.

“This will give us a reading on the pulse on the ground. Regardless if Umno contests solo, or joins forces with PKR or Amanah, it will still have to contest in Malay majority seats.”

“I do not see Umno coming into power in Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Selangor, or even Penang. Even in Perak, Umno currently does not hold the majority of seats in the state assembly.

“This ‘extended lifeline’ Umno currently enjoys (being a part of the federal government) has been given to them by Pakatan Harapan. But judging by the number of seats the party currently holds in the Dewan Rakyat (26), Umno could possibly be wiped out in the next general election.

“This is why Umno needs to reform itself. But right now, Umno is like the plague or a virus that will just not go away,” he said. - twentytwo13

GRS 4 survives anti-hopping challenge...

The four Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) MPs accused of party hopping after the 15th general election have reportedly survived a challenge to vacate their seats. Papar MP Armizan Ali - who is one of the four - said they had received a copy of the Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul's reply on the matter to Beluran MP Ronald Kiandee.

"I cannot release the content of the email, but all I can say is that there is no need for us to vacate our seats," he was quoted as saying by The Star.

Armizan, Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan (Batu Sapi), Matbali Musah (Sipitang) and Jonathan Yassin (Ranau) were all Bersatu members in the lead-up to GE15. However, despite being aligned with Bersatu-led Perikatan Nasional, GRS ended up supporting Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister.

GRS chief and then Sabah Bersatu chairperson Hajiji Noor subsequently led an exodus out of Bersatu, which raised questions about whether the quartet had violated the anti-hopping law. Under the Federal Constitution, MPs who quit or switch parties have to vacate their seats.

However, the four and other GRS candidates in GE15 claim they had quietly joined the coalition as direct members prior to GE15, and thus triggered a Bersatu party rule sacking those who are members of two parties. - mk

Shahidan Kasim dah mula meroyan...

Seni politik Anwar yg dulu Mujahid alpakan bila dia ditampul kuasa sebagai Menteri Agama. Berkali kali saya menegur Mujahid. Tak susah pun merendah diri tetapi pulangannya lumayan. Pujian melambung kpd PMX dari Mufti utara. 

Sekali Anwar ke Perlis pelbagai cerita dan naratif yg buatkan nama Muhyiddin dan Najib semakin dilupakan. Dulu pimpinan, ahli2 parti, penyokong tapi kini ia merebak kpd kakitangan kerajaan dan rakyat marhaen terpaksa ‘Menahan Diri.’ - Norman Redzuan

cheers.

Sumber asal: UMNO unable to reform as it has not tasted real defeat...

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UMNO fought DAP, yet Malay support for UMNO declined...

UMNO fought DAP, yet Malay support for UMNO declined....

 

It took a humiliating defeat in a general election in 2022 for the UMNO warlords to realise that. Their racist politics while they were holding the reins of goverment had finally reached the very bottom of the gutter. 

Yet, what is most surprising is that it took the Malay community, especially the Malay educated elites and the Malay intelligentsia, some 66 years to wake up to the fact that UMNO through its institutionalised racist politics has always been on the  wrong side of history.

As for the current PMX, it took his sacking from UMNO in 1998, for Anwar to  forge a long standing relationship with the NON-Malays in DAP. 

A relationship of mutual trust which finally enabled him to achieve his long-standing ambition to win the highest office in the land, and with it,a general goodwill from all sections of the Malaysian population.

What is remarkable is the DAP leadership, the NON Malay supporters, stood by Anwar all the way, unwavered, through thick and thin, and through Anwar’s  worst moments in his personal life. Anwar realised that, and appreciated the loyalty coming from a different political party.

Time will only tell whether this so-called “ Unity Govt” led by Anwar with the blessings of the Malay Rulers will succeed to cleanse the 50 years of dirty, obscene and divisive racist politics of UMNO.Anwar has only ONE strike to turn this country around. If he fails, get ready for the country going to the dogs. - C.k. Foo

Umno delegates were clearly split as debates rage on over whether the proposed motion to prevent the top two posts from being contested ought to be approved at the AGM, the highest authority which must be respected by all incl party rank and file. A decision expected tomorrow - MelGoh

La...tak balik Malaysia lagikah?...

Istana pun tahu,takkan MB tak tahu kot?...

PM perlu bagi salam masuk Terengganu ke?. Dia Perdana Menteri Malaysia bukan PM Uruguay. Dari segi protokol, MB sambut dia bukan dia pi cari MB,tapi Menteri Besar Terengganu tunjuk besar kepala, langsung tak muncul, exco kerajaan negeri pun tak hadir. 

Setiausaha Negeri tu kau tak nak salahkan pulak? Setiausaha Negeri ada di sana jemput PMX. Macam mana kau kata boleh tak tahu?

Adalah mustahil protokol negeri tak tau kedatangan rasmi PMX sedangkan istana mengatur pertemuan rasmi. Adakah team MB tertidor sampai tak tau PMX mengadap Sultan Terengganu.

Adakah PMX perlu maklum melalui whatsapp dengan MB Terengganu atau melalui FB. Ha3x... Common brader, jangan salahkan prosedur dan protokol,ini alasan karut. - Syed Shah Syed Osman

cheers.

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PAS MP gives good publicity to Sunway's CNY alcohol promo...

PAS MP gives good publicity to Sunway's CNY alcohol promo....

 

Curtailing the sale of alcohol at a mall days before Chinese New Year is possibly an attempt by PAS to flex its muscles.Or is it a carefully choreographed plan to introduce syariah law by the back door especially after the devastating green wave effect in GE15? Restricting the sale of alcohol may be introduced today, but what will PAS want banned tomorrow? Malaysians, both Malays and non-Malays, abhor the intense scrutiny of their lives.

The PAS MP for Permatang Pauh, Muhammad Fawwaz Mohamad Jan, claimed that the public had complained to him about the promotion and sale of alcoholic beverages at the main lobby area of Sunway Carnival Mall. He “strongly objected” to the promotion and hoped that it would not recur. His desire was to “safeguard Muslim sensitivities” and he reminded Malaysians of the adverse effects of alcohol consumption.

Fawwaz claims to be concerned about Muslim sensitivities. How committed is he? As a Muslim woman, I wonder if he will address the many issues on my list, which as far as I am aware are shared by other Muslims.These sensitive issues include things like child marriages where minors are married off to men who can be as old as their grandfathers.

Men who rape women, including minors, are allowed to marry their victims to avoid being punished, whipped and going to jail. The high rate of divorce among Muslim couples needs resolving. In 2013, it was reported that one Muslim/Malay couple filed for divorce every ten minutes! The breakdown of the family unit has reached a critical state.

Some Muslim men who leave or divorce their wives absolve all responsibility for their children. Few ex-husbands  pay alimony, and fewer still pay for maintenance and upkeep of their children. The rules on polygamy are rarely observed. Many men fail to  ask their first wives permission to marry, but instead scoot-off to southern Thailand to marry.

On their return, they pay the measly fine of RM1,000 to legitimize the marriage. They make a mockery of the sanctity of marriage. Divorced men and polygamist fathers fail to provide a good role model for their sons, some of whom grow up to be feral. The Mat Rempit menace is probably the result of the absence of a father figure in the house to instill discipline and provide a stable loving family environment.

There are many other topics the PAS Permatang Pauh MP could address, but alcohol is an easy bet. Fawwaz mentioned the adverse effects of alcohol consumption, but when will he address drug taking among the Malays, alleged to be highest among the various races? There are probably more traffic deaths from drivers under the influence of drugs than there are from drunk drivers.

Another Malay sensitivity he should address is the high dropout rate among Malay schoolchildren, especially in rural schools where the parents feel education is unnecessary. Will he tackle the issue of corruption among civil servants, and more importantly among politicians? PAS president Hadi Awang’s  reluctance to condemn corruption is like giving the green light to the Malays to readily accept and offer bribes.

Is Fawwaz (below) basking in the glory of being the little-known PAS religious scholar who displaced Anwar Ibrahim’s political dynasty’s decades-long stronghold of Permatang Pauh? Is he also using alcohol, which is freely consumed during Chinese New Year, as a vehicle to propel PAS into the political limelight? There are many other topics he could address, but alcohol is an easy bet.

Perhaps this is his way of being recognized by the party’s central committee members and others in the PAS political hierarchy. By making a big issue of  this CNY promotion, Fawwaz is on a self-promoting political agenda. He is trying to generate greater recognition among PAS leaders so that he can quickly ascend the greasy political ladder.

He is taking advantage of the sales of alcohol in Penang, which is an island that is mostly non-Malay and non-Muslim, to establish himself as someone who is not afraid of a head-on collision with Penang’s DAP MPs. Penang has long been known as a DAP stronghold and its significance is very symbolic. The island is a long established fort for Chinese Malaysian political power.

Nationalist Malays probably feel that Umno-Baru was weak and unable to unseat DAP (and Harapan), but after Fawwaz’s victory in Permatang Pauh, the party probably feels that it has a chance of toppling the DAP powerbase. Before Fawwaz gets carried away, he must realize that Penang is part of multiracial Malaysia. Malaysia’s first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman said the nation was set up as a multiracial, multicultural and secular state, with  Islam as its official religion.

What are Fawwaz’s real intentions? Before he or PAS celebrates, they must realize that their actions are seen as trampling on the rights of non-Malays and non-Muslims. Why make life difficult for companies which deal in alcohol? The pandemic destroyed many businesses. The global economic outlook is just as gloomy.

The alcohol and brewing industry, both upstream and downstream, is not just about the scores of thousands employed in the ancillary trades such as bottling and transport companies, or in entertainment and hospitality. The activities will rejuvenate our economy and bring in the much needed revenue for the treasury.

Malays form a huge percentage of the workforce of the various industries that alcohol and brewing supports. Fawwaz should not cut off his nose to spite his face. Policing the sale of alcohol at the mall has nothing to do with religion. Fawwaz should stop dragging alcohol into politics.- Mariam Mokhtar

What if DAP walked into Kelantan and gave ceramahs to the constituents on the ill effects of marrying under aged girls? They can say that they are protecting the rights of the girls to a decent education. Would this be fine with PAS? - PK50001

The Mall Management has not done anything wrong by law. So, don't 'menyibuk' and caused disharmony, problems. Not happy, make Police Report and take civil action if you, Fawwaz feel you got a case. - Aizah

If you don't like to see beer bottles then don't have to go there. If you don't like to drink and party with girls and all those things kafirs do, then don't go for holiday in New Zealand. Simple! DO NOT impose your values on others. Many Arab countries do not have these extreme Islamic rules in their countries. Please grow up PAS.- World Citizen

Why don't you learn from us how to be more tolerant. Also, learn to move on and don't cause trouble for others. - Donttokkok

Wonder if there is any forthcoming friendly advice on Thaipusam? - Kak Molly

“Bukan tanggungjawab Ahli Parlimen campur tangan dalam urusan shopping mall"- Oh Teong Keong,Timbalan Presiden Gerakan(PN)

Tuduhan rasuah RM 92.5b Din kecut perut...

Adakah berlaku penyelewengan dana perangsang penyelengaraan Covid-19 semasa Ahli Parlimen Pagoh Tan Sri Mahiaddin Yassin menjawat jawatan Perdana Menteri? Saya tidak pasti. Mungkin ya dan mungkin juga tidak, wallahua’lam beeshawab.

Tetapi yang jelas selepas YAB PM Kerajaan Perpaduan merangkap Menteri Kewangan mendedahkan wujudnya perlanggaran serius prosedur kewangan dalam isu penyelenggaran dana tersebut, kini isu tersebut sedang disiasat oleh SPRM.

Media melaporkan jumlah wang yang diperuntukkan untuk tujuan dana perangsang itu adalah berjumlah RM 530 bilion. Daripada jumlah RM 530 bilion itu, SPRM menyatakan bahawa RM 92.5 bilion ialah dana awam atau Kerajaan- ya wang rakyat! Manakala jumlah RM 437.5 bilion bukan dari dana awam.Kini SPRM dikatakan menumpukan penyiasatan mereka kepada jumlah RM 92.5 bilion tersebut.

Untuk rekod, semasa kerajaan tebuk atap – yang ditubuhkan selepas Langkah Sheraton- mereka umum lapan pakej perangsang berjumlah RM 530 bilion. Ia berlaku pada tahun 2020 dan 2021. Untuk rekod juga, Mahiaddin menjawat jawatan Perdana Menteri kerajaan tebuk atap dari Mac 2020 hingga Ogos 2021.

Selain daripada penyuntikan fiskal secara langsung, dana perangsang itu juga datang melalui Danajamin dan beberapa skim jaminan sebanyak RM 80 bilion. RM 210 bilion pula datang daripada moratorium pinjaman dan RM 110 bilion pula daripada beberapa pengeluaran wang KWSP.

Difahamkan Mahiaddin dan beberapa mantan menteri di era kerajaan tebuk atap akan dipanggil oleh SPRM. Isu ini menjadi semakin panas kerana dikatakan ada mantan pegawai tinggi Kementerian Kewangan yang diberitakan telah diminta bercuti.

Dan isu ini menjadi semakin panas apabila SPRM menyerbu 8 agensi Kerajaan dan 9 syarikat yang dikatakan ada kaitan dengan isu dakwaaan penyelewengan dana rangsangan tersebut. Dikatakan lapan agensi Kerajaan itu menerima ” peruntukan besar” daripada pakej rangsangan tersebut.

Isu ini menjadi lebih panas dan “juicy” dalam masa yang sama apabila SPRM telah menahan seorang ketua pegawai eksekutif (CEO) syarikat yang dikatakan memainkan peranan sebagai orang tengah untuk membroker pakej ransangan tersebut baru-baru ini.

Di media sosial, heboh cerita yang mendakwa CEO yang ditahan itu dikatakan adalah orang kanan YB Pagoh dan dia juga dikatakan adalah pemimpin parti Bersatu di satu bahagian di Kuala Lumpur.

CEO itu juga didakwa adalah sepupu kepada menantu YB Pagoh – yang juga didakwa terlibat dengan beberapa skandal. Untuk berlaku adil kepada mereka semua, semua perkara yang di atas masih berstatus dakwaan sahaja. - Hanipah Maidin

Story kat SINI dan SINI...

cheers.

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Muhyiddin’s right-hand man arrested...

Muhyiddin’s right-hand man arrested....

 How the ex-PM solicited RM4.5 billion bribes 

in RM92.5 billion covid19 stimulus scandal...

Why was Muhyiddin Yassin so power-crazy that he willingly betrayed friends and allies in Pakatan Harapan, leading to the collapse of the democratically-elected government after just 22 months? Why was he so obsessed with power that he didn’t mind being laughed as the first backdoor prime minister? Why was he so daringly ignored multiple royal decrees, just to cling to power during his 17-month regime?

Why was the former premier so afraid of sharing power with Pakatan Harapan leader Anwar Ibrahim despite a royal decree by the King to form a unity government following the 15th General Election that produced a hung Parliament? More importantly, why is Muhyiddin’s Perikatan Nasional still desperately and shamelessly wants to snatch power through backdoor again?

All the answer can be found after the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) arrested a chief executive officer of a private company on Thursday (Jan 5) night. The 42-year-old man was detained over his role as “middleman” in brokering government projects related to Covid-19 stimulus packages worth RM92.5 billion (US$21 billion) in exchange for bribes.

The suspect – Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad – turns out to be Muhyiddin’s right-hand man. A former chief executive of Maju Assets Sdn Bhd, Adam is also Segambut divisional leader of Muhyiddin’s political party – Bersatu (Malaysian United Indigenous Party). The best part is Adam is the cousin of Muhyiddin’s son-in-law, Muhamad Adlan Berhan, who in turn was involved in several scandals.

Adlan married to Muhyiddin’s daughter, Nabilah, who is a shareholder of Agathistwo Jia Sdn Bhd, a company involved in the scandalous RM1.2 billion NIIS (National Integrated Immigration System) concession. The NIIS was hatched by Muhyiddin (then-Home Minister under the Pakatan Harapan government) after cancelling its predecessor Sistem Kawalan Imigresen Nasional (SKIN).

Muhamad Adlan was also linked to 1BestariNet, a 15-year project worth RM4.47 billion introduced by then-Education Minister Muhyiddin in March 2011 to provide 4G broadband connectivity and virtual learning environment (VLE) to 10,000 government schools nationwide. However, the “failed project”, awarded to YTL Communications, has been plagued with slow internet access and problematic Frog VLE, which could easily be replaced with Google Classroom.

Adam Radlan – Cousin To Muhyiddin Son-in-Law

Adam Radlan’s involvement in Muhyiddin’s web of cronyism, nepotism and corruption was exposed after Muhyiddin-led Perikatan Nasional coalition failed to form a government post 15th General Election. And this is precisely why the former backdoor prime minister desperately wanted to return to power by hook or by crook – to “cover up” the skeleton in the closet.

So, how did Mr Mahiaddin (Muhyiddin) become billionaire during his 17-month short stint as 8th Prime Minister? From the beginning, he saw the golden opportunity to make tons of money from the Covid-19 pandemic. Unlike his former boss Najib Razak, he did not need a complicated project like 1MDB to steal and plunder the national coffers. He just needed to rule with absolute power under a State of Emergency.

It was Muhyiddin himself who bragged in April 2021 that the Perikatan Nasional backdoor government under his leadership has splashed more than RM600 billion (RM340 billion in economic stimulus packages and RM322.5 billion for the 2021 Budget to fight the Covid-19 pandemic). The scam was to boastfully create a narrative that massive of funds were used to help people and rescue the economy.

But when opposition Pakatan Harapan return to power after the Nov 2022 national election, all his lies and corruptions are exposed. Newly crowned PM Anwar revealed at a media conference on Dec 5 last year that the Finance Ministry had informed that there had been several breaches involving the Covid-19 funds. Panicked, Muhyiddin screamed that he did not steal any money.

Suddenly, Muhyiddin admits there was no such thing as RM600 billion, contradicting his previous claims. He said it was only RM530 billion. Even then, he played down the numbers. Spilling the beans, he said his administration had only spent RM83 billion in fiscal injections. This means Muhyiddin’s government did not actually help the people to the tune of RM530 billion as shamelessly trumpeted.

However, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has confirmed it will now focus its investigation on the RM92.5 billion directly funded by the Muhyiddin regime after it was established that RM437.5 billion was not from the government. Still, the difference between MACC’s RM92.5 billion and Muhyiddin’s RM83 billion means about RM10 billion might have gone “missing”.

But there are already problems with the dubious spending of RM92.5 billion funds. Unlike Najib’s 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal, Muhyiddin used traditional low-tech tactic to enrich himself and his families. Adam Radlan was sent out as his representative to connect contractors with high-ranking government officials before projects were distributed.

 

After the MACC raided 8 government agencies and 9 companies in December 2022 as part of its investigation into the suspected misappropriation of RM92.5 billion by the Perikatan Nasional government during its 33-month rule, it was found that at least 5 middlemen of several companies were involved in obtaining projects worth between RM50 million and RM500 million through direct negotiations.

Contractors who have been questioned by the anti-graft agency admitted that they agreed to pay a commission of 3% to 5% to secure projects from those middlemen. But the fact that only Adam was arrested so far suggests that the Muhyiddin’s proxy could be the key man on top of the food chain. It would be interesting to see if other middlemen would turn witness against the corrupt ex-PM.

The commission means more than RM4.5 billion had been paid to Adam and his band of middlemen, who clearly collected the bribes on behalf of Muhyiddin between 2020 and 2022. But get your popcorn because the fun has just begun. About 90% of the projects obtained via direct negotiations had not been executed as no acceptance letters (P.O. or Purchase Order) were issued. What does this mean?

This means about RM4 billion had already been paid by contractors to Muhyiddin and his gang of crooks, but all the 90% projects cannot take off. The dirty money had been deposited into the account of a political party, believed to be Bersatu. Hence, Muhyiddin is in deep shit as the furious contractors might turn witness, not to mention the money trail leading to his party.

Perikatan Nasional, comprising mainly Bersatu and PAS Islamist party, had bet the wrong horse. It thought at worst case scenario, the same Malay-centric political parties – UMNO, Bersatu and PAS – would form a government again after election, the same way they did in March 2020 (Muhyiddin became the 8th Prime Minister) and in August 2021 (Ismail Sabri elevated as the 9th Prime Minister).

The contractors similarly had bet the wrong horse that Perikatan Nasional would be part of the federal government. Now, not only they won’t get the projects, the money they had paid disguised as “political funding” to Muhyiddin to fund his lavish election campaign, including buying Malay votes at RM350 per pop, have gone up in smoke. Muhyiddin has already pocketed RM4 billion – in offshore accounts.

While 3%-5% commission was solicited for Muhyiddin, the middlemen and government officials demanded at least RM200,000 for themselves just to grant a meeting with every contractor – “without guarantee” that they will get projects linked to the RM92.5 billion stimulus programmes. This is how everyone benefited from the gravy train during the backdoor regime.

A good example that leakages occurred was the RM7 billion contracts approved under the RM15 billion flood mitigation project that were awarded through direct negotiations (in exchange for kickbacks) to dubious companies like Mangkubumi Sdn Bhd. Exactly how could Mangkubumi won the deal when it has been involved in a court case for illegal money laundering as much as RM139 million?

Adam Radlan, who has since disabled his Instagram, is also a council member of the Tan Sri Muhyiddin Charity Golf Foundation. Without Muhyiddin’s protection, he was dressed in the MACC’s iconic orange suit and will be charged under Section 16(a) of the MACC Act 2009, which provides imprisonment for up to 20 years and a fine of up to 5 times the amount of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

When Muhyiddin claimed that he was not afraid to be investigated, he lied. He was incredibly terrified, but as usual, trying to play poker with the new premier. Thinking PM Anwar was bluffing, he has even challenged the prime minister to prove it. The PM warned Muhyiddin not to challenge him as he has all the files and evidence. A month later, Muhyiddin son-in-law’s cousin has been nabbed.

The new unity government has not even started exposing how Muhyiddin obtained proceeds from gambling companies to help finance the 15th General Election campaign. Under Muhyiddin government, special lottery draws were increased from 8 to 22, despite the anti-gambling stance of Islamist party Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), which is part of the ruling Perikatan Nasional coalition.

The special draws, designed to boost the government’s revenue, contributed RM80 million in extra revenue for the government in 1999 (the year it was first introduced during the premiership of Mahathir). Revenue reached as high as RM238 million in 2017, and averaged RM200 million a year in recent years – money that enabled Bersatu and PAS spent lavishly.

Another dumb person who kept shooting his own foot is former finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz. Trying to protect his former boss, he said there was nothing suspicious in the Perikatan Nasional-led government’s management of funds when it was in power. The clueless and incompetent Zafrul might have signed some documents that could come back to haunt him. - FT

Cousin of  Muhyiddin's son-in-law 

remanded by MACC...

The MACC requested a 5-day remand for the CEO of Maju Assets Sdn Bhd for investigation because he is suspected of being the middleman in the direct negotiation project of the Perikatan Nasional era.

Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad is also the cousin of Muhyiddin Yasin's son-in-law who became prime minister in the Perikatan Nasional era, Muhamad Adlan Berhan.

Adlan Berhan was previously associated with Projek Bestari.net. He is also linked to the RM1.16 billion immigration system direct negotiation project through the company Iris Information Technology (Iris) and S5 Holdings Incorporation (S5). S5 Holdings Incorporation (S5) is a security services company.

76.38% of its shares are held by S7 Holdings Sdn Bhd, Merrington Assets Ltd (10%), MyEG Capital Sdn Bhd (10%) and Avocat Sdn Bhd (3.62%). Adlan Berhan is a shareholder of Avocat Sdn Bhd.

 

MACC also opened several investigation papers against at least five individuals.They are believed to be the masterminds or middlemen for several companies to obtain projects worth between RM50 million to RM500 million through direct negotiations. - hakim bao

cheers.

Sumber asal: Muhyiddin’s right-hand man arrested...

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Monkeys still politicking around...

Monkeys still politicking around....

 

All eyes are on the Istana Seri Kinabalu Negeri Sabah where media personnel waiting at the entrance were told that all assemblymen will be called soon for an audience with the head of state, Tun Juhar Mahiruddin. “We will call them (the assemblymen) to state who they support as chief minister. This will be done soon,” said state communications secretary Datuk Abdul Rashid Mohd Tahir.

Sabah politics are again at an impasse after some Barisan Nasional (BN) elected reps decided to end their political cooperation with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS). Since then, BN and Sabah-based parties – Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) and Warisan – have questioned the legitimacy of GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor as chief minister.

For now, GRS has 29 reps, which include 15 former Bersatu assemblymen. As things stand, the coalition appears to have the support of the five Sabah BN representatives who reportedly disagree with its chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, and Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) seven assemblymen.

This leaves BN with 13 while Warisan has 19 assemblymen and KDM, which is also against Hajiji, has three seats. Along with an independent, Bung’s faction has 36 seats. This number would be tied with GRS’, which sources told The Vibes would also have 36 seats comprising its 29 assemblymen, the five from Umno and lawmakers from smaller parties.

Sabah’s assembly has 79 seats, and the simple majority needed to form a government is 40. This makes PH’s seven lawmakers the possible kingmakers. – The Vibes

This is never ending. These monkeys are still swinging from tree to tree.What about the people of Sabah? What about the fate of the economy? 

When things like this happen it means only one thing - some monkey did not get enough bananas. They are fighting over bananas. So they pull the plug, jump from here to there, bring down the govrnment etc etc. Just for a few bananas.

The chief minister also jumped from his party - surprisingly there was no breach of the anti-hopping law? How come?

So first the chief minister jumped. Now his so called friends are dumping him. As I said what about the people of Sabah? We really have to get rid of all these monkeys.  - Syed Akbar Ali 

Meanwhile, 5 Sabah Umno assemblypersons (above) dissenting the party’s decision to rescind support for Hajiji Noor have voiced their backing for the embattled chief minister. “We hereby announce our undivided support for Hajiji Noor as the legitimate chief minister under the constitution,” they said.

In a joint statement today, they said now is not the time for power grabs and instead should focus on elevating the people’s standard of living. “We are shocked by the actions of several parties, particularly the chairperson of the Sabah Umno liaison committee who is working to topple the legitimate government of Sabah. 

“We strongly condemn this act,” they said.The statement was signed by Shahelmey Yahya (Tanjung Keramat), Jasnih Daya (Pantai Dalit), James Ratib (Sugut), Yusuf Yacob (Sindumin), and Mohd Arsad Bistari (Tempasuk).

Yesterday, Bung (above) announced that the party is withdrawing its support for Hajiji’s leadership and also questioned his legitimacy.Umno has 17 seats in the 70-member state assembly. While Bung acknowledged that five of them do not agree with his decision, he said the matter is a party decision and is final.

“The party’s decision is final and we will take any necessary action including disciplinary action against any Umno assemblyperson who doesn’t support the party decision,” he told reporters last night. Earlier today, Shahelmey had said that he is prepared to face “any consequence” for opposing the Sabah Umno decision. - mk

MACC arrest a slap on Tengku Zafrul’s 

claims of propriety in RM600 bil aid saga...

On Thursday (Jan 5), newly-minted International Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz told Astro Awani that there was no misappropriation involving the RM600 bil aid given out during the COVID-19 pandemic by the previous governments.

He knew best for he was the finance minister under the two previous prime ministers, namely Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob. It was reported that the arrest was linked to MACC’s probe into the alleged misappropriation of COVID-19 stimulus packages worth RM92.5 bil.

This begs the question why did the former CIMB Group CEO-turned-politician jump the gun on this issue? Worse still, his claims of propriety in managing the massive aid funds given out during the pandemic was quickly torn to pieces with the MACC arrest. By openly denying any wrongdoings, isn’t Tengku Zafrul blurring the roles of defendant, prosecutor and judge? And the timing couldn’t have been worse.

To be fair, nobody has accused Tengku Zafrul of wrongdoings and neither is this publication. But as a politician, he should know that those who hold public office should not only be clean, but be seen to be so. His denial of wrongdoings involving a powerful ministry which he used to helm – even before official probe into the affair has completed – provides poor optics.

Rushing to clear the air

Rightfully, Tengku Zafrul – a novice politician who lost in the contest for the Kuala Selangor parliamentary seat during 15th General Election (GE15) – should have stayed above the fray and allowed the authorities to carry out their investigations fairly and professionally. He should know that any statements issued by a sitting minister can be construed as interference by way of asserting influence, even if it was unintentional.

There was no need to rush into “clearing the air” over the highly contentious controversy, especially if one is a subject of the probe by way of association. Doing so will only raise more eyebrows than it otherwise would have.

Rightfully, it’s the authorities like the MACC and the police – and subsequently the courts – who should decide whether there was any misappropriation of funds. Suspected rapists, robbers and murderers are not innocent just because they say so.

As it is, the authorities appear to have built up solid cases of impropriety. It was reported that investigation papers into at least five individuals have been opened. They are believed to have been involved in helping companies obtain projects worth between RM50 mil to RM500 mil through direct negotiations linked to the stimulus packages.

The Free Malaysia Today (FMT) news portal reported that several contractors who were also questioned admitted to agreeing to pay a commission of between 3%-5% to be deposited into the account of a political party, which was supposedly meant as political funding.

In any case, the allegations of misappropriations did not appear out of thin air. It was Tengku Zafrul’s current boss – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim – who publicly disclosed the misappropriation, soon after taking over as the country’s 10th Prime Minister.

“I know that based on information by officials, several serious breaches (allegedly) occurred … excessive (amounts of) procurement to manage projects,” Anwar was reported as saying.

In case Tengku Zafrul does not realise it yet, publicly contradicting his popular superior does not earn the MITI Minister brownie points with the public.

It is time Zafrul wise up and be more circumspect about public optics as a politician. Because if the results of GE15 is of any indication, voters today are definitely more discerning than they used to.  – FocusMalaysia

Story kat sini...

cheers.

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Bossku seeking refuge behind UN skirts...

Bossku seeking refuge behind UN skirts....

Najib vs Malaysia - Govt hauled 

to UN over ‘arbitrary detention’...

The adage that desperate times call for desperate measures has taken a totally different meaning. In some circumstances, actions that may not be acceptable under certain circumstances may become the best choice. But former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s latest measure beats them all. He is hauling Malaysia to an arm of the United Nations (UN) over what he terms arbitrary detention.

His lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah told a media briefing yesterday that the petition was filed digitally at the UN Human Rights Council Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) often referred to as the Working Group. Shafee said they filed the petition to get the Working Group to ask Malaysia for a release or retrial of Najib in the RM42 million SRC International corruption case.

Najib is seeking the UN body’s panel of five experts on international justice to rule that the Malaysian apex court’s dismissal of his appeal was “unjust, flawed and violated his basic human rights and the Federal Constitution”.

To describe the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Federal court - which found Najib guilty - as such is an affront to our judiciary. To describe the decision to jail Najib as “unjust, flawed and violated his basic human rights and the Federal Constitution” adds insult to injury.

Shafee’s claim that Najib had been sent to jail without the opportunity to defend himself is far from the truth. The numerous media reports on the procedures and events in the Federal Court leading him to be incarcerated in prison are in the public domain. It is a fallacy that Najib was not given a fair trial and neither was he arbitrarily detained. He was found guilty of grand larceny by three different courts at different levels and the petition itself is a non-starter.

Shafee claimed that the Federal Court did not give Najib’s lawyers sufficient time to prepare for the appeal by allowing an adjournment of the appeal hearing. But this is only half the story. But didn’t Najib bring it on himself? Was it not Najib who dropped Shafee and brought in a new set of lawyers at the last minute?

Singing the same old song...

Enough has been said and written about lawyers’ duties to their clients and their etiquette in accepting briefs and when appearing before our judges. Why then is Najib singing the same old song about his lawyers not being given time?

Said Shafee: “In essence, Najib had been sent to jail without the opportunity to defend himself at the Federal Court.” Was it the fault of the Federal Court that Najib’s new set of lawyers appeared and sought a last-minute postponement? 

Shafee said they filed the petition to get UNWGAD to ask Malaysia for a release or retrial of Najib in the SRC case. As the title suggests, UNWGAD is mandated to receive and verify information from a variety of sources, in order to investigate cases of detention imposed arbitrarily.

Its work is in tandem with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Article 9(1) states, “Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention. No one shall be deprived of his liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedure as are established by law.”

But this is certainly not a case of arbitrary detention and Najib was jailed in accordance with procedures. It won’t be wrong that the petition will be binned. If so, why all the trouble? It must be noted that UNWGAD is not an appellate court where it can hear cases. Besides, any finding made is not enforceable. So, why this hullabaloo? 

Is it because Najib wants to remain in the news? Or is it a pre-emptive move before his application to review the judicial verdict which is set to come up for hearing before a new quorum of the Federal Court in Putrajaya on Jan 19? Like all Malaysians who want to see justice done, we can only speculate and perhaps, expect a different turn of events in two weeks’ time. - R.Nadeswaran,mk

Meanwhile, The United Nations (UN) has no authority to force Malaysian courts to release former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak from serving his 12-year jail sentence, according to law experts. Veteran lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla told Malaysiakini that the international body abides by the policy of non-interference in the affairs of any sovereign states.

Constitutional expert Nizam Bashir said that the former premier’s chances of success in the UN petition are slim. “To my mind, the UN body would not be inclined to inquire into the petition as a final decision has been arrived at by our domestic courts in conformity with domestic law.

“Consequently, let’s not waste more ink or time on ‘what ifs’ where the UN body is concerned on this issue,” Nizam said, adding that Najib still has a remedy via the upcoming review before the Federal Court in Putrajaya.

Another long-time legal practitioner for over 30 years, Syed Iskandar Syed Jaafar, opined that the petition with the UN body is not likely to succeed as Najib has been granted enough opportunity to defend himself since he was first charged for the SRC case in 2018.

The counsel said that UNWGAD would not only peruse the petition by Najib but would also seek an official response from Malaysia’s Attorney-General’s Chambers regarding the former premier’s allegations. - mk

Patutlah ada yang tak senang duduk.Rupan2ya ada tupai yang dah jatuh ke tanah.

Pasai tu depa dok rancang macam2 langkah untuk tebok atap kerajaan perpaduan YDPA...

cheers.

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