MACC’s call to summon IGP over police ‘protection money’ claim, says home minister

The home minister has passed on the decision to investigate Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar following claims linking the latter to a man purportedly collecting “protection money” for the force to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said his ministry will not comment on the case as the MACC is handling investigations now.

“For your information Yang Berhormat, the ministry does not plan on commenting further in this matter since the case is still under MACC’s investigation, and it is up to the discretion of MACC whether to summon the IGP to provide statements or otherwise,” he said in a written parliamentary reply dated July 25.

He was responding to a query by Parti Amanah Negara’s Sepang MP Mohamed Hanipa Maidin, who asked why no action had been taken against Khalid who had admitted that he and his family were in contact with the alleged middleman who has been taken in by Melaka MACC officers.

In a press conference in June, Khalid  said that he and his family members were all known to the man but rejected allegations that they was involved in criminal activities.

London-based whistleblower website Sarawak Report had claimed that several middlemen had been detained during an anti-corruption sting in Melaka, with the man known to Khalid at the centre of the “protection money” racket and illegal gambling outlets that had been running for several years.

The MACC has arrested 13 individuals suspected related to the case since May.-themalaymailonline.com

Audit report: TEKUN’s losses at RM209m, bad debts at RM411m

The National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund (TEKUN Nasional) has racked up accumulated losses of RM209.28 million and written off bad debts amounting to RM410.61 million, the Auditor-General (A-G) said in its 2016 report released today.

TEKUN Nasional, which is under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Malaysia (MOA), was set up to provide financing facilities and help entrepreneurs develop and expand their businesses.

The first series of the audit report also found that TEKUN Nasional failed in its implementation of its entrepreneurship portal, entrepreneur community card system and Cyber Mall which resulted in losses of RM872,035.

Members of its Audit, Integrity and Risk Committee did not have any accounting background, the audit report pointed out.

“...the financial performance of TEKUN Nasional for the year 2013 to 2015 was less than satisfactory due to massive debt to the Government and a huge amount of bad debts was written off. Accumulated losses at the end of the year 2015 amounted to RM209.28 million,” the audit report said.

The report also stated that TEKUN Nasional had failed to carry out comprehensive studies to evaluate the effectiveness of fund utilisation by entrepreneurs to start-up or expand their businesses, and that it was not able to reached its financing repayment target.

From year 1998 to June 2016, TEKUN Nasional received loan financing from the Ministry of Finance amounting to RM1.86 billion, whereas RM670 million grants were
received from MOA for the purpose of Economic Stimulus Package, flood victims aid and Indian Community Entrepreneurial Development Schemes.

As of June 30, 2016, TEKUN Nasional disbursed financing to 473,982 entrepreneurs totaling RM4.29 billion, and a service charge of four per cent was imposed on financing amounts.

But repayments collected from entrepreneurs only amounted to RM2.71 billion or 63.2 per cent for the same period.-themalaymailonline.com

Auditor-General says will investigate 1MDB if government asks

The National Audit Department can only investigate 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) if Putrajaya gives the greenlight.

“We wait for instructions from the government, then only the National Audit Department will act on the instruction,” Auditor-General Tan Sri Madinah Mohamad told a news conference at Parliament today following the tabling of the first series of her 2016 report.

Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Datuk Hasan Arifin voiced a similar view.

He said the parliamentary watchdog’s probe on 1MDB has been completed and that it will not initiate any further probe unless requested by the government, despite the recent actions by the US Department of Justice.

“The report on 1MDB has already been tabled to the parliament and is up to the government to take any action based on the report,” Hasan said.-themalaymailonline.com

DAP MPs want home minister to go on leave over Dr M IC leak

Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi should temporarily relinquish control of the Home Ministry after publicly revealing Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s identity card information, said DAP lawmakers.

DAP legal bureau chief Gobind Singh Deo said this was necessary to allow unbiased investigation against Ahmad Zahid over the incident.

As home minister, the country’s law enforcement agencies are subordinate to Ahmad Zahid.

“I call upon Zahid to step aside as home minister while investigations against him are carried out as there would be a case of conflict of interest in the matter if he remains home minister, who oversees the work of the police in Parliament,” he said in a press conference today.

Several police reports have been lodged against Ahmad Zahid and the director-general of the National Registration Department (NRD) over the former’s public disclosure of Dr Mahathir’s “blue IC” yesterday.

DAP’s Kluang MP Teo Nie Ching also submitted a motion seeking for Ahmad Zahid to be censured for allegedly violating parliamentary rules.

She said it was wrong for the minister to allegedly violate the Personal Data and Protection Act by revealing such details in public.

“Such an act is unethical and should not be done by a minister. A minister that does not respect the law is a threat to the public. This incident will deter the faith people have in the government,” Teo wrote in her submission.

While opening an Umno division meeting yesterday, Ahmad Zahid said he was informed by the NRD that Dr Mahathir’s original name was “Mahathir a/l Iskandar Kutty.”

Although the deputy prime minister did not specifically name Dr Mahathir, he referenced the former prime minister’s catchphrase as well as his 22 years in power.-themalaymailonline.com

Zahid: His name was Mahathir, son of Iskandar Kutty

Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he was informed by the National Registration Department that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s original name was “Mahathir a/l Iskandar Kutty.”

Ahmad Zahid, who is both deputy prime minister and home minister, said this while delivering his keynote at the Kelana Jaya Umno division meeting today, according to the Malaysiakini news portal.

“This is why they say ‘Malays easily forget.’ For 22 years, I did not touch on his personal issues. But this is his previous blue IC,” the acting Umno deputy president said while displaying his smartphone to the audience.

“His name was Mahathir son of Iskandar Kutty,” Zahid said, with emphasis on the phrase “son of” that is customarily used by the Indian community here.

Although Zahid did not specifically name Dr Mahathir, he referenced the former prime minister’s catchphrase as well as his 22 years in power.

He then accused Dr Mahathir of only championing Malays in order to use the community for his personal goals, and of abandoning Umno after milking it dry of all benefit.

This is the second time that Umno leaders have brought up Dr Mahathir’s Indian ancestry in apparent mockery.

Dr Mahathir’s lineage is believed to include ancestors from Kerala, India on the paternal side. -themalaymailonline.com

Voters support will switch to MCA, Gerakan in Penang, says Liow

MCA is confident that there will be a change of support among voters in Penang as the people have lost confidence in the DAP for failing to fulfil their promises after taking over the state nine years ago.

MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said to date many promises have not been implemented and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng continues to deceive the people and was always trying to divide the people in his attempt to win votes.

“I am confident that changes will take place in the coming general election with the support switching from DAP to MCA and Gerakan...we will work hard to get the support of the people in Penang. I also urge Chinese voters to give MCA the strength because we are in a government that can strengthen the multiracial and inclusive state institutions,” he told reporters after opening the Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan © Yu Chye Hall, here today.

Liow who is also the Transport Minister said the government had always paid attention to efforts aimed at increasing the harmony among the people and to be on the right track in organising strategies to develop the nation’s future.

For example, he said, the recent launch of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) proved that the Barisan Nasional government was able to implement various programmes for the betterment of the country. — Bernama

RPK’s daughter says turned off by Pakatan Harapan’s bickering

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 — Raja Sara Petra opted to join Barisan Nasional’s Gerakan as she lacked faith in Pakatan Harapan that has suffered an  ”infighting trend seen since 2004”.

Despite being part of BN, the daughter of blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin also said she remained sympathetic to PAS, which remains a part of the federal Opposition despite its currently balmy ties with the ruling party.

“I have not turned against PAS. There is no reason to and I will continue to be supportive, so to me there has been no U-turn at all,” the 29-year-old told Malay Mail.

Raja Sara said she was also not worried about what “supporters” would think of her decision, pointing out that she has been consistent in her actions.

She also said she was not at a point in her political career that must worry about the political fallout of her decisions.

“I need Malaysians who will back me for what I stand for, not anonymous supporters,” she was further quoted as saying.


Being a new Gerakan recruit, Raja Sara also said she has no demand or expectations of being fielded in the general election.

“Naturally, everyone wants to move up the political ladder, but remember the pyramid is wide at the bottom but narrow at the top,” she said.

Raja Sara was announced as a Gerakan member on July 8 at a Hari Raya Aildilfitri open house organised by the party.

She explained that she choice of Gerakan was motivated by her grandfather, Tun Raja Uda Muhammad’s support for the multiracial party during Election 1969.

“I see Gerakan as a non-communal party that is fighting for all Malaysians.

“With that in mind, I understand that despite BN being made up of several ethno-centric components, we work within a common framework for the good of all,” she said.


Her initial task is to oversee the party’s plans to be part of the National Transformation 2050 (TN50) initiative.

Raja Sara said she has the blessings of both her parents, particularly her mother, Marina Lee Abdullah, whom she said was responsible for “shaping her world view”.

Raja Petra is currently residing in the United Kingdom. He went into self-exile several years ago ostensibly to avoid prosecution over articles deemed seditious and defamatory.
-themalaymailonline.com

Pengetua salahguna kuasa dipenjara 3 bulan, denda RM40,500

“Mungkin tindakan puan bertujuan membantu sekolah tetapi matlamat tidak menghalalkan cara… saya harap hukuman ini menjadi kifarah kepada puan,” kata Hakim Mahkamah Sesyen Rozilah Salleh kepada seorang pengetua yang didapati bersalah menyalahgunakan kuasa.

Tertuduh Norliza Mat Radzi, 49, dijatuhi hukuman penjara 3 bulan dan denda RM40,500 bagi 3 pertuduhan menyalahgunakan kuasa berhubung pembekalan barangan untuk aktiviti sekolah bernilai RM6,591.65 menerusi syarikat miliknya.

Hakim Rozilah turut memerintahkan tertuduh menjalani hukuman penjara 10 bulan lagi sekiranya gagal membayar denda.

Mahkamah bagaimanapun membenarkan permohonan tertuduh untuk penangguhan pelaksanaan hukuman penjara sementara menunggu proses rayuan, namun memerintahkan wanita itu membayar denda hari ini selain menaikkan jumlah ikat jamin daripada RM15,000 kepada RM20,000.

Tertuduh membayar denda itu.

Tertuduh didakwa memilih syarikatnya, Orean Collection sebagai pembekal bahan bantu mengajar berjumlah RM2,091.65, pembekalan tuala kecil bernilai RM500 dan membekalkan pakej hamper, set fail, alat tulis serta medal perasmian bernilai RM4,000 bagi aktiviti di sekolahnya.

Dia didakwa melakukan kesalahan itu di sekolah itu yang terletak di Pelabuhan Klang antara 12 Februari dan 13 April tahun lepas.

Mengikut Seksyen 23, Akta Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) 2009 memperuntukkan hukuman penjara maksimum 20 tahun dan denda 5 kali ganda nilai suapan atau RM10,000 mengikut mana-mana yang lebih tinggi.

Pendakwaan dikendalikan oleh Timbalan Pendakwa Raya daripada SPRM Hazirah Azeman sementara Norliza diwakili peguam Mohd Tajuddin Abd Razak.

Terdahulu, ketika merayu untuk hukuman ringan Norliza berkata dia berusaha bersungguh-sungguh dan seikhlas hati untuk memajukan sekolahnya yang telah berusia dan memerlukan perubahan serta penyelenggaraan.

“Saya tiada niat untuk gunakan sekolah untuk kepentingan diri dan apa yang saya lakukan adalah untuk kemajuan anak murid dan sekolah. Saya yakin Allah lebih tahu apa niat saya dan saya percaya Allah tahu apa yang terbaik.

“Walaupun di dunia saya dihukum dan tidak dapat buktikan saya tidak ambil wang itu, tapi saya yakin anak-anak murid, guru semua doakan kesejahteraan saya atas segala usaha yang saya lakukan untuk sekolah,” katanya sebak.

Hakim Rozilah kemudian berkata sebagai seorang pengetua, tertuduh seharusnya memberi teladan kepada anak bangsa untuk mengikut peraturan dengan tidak memilih syarikat sendiri untuk kepentingan.

“Saya adili kes ini berdasarkan keterangan dan dokumen yang dikemukakan di depan saya. Saya harap hukuman ini akan menjadi pengajaran kepada orang lain yang ingin menjadi ‘Robin Hood’ tetapi cara tidak kena,” tegasnya.

-FMT NEWS-

Pakatan Harapan announces Penang leadership line-up

Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Penang chapter announced its leadership line-up today, naming DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng as state chairman.

Four leaders were named as vice-chairmen: Mansor Othman (PKR), Chow Kon Yeow (DAP), Mujahid Yusof (Amanah) and Marzuki Yahya (PPBM).

Chow was also tasked to lead the state PH manifesto committee, while Mustafa Kamal Mohd Yusoff (PKR) was made state elections machinery director. Mustafa, a former senator, holds the same position in his party.

The positions were affirmed by the national PH presidential council on July 13.

“This is just the beginning. With the state PH formed, we will register with one logo that is easily recognised. This alone will strengthen DAP, PKR, Amanah and PPBM.

“From now till our state PH convention on Sept 24, we will begin talks about seat allocations and identify those best to lead the various bureaus which will be formed in the future.

“We have offered ourselves as a hope to the people and country. From Penang, we will make our way to Putrajaya and keep Penang under PH rule,” Chow said at a press conference today.

PH announced it would be holding its inaugural convention on Sept 24 at the Seberang Perai Arena, Perai.

Others in the line-up were Lim Siew Khim of DAP who was announced as state Wanita PH chief.

DAP’s Air Itam assemblyman Wong Hon Wai was named state PH secretary, while fellow party comrade and exco man Jagdeep Singh Deo was made treasurer.

Dr Afif Bahardin of PKR, who is state health executive councillor, was appointed information chief. He also holds the post of state PH Youth chief.

Lim, in his opening remarks, called the announcement of the line-up a historic event.

He said the coming together of the four parties at the state level was a good opportunity for them to “get to know each other better”, especially those from PPBM.

“We all know who our friends are from PPBM. We knew them before when they were from the other side.

“That was when we were against each other but maintained friendly relations.

“Now since we are friends, it will be an opportunity for us to be better friends,” Lim said.

Mansor, who is the state’s PKR chief, said the formation of PH at the national level, and now in Penang, had been giving BN “sleepless nights”.

“They have been trying so hard to pit us against each other, party against party, and parties against the state government.

“They never expected us to form PH, nationally or at the state level.

“But with the formation of the state-level PH, I am confident we can make big inroads to Putrajaya,” he said.

Mujahid, who is Penang Amanah chief, said PH had brought together the best of everyone.

“Our former Penang deputy chief minister from Umno, Shariff Omar who has joined PPBM is with us today,” he said, adding that such a thing would not have been imaginable before.

FMT NEWS

Cakap mulut Arab bukan bukti RM2.6 bilion itu derma, kata Dr Mahathir

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad berkata wang sebanyak AS$681 juta yang dimasukkan ke dalam akaun Datuk Seri Najib Razak seperti didedahkan 2 tahun lalu sudah tentu melalui pelbagai dokumen transaksi memperincikan butirannya, tetapi ia masih belum ditunjukkan sebagai bukti selain dakwaan ia merupakan wang derma dari Arab Saudi.

“Cakap mulut Arab, Najib dan AG (peguam negara) tidak cukup untuk menyakini mahkamah atau orang ramai berkenaan punca AS$681 juta yang masuk dalam akaun Najib. Juga bahagian yang kononnya dikeluar,” kata pengerusi Pakatan Harapan itu dalam blognya hari ini.

“Sesungguhnya pemidahan wang yang begitu banyak perlu direkod dalam berjela-jela kertas. Paper trail memang ada untuk pihak berkuasa menyelidiki akan kebenaran dakwaan oleh mana-mana pihak. Orang lain juga boleh mendapat maklumat jika mereka membuat kajian,” kata Dr Mahathir.

Pada 2015, The Wall Street Journal memetik kertas siasatan pihak berkuasa Malaysia melaporkan wang berkait 1MDB dimasukkan ke dalam akaun persendirian Ambank milik Najib.

Najib berkata wang itu merupakan derma dari keluarga diraja Arab Saudi bagi membantu jentera Umno pada pilihan raya umum 2013.

Tahun lalu, Menteri Luar Arab Saudi, Adel al-Jubeir berkata wang tersebut merupakan sumbangan “ikhlas” tanpa mengharapkan balasan, menyifatkannya untuk “pelaburan di Malaysia”.

Sebelum ini, Peguam Negara, Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali dalam mengumumkan tiada kesalahan dilakukan Najib, memutuskan wang AS$681 juta itu adalah derma keluarga diraja Saudi.

Dr Mahathir berkata cabarannya terhadap Apandi untuk bersumpah berkenaan kandungan laporan Bank Negara Malaysia yang mendedahkan jumlah itu dalam akaun Najib itu adalah kerana yakin ia wujud, berdasarkan dokumen yang ditunjukkan bekas peguam negara Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail kepada timbalan perdana menteri ketika itu, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Kedua-dua Gani dan Muhyiddin dilucutkan jawatan mereka pada 2015.

“Dia (Muhyiddin) sering menyebut berkenaan laporan-laporan yang ditunjuk kepadanya oleh AG semasa AG belum dipecat oleh PM. Dan kepimpinan PPBM, termasuk saya telah bincang laporan-laporan ini.

“Sebab itu saya tahu. Saya tidak akan cabar Apandi bersumpah jika saya tidak tahu kandungan laporan,” kata Dr Mahathir.

Beliau mengulangi gesaan supaya suruhanjaya penyiasatan diraja ditubuhkan untuk merungkai kes tersebut, seperti mana skandal tukaran asing Bank Negara pada 1980-an kini disiasat.

“Sesungguhnya satu lagi suruhanjara siasatan diraja perlu diadakan untuk selidik kes ini. Jikalau isu 30 tahun dahulu perlu disiasat, kenapakah jenayah terkini disembunyi?

“Berani kerana benar. Jika takut menubuh RCI untuk ini, sebabnya tentulah kerana salah.”

DAP bukan parti dominan dalam PH, kata Dr Mahathir

Pengerusi Pakatan Harapan Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad hari ini menyangkal Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak yang mendakwa DAP menguasai gabungan itu.

Dr Mahathir berkata, DAP bukanlah parti yang dominan dalam PH.

Pengerusi PPBM itu berkata apabila Amanah dan PKR yang diterajui orang Melayu mempunyai lebih ramai wakil rakyat berbanding DAP.

“Jika mereka begitu bodoh, mereka akan memilih DAP (untuk memimpin mereka), tetapi mereka tidak bodoh, bukan seperti orang Najib yang tidak faham demokrasi,” kata Dr Mahathir kepada pemberita.

Bekas perdana menteri itu diminta memberi respon kepada Najib yang mendakwa DAP kekal sebagai parti paling dominan dalam pakatan pembangkang itu, semasa berucap di acara Invest Malaysia 2017 semalam.

Najib juga berkata pemimpin DAP setengah abad lalu kini bersembunyi di belakang seorang lelaki yang pernah memenjarakannya, dan cuba memperdaya pemikiran orang Melayu bahawa bekas pemimpin itu calon perdana menteri sementara mereka.

Beliau merujuk kepada veteran DAP Lim Kit Siang, yang dipenjarakan di bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri ketika Dr Mahathir menjadi perdana menteri.

RM5.7 bilion wang tidak dituntut tunggu pemiliknya

Sehingga 30 Jun, rakyat Malaysia masih belum menuntut sejumlah RM5,779 juta wang yang tidak dituntut.

Timbalan Menteri Kewangan Datuk Othman Aziz berkata ia melibatkan 55 juta rekod wang tidak dituntut sejak 1977.

Beliau menjawab pertanyaan Datuk Mohd Zaim Abu Hasan (BN-Parit) mengenai langkah dan strategi yang diambil untuk menangani isu wang tidak dituntut.

Media sebelum ini melaporkan kebanyakan mereka yang tidak menuntut wang tersebut waris polisi insurans nyawa.

Othman menjelaskan walaupun penduduk Malaysia seramai 31 juta, namun terdapat 55 juta rekod kes kerana seorang individu mempunyai pelbagai akaun.

“Mungkin terdapat baki RM10 hingga RM15, tetapi ia tidak dituntut. Wang itu memerlukan rekod berasingan,” katanya.

Wang yang tidak dituntut mempunyai 3 klasifikasi.

Pertama, wang yang akan dibayar secara sah kepada individu dalam tempoh setahun tetapi tidak diambil seperti gaji, bonus dan komisen.

Kedua, wang di dalam akaun yang tidak disentuh lebih 7 tahun dalam akaun simpanan.

Ketiga, wang dalam akaun komersial tanpa sebarang transaksi selama 2 tahun.

“Pendaftaran lengkap yang memperincikan akaun wang tidak dituntut diwartakan dan salinan cetakan disimpan di Perpustakaan Negara, seperti dikehendaki oleh undang-undang.”

Beliau menambah, kerajaan sebagai pemegang amanah wang tersebut bertanggungjawab terhadap wang itu dan akan memastikan ia disimpan dengan selamat sehingga dituntut pemilik yang sah.

Othman menambah kerajaan mempunyai 25 kaunter Jabatan Audit Negara di seluruh negara untuk tujuan ini – 13 di Semenanjung Malaysia, 7 (Sarawak), 4 (Sabah) dan 1 lagi akan dibuka di Putrajaya.

“Mereka perlu mengemukakan borang lengkap dan dokumen lain yang berkaitan, dan mereka akan dibayar dalam tempoh 1 bulan selepas mengemukakan tuntutan mereka, kecuali ada isu yang menyebabkan ia tertangguh,” jelasnya.

-FMT NEWS

Umno saran PH buat program “Nothing To Hide 2.0” Dr M jawab tuduhan Anwar, Mat Sabu

Sebelum mengundang Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Pemuda Umno Wilayah Persekutuan menyarankan Pakatan Harapan menganjurkan program terus-terang “Nothing to Hide 2.0” dengan bekas perdana menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad menjawab tuduhan Presiden Amanah Mohamad Sabu dan Ketua Umum PKR Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sebelum ini.

Ketua Pemuda Datuk Razlan Rafii turut mencadangkan beberapa topik untuk dibincangkan di program itu, seperti dakwaan pemerintahan kuku besi, skandal dagangan mata wang asing era 90-an yang berlaku pada zaman petadbiran Dr Mahathir dan kekayaan ahli keluarganya.

“Selama ini yang tuduh dia (Dr Mahathir) ialah kawan-kawan dia sekarang seperti Mat Sabu, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Mereka yang tuduh Dr Mahathir perompak dan kuku besi. Umno tak pernah tuduh. Sekarang mereka angkat Dr Mahathir seperti dosa lama dilupakan dan dosa baru lain kira.

“Buat program ‘Nothing To Hide 2.0’ sendiri. Selepas itu baru boleh cerita,” katanya pada sidang media di Pusat Dagangan Putra Dunia (PWTC) hari ini.

Razlan berkata demikian mengulas serahan undangan khas Pemuda PPBM kepada Najib ke program terus-terang itu semalam. Bagaimanapun kekecohan berlaku di Sunway Putra Mall apabila hampir 200 ahli Pemuda Umno cuba menghalang penyerahan itu.

“Kita mahu jaga maruah parti. Kita nak elak peristiwa Adam Adli tidak berlaku,” katanya, merujuk kepada peristiwa aktivis muda itu menurunkan bendera wajah Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak di ibu pejabat Umno pada 2011, dalam satu tunjuk perasaan di Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra.

“Kalau mereka buat provokasi kita kena jaga maruah,” tegas Razlan.

Beliau menafikan dakwaan Pemuda PPBM ditumbuk dan ditendang, dan menepis dakwaan Ketua Pemuda Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman yang mengatakan pemuda Umno mengamalkan budaya “samseng”.

Sebaliknya, Pemuda Umno yang khuatir dengan budaya yang dibawa pembangkang.

“Misalnya Adam adli yang menurunkan bendera Umno dan beberapa kumpulan Bersih yang menunjukkan punggung di gambar muka Najib dan Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang,” katanya.

Minggu lalu, Dr Mahathir mempelawa Najib ke forum yang bakal diadakan di Shah Alam pada 13 Ogos ini untuk menjawab segala tuduhan dan fitnah yang dilemparkan terhadap mereka berdua.

Walaupun Najib belum memberi maklum balas terhadap jemputan itu, pemimpin Umno bagaimanapun tampil bersuara bagi perdana menteri.

Forum “Nothing To Hide” julung kali dianjurkan pada 5 Jun 2015 di ibu pejabat Umno. Najib dijadualkan menghadiri forum itu dan menjawab pertanyaan umum, namun ia kemudiannya dibatalkan selepas Dr Mahathir hadir untuk berucap tanpa diundang.

Pemuda Umno tak faham tujuan “Nothing To Hide 2.0”, kata Syed Saddiq

Ketua Pemuda Umno Wilayah Datuk Razlan Rafii gagal memahami tujuan program “Nothing to Hide 2.0”, kata PPBM hari ini.

Ketua Pemuda Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman berkata program terus-terang itu dianjurkan orang ramai mendengar sendiri Presiden Umno Datuk Seri Najib Razak dan Pengerusi PPBM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad menjawab persoalan mengenai tuduhan dan skandal mereka.

Tegasnya, medan itu terbuka untuk rakyat, termasuk ahli Umno dan penyokong Pakatan Harapan untuk menyoal 2 tokoh kontroversi itu.

“Mungkin Razlan tidak maklum program ini dianjurkan untuk rakyat, dan terbuka buat sesiapapun dalam rakyat untuk bertanyakan soalan kepada Tun Mahathir dan Najib.

“Jelas di sini tidak timbul isu untuk Tun Mahathir menjawab segala pertanyaan dalam kalangan rakan Pakatan Harapan itu sendiri mengenai skandal atau segala hal yang terpalit dengan Tun sepanjang 22 tahun pemerintahannya,” kata Syed Saddiq dalam kenyataan hari ini.

Syed Saddiq menambah “Nothing to Hide 2.0” bukan medan untuk mencipta persepsi kerana Najib dan Mahathir bakal menjawab segala pertanyaan yang diajukan dan mereka akan dinilai sepenuhnya dalam program terus-terang itu.

“Apa yang menjadi tanda-tanya adakah Najib nerani tampil membuat penjelasan mengenai isu 1Malaysia Development Berhad, RM2.6 bilion derma dari Arab dan hal rasuah yang dikaitkan dengan beliau?” soal Syed Saddiq, yang menambah rakyat ingin mendengar dari mulut Najib sendiri.

Minggu lalu, Dr Mahathir mempelawa Najib ke forum yang bakal diadakan di Shah Alam pada 13 Ogos ini untuk menjawab segala tuduhan dan fitnah yang dilemparkan terhadap mereka berdua.

Terdahulu Razlan menerusi sidang medianya meminta Pakatan Harapan menganjurkan program terus-terang “Nothing to Hide 2.0” dengan Dr Mahathir Mohamad menjawab tuduhan Mohamad Sabu dan Anwar Ibrahim sebelum mengundang Najib.

Beliau turut mencadangkan beberapa topik untuk dibincangkan di program itu, seperti dakwaan pemerintahan kuku besi, skandal dagangan mata wang asing era 90-an yang berlaku pada zaman petadbiran Dr Mahathir dan kekayaan ahli keluarganya.

“Selama ini yang tuduh dia (Dr Mahathir) ialah kawan-kawan dia sekarang seperti Mat Sabu, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Mereka yang tuduh Dr Mahathir perompak dan kuku besi. Umno tak pernah tuduh. Sekarang mereka angkat Dr Mahathir seperti dosa lama dilupakan dan dosa baru lain kira,”katanya Razlan.

FMT NEWS

PPBM – rahmat atau derita untuk Pakatan Harapan?

Penganalisis politik tidak sependapat sama ada PPBM memberi manfaat akan menjejaskan Pakatan Harapan pada pilihan raya umum nanti.

Ada yang mengatakan PPBM berjaya menarik sokongan orang Melayu terutamanya di kawasan luar bandar, yang sebelum ini tidak memberi hasil kepada PH.

Bagaimanapun, ada yang berpandangan sistem keanggotaan dwi-status parti itu yang mana ahli bukan Bumiputera boleh menyertai parti itu tetapi tidak boleh mengundi atau bertanding jawatan, mungkin akan memalingkan pengikut setia gabungan itu.

Bercakap di forum mengenai PH dan Barisan Nasional di Kumpulan Media Karangkraf hari ini, pensyarah Universiti Utara Malaysia Prof Azizuddin Mohd Sani, pensyarah Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia Maszlee Malik dan Ketua Eksekutif Institut Demokrasi dan Hal Ehwal Ekonomi Wan Saiful Wan Jan membincangkan sama ada PPBM rahmat atau derita untuk PH.

Wan Saiful berkata adalah penting untuk memisahkan yang idealistik dari yang realistik dalam politik. Beliau berkata idealisme yang menyebabkan yang memalingkan majoriti pengundi.

“Dalam kes PH, apa yang ideal untuk ramai pengikut setia PH ialah melihat 4 parti komponen (Amanah, DAP, PKR dan PPBM) sama-sama kuat. Hakikatnya, keadaan itu akan menikam diri kerana majoriti orang Melayu mahu parti yang diterajui orang Melayu,” katanya.

“Sudah berdekad dan ramai orang Melayu masih bimbangkan perkara itu. BN cuma perlu kata DAP dan PPBM sama taraf dan PH akan akan tewas.”

Maszlee bersetuju dengan Wan Saiful tetapi berkata PH maklum akan perkara itu apabila ia mengumumkan barisan kepimpinan baharu gabungan dan dalam pada masa sama mengimbangi kebimbangan penyokong lama.

“Sebab itu mereka letak orang-orang lama, ahli politik yang rakyat kenal dan tidak meletakkan ramai orang Cina.

“Barisan kepimpinan itu menunjukkan mereka sedar untuk memuaskan hati orang Melayu, mereka perlu angkat orang Melayu, tetapi dalam masa yang sama tidak lepaskan penekakan kepada politik majmuk.”

Awal bulan ini, PH mengumumkan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sebagai ketua umum gabungan, dan Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad sebagai pengerusi gabungan. Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail dilantik presiden gabungan, dibantu Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (PPBM), Lim Guan Eng (DAP) dan Mohamad Sabu (Amanah).

Timbalan Presiden PKR Datuk Seri Azmin Ali dan rakan sejawat PPBM Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir dinamakan sebagai naib presiden, bersama Pengerusi DAP Sarawak Chong Chieng Jen dan Timbalan Presiden Amanah Salahuddin Ayub. Bekas timbalan menteri Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah dinamakan sebagai ketua setiausaha.

Prof Azizuddin Mohd Sani bagaimanapun berpandangan PPBM memberi cabaran tersendiri kepada PH kerana parti itu bertentangan dengan konsep asal kemajmukan.

“PPBM menyertai gabungan itu bersama sistem keanggotaan dwi-status dan itu memberi ancaman serius kepada konsep kemajmukan.

“Sebelum ini, dalam Pakatan Rakyat, ada PAS. Parti Islam tetapi bukan parti Bumiputera.”

Peranan Dr Mahathir sebagai pengerusi PH juga tidak diterima baik oleh mereka yang setia kepada gerakan reformasi 1998 serta sesetengah penyokong PH daripada golongan bukan Melayu.

Maszlee bagaimanapun berkata PPBM mempunyai peranan yang jelas dalam gabungan itu. Selain “menghapuskan ketakutan” pengundi Melayu, PPBM dilihat sebagai parti yang boleh didekati dalam gabungan itu di mata pengundi luar bandar.

“Ambil Amanah sebagai contoh. Orang ramai kata Amanah parti yang baik terdiri daripada golongan profesional. Namun, golongan profesional dilihat sebagai elitis dan sukar didekati.

“Orang luar bandar merasakan hubungan dengan 2 parti ini: Umno dan PPBM. Sebab itu kita tidak boleh menafikan peranan PPBM dalam PH.”-FMT NEWS

Najib admits lapses in governance at 1MDB

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has publicly admitted for the first time that there were lapses in governance at troubled investment fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), but pointed out that the government has taken steps to address the matter.

“At 1MDB, it is now clear that there were lapses in governance. However, rather than burying our heads in the sand, we ordered investigations into the company at a scale unprecedented in our nation’s history.

“Rather than funnelling good money after bad to cover up any issues 1MDB may have faced — the model embraced by a former leader — I instructed the rationalisation of the company,” he said, in a veiled jab at former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, during his opening speech at Invest Malaysia 2017 yesterday.

He also said the rationalisation plan is going well, pointing out the progress made by the Tun Razak Exchange.

While there clearly were issues at 1MDB, he said the troubles were blown out of proportion by certain politicians to sabotage the company in an attempt to topple the government.

“At the time, we knew the real issue was not 1MDB, and that if 1MDB hadn’t been around, they would have chosen another line of attack to try to illegitimately change the government. So, we stood steadfast and resolute in the face of this orchestrated campaign,” said Najib.

In Malaysia, 1MDB was investigated by Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and a special task force comprising the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the Royal Malaysia Police and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM). The Auditor-General (AG) also conducted an audit of the fund.

The PAC’s report on its investigation was tabled in Parliament on April 7, 2016. However, the AG’s report was classified under the Official Secrets Act 1972 in March 2016.

Shortly after the tabling of the PAC report, the police said they had formed a special task force to investigate 1MDB.

Also in April 2016, 1MDB was fined an undisclosed amount by BNM for “failure to comply with directions under the Financial Services Act 2013”.

Meanwhile, Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said 1MDB is not a representation of Malaysia’s overall corporate and public governance, as the country has produced a number of well-run government-linked companies (GLCs).

“With regard to 1MDB, we [have] openly admitted that this is an issue of having the wrong business model, weak management and weak governance. We are addressing the issues, but we are not in a situation where because of this issue, the entire country will collapse,” he said in a panel discussion at the two-day conference.

Johari pointed out that Malaysia has a number of GLCs that are well run, including CIMB Group Holdings Bhd, Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Telekom Malaysia Bhd and PLUS Malaysia Bhd.

“These are all good companies under Khazanah [Nasional Bhd] that are well run, and they don’t need government’s help. To say that the government does not have good governance, it’s not right,” he said.

In light of the issues surrounding 1MDB, Najib announced that the government will be setting up an integrity and governance unit at all GLCs to improve transparency and accountability.

The announcement comes amid the recent brouhaha at Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd, which was subjected to an investigation by the MACC after the now-suspended group president and chief executive officer Datuk Zakaria Arshad alleged the existence of abuse of power and corruption in the group’s operations.

“The government has, in principle, agreed to the establishment of an integrity and governance unit at all GLCs and state- and ministry-owned business entities, under the supervision of the MACC, precisely to strengthen the confidence all can, should and do have in Malaysia,” Najib said.

Najib also said the government is cracking down on crony capitalism, which he said has benefited the few at the expense of the Malaysian people.

“Under this government, we are cracking down on crony capitalism. No more sweetheart deal. No more national follies kept going to stroke the ego of one man. No more treating national companies as though they were personal property.

“It is the people who suffer and we will not tolerate a few succeeding — and not on their own merits — while the many are denied opportunities, all for the interests of a selfish few,” he said.

Malaysia investigating report of Malaysian businessman Jho Low holding dual citizenship

Malaysia's Deputy Foreign Minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican has said the Home Ministry is investigating a report that Malaysian businessman Low Taek Jho holds dual citizenship, adding that preferential treatment will not be given to him if the claim is proven true.

Datuk Seri Reezal Merican made the comments on Sunday (July 23) in response to a report that claimed the Penang-born Mr Low, also known as Jho Low, holds passports of both Malaysia and the West Indies island of St Kitts & Nevis, Malaysian media said.

Mr Reezal Merican stressed that Malaysians are not allowed to hold dual citizenship, warning that those who do will have to face the law.

"There is no preferential treatment for anybody. Anyone with dual citizenship will have to face action, according to the law provided by the constitution," he was quoted saying by the Malaysiakini website. "We will wait for the report from the custodial ministry, which is the Home Ministry," he added.

The claims about Mr Low's dual citizenship had been reported in a US Department of Justice (DOJ) complaint filed on June 15 that sought to seize US$540 million (S$736 million) in assets allegedly stolen from Malaysian state investor 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

The DOJ is alleging that more than US$4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB, a sovereign fund set up by Prime Minister Najib Razak in 2009.

The misappropriated assets were said to include a pink diamond necklace worth US$27.3 million allegedly bought for Datuk Seri Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor by Mr Low, who has said he was an unofficial adviser to 1MDB in its early years.


Mr Low's whereabouts are not known. After the DOJ's filing, Reuters reported that Mr Low responded with an e-mailed statement through a representative saying that the DOJ's actions were "a further example of global overreach in pursuit of a deeply flawed case".

"The US Department of Justice's latest move continues its inappropriate efforts to seize assets despite not having proven that any improprieties have occurred," Mr Low had been quoted saying by the news agency.

Earlier this month, Mr Low also hit out at Singapore after the Republic's prosecutors said he had victimised the beleaguered state fund and received large sums of money traceable to the fund for his own benefit.

Mr Low, in a statement on July 13, said attempts to link him to those convicted over the pocketing of "secret profits" linked to 1MDB were "based on unfounded assumptions".

His comments came after former BSI banker Yeo Jiawei was sentenced to 4½ years for cheating and money laundering in a case linked to Singapore's investigations into the 1MDB probe.

During the case, it had emerged that Mr Yeo had referred to Mr Low as "boss" and spent at least one night at his house.

Mr Low had also been described by Singapore prosecutors as "a key person of interest" in the wider ongoing money-laundering probe.-theedgemarkets