Has Wan Saiful not learned anything from ex-PM Najib?...

Why Bersatu panicked after Wan Saiful charged for corruption – Annuar Musa could be next...

When Wan Saiful Wan Jan was charged for receiving RM6.96 million (RM6,962,694.54 to be precise) kickbacks from Nepturis Sdn Bhd in exchange for a lucrative road project – Central Spine Road worth a staggering RM232 million – it has raised eyebrows. The information chief of Bersatu or Malaysian United Indigenous Party has actually been slapped with two charges.

First, he was charged with soliciting bribes from Nepturis. Second, he was charged for receiving the bribe. Why are both charges different? Because in the first charge, he had solicited an “unspecified amount” of kickbacks for the RM232 million project. Meaning the RM6.96 million he had received was not the final amount – the amount solicited and the amount received was different.

Unless Wan Saiful and Nepturis Sdn Bhd were incredibly dumb that they put it in black and white how much bribes must be paid in order to secure the project, the only explanation that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is charging Wan Saiful of soliciting an “unspecified amount” from the company is that the contractor has been singing like a canary.

Wan Saiful - Prison

It wasn’t a very difficult decision for the contractor to spill the beans after interrogation by the MACC. Either it tells everything like a good boy, or it would be charged for offering bribes in April 2022 to get the “pre-approval” road project. No contractor would go to prison in defence of a corrupt politician. Offenders could be sentenced up to 20 years’ of jail and a fine of not less than 5 times the amount of the bribe.

Wan Saiful must be a fool for having received the bribes through his company’s CIMB account under WSA Advisory Group Sdn Bhd from Nepturis. Has he not learned anything from former Prime Minister Najib Razak, whose comical claim that the US$681 million (RM2.6 billion) found in his personal bank accounts was donations from Saudi royal family could not be proven till today?

By crediting the RM6.96 million into his own company’s bank account, it created money trails – proof that the MACC and prosecutors can use to convict and send Wan Saiful to prison. If only Bersatu president Muhyiddin has taught his boy a trick or two about accepting bribes in the form of cash for such small amount of money, Wan Saiful might not have gotten himself into a shithole now.

Scandal  Jana Wibawa 

Unlike Najib’s complicated web of corruption and money laundering in the 1MDB scandal, Wan Saiful’s case is absolutely straightforward. The contractor is willing to reveal how much the corrupt politician was trying to solicit in exchange for the project, and RM6.96 million had changed hands – translating to approximately 3% of the RM232 million project.

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, 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 had been grilled by the anti-graft agency admitted that they agreed to pay a commission of 3% to 5% to secure projects from those middlemen. So, the burning question is whether Wan Saiful was one of those lucky middlemen who were entrusted to collect bribes on behalf of the disgraced crook – former PM Muhyiddin Yassin.

If the foolish Wan Saiful was one of the middlemen, it means the amount he had solicited would be more than RM6.96 million. Meaning besides his own commission of RM6.96 million, Nepturis had to also pay another chunk of bribes to the big shark – Muhyiddin. Whether the ex-premier had been paid, or how the solicited bribes were paid, will be revealed very soon.

Muhyiddin was cleverer than Najib and Wan Saiful, of course. He only accepts cash as that’s the only way to avoid money trail – and easy to hide. Having learned from Najib’s foolishness of stashing cash and jewelleries in his children’s posh apartments, Muhyiddin might have hidden hundreds of millions of Ringgit in a house rented by third parties for the purpose of stashing the ill-gotten money.

Here’s the proof – former UMNO warlord Annuar Musa proudly told all and sundry in TikTok how Muhyiddin gave him tens of millions during the 2020 Sabah state election. Annuar said – “I flew to Sabah and met Muhyiddin myself. I entered his bedroom and told him UMNO didn’t have enough money and lacked funds. Muhyiddin gave tens of millions to help UMNO when in Sabah.”

Annuar Musa...

If former backdoor PM Muhyiddin could easily give away tens of millions of Ringgit as if the money was loose change, it means there were hundreds of millions more in his bedroom. Annuar thought he was smart when he tried to defend his former boss as a generous man trying to help his party UMNO. He didn’t realize his dumb revelation will eventually haunt Muhyiddin.

In Dec 2022, the MACC recorded testimonies of 5 people, including Annuar in connection with the free flow of money dished out by Muhyiddin. While it’s harder to implicate the former prime minister, it does not mean it’s totally impossible to incriminate him. If the contractor reveals everything, and Wan Saiful agrees to cooperate in exchange for leniency, Muhyiddin is toast.

That’s why opposition Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin, along with top guns like Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainuddin had turned up outside the Session Court where Wan Saiful was charged this week (Feb 21). It might look like a demonstration of strong support for him, but in reality, the big crooks were extremely afraid the small fry will expose everything.

Despite flashing smiles, Wan Saiful was terrified as he knew he would go to jail unless Attorney General Idrus Harun and MACC Chief Commissioner Azam Baki – both political appointees of Muhyiddin – deliberately create loopholes in the case and purposely screw up during the trial to help him. In fact, Bersatu was so panicked that it has launched dozens of half-baked pre-emptive strikes.

From spinning lies that the Anwar-led Unity Government is the most vengeful government in the world to creating false narratives that the government was trying to kill Bersatu through selective prosecution, the corrupt party is throwing everything, including the kitchen sink to hoodwink its gullible supporters. The panic saw Shafiq Abdul Halim, a freelance researcher of Wan Saiful, spread dangerous rumours.

Shafiq had used TikTok to wildly accuse the MACC of offering RM10 million to Wan Saiful to change his story to implicate Muhyiddin, only for the dubious researcher to be arrested by the MACC despite his apology. The anti-graft agency does not need to bribe Wan Saiful, not that it has RM10 million to begin with. The RM92.5 billion Covid-19 Stimulus Packages is a massive scandal.

MACC dont tolerate wild accusation

And Jana Wibawa, a programme to help Bumiputera contractors but conveniently hijacked by Wan Saiful to enrich himself, is just a small part of the Covid-19 Stimulus Packages. The RM92.5 billion scandal is so huge it makes Najib’s RM2.6 billion corruption looks like a child play. There are dozens of contractors willing to talk as prosecution witnesses in order to escape prosecution.

In truth, Muhyiddin has already admitted that his party received bribes when he whined, moaned and bitched that every political party accept funds. He asked why leaders of Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional were not charged in court despite receiving funds from their supporters. He conveniently ignored the fact that his party was caught soliciting kickbacks in exchange for projects.

Pakatan Harapan never offered any projects because they were the Opposition. Barisan Nasional was one of the governing partners of Muhyiddin’s backdoor government. If Barisan had received bribes in exchange for projects, why hadn’t he taken any action in his capacity as the 8th Prime Minister? Like Wan Saiful, another middleman charged was Adam Radlan.

On Jan 5 night, the 42-year-old Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad 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. A former chief executive of Maju Assets Sdn Bhd, Adam is also Segambut divisional leader of Muhyiddin’s political party – Bersatu.

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. Mr Adam, Muhyiddin’s money collector, has been slapped with multiple corruption charges, with more coming. It would be interesting to see if he is willing to go to jail alone, or drag Muhyiddin along to make the prison a merrier place for holiday.

In the same breath, Annuar Musa could be next to be charged in the Kuala Lumpur Tower scandal involving the suspicious sale of the KL Tower concession by Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) to a company that was facing bankruptcy. The tower is owned by the Malaysian government, while operations and maintenance of the tower were granted to Telekom in 1996.

Annuar Musa-Menara Kuala Lumpur-KL Tower Scandal 

Through TM’s subsidiary Menara KL Sdn Bhd, the concession and management rights of Menara KL brought in a cool RM20.9 million “net profit” in 2019 for Telekom Malaysia. A year earlier (2018), Menara KL, also known as KL Tower, generated a net profit of RM25.6 million. Strangely, Telekom had on Oct 31 disposed its 100% interest in Menara KL for merely RM3.8 million.

Worse, the valuable asset was sold to a financially troubled company called Hydroshoppe Sdn Bhd – owned by Abdul Hamid Shaikh bin Abdul Razak Shaikh and Nazarina binti Mohamed Nasir, with 500,000 shares each. Despite the unfamiliar names, sources have claimed that 42-year-old Nazarina is “girlfriend or mistress” of former Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa.

Suspiciously, the ownership of KL Tower was quietly transferred to Shah Alam-based Hydroshoppe on October 31, 2022, just days after then-PM Ismail Sabri dissolved the Parliament on Oct 10, paving the way for the 15th General Election – suggesting that it was done hastily by powerful minister(s) in anticipation of a loss by Muhyiddin’s fragile Perikatan Nasional coalition.

Menara Kuala Lumpur - KL Tower Scandal - Ownership Transfer from Telekom Malaysia to Hydroshoppe Sdn Bhd

At best, some corrupt TM top guns were bribed not to renew its concession, allowing the ownership of KL Tower to be transferred to Hydroshoppe. At worst, Annuar and powerful crooks linked to Muhyiddin had abused their power by forcefully stripped KL Tower from TM and awarded the cash cow to Hydroshoppe, a company involved in cosmetic products instead of property management.

Like the arrest of middleman Adam Radlan, the MACC has also arrested two individuals believed to be the middlemen who managed the bribery in the KL Tower scandal, as well as the managing director of Hydroshoppe. The MACC has completed its investigations and has submitted the investigation paper to the Attorney General. But Annuar’s involvement might not be limited to KL Tower alone.

MACC Chief Commissioner Azam Baki had hinted that more people would be charged in the Jana Wibawa programme scandal, including top leaders like Muhyiddin. Now, if even small fry like Wan Saiful had both his hands in the cookie jar, it would not be a surprise if Annuar Musa too has his share. After all, he is the biggest cheerleader of Muhyiddin. - FT

Nama Wak Zahid tak timboi pun...

Sinar Harian ni lubuk pembaca bagi golongan atas pagar. Yakni golongan pengundi paling ramai.Sebagai aktivitis politik, Saya selalu promosikan, tengok individu bukan parti. Kita pilih mereka yang ada sifat SAFT dan pandai bekerja untuk negara. True enough, sekarang pengundi dan rakyat lebih terbuka. 

Top 5 Menteri yang disukai, 3 daripadanya datang dari DAP. Shocking to me, sebab pembaca Sinar majoriti nya orang Melayu Islam. Tetap Menteri DAP juga yang mengungguli carta. 5 tahun ni kita dah belajar, retorik politik kaum dan agama. Kita pun dah lelah dengan perangai mereka. 

Sekarang kita nak Kerajaan yang kompetan dan Menteri yang boleh buat kerja. Sikit sebanyak, rakyat Malaysia dah mula tolak politik kaum dan agama. - Liyana Marzuki

cheers.

The last time Anwar did this was 26 years ago...

Anwar Ibrahim, lauded as Asia’s best finance minister in the 1990s, on Friday (Feb 24) presented his first budget since taking office as Malaysia’s Prime Minister three months ago.

The last time he did this was 26 years ago. The theme for his budget is “Membangun Malaysia Madani” (Developing a Civil Malaysia). People are poring through the 85-page speech for answers to a simple question: “Is this an election budget?”

Now, this might seem like an odd question given that Malaysia just held its general election in November last year. What people are referring to is the upcoming state elections (that must be held by law) in Penang, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah. These elections will decide if the Anwar administration remains politically stable.

In Malaysia’s 15th General Election (GE15), the biggest surprise was the “green wave” or the rise of Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) and the Islamic votes. If Anwar cannot claw back the Islamic votes, which is the same as the Malay heartland vote, then there will be political instability.

Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition received less than 15 per cent of the Malay votes in GE15. PH’s coalition partner, UMNO, received about 30 per cent of the Malay votes, thus giving Anwar’s government some legitimacy among the majority population.

It is thus crucial that PH and UMNO win the majority of votes in Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah, which are currently led by PAS, a component party of opposition bloc Perikatan Nasional (PN). 

Countering the narrative...

On Friday, Anwar, who also holds the finance portfolio, tabled a revised RM388.1 billion (US$87.49 billion) budget, the largest in Malaysia to date and about 16 per cent more than last year’s budget. Cost of living issues took centre stage, with RM64 billion for aid, subsidies and incentives.

While the bulk of that will be going to the bottom 20 per cent of the population where the Malays are a clear majority, it is not exactly an “election budget”. Middle-class Malaysians will enjoy a 2 per cent cut to their personal income tax. Those with less than RM10,000 in their retirement fund (EPF) will get a RM500 top up.

Sure, Anwar is reaching out to the core voters by giving direct cash payments. For example, Islamic religious teachers will get between RM100 to RM600 cash payment, while civil servants will get RM700 each. Government pensioners will get RM350. Farmers will get cash and Bernas, the national rice monopoly, will share part of it profits with rice farmers.

Very poor families can get direct cash benefits up to RM2,500. The Islamic bureaucracy will get RM1.5 billion, a clear signal that Anwar’s administration is as Islamic as all previous administration. All this is done to counter the narrative that Islam is being sidelined since there are too many non-Malays in PH and in government.

Still very much a recovery budget...

The financial markets will probably be neutral on this budget. What they will like is that there are no shinning big projects that will cost billions. They will like that taxes for small businesses will be reduced, and that some major infrastructure projects will be re-tendered, all of which will led to major savings. They will also like the new proposed taxes for luxury goods like watches and fashion items.

What the markets really want is the reintroduction of a goods and services tax, but they understand this is politically impossible. This point was reinforced at the start of Anwar’s speech when he painted a bleak economic outlook for 2023, with the economy growing by 4.5 per cent this year.

Although this is the biggest budget in Malaysia’s history, it is very much still a recovery budget from the pandemic damage. Anwar has to be cautious with the budget during uncertain times, carefully mapping out the expenditure and making sure the core heartland population is well-looked after. - Professor James Chin,CNA

RM7b projects under 

Jana Wibawa cancelled...

To rid the country of any notion of corruption and pilferage, the government has cancelled RM7 billion in projects awarded directly under the Jana Wibawa scheme and will retender RM15 billion worth of flood mitigation projects.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the decision when tabling Budget 2023 and said the move could save the country some RM3 billion.

“Government projects and acquisitions need to be open and transparent. We cannot be pilfering public funds and abusing the system using the direct negotiations method,” he said.

“After re-tendering the projects openly, the country can save up to RM3 billion. This savings can be redistributed into other public projects,” he said.

Anwar said that he wanted to clear the name of the country and prove that a Malay-Muslim person could be respected for his integrity and principles of fairness in the country. - malaymail.com

cheers.

'Apek' from Pagoh 'ada' share in Jana Wibawa’s spoils...

Veteran journalist and blogger Datuk A. Kadir Jasin has taken a pot shot as to how the administration of former premier Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin could be so lax in its implementation of the Jana Wibawa programme which was established to expedite the business recovery of Bumiputera contractors in the post-COVID period.

Summing up on the case of businessman Datuk Teo Wee Cheng who landed in hot soup for allegedly soliciting bribes worth RM12.8 mil and receiving RM1.5 mil connection with the Jana Wibawa programme, Kadir penned a stinging two-liner on his Facebook page: “The intention was to economically empower credible Bumiputera contractors. But the Chinese Datuk also has a share”.

Elaborating further on the founder of the Muar-based listed furniture maker SHH Resources Holdings Bhd, Kadir made a juicy revelation in that Teo’s company is based in Pagoh which happens to by the parliamentary constituency of Muhyiddin who is also the Bersatu president and Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman. “Teo Wee Cheng is a director of SSH Furniture Sdn Bhd, a company located in Pagoh, Johor.”

This unpleasant discovery made Kadir wondered how Bumiputera businesses can progress if those who are supposed to be credible are subject to bribery by their own race and other races.

“This is the outcome when looking for a credible Bumiputera with your eyes closed (and your brains, too). What is found at last is an apek (slang for elderly Chinese man)!” lamented the former Bersatu supreme council member. For context, Teo, 65, has claimed trial in the Johor Bahru Sessions Court yesterday (Feb 22) to nine charges of soliciting and receiving bribes in relation to the Jana Wibawa scandal.

He is the third person to be charged in court in connection to the Program Jana Ekonomi Pemerkasaan Kontraktor Bumiputera Berwibawa after former Bersatu information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan and Bersatu deputy division chief of Segambut Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad (who is a cousin to Muhyiddin’s son-in-law Datuk Adlan Berhan).

Mooted during the 17-month PN administration at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jana Wibawa programme was intended to improve the capacity of Bumiputera contractors in the construction industry as well as to expedite project execution to spur the nation’s economic recovery post COVID-19.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC) is currently investigating claims that contractors chosen for the programme were required to allegedly deposit money amounting to RM300 mil in Bersatu’s party accounts.

As for Teo who presumably has been released on a RM500,000 bail, the second largest shareholder of SHH Resources with a stake of 17.3% has resigned as managing director of the company a day prior to his court case (Feb 21), citing “other personal reason”.

His void was filled up by his daughter Teo Chee Teng, 25, who has just joined the company upon her graduation from the University of Melbourne in July 2022, according to a Bursa Malaysia filing by the company.

At the close of yesterday’s trading, shares of SHH Resources fell nine sen or 13.85% to 56 sen with 258,200 shares traded, this valuing the company at RM56 mil. – FocusMalaysia

The bumiputera’s worst enemy 

is another bumiputera...

The corruption scandal involving former prime minister Mahiaddin Yassin’s Jana Wibawa program is a classic case of the well-connected bumiputera stealing rakyat’s money in the name of the bumiputera.It is about the bumiputera having no shame about stealing from another bumiputera. It is the never-ending story of endemic corruption in Malaysia. 

It is about bumiputera greed, lust for power, abuse of position and inflated egos.There is only one word that best describes Mahiaddin’s legacy. Treachery. Mahiaddin, the architect of the Sheraton Move, proudly boasted that he was a “Malay first and Malaysian second,” does not need enemies to bring him down. His wounds are self-inflicted.

At the height of the coronavirus pandemic, under the cover of the Emergency Rule, Mahiaddin ruled with an iron fist. With parliament dissolved, his actions were not scrutinized. He could do as he wished. From the emerging corruption scandals, it appears that instead of helping the rakyat during lockdown, Mahiaddin and his close aides merely helped themselves.

In the past week, several key Bersatu leaders, including Mahiaddin, have been  questioned by the MACC. It looks like he has further to fall. Perhaps, Mahiaddin’s most treacherous act is the shame he has inflicted on the Malays. He insulted all the honest, hardworking Malays who are now tainted with his brush.

In November 2020, Mahiaddin introduced the Jana Wibawa project, a stimulus program for struggling Malay contractors to make them more competitive and to help boost the nation’s economic recovery during and after the coronavirus pandemic.

However, it was alleged that family members of some Bersatu leaders had been awarded various government contracts. Similarly, crony companies which made substantial political donations to Bersatu would also “win” the contracts.

The open abuse of Jana Wibawa prompted the president of the Malaysian Malay Contractors Association (PKMM) Mohamed Fadzill to announce that it was an “open secret” whereby selected Malay and bumiputera contractors had been awarded government projects by direct negotiations.

He claimed that the projects had also been awarded to companies “friendly with a particular political party” despite having neither experience nor expertise. He said former PM Ismail Sabri had said he would investigate why eligible Malay companies were excluded. What happened to Ismail’s investigation?

Yesterday, those closest to Mahiaddin have been implicated. Bersatu information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan was charged with soliciting a bribe of an unspecified amount and for receiving a bribe of RM6.96 million between July 8 and September 30, 2022.

At a separate court, Segambut Bersatu deputy chief Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad was charged with seeking a bribe ranging from 3.5 percent and 7 percent of the value of a project. Following the charges against Wan Saiful and Adam Radlan, Mahiaddin claimed that Bersatu was a victim of “selective prosecution.”

The rakyat disagree. For five decades, dishonest politicians have used the bumiputera agenda to take advantage of other bumiputeras. Rich and politically connected Malays have distracted, tricked and stolen from poorer, more gullible and ignorant Malays.

The Jana Wibawa program, like most other affirmative action programs designed to help bumiputeras, has been abused to benefit the elite Malays. For decades, there was no political will to stem this abuse.

Perhaps now under PM Anwar all this is about to change. The key ingredients of affirmative action programs like Jana Wibawa are these: the politician, the minister, the government project, taxpayers’ money, the bumiputera angle and for added bonus, the Emergency rule.

Politicians use such programs as a stepping stone to get rich quickly. The added bonus for Jana Wibawa was that Emergency rule prevented scrutiny of Bersatu’s actions. The minister is the enabler. He approves the contracts while the PM gives the final nod to proceed. The program involves government projects which are funded by taxpayers.

Eligible bumiputera companies should qualify, but in truth, only cronies or family members of corrupt politicians are awarded the contracts. In the end, it is the elite, well-connected bumiputeras who have robbed the poorer bumiputeras. If we were to criticize corrupt Malay businessmen or incompetent bumiputera companies, we will be accused of being anti-Malay/bumiputera!

The other tragedy of Malaysia is that Malaysians dare not criticize incompetent and corrupt bumi companies because the critics will be seen as being anti-Malay/bumiputera. Some are punished. In the end, anyone who demands integrity, meritocracy and transparency in bumi companies will not speak up.The failure to criticize means that corrupt bumi companies and incompetent bumiputeras thrive.

The Jana Wibawa scandal was allowed to happen because Mahiaddin is weak. He cannot pretend that he was not aware of what was going on in Jana Wibawa during his tenure. Last week, Mahiaddin and former finance minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz were questioned by MACC officials. Unsurprisingly, Mahiaddin tried to pass the buck by claiming that Jana Wibawa was Zafrul’s brainchild.

By attempting to distance himself from Jana Wibawa, Mahiaddin succeeded in showing that he was just another weak and arrogant Malay politician who refused to take responsibility for his actions. Malaysians furious with the never-ending corruption scandals would like the MACC to disclose detailed information in Jana Wibawa, such as which company was awarded the contracts; what is the approved amount; and who is involved?

We thought that the convicted felon Najib Abdul Razak and the 1MDB scandal was bad, but it appears that Mahiaddin is worse! He is a disgrace to Malaysia, and more importantly to his race and religion. - Mariam Mokhtar

cheers.

3 reasons why Tengku Zafrul should go...

 

The title of this headline has nothing to do with the fact that Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz was re-admitted into the Cabinet of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim-led unity government via backdoor despite having lost in the 15th General Election (GE15). Such shamelessness has become the norm in Malaysian politics.

Neither has it anything to do with his dismal performance as finance minister – a portfolio he held under two prime ministers (PMs) – before being made the International Trade and Industry Minister by Anwar under the current government.

Or the fact that Zafrul has recently been appointed to the UMNO supreme council where he has stated his intention to vie for a spot there during the upcoming party elections.

The decision somehow demonstrates his lack of political acumen – and by extension his intellect and moral judgement given how the party has been roundly rejected by the electorate, and more so after it joined forces with archnemesis, the DAP.

Why he should step down?

Tengku Zafrul should resign because he’s not in line with Anwar. There are three incidents to prove this:

The first is the alleged misappropriation of funds disbursed during the pandemic under the various stimulus and aid packages. Anwar has revealed that some RM300 mil had been misappropriated. As the finance minister then, Tengku Zafrul is a key figure in the scheme of things.

His current boss has now said that something is not quite right and there were suspicious leakages that has led to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) probing into the saga.

The second reason why Zafrul should call it a day in the current Cabinet is the proposed tabling of the White Paper on the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines. While the medical aspects of the procurement did not fall under his jurisdiction during his MOF (Finance Ministry) days, billions of ringgit was involved in a process that involved the MOF’s oversight.

According to Anwar, the purchase was not made according to procedure, including no signing off by the Attorney-General (AG). Worse still, the then Government tapped into the National Trust Fund (KWAN) for the purchase which was supposed to be a kitty for future generations.

Thirdly, the Jana Wibawa scandal has implicated Tengku Zafrul. Berita Harian has reported that he is a suspect in the rural developmental project where RM5.7 bil has been disbursed. The programme started during the previous government whereby Tengku Zafrul was the finance minister.

These three incidents show a yawning disconnect between Tengku Zafrul and his boss Anwar. The latter has listed down a series of lapses where Tengku Zafrul is implicated – if not directly – then by association. In any organisation, the subordinate would have done the honourable thing by resigning to distance himself or herself from such damning allegations.

Besides, by not resigning – or at least taking leave – the authorities are unable to carry out their probes without fear or favour. This goes against the fundamental principle of good governance and that of politicians having not only to be clean but also be seen to be clean.

Even among thieves, there’s honour. But not in Malaysia where political expediency trumps integrity. – Thirumugam Muthusamy

PAS lowering Islam to the lowest low...

The picture of a group of young Malay Muslims in a warrior garb brandishing fake spears, swords and shields represents the lowest of the low for the future of Islam as a modern, dynamic and progressive force in society. Its leaders, like Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, could not even manage to provide a decent and well argued reason and rationale for this clear display of militancy that has now become the new branding of Parti Islam SeMalaysia.

Tuan Ibrahim’s rationale and poor explanation was that it is just like the Chinese opera where the characters and actors wield fake swords and kungfu spears. Aiyaaa Tuan Ibrahim, Chinese opera is an art form called stage acting, and its purpose is purely for entertainment.

The movie Rambo also uses fake guns, bazookas, rocket launchers and knives in the fighting scene. But it is just a movie and its purpose is entertainment! The display of militancy by the Terengganu PAS Youth is a political event, not a stage opera nor a movie scene. Itu pun tak tau perbezaankah?

If I were a PAS leader and I was asked for a commentary on this scene of young Malays carrying weapons and shields, I would have answered in the following way: “The purpose of the march by the Youth is to show solidarity and discipline in fighting for the cause of Islam in social, political and in militarily conflict. The Qur’an mentions the Muslims as a solid wall of defense against attacks on Islam.

“The brandishing of fake swords shows the symbol that the young would lay their lives for Islam in the tireless pursuit of Islamic justice for all mankind against any form of oppression, intolerance and injustice. “The march is also a reenactment of the Battle of Badr where Muslims faced a force three times its size but they triumphed because of their faith in Islam. “I see no reason for others to criticize us on how we wish to inspire our youth using our own religious traditions dating back to the Prophet’s time.” Macam itulah! 

I am sure if someone in PAS were to give that kind of explanation, this matter would not be of concern any more. It is a symbolic gesture of struggle and strife for Islam. However, without any explanation or rationale given that can be accepted by the public at large, how can we fault Malaysians for fearing this scene as an act of Islamic extremism?

Is the message of the march related to fighting for the state elections in a more aggressive and militant manner? Is the march a warning to all Malaysians that PAS is considering street warfare style of election campaigning? Is the brandishing of weapons a symbol of the supremacy of PAS religious scholar-politicians above our Constitution in an Iran-style dictatorship? Are these the correct messages from the march?

For me, there are three messages to this article. The first is for PAS, the other is for Malaysians and the last is for the Malays.To PAS, my message is: do you believe in a shared Malaysia? If you don’t, then there is no place for you and the likes of you in this country. Please relocate yourself for citizenship in Afghanistan and fight your politics there!

My second message is to Malaysians. If Malaysians doubt the effectiveness and blessedness of the unity government forged by the YDP Agong and led by Anwar Ibrahim, please frame the picture of the PAS Youth brandishing weapon as a possible future for Malaysia. I am saddened by the many ill comments on the government and on people like Anwar, Nurul, Zahid and on political parties like Umno by well-meaning but kurang beradab Malaysians.

If the state elections swing to PN, the Youth march by PAS in Terengganu is the Future of Malaysia. Please remember that when you wish to criticize and derail the unity government. As the saying goes, we reap what we sow! For the Malays, my message is: is this the Islam you want? An Islam of dogma, blood and dictatorship by a group claiming they know better what Allah The Almighty wants for all of us?

We have the Madani Islam of Anwar Ibrahim that encourages compassion for all, innovation of ideas, a sustainable environment of clean living, a professional civil service and a corruption-free leadership. Apa lagi you mau? Total “Islamic dominance”? Do you not know that absolute power corrupts absolutely? Yes, even those who claim to be close to Allah. These so-called ulamaks or Officers of Islam would be the first to be corrupted because no one can check against them.

I hope that the middle class learn better what Islam stands for in a modern multifaith society and get their their heads out of the surau or masjid mindset and start widening the sources of spiritual knowledge. Studying from one source is no longer viable. For Institutional Islam that governs the writing of the Khutbah, if the Talibanization of Malaysia takes root by PAS, believe me the first power to go and be eliminated will be Institutional Islam.

We have seen how PAS jostled with Institutional Islam in the Bon Odori issue and others, and they have lost every time. PAS will not hesitate to place their ulamaks above and beyond the influence of Institutional Islam. The “Day of Judgement” for Malaysia has come. The question is: where will you stand in this firestorm of hate and mistrust? - Prof.Dr.Ahmad Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi

cheers.

Facing 3 scandals, Muhyiddin in bigger trouble than Najib...

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has threatened to sue those who insinuate that he is corrupt. Well, if he is serious about his threats, he should start taking legal action against Anwar Ibrahim because the 10th Prime Minister has suggested on numerous occasions that he was corrupt by awarding lucrative contracts to his son-in-law.

In fact, PM Anwar has repetitively dropped some hints that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) should and would investigate large-scale corruption cases without fear and favour. Obviously, it was a warning to MACC Chief Commissioner Azam Baki, who was promoted by Muhyiddin in March 2020, not to close one-eye over corruptions involving his former political master.

Azam was previously exposed of owning shares beyond his mean – 1,930,000 shares of Gets Global Berhad (formally known as KBES Berhad) in 2015. He then cooked up a half-baked story that it was his little brother’s fault for using his share trading account to buy millions of shares. Thanks to then-PM Muhyiddin’s interference, the Securities Commission found Azam not guilty.

The MACC Chief may be grateful to Muhyiddin. However, he could only drag his feet for so long. His share trading scandal could re-emerge and he could be sacked – even jailed for corruption. Even if Anwar is too kind to forgive Muhyiddin, UMNO leaders are thirsty for blood after losing dozens of seats in the recent general election to Muhyiddin-led Perikatan Nasional through vote buying.

Insisting again that he did not take a single cent from the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines during his tenure as 8th Prime Minister (March 2020 – August 2021), Muhyiddin said – “I have informed the MACC that I am not guilty and they seemed satisfied”. Sure, if the anti-corruption agency believes everything a crook says, Malaysia does not need prison anymore.

In May 2018, the MACC too said former Prime Minister Najib Razak was merely questioned on the investigation of SRC International Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB). About 4 months later – September 2018 – Najib was officially arrested and charged, before found guilty in July 2020 and sent to prison after losing his final appeal in August 2022.

Muhyiddin - Investigated by MACC Commissioner Azam Baki

Hilariously, Muhyiddin, whose given name is Mahiaddin, concluded he was innocent because the MACC officer interrogating him said he was not a suspect, but was summoned to merely provide explanations. He appeared proud that the MACC was questioning him about another investigation involving Jana Wibawa, and not about the RM92.5 billion Covid-19 stimulus programme.

If the ex-PM believes he will not be charged just because a low-ranking MACC officer said he was not a suspect at the time he was being grilled, then he is stupider than he looks. Najib, who was smiling after being interrogated for hours in 2018, was also told he was not a suspect. Likewise, Najib was incredibly happy when he was questioned by the MACC about SRC, and not 1MDB scandal.

In truth, Muhyiddin is extremely panicked, but had to put up a brave face. He could not smile, unlike his former boss Najib, because he is facing multiple scandals. According to the MACC, the president of Bersatu or Malaysian United Indigenous Party has given his statement in the investigations of RM300 million received by his party linked to the Covid-19 Economic Stimulus Package.

Apparently, more than 15 individuals, including Bersatu leaders and contractors, had been interrogated by the anti-graft agency. This came after the MACC raided 8 government agencies and 9 companies in Dec 2022, leading to discovery 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 had been grilled by the anti-graft agency admitted that they agreed to pay a commission of 3% to 5% to secure projects from those middlemen. After it was established that 10 contractors had paid more than RM300 million in kickbacks disguised as donations to Muhyiddin’s party, Bersatu’s accounts were frozen under MACC Act 2009 and anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing law.

On Jan 5, 2023 night, a 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. This means up to RM4.5 billion could have been paid to the despicable middlemen on behalf of crooked Muhyiddin.

Muhyiddin Yassin and Adam Radlan

The 42-year-old 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. 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).

So, the second scandal involving Muhyiddin is the NIIS, which the MACC has started investigating early this month. The focus is on possible abuse of power in the award of the project. Last week (Feb 10), Iris Corp Bhd disposed its 80% stake in its wholly-owned subsidiary Iris Information Technology Systems (IITS) – the developer of the RM1.2 billion NIIS – for RM70 million cash.

The RM5.7 billion Jana Wibawa is essentially the third scandal involving Muhyiddin. But during his questioning, Muhyiddin has pointed his fingers at his self-appointed finance minister Tengku Zafrul. He argued – “Jana Wibawa was a programme by the Ministry of Finance proposed by 

Zafrul to help Bumiputera contractors during the Covid-19 pandemic”.

Stangely though, while the ex-premier said that all the rules of the Jana Wibawa programme were determined by the finance minister in considering the eligibility of applicants, he somehow disagreed with the idea of having his Prime Minister Office (PMO) to process the applications despite “his thumbs up” for the project, which had been approved by his Cabinet.

Was Muhyiddin trying to say that his finance minister had bulldozed a dubious project under his watch, or was he trying to throw Zafrul under the bus now that the MACC is looking into the skeleton in his closet? Going by his twisted logic, does that mean all corrupt ministers can approve their own projects because he did not want to be involved in the process of reviewing or approving?

Even if Muhyiddin was smarter that Najib by creating an excuse to blame the finance minister in the event corruptions are exposed, he still cannot claim plausible deniability (the ability to deny any involvement in illegal or unethical activities) because his Cabinet had approved it and even he had admitted it was an excellent programme.

Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz

He talked like a chairman of a company who conveniently blamed his CFO (chief financial officer) for losing money after collectively approved a project’s expense. Muhyiddin also said he was not like other thieves – suggesting that he was cleverer than former PM Najib, who stole billions of dollars when he, who doubled as the finance minister, approved his own scandalous 1MDB mega project.

It’s worth noting that Tengku Zafrul Aziz is linked to Muhyiddin’s family. Apparently, Zafrul’s younger brother, Tengku Zuhri Tengku Abdul Aziz, is married to Fara Nadia Abd Rahim, whose elder sister Fara Ikma Abd Rahim is married to Muhyiddin’s eldest son Fakhri Yassin. Hence, Muhyiddin had indirect influence over how the national coffers were to be spent.

Born with a silver spoon, Zafrul, thanks to his marriage to the great granddaughter to the fifth Sultan of Selangor, managed to climb up the corporate ladder largely due to his royal title “Tengku”. He was the chief executive of Malaysian banking group CIMB before handpicked and promoted by Muhyiddin as the Minister of Finance in March 2020 after a political coup.

Clearly, Muhyiddin is putting all the blames on Zafrul, believing that the royalty-linked former finance minister is “untouchable”. If Zafrul, who lost in the 15th General Election, but had shamelessly lobbied to be given a post in the Anwar administration, cannot be prosecuted due to his connection, then the RM5.7 billion Jana Wibawa scandals would be swept under the carpet.

But if Zafrul, next to be grilled by the MACC, can prove that Muhyiddin had received bribes from the programme, the disgraced ex-premier could be charged. Heck, Zafrul might become a witness and betray Muhyiddin. Regardless of who will be prosecuted, the people will enjoy the drama. The bet is on Muhyiddin to join Najib in the Kajang Prison Complex.

The Perikatan Nasional chairman probably has lost count of the number of scandals he’s facing. Even if the RM5.7 billion Jana Wibawa doesn’t stick, Muhyiddin has a bigger problem – the ill-gotten money that went directly to Bersatu accounts poorly masked as donations. The MACC has at least 10 suspects (contractors) and more than RM300 million money trails as evidence.

No matter how Bersatu leaders twist and spin, they have to explain how the party, founded in 2016 and was only in power for 17 months (less than 2 years) under Muhyiddin, could accumulate a jaw-dropping RM300 million in cash. The United Malays National Organization (UMNO) only had RM194 million despite being in power for 61 years (or 76 years since its inception in 1946). - FT

 

An MACC source confirmed Bersatu information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan has been arrested and will be charged in court tomorrow in relation to the Jana Wibawa initiative...

Now which is what? Is Pagoh a suspect? 

Whom do you believe - Pagoh or Sprm?

18/2/2023 : Pagoh said he's not a suspect...

19/2/2023 : Sprm said Pagoh is a suspect...

MACC chief slams Muhyiddin for ‘I am not a suspect’ statement. “The investigations are ongoing, and it is inappropriate for any individual called to have their statement recorded to state their own conclusions, whether they were called as witnesses or suspects in the case,” he said in a statement. “They should wait until the investigation is fully completed, before making any statements or comments,” he said.

According to Section 30(1)(a) of the MACC Act 2009, a commission’s officer is allowed to order any person to appear before him for the purpose of being questioned in relation to anything that may, in his opinion, assist in the investigation of an offence, he said.

Azam was referring to a statement yesterday from Muhyiddin where he claimed the MACC officer who took his statement had confirmed that the former prime minister was not a suspect in the case. He had also pointed the finger at former finance minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz as having proposed the Jana Wibawa programme to him while he was still prime minister.

Azam confirmed that Tengku Zafrul would be called in to have his statement taken as well. “MACC will be summoning Tengku Zafrul to have his statement taken very soon, in relation to the Jana Wibawa project investigations,” he said. - nst

PAS 'warriors': Tuan Ibrahim 

likens it to Chinese opera...

A procession of PAS members bearing replicas of medieval weapons and armour in Terengganu has caused a stir on social media, amid continued political tensions in the country.

Several PAS leaders have come out to defend the march, likening it to theatre or cosplay events - but police are initiating a probe after the event caused "public distress".

The march was part of the Himpunan Pemuda Islam Terengganu (Himpit) event organised by PAS in Setiu, Terengganu on Friday.

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the issue should not be blown out of proportion.

"It is similar to a Chinese opera where the actors also carry swords and spears. "There is no issue here. It is better for us to focus our time and energy on more meaningful things such as tackling the rising cost of living, education, and social problems," he told New Straits Times.

Chinese operas are performed on stage with story lines. This is clearly a street march with replicas of weapons and no story lines at all. Don't use chinese operas to hide your evil intentions and agendas. - FairMind

U bikin no issue! Orang lain bikin, u ungkit issue? - Miowing

No issue here...perhaps next Chinese New Year there could be a march with "youth" dressed up in Teutonic Knights armour and carrying spears...very traditional, historical, theatrical...harmless, just like a PAS Youth march.- GreenViper4010

cheers

The first UK-style ‘PMQs’ session...

 

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday parried concerns over his holding of ministerial portfolios and allayed fears of future tax hikes in his debut performance at a British-style “Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQ)” session, introduced to improve scrutiny of the top office and freshen up the country’s stale political discourse.

But unlike the UK “PMQs” – as it is known – which often descend into furious jibes and partisan recriminations, the first day of the Malaysian version passed in a courteous and orderly fashion.

The only jab from the opposition came from Radzi Jidin, the point person for financial and economic matters, who questioned Anwar’s dual roles as prime minister and finance minister. Radzi gave the example of former premier Najib Razak, who is in jail for his role in the looting of the state fund 1MDB, as a cautionary tale of overreach by those in the top office.

Anwar responded by saying the issue was not with the roles held but with how the power was used. “The problem is if we abuse the position to steal the people’s money,” the prime minister said.Najib denies all allegations against him.

That exchange stems from a question by Taiping lawmaker Wong Kah Woh who asked the prime minister about the national debt which has risen to 1.5 billion ringgit or 81 per cent of the country’s GDP. In his response, Anwar also pledged that his administration would not introduce a broad base consumption tax to increase revenue. Others, like Tawau MP Lo Su Fai, asked Anwar about corruption and ways to improve investigations into such cases to improve Malaysia’s image internationally.

Anwar has introduced PMQs as part of his broad reform agenda since taking top office last November, after cobbling together a coalition government following a closely run election. It is set to take place every Tuesday when parliament sits.

The breakout PMQs may have been tame, but it was well received on social media where the Malaysian public applauded the upgrade in parliamentary debate, calling Anwar brave for inviting scrutiny. “What’s the point in bantering on Twitter, on TikTok? Ask away, we the people are watching,” said a Twitter user urging lawmakers to make full use of this new arrangement.

While House Speaker Johari Abdul said it was still at a trial stage, early public opinion appeared in favour of regular PMQs to allow greater scrutiny of a prime minister and participation in politics.

“They can be questioned directly in front of all MPs and on the television screens of all Malaysian people. Don’t get rid of this initiative,” said another Twitter user.

A routine question session may also improve the attendance of lawmakers in parliament.

Former premier Muhyiddin Yassin scored last among 220 lawmakers in parliamentary attendance between 2021 to 2022 according to MyMP, a parliamentary watchdog group. Other former prime ministers also scored poorly with Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Mahathir Mohamad coming in near the bottom of the table.

Other recent parliamentary reforms have been more cosmetic, such as loosening the dress code by allowing Members of Parliament to come wearing batik shirts on Thursdays and doing away with the need to wear ties in a tropical country where the temperature can exceed 35 degrees Celsius. - Hadi Azmi,scmp

Rakyat Kelantan dok minum air paip karat bertahun2

masih hidup sampai ke tua.Tak ada kanser pun...

cheers.