Kebelakangan ini, saya hanya menyuarakan pandangan supaya mereka yang diberikan amanah jangan salahkan rakyat kerana hilang keyakinan dan kepercayaan terhadap anda, tetapi fikirkanlah mengapa rakyat telah hilang keyakinan dan kepercayaan terhadap anda.
Nampaknya teguran saya secara baik ini telah mendapat maklum balas yang kasar daripada seorang menteri.
Kalau saya mendapat jawapan sedemikian, apa harapan untuk teguran rakyat lain didengar?
Anda seorang menteri, bukannya tuhan dari syurga yang tidak boleh ditegur.
Jangan fikir rakyat negara ini wujud untuk memberikan anda jawatan dan kekayaan, tetapi jawatan tersebut wujud supaya anda memberikan khidmat kepada rakyat.
Apabila saya bersuara, saya melakukannya sebagai pemimpin rakyat saya, rakyat Johor dan Malaysia.
Saya hanya mengingatkan para pemimpin negara ini bahawa mereka mempunyai tanggungjawab untuk berkhidmat kepada rakyat, dan nampaknya oleh sebab itu saya diserang.
Bertanggungjawab pada Allah
Dalam aturan dunia yang baru, saya membayangkan masa depan di mana setiap orang mempunyai hak menyuarakan pendapat masing-masing.
Namun, keadaan di Malaysia pada hari ini tidaklah begitu, menteri-menteri pantang ditegur.
Saya rela dicemuh untuk mempertahankan perkara yang benar, daripada disanjung untuk membela perkara yang salah.
Saya bukan ahli politik. Saya hanya bertanggungjawab kepada Allah, sultan saya, dan rakyat Johor. Saya bukannya menjalankan suruhan seperti boneka.
Johor hanya mempunyai tempat bagi mereka yang mahu berkhidmat kepada rakyat, bukan untuk mereka yang mahu meraih undi demi kepentingan peribadi.
Akan tiba suatu masa, di mana rakyat Johor perlu membuat keputusan demi kebaikan masa depan kita dan generasi yang akan datang.
Kita akan bersatu dan membuat keputusan tersebut sebagai Bangsa Johor, untuk menempa masa depan kita. Bersatu kita teguh, bercerai kita roboh.
Bukan tumbangkan kerajaan
Saya berdiri untuk rakyat saya, bukan untuk merebut kuasa, bukan untuk menumbangkan kerajaan, tetapi untuk menjaga kesejahteraan rakyat saya.
Saya tidak pernah menyuruh sesiapa berundur atau meletak jawatan, hanya sekadar memberi ingatan kepada ahli politik berkenaan peranan dan tanggungjawab mereka.
Sekiranya perkara seperti itu pun anda tidak boleh terima, jelaslah kepada seluruh rakyat betapa angkuh dan sombongnya anda.
Alhamdulillah, saya telah dikurniakan dengan kehidupan yang selesa. Kalau hendak diikutkan, saya boleh hidup dalam dunia saya sendiri tanpa menghiraukan permasalahan rakyat, tetapi saya di sini berdiri teguh bersama mereka.
Jadi kepada mereka yang ingin mencemar imej saya dan menjadikan saya musuh awam nombor satu, sesungguhnya rakyat lebih bijak dan mampu menilai sendiri.
Jangan gunakan saya untuk mengalihkan tumpuan daripada isu 1MDB dan isu-isu nasional yang lain.
Negara ini memerlukan ahli politik yang bersih dan telus, yang menjalankan tanggungjawab mereka dengan keikhlasan dan integriti.- mk
Johor prince to Nazri: You are not God...
Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has defended his right to comment on national issues, despite criticisms from Culture and Tourism Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz.
His statement, in full, follows:
MESSAGE FOR MALAYSIANS
Of late, I just voiced out my opinion and a reminder that people who has been entrusted with the responsibility to not blame the people for losing trust and confidence in them, but think of why the people no longer have the confidence and trust in them. Apparently my gentle reminder has been met with a rather hostile response from a minister. If I got such a reply, then what chances does the rest of the rakyat have?
You are a minister, not a God from the heavens who lord above everybody. Do not think the people of this country exist to provide you with position and wealth, but the position exists for you to serve the people. When I voice out, I do it as the leader of my rakyat, on behalf of Johoreans and Malaysians. All I did is to remind the leaders of the country that they have a responsibility to serve the people, and for this, I am attacked.
In the new world order, I envision a future that every person has a right to voice their opinions. However, that is not the case in Malaysia today, where ministers think they are untouchable. I am willing to be cursed for standing up for what is right, rather than be loved for defending what is wrong.
I am not a politician. I am only answerable to Allah, my Sultan and the people of Johor. I do not do the bidding of some puppet-master who pulls the strings. Johor only has place for those who want to serve the people, not for those who want to garner votes for their own interests.
There will come a time, when the Johorean people must decide what is best for us and our future generations. Decide and unite we will, as Bangsa Johor, to forge our future. United we stand strong, divided we fall. I stand for my rakyat, not to joust for power, not to topple the government, but to ensure the well-being of my people.
I never told anybody to step down or resign, only to remind politicians of their roles and responsibilities. If you cannot deal with that, it just shows your arrogance to the people.
Alhamdulillah, I have been blessed with a comfortable life, and I can just live my own life and be oblivious to the worries of my people, but here I am, standing firm by their side. So for those wanting to tarnish my image and make me public enemy number one, the people are smarter than that, and they can think for themselves.
Do not use me to divert the attention from 1MDB and other national issues. This country needs politicians who are clean and transparent, who carry out their duties with sincerity and integrity.
- HRH Brigadier General Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, The Crown Prince of Johor. - mk
Crown prince: Focus on 1MDB, not me...
Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has urged Putrajaya to focus their attention on 1MDB and other national issues, instead of outspoken royals.
"Do not use me to divert the attention from 1MDB and other national issues.
"This country needs politicians who are clean and transparent, who carry out their duties with sincerity and integrity," said Tunku Ismail in a statement on the Johor football team's Facebook page.
Tunku Ismail is the president of the Johor Football Association.
He came under the spotlight after mocking Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's no-show at an highly-anticipated 1MDB dialogue on June 5.The prince had said someone who had "everything to hide" wouldn't turn up at a dialogue titled "nothing to hide".
This prompted outspoken Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz to criticise Tunku Ismail, telling him not to interfere politics or be prepared to be "whacked".
Tunku Ismail defended his remarks, stating that he did not tell anyone to step down but merely reminded politicians of their roles and responsibilities.
'It just shows your arrogance'
"If you cannot deal with that, it just shows your arrogance to the people," he said.
The prince added that he was blessed with a comfortable life and could have just watched what was going on from the sidelines, but then he decided to take their side.
"I can just live my own life and be oblivious to the worries of my people, but here I am, standing firm by their side.
"So for those wanting to tarnish my image and make me public enemy number one, the people are smarter than that, and they can think for themselves," Tunku Ismail said. - mk
More Investments by 1MDB...
1. 1MDB entered into a JV with Petro Saudi. It is not a Saudi Government company. 1MDB paid USD 1billlion as its 40% share of the JV. As far as can be ascertained Petro Saudi did not pay a single cent.
2. Then Petro Saudi is said to have bought the assets of Petro Saudi International, which is not owned by Petro Saudi. The JV between 1MDB and Petro Saudi then requested 1MDB to pay USD 700 million to settle the loan from Petro Saudi International to Petro Saudi.
3. The ownership of the oil fields in Argentina and Kazakhstan (or is it Turkmenistan) is not very clear, nor is the ownership of drilling ships.
4. Then suddenly USD 300 million of the payment by 1MDB is converted to a Murabaha loan. This USD 300 million seemed to have changed hands with lightning speed. We really don’t know where it is. And 1MDB will not tell us either.
5. Then there is the story of the investment in Cayman Islands. 1MDB did not invest directly but the money seems to have gone to Hong Kong companies owned by Jho Low. These companies apparently invested in Cayman Islands.
6. Then we are told by the Prime Minister that actually the fund is only recorded in Cayman Islands. The money is elsewhere, probably in Hong Kong. It is apparently invested in a hedge fund in Hong Kong.
7. When there was public uproar over the money being in Cayman Islands 1MDB agreed to bring it back. Although the money was said not to be in Cayman Islands, but the money was brought back from Cayman Islands in two tranches.
8. We are not told much about the first tranch. It was claimed to have been used to pay debts.
9. Then the second tranch with over 1 billion USD was brought back but not to Malaysia. It was brought back to Singapore and was deposited in a Swiss Bank.
10. Arul Kanda said he saw the cash there and Prime Minister said the money was there. It was not brought back because Bank Negara would ask too many questions. But Bank Negara must get the approval of the Minister according to the law for approving or disapproving any transaction. And the Minister is the effective head of 1MDB. So what is so difficult about getting Bank Negara’s approval?
11. Then the true reason came out. The Swiss Bank said no money had been deposited by 1MDB in the bank. The documents presented were false.
12. Then the Prime Minister amended his reply to Parliament stating that no money was brought back – only documents. What documents?
13. The second Minister of Finance now says it is “units”. Units of what?
14. 1MDB and the Prime Minister have not shown proof of the existence of the money from Cayman Islands. Is it in Singapore or has USD 1 billion dollars disappeared?
15. Statements without documentary proof are, as we have seen, quite useless. We need proof of all the investments and payments made by the 1MDB. But no proof has been shown accept for the acquisition of the power plants and purchase of Government land in Kuala Lumpur and private land in Penang. Until signed documentary proofs and not just statements by the Chief Executive Officer or Prime Minister, are shown, we have to assume that the money borrowed by 1MDB has disappeared. - chedet
Show us the money...
"BOSS," says the young man to the trustee. "There's so much money and assets floating around and we must use it to our advantage. Instead of liquid cash and land, we must use it to enhance our estate."
The trustee, after deep thought and consulting the inner circle, says: "Young man, here's some seed money to get things going. I am also throwing in a couple of parcels of prime land so that they can be developed."
The young man accepts the bequeathed windfall with both hands; rubs them together and says: "Here we go!"
First he goes to a middleman who arranges a loan with the Ah Long on interest rates beyond the market rate. The middleman collects a whopping 10% of the sum for his services. The young man then takes more loans and decides to "invest" in several parcels of land on an island.
Those parcels have hundreds of houses and the occupants would be unlikely to move and evicting them could cost a small fortune. Nevertheless, it is done in secrecy and we later come to know of the encumbrances. But it's too late. The bird has flown the coop; the money had been handed over and the deal had been signed, sealed, and delivered.
"Oil is big business and we must go into it," he declares. The whiz-kid's "business adviser" arranges a few transactions, but he too must get his reward as finder's fee or for fixing the deal. Another big chunk goes out as fees.
On the sidelines, the whiz kid collects his dues and uses them for business forays of his own and to maintain his high living. Yes, the champagne flowed; the models and actresses made a bee-line to his luxury homes and yachts; and everything appeared rosy.
With no money left, it's another round of borrowing. The money had to be borrowed to keep the Ah Longs at bay by at least paying the interest which was mounting by the day.
Meekly, the young man turns to the trustee and says: "Boss, I need another loan to continue the business. I am buying three lucrative businesses which will generate recurring income. In years to come, we can list these companies on the stock exchange and get the money and settle the loans."
But the trustee knows the shortcomings. The three businesses all have expiry dates and getting into them would result in beneficiaries and stakeholders questioning his ability to head the trust. Besides, what was unknown was that the takeover also included the liabilities of one of them.
"Boss, the money lenders won't part with a single cent without you being the guarantor," the young man says. "If you don't put a word in, we are all kaput."
The trustee re-looks at the position. Listing will enable them to get back the initial costs and perhaps some profit and perhaps the powers that be can be persuaded to extend the terms after the expiry of the licence. Perhaps, the tariffs should be revised for more profits.
So, there goes another round of borrowings. This time the Ah Long says: "I don't have that kind of money, but I can get it from another Ah Long. But there's a strict condition."
"We are dealing with mega-bucks here. I will retain 40% of the principal sum as 'security deposit' and give you the remainder. When you pay the full sum with interest, I will release what I am keeping."
They shake hands and another deal is done. The young man gets the money and decides to invest in "kuttu" or chit-fund operations. Highly volatile and many have had their fingers burnt in similar transactions. But some people never learn their lessons.
Then, the young man tries to flog part of one parcel of the land to a friendly party which was arm-twisted into the deal. The trustee gave him the land at a nominal price and he now pushes it some 40 times the cost to show a profit.
Ripples appear all-round. The friendly party goes on the defensive and reneges on the deal. Back to square one.
Like all business entities, an audited report of the company's finances has to be submitted to the authorities. The auditors come in, inspect the books and they are not impressed. A little qualifier is needed and as required, it appears on the report.
All hell breaks loose. Other beneficiaries and stakeholders are bewildered, bemused and befuddled by the state of affairs. They raise the issue in various platforms and fora.
"Change the auditor. Sack them," is the common cry. And that's done.
"Where's the money?" The beneficiaries ask. The immediate answer is: "It is in an off-shore bank account.”
Meantime, unable to pay the interests, the money lenders want to foreclose the loans. They too want to safeguard their funds. But aren't the loans guaranteed by the trustee?
The young man runs from pillar to post seeking funds to pay the interest failing which, he would default. A Good Samaritan comes to his aid. "Here's the money and here're the terms of settlement."
His goose, about to be cooked, survives the pot but the young man's troubles are far from over. "Why don't you bring back the money from the off-shore account and pay the creditors?" he is asked.
The young man rustles up some ingenious methodology. The money, he says, has been taken out and deposited in another bank closer to home. But why don't you bring it home?
"Oh! The monetary authorities in our country are strict and to avoid being prosecuted for wrongdoing, we kept it elsewhere."
How much cash? No, they are in units, says the young man.
What are units? No one has an answer and even the trustee's trusted buddy who answered could not explain.
"The money is not lost," he assures everyone. "I will account for every cent."
Two days later the young man causes to publish a set of graphics outlining how and where the money went. Stakeholders start poking holes in the set of figures. The credibility of the investments is questioned.
Those figures include the investments in the kuttu and chit-fund investments. But have they yielded anything? After all, in financial parlance, they are categorised as "Level 3" investments. This means they are high risk as the values of the assets are not transparent and apparent.
The onslaught continues. The trustee appears on national television demonising the critics. Even his inner circle is not spared. "You are with me or against me," he says.
They – all of them – are with him, they announce publicly. The spin maestro comes with a gem of a catchphrase – Nothing to hide. That will be the new mantra but even before it takes off, it is doomed.
End of story? Not yet. There's more to come. The detractors keep on piling pressure with more questions. The most important and vital phrase – show us the money!
This would not be asking too much as the amount is a double-digit figure with nine zeros behind it!
Would the trustee and the young man be able to put their money where their mouth is? Wait for the next episode. - R. Nadeswaran,thesundaily
cheers.
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