Penang shows the Way for a CLEAN govt.

Penang shows us M’sia can be next S’pore

By Eddie Hoo

Jan 24, 2016 8:00 PM

This is not about race or religion. The ensuing debate over this article would probably still be venomous and filled with diatribes that have blinded and prevented us from achieving our true potential as a cohesive nation.

Let’s be objective. Singapore was our poor cousins when we split in 1965. From an economic backwater with zero natural resources, this tiny nation has grown to be the third richest in the world with gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of US$84,821 (RM369,086) in 2015.

Malaysia’s GDP per capita in 2015 is US$25,833 (RM112,462), putting our country at 45th in the list of richest countries in the world, above Thailand at No. 80 and Indonesia at No. 103.

For the full list, go to this site.

Singapore’s solid economic framework and large current surplus are sustaining an economy that is battling high household debt. It is affected by a fragile global economy. These two factors along with high leverage and falling oil prices are giving Malaysia a dim economic outlook currently.

The island nation’s GDP grew at 6.8 per cent in the past 40 years. It averaged 4.84 per cent from 2007 until 2015, reaching an all time high of 36.40 per cent in the first quarter of 2010 and a record low of -13 per cent in the third quarter of 2010.

Why can Singapore punch above its weight? It may not be as squeaky clean as it portrays itself to be. However, what it doesn’t have are crippling financial scandals such as 1MDB, Perwaja Steel, Mamico, Bank Bumi and the forex debacle.

Malaysia’s GDP annual growth rate averaged 4.77 per cent from 2000 until 2015, reaching an all time high of 10.30 per cent in the first quarter of 2010 and a record low of -6.20 per cent in the first quarter of 2009.

Penang’s figures taken in isolation show a five-year growth of 5.96 per cent, which is higher than the national average for the same period. One of the recognitions the state won is being named the eighth most liveable city in Asia by ECA International for two consecutive years (2011 and 2012). It  was also listed in The Guardian as the world’s top 10 cities to visit.

When the state fell to the opposition in 2008, all eyes were on the state government, scrutinising its every move to see if it could do better than the previous Gerakan-led government. Seven years later, it was proven that we Malaysians really “boleh”. What was missing was just the political will to do the right things.

“It would surprise you to learn that this industry grew from basically nothing in 2008 to a RM1.2 billion industry seven years later,” Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has said about fish farming in the state.

“Much as I would love to claim credit, this amazing transformation was done without spending a single penny but merely dependant on reinventing government. The previous government benefitted its cronies with one or two chosen individuals being given thousands of hectares of sea, which they then sub-let to genuine operators under the classic rentier system. This is described by some as predatory capitalism. We stopped this crony capitalistic practice.”

The political structure of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition is entrenched in money politics. Even Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has publicly moaned the errant ways of Umno, saying the term “money politics” once used to describe vote buying for party positions.

Now, the whole party is about money, projects and contracts, said the former Umno president. He added that under its current leadership, the party was filled with rent-seeking leaders loyal only to money.

“The ones who receive posts receive money,” Mahathir said in a video interview with blogger Din Turtle in April 2015.

We know what ails our system. Yet, we choose to believe in race rhetoric and have the wool pulled over our eyes with religious issues.

Penang shows the dirty, greedy politicians the RIGHT Way to Rule a State and Country. Time for Umno/BN govt to go, also  Malaysians should try to get BACK the BILLIONS looted by them. 

Scorpene scandal resurfaces, Suaram vindicated

January 29, 2016

After six long years of investigations, this first indictment of the arms maker shows that Suaram’s suspicion of commissions paid to Malaysian officials in the Scorpene deal is well founded.

COMMENT

By Kua Kia Soong

The Scorpene submarines scandal involving suspected commissions paid to Malaysian defence officials in the French submarines sale in 2002 has finally surfaced in the French court with a first indictment issued against the former boss of an international subsidiary of Thales, suspected of having corrupted then Defence Minister and the present Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Bernard Baiocco, the former president of Thales International Asia (Thint Asia) was indicted before magistrate Roger Le Loire on December 15 for “active bribery of foreign public officials” including Najib Razak, then Minister of Defense, and one of his advisers, Abdul Razak Baginda, according to the news agency AFP. The former boss of Thint Asia, together with the Directorate of Naval Construction (DCN) who made the submarines was also indicted for complicity in misuse of corporate assets.

Suaram’s complaint to the French in November 2009 had started a preliminary inquiry and a judicial investigation opened in Paris in 2012. Searches by the French police at Thales and DCNS offices had led to the seizure of numerous documents. After six long years of investigations, this first indictment of the arms maker shows that Suaram’s suspicion of commissions paid to Malaysian officials in the Scorpene deal is well founded and we have been vindicated.

The sale of two Scorpene submarines and a sub Marino Agosta to Malaysia was the most expensive military procurement by Malaysia to date, costing nearly five billion ringgit for the hardware plus more than two billion ringgit for the training of operatives and maintenance of the submarines.

The French judges have been examining contracts which they suspect of being used to pay for bribes. One of these, referred to as “C5 commercial engineering” involved payment of 30 million euros by DCNI, a subsidiary of DCN to Thales International Asia, in respect of “selling expenses for export”.

The French judicial investigations also show that another company, Terasasi, whose main shareholder Razak Baginda then adviser to the Defence Minister Najib Razak, was paid almost the same amount for consultations. Investigators suspect these so-called “consultations” to be a front for bribes.

In the investigations, another contract provided for the payment of 114 million euros to the Malaysian company Perimekar, the main contractor of the Scorpene deal.

All this time, the Malaysian government has not told parliament or the public about the existence of Terasasi (Abdul Razak Baginda’s other company) and that it had a share of the spoils from the purchase of the submarines. The government has only tried to justify the payments to Perimekar. The existence of Terasasi and payments it received only emerged when the French prosecutors’ documents came to light. It is time the Malaysian government reveals the role that Terasasi played in the Scorpene deal.

The Scorpene scandal has been fueled by the gruesome murder of Mongolian intermediary, Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006. According to the testimony of Razak Baginda’s private investigator, Altantuya was the mistress of Abdul Razak Baginda and she had been harassing him for a portion of the commission that had been promised her.

Kua Kia Soong is the advisor of SUARAM (Suara Rakyat Malaysia).

Just as Najib breathed a sigh  of relief, this bombshell hit, now we see how he can get out of this as the foreign prosecutors are not under his control. How long are they oung to rob, plunder this country coffers - the people are suffering with GST, toll hikes so that they can continue their plunder.

What they steal, we the citizens must pay so that Malaysia will not go BROKE!!!

 

Scorpene scandal resurfaces, Suaram vindicated

January 29, 2016

After six long years of investigations, this first indictment of the arms maker shows that Suaram’s suspicion of commissions paid to Malaysian officials in the Scorpene deal is well founded.

COMMENT

By Kua Kia Soong

The Scorpene submarines scandal involving suspected commissions paid to Malaysian defence officials in the French submarines sale in 2002 has finally surfaced in the French court with a first indictment issued against the former boss of an international subsidiary of Thales, suspected of having corrupted then Defence Minister and the present Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Bernard Baiocco, the former president of Thales International Asia (Thint Asia) was indicted before magistrate Roger Le Loire on December 15 for “active bribery of foreign public officials” including Najib Razak, then Minister of Defense, and one of his advisers, Abdul Razak Baginda, according to the news agency AFP. The former boss of Thint Asia, together with the Directorate of Naval Construction (DCN) who made the submarines was also indicted for complicity in misuse of corporate assets.

Suaram’s complaint to the French in November 2009 had started a preliminary inquiry and a judicial investigation opened in Paris in 2012. Searches by the French police at Thales and DCNS offices had led to the seizure of numerous documents. After six long years of investigations, this first indictment of the arms maker shows that Suaram’s suspicion of commissions paid to Malaysian officials in the Scorpene deal is well founded and we have been vindicated.

The sale of two Scorpene submarines and a sub Marino Agosta to Malaysia was the most expensive military procurement by Malaysia to date, costing nearly five billion ringgit for the hardware plus more than two billion ringgit for the training of operatives and maintenance of the submarines.

The French judges have been examining contracts which they suspect of being used to pay for bribes. One of these, referred to as “C5 commercial engineering” involved payment of 30 million euros by DCNI, a subsidiary of DCN to Thales International Asia, in respect of “selling expenses for export”.

The French judicial investigations also show that another company, Terasasi, whose main shareholder Razak Baginda then adviser to the Defence Minister Najib Razak, was paid almost the same amount for consultations. Investigators suspect these so-called “consultations” to be a front for bribes.

In the investigations, another contract provided for the payment of 114 million euros to the Malaysian company Perimekar, the main contractor of the Scorpene deal.

All this time, the Malaysian government has not told parliament or the public about the existence of Terasasi (Abdul Razak Baginda’s other company) and that it had a share of the spoils from the purchase of the submarines. The government has only tried to justify the payments to Perimekar. The existence of Terasasi and payments it received only emerged when the French prosecutors’ documents came to light. It is time the Malaysian government reveals the role that Terasasi played in the Scorpene deal.

The Scorpene scandal has been fueled by the gruesome murder of Mongolian intermediary, Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006. According to the testimony of Razak Baginda’s private investigator, Altantuya was the mistress of Abdul Razak Baginda and she had been harassing him for a portion of the commission that had been promised her.

Kua Kia Soong is the advisor of SUARAM (Suara Rakyat Malaysia).

Just as Najib breathed a sigh  of relief, this bombshell hit, now we see how he can get out of this as the foreign prosecutors are not under his control. How long are they oung to rob, plunder this country coffers - the people are suffering with GST, toll hikes so that they can continue their plunder.

What they steal, we the citizens must pay so that Malaysia will not go BROKE!!!

 

Scorpene scandal resurfaces, Suaram vindicated

January 29, 2016

After six long years of investigations, this first indictment of the arms maker shows that Suaram’s suspicion of commissions paid to Malaysian officials in the Scorpene deal is well founded.

COMMENT

By Kua Kia Soong

The Scorpene submarines scandal involving suspected commissions paid to Malaysian defence officials in the French submarines sale in 2002 has finally surfaced in the French court with a first indictment issued against the former boss of an international subsidiary of Thales, suspected of having corrupted then Defence Minister and the present Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Bernard Baiocco, the former president of Thales International Asia (Thint Asia) was indicted before magistrate Roger Le Loire on December 15 for “active bribery of foreign public officials” including Najib Razak, then Minister of Defense, and one of his advisers, Abdul Razak Baginda, according to the news agency AFP. The former boss of Thint Asia, together with the Directorate of Naval Construction (DCN) who made the submarines was also indicted for complicity in misuse of corporate assets.

Suaram’s complaint to the French in November 2009 had started a preliminary inquiry and a judicial investigation opened in Paris in 2012. Searches by the French police at Thales and DCNS offices had led to the seizure of numerous documents. After six long years of investigations, this first indictment of the arms maker shows that Suaram’s suspicion of commissions paid to Malaysian officials in the Scorpene deal is well founded and we have been vindicated.

The sale of two Scorpene submarines and a sub Marino Agosta to Malaysia was the most expensive military procurement by Malaysia to date, costing nearly five billion ringgit for the hardware plus more than two billion ringgit for the training of operatives and maintenance of the submarines.

The French judges have been examining contracts which they suspect of being used to pay for bribes. One of these, referred to as “C5 commercial engineering” involved payment of 30 million euros by DCNI, a subsidiary of DCN to Thales International Asia, in respect of “selling expenses for export”.

The French judicial investigations also show that another company, Terasasi, whose main shareholder Razak Baginda then adviser to the Defence Minister Najib Razak, was paid almost the same amount for consultations. Investigators suspect these so-called “consultations” to be a front for bribes.

In the investigations, another contract provided for the payment of 114 million euros to the Malaysian company Perimekar, the main contractor of the Scorpene deal.

All this time, the Malaysian government has not told parliament or the public about the existence of Terasasi (Abdul Razak Baginda’s other company) and that it had a share of the spoils from the purchase of the submarines. The government has only tried to justify the payments to Perimekar. The existence of Terasasi and payments it received only emerged when the French prosecutors’ documents came to light. It is time the Malaysian government reveals the role that Terasasi played in the Scorpene deal.

The Scorpene scandal has been fueled by the gruesome murder of Mongolian intermediary, Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006. According to the testimony of Razak Baginda’s private investigator, Altantuya was the mistress of Abdul Razak Baginda and she had been harassing him for a portion of the commission that had been promised her.

Kua Kia Soong is the advisor of SUARAM (Suara Rakyat Malaysia).

Just as Najib breathed a sigh  of relief, this bombshell hit, now we see how he can get out of this as the foreign prosecutors are not under his control. How long are they oung to rob, plunder this country coffers - the people are suffering with GST, toll hikes so that they can continue their plunder.

What they steal, we the citizens must pay so that Malaysia will not go BROKE!!!

 

Scorpene scandal resurfaces, Suaram vindicated

January 29, 2016

After six long years of investigations, this first indictment of the arms maker shows that Suaram’s suspicion of commissions paid to Malaysian officials in the Scorpene deal is well founded.

COMMENT

By Kua Kia Soong

The Scorpene submarines scandal involving suspected commissions paid to Malaysian defence officials in the French submarines sale in 2002 has finally surfaced in the French court with a first indictment issued against the former boss of an international subsidiary of Thales, suspected of having corrupted then Defence Minister and the present Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Bernard Baiocco, the former president of Thales International Asia (Thint Asia) was indicted before magistrate Roger Le Loire on December 15 for “active bribery of foreign public officials” including Najib Razak, then Minister of Defense, and one of his advisers, Abdul Razak Baginda, according to the news agency AFP. The former boss of Thint Asia, together with the Directorate of Naval Construction (DCN) who made the submarines was also indicted for complicity in misuse of corporate assets.

Suaram’s complaint to the French in November 2009 had started a preliminary inquiry and a judicial investigation opened in Paris in 2012. Searches by the French police at Thales and DCNS offices had led to the seizure of numerous documents. After six long years of investigations, this first indictment of the arms maker shows that Suaram’s suspicion of commissions paid to Malaysian officials in the Scorpene deal is well founded and we have been vindicated.

The sale of two Scorpene submarines and a sub Marino Agosta to Malaysia was the most expensive military procurement by Malaysia to date, costing nearly five billion ringgit for the hardware plus more than two billion ringgit for the training of operatives and maintenance of the submarines.

The French judges have been examining contracts which they suspect of being used to pay for bribes. One of these, referred to as “C5 commercial engineering” involved payment of 30 million euros by DCNI, a subsidiary of DCN to Thales International Asia, in respect of “selling expenses for export”.

The French judicial investigations also show that another company, Terasasi, whose main shareholder Razak Baginda then adviser to the Defence Minister Najib Razak, was paid almost the same amount for consultations. Investigators suspect these so-called “consultations” to be a front for bribes.

In the investigations, another contract provided for the payment of 114 million euros to the Malaysian company Perimekar, the main contractor of the Scorpene deal.

All this time, the Malaysian government has not told parliament or the public about the existence of Terasasi (Abdul Razak Baginda’s other company) and that it had a share of the spoils from the purchase of the submarines. The government has only tried to justify the payments to Perimekar. The existence of Terasasi and payments it received only emerged when the French prosecutors’ documents came to light. It is time the Malaysian government reveals the role that Terasasi played in the Scorpene deal.

The Scorpene scandal has been fueled by the gruesome murder of Mongolian intermediary, Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006. According to the testimony of Razak Baginda’s private investigator, Altantuya was the mistress of Abdul Razak Baginda and she had been harassing him for a portion of the commission that had been promised her.

Kua Kia Soong is the advisor of SUARAM (Suara Rakyat Malaysia).

Just as Najib breathed a sigh  of relief, this bombshell hit, now we see how he can get out of this as the foreign prosecutors are not under his control. How long are they oung to rob, plunder this country coffers - the people are suffering with GST, toll hikes so that they can continue their plunder.

What they steal, we the citizens must pay so that Malaysia will not go BROKE!!!

 

Apandi can’t close investigations, should help MACC, says former A-G

BY V. ANBALAGAN, ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Published: 28 January 2016 7:00 AM

Former A-G Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman says Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali should allow MACC to complete the probe and render whatever assistance needed to obtain documents involving financial institutions overseas. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, January 28, 2016.Attorney-General (A-G) Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali has no authority to order the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to close investigations into the RM2.6 billion donation in the prime minister's bank accounts, says a former A-G.

Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman also said that Apandi had not helped MACC to obtain documents and statements from abroad as part of its probe, under the mutual legal assistance (MLA) initiative.

"Under Article 145 (3) of the Federal Constitution, the A-G has power only to institute, conduct and discontinue any (criminal) proceedings, but has no authority to order any investigation agency to close its investigation papers.

"This is a case of public importance that has attracted worldwide attention, the A-G must help the MACC to collect evidence as the source of the fund is outside Malaysia," Abu Talib told The Malaysian Insider

He was responding to Apandi's statement on Tuesday that Najib had not committed any criminal offence over the donation and the Finance Ministry-owned SRC International Sdn Bhd, and that there was “insufficient evidence” to file charges against the prime minister.

Ideally, said Abu Talib, the A-G should allow MACC to complete the probe and render whatever assistance needed, as the source of the fund was outside Malaysia.

"Whether to institute prosecution is to be decided after the probe," said the 77-year-old Abu Talib.

Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali is accused of playing prosecutor and judge after he announced there was no case against Datuk Seri Najib Razak in the RM2.6 billion donation saga. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, January 28, 2016.He said Malaysia practised a check and balance system in the administration of justice.

"Investigation powers like that of MACC were entirely vested with them. Prosecution is based on available evidence and if there was one, it is the duty of the public prosecutor to institute a charge against an accused person.

"It is the duty of the court to determine whether one is guilty of a crime," he added.

On December 31, MACC deputy commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull said the body had yet to complete the RM2.6 billion probe and needed to obtain documents and statements involving several financial institutions overseas.

“These documents and statements can only be taken through mutual legal assistance (MLA) as they are tied to the banking laws of the countries involved,” Shukri had said in a statement soon after MACC passed investigation papers to Apandi.

But Apandi on Tuesday said there was no need for Malaysia to seek legal assistance from any other country in order to investigate the funds, because he found that no offence had been committed.

"I will return the relevant investigation papers to MACC with the instruction to close three investigations papers," the A-G had said.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said yesterday said no one could challenge the A-G's decision for not charging Najib of any wrongdoing in the RM2.6 billion donation and SRC probes.

Azalina, a lawyer, said the law gave the A-G ultimate discretion on whether to pursue a case in court, and as such Malaysians should stop debating the case further.

"The discretionary powers given to the A-G under Article 145(3) is final, it cannot be challenged or replaced by any other powers including the court," she said in a statement.

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had accused Apandi of playing the roles of judge and prosecutor.

"That decision is in fact a judgment. The A-G is both judge and prosecutor. That in itself is an injustice," Dr Mahathir had said. – January 28, 2016.

The AG has cone too far, showing his true colors in protecting Najib, Evil begats evil. Evil men troop together like flocks of the same feather.
Mortals cannot deal with them ONLY Higher HANDS, let's hope this be done quickly from above!

Dept for Orang Asli slammed for making empty promises

Mikha Chan

 | January 27, 2016

Temiar Orang Asli hands memorandum to Suhakam demanding more accessible schools and the placement of capable teachers for their children.

KUALA LUMPUR: The government must start listening to the pleas of the Orang Asli and refrain from making empty promises about their children’s education, said an Orang Asli group today.

The group of Temiar Orang Asli handed a memorandum to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), detailing their grouses and demands to the government, including the building of easily accessible schools and the placement of teachers capable of understanding and working with the community.

“At the moment, our children have to go to SK Tohoi, which is 40-60 km away from where we live. Driving on the logging roads, one kilometre can feel like fifteen.”

“It would also be good if we had teachers who understand our culture and can work with us, preferably those who speak the Temiar language,” said the group’s spokesperson Nasir Dollah.

According to the memo, received by Suhakam commissioner Mahmood Zuhdi Hj Ab Majid, the Orang Asli are prepared to send their children to any other school other than SK Tohoi for the time being.

They said that this would be at least until the Education Ministry and the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) build at least five schools for every interior post i.e. Pos Tuel, Pos Hau, Pos Belatim, Pos Simpor, and Pos Gob for Primary One to Four students.

This follows recent reports that the Orang Asli community from seven villages at Pos Simpor and Pos Gob were shunning SK Tohoi, with enrolment having dipped after the incident last August where seven students fled into the forest, fearing punishment for swimming in a nearby river.

According to a report in The Star Online, parents were hesitant about sending their children to SK Tohoi because they were still traumatised by the deaths of the Orang Asli children.

Nasir claimed that teachers at SK Tohoi were also not dedicated to their work, with some coming in on Monday and leaving early on Thursday. The group has demanded the replacement of all SK Tohoi teachers.

Another demand was that the ministry and JAKOA provide for Orang Asli hostel workers to watch over the children living in hostels and to see to their personal needs.

“The drivers that ferry our children from the kampung to the schools should be conscientious and free from the influence of alcohol and drugs. The same should apply to the school’s security guards,” Nasir said, claiming that some of the guards and drivers were alcoholics.

“JAKOA needs to stop making empty promises and excuses. They say things like it’s too far, there aren’t enough children to build more schools, but we’ve heard these all before,” he said.

He dismissed the statement made by JAKOA last October that the department was “considering incentives for parents who send their children to schools, such as preparing food supplies and transit houses.”

“These are empty promises often used to trick the Orang Asli,” he said. “It’s not that we don’t want to send our children to school. But the school is also much too far.”

Malaysia’s human rights deteriorated further in 2015

Malaysia’s human rights deteriorated further in 2015, says rights watchdog

Published: 27 January 2016 4:48 PM

Phil Robertson Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is trampling on fundamental rights to hush up corruption allegations and maintain his grip on power. – The Malaysian Insider filepic, January 27, 2016.Malaysia’s human rights situation deteriorated sharply during 2015, as Putrajaya increased its campaign of harassment and repression against activists, political opposition figures, and the media, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said today.

The report came hours after Malaysia’s rank on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) in 2015 dropped by four points to 54, compared with 50 in 2014, said global corruption watchdog Transparency International (TI).

“The Malaysian government responded to public criticism of a major corruption scandal and its persecution of former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim with a wave of repression,” Phil Robertson, HRW's deputy Asia director, said in a statement.

“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is trampling on fundamental rights to hush up corruption allegations and maintain his grip on power.”

In the 659-page World Report 2016, the New York-based HRW executive director Kenneth Roth wrote that the spread of terrorist attacks beyond the Middle East and the huge flows of refugees spawned by repression and conflict led many governments to curtail rights in misguided efforts to protect their security.

At the same time, he said authoritarian governments throughout the world, fearful of peaceful dissent that is often magnified by social media, embarked on the most intense crackdown on independent groups in recent times.

In the Malaysia section of the report, HRW said Malaysian authorities arrested dozens of people under the Sedition Act for remarks critical of the government, the judiciary, and sultans throughout 2015.

At least 33 people have been charged with sedition in the last two years, including seven opposition members of parliament, it said.

HRW also noted that last April, the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition passed amendments to the Sedition Act to increase the penalties for violations and make it easier to use the law against online speech.

The strengthening of the law was a major reversal by Najib, who had repeatedly promised to repeal the Sedition Act and replace it with a so-called Harmony Act, the global group said.

HRW also said Putrajaya had responded to public reporting and discussions of corruption allegations involving state-owned 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) by suspending newspapers and blocking websites.

It also banned the logo of Bersih (Coalition for Free and Fair Elections), arresting dozens of people for participating in peaceful protests, and charging individuals with “economic sabotage” because they lodged police reports about 1MDB in foreign countries.

"The government also brought back indefinite detention without trial by passing the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), which allows a government-appointed board to impose detention without trial for up to two years, renewable indefinitely with no possibility of judicial review.

"In December, it passed a sweeping National Security Council law that allows the prime minister to declare security areas within which restraints on police power are suspended," HRW said.

It also listed other infractions, including the prosecution of opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim culminated in February when the Federal Court upheld his sodomy conviction and sentence of five years’ imprisonment.

In October, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention determined that Anwar was being arbitrarily detained and demanded his immediate release and reinstatement of his political rights," it added.

The rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people remain under threat in Malaysia, HRW said.

It added the October decision by the Federal Court to uphold a state law prohibiting “a male person posing as a woman” seriously undermines the rights of transgender individuals in the country.

There has been little progress in finding the two men who attacked LGBT rights defender Nisha Ayub with metal pipes outside her apartment in September, it noted.

“The government’s intolerance of critical speech and its on-going campaign of arrests and prosecutions belie any claim that Malaysia is a rights-respecting democracy,” Robertson said.

“If Malaysia wants to play a role on the international stage, it needs to step back from the brink and end the current campaign of repression.” – January 27, 2016. 

Najib has to go NOW, he has become irrelevant tat Malaysia is becoming lawless more and as he stays in power. We need Tengku Razaleigh, Zaid, or Saifuddin, one of these moderates to take over PM role NOW!

May the Lord see and hastily cause this to HAPPEN now. 

-

RM2.6b case: Dr M ropes in S’pore

RM2.6b case: Dr M ropes in S’pore, wants explanation

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Published 2016-01-27 14:20:00     Updated 2016-01-27 15:08:16      comments

  

Dr Mahathir Mohamad has roped Singapore into the RM2.6 billion donation issue after the attorney-general cleared Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak of any wrongdoing.

In a blog posting, the former prime minister noted how attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali said that Najib had returned RM2.03 billion back to the Saudi royal family in August 2013.

“How and when was this done?

“We are told the balance is frozen by Singapore. Can Singapore explain the unfreezing and the delivery back to the Saudis?

“Or does Singapore also believe in the free gift story, the letter and the Saudi admission?

“Singapore is a financial centre. Can it be so gullible?” Mahathir asked.

On July 22 last year, Reuters reported that Singapore police had frozen two bank accounts in connection with an investigation into alleged financial mismanagement and corruption at 1MDB.

"On July 15, 2015, we issued orders under the Criminal Procedure Code to prohibit any dealings in respect of money in two bank accounts that are relevant to the investigation," Singapore police had said in a statement.

However, the police did not identify the banks or the accounts in question because the investigation was still ongoing.

Malaysian authorities had claimed that the sum had originated from a Middle Eastern source and not from 1MDB, as some had alleged.

Yesterday, Apandi said investigations revealed that the RM2.6 billion was a donation from the Saudi royal family ahead of the general election in May 2013 and was given without strings attached.

'A letter from a deceased person not enough'

Meanwhile, Mahathir said there appeared to be a letter stating that the sum was for the prime minister to fight terrorism.

“Who is this Arab? How does he have a huge sum of money to give away? What is his business, what is his bank? How was the money transferred, what documents prove these?

“Just a letter from a deceased person or some nonentity is not enough...,” he said.

International news organisations have published conflicting versions of this donation issue, with an unnamed source telling BBC the money came from the late Saudi monarch, King Abdullah.

However, The Wall Street Journal in its report says that the Saudi Arabian ministries of finance and foreign affairs were in the dark.

The late Saudi monarch, King Abdullah only contributed US100 million to fight ISIS before he died, so WHY should he give US700 million to Najib to fight terrorism, especially when Malaysia is so far away from Saudi Arabia. 

Najib tall tales are getting harder and harder to believe!!!

Only the AG believes it, and also Najib's circle