Putih mata, lagi

Gone. Insider information relates that parcels within the so-called ‘contentious’ Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) which is part of 1MDB Real Estate Division are all gone and none left despite more have their eyes set on.

Tabung Haji which had a good deal for the 70,000 sq. ft. service residential plot at RM2,800 psf had to hived it off after a blog with inciting agenda to get depositors angry and rise against the Government. It was with an agenda to topple Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak.

The Malaysian Insider story:

Tabung Haji in process of selling TRX land, says Azeez

BY MD IZWAN

Published: 26 May 2015 1:45 PM
Lembaga Tabung Haji is in the process of selling the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) land that it had bought from debt-ridden 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) for RM188.5 million after promising earlier this month to do so within a fortnight.
Its chairman, Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, said the pilgrims’ fund was in the process of sealing the sales and purchase agreement but did not elaborate further.

He also declined to reveal the potential buyer of the land, adding that the information would be revealed once the due process has been completed.
“Yes, we have a buyer. We will inform later (about it),” Azeez said when met by reporters at the Tabung Haji building in Kuala Lumpur today.
“It is in the sales and purchase process, with a little profit.”

Tabung Haji has an RM920 million bond in 1MDB’s real estate development Bandar Malaysia and last month bought 0.63ha from the TRX financial district, which is another 1MDB development.

Its purchase of the plot of land from 1MDB for RM188.5 million, or RM2,774 per sq ft (psf), for the purpose of building a residential tower has created uproar among its depositors, some of whom withdrew their savings.

Opposition politicians were quick to note that Tabung Haji was paying far more psf than what 1MDB had paid at RM64 psf when it first bought the land from the government, causing some to call the deal a “bailout” given 1MDB’s massive debts.

Following widespread criticism and public outcry over the purchase of the land, Tabung Haji announced on May 9 that it was selling the plot to a buyer at a profit of at least RM5 million and that the deal would be concluded within the next few weeks.

Azeez, who is also Baling MP, said that Tabung Haji had received three offers from interested buyers for the prime land.

He said then that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had advised him to dispose of the land so that the fund’s reputation was not “tarnished” due to its business transaction with 1MDB, and in order to respect the “sensitivity” of the depositors.

Najib is also finance minister and chairman of 1MDB’s advisory board. – May 26, 2015.

*****************

The fact is that the market price for the TRX parcels are around RM3,100 psf. 1MDB had many queries especially from foreign strategic property players.

1MDB Real Estate Division is expected to be announcing the next phase of their strategic property game with Bandar Malaysia, which was the former Sungei Besi Air Base. The 486 acres development is expected to realise RM145 billion within 15 years, where a population of 220,000 would work and live.

Two mass transit lines and the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high speed railway would pass and have terminals within the development.

If GLCs and agencies with specific benefits for Bumiputera such as TH, PNB, LTAT etc. would be pelted with harsh adjectives if not insidious for making a commercial decision, which being portrayed as “bailing out 1MDB”, it is without wonder they are slow in committing their ‘parcel allocation’.

They are rather very careful, learning from the public outcry based on the false pretext on the reporting of TH’s acquisition of the TRX land. Needless to say, eventually the majority would eventually be net losers.

It is ashamed that the majority would be in the vicious cycle of putih mata, lagi.

Wasn’t this a closed meeting?

UMNO Deputy President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd. Yassin speaking at UMNO Training Camp in Janda Baik

A video believed to be recorded at UMNO Training Camp in Janda Baik last week, has now gone viraled in the blogs and social media.

The video shown UMNO Deputy President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd. Yassin suggesting that that the BoD and CEO of 1MDB should be sacked because of the recent developments. Especially the strong rumours about not able meeting its financial commitments.

It is a very courageous call, which reflect that UMNO leaders are about wanting the matter resolved and the same time, improve the public perception that the party is strong on matters of principles. Despite that the call was made only to a select few within the party and not for public consumption.

There are several UMNO leaders at Supreme Council present. It is also believed that the event was a closed door in nature, where only invited leaders and members are present.

If it was a closed door meeting, shouldn’t permission be sought for any recording about the internal party event be made? More than that, should it be aired in for public consumption?

The fact that it first appeared in a Youtube account and blog of a known person who is obsessed about toppling Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak, is a demonstration of intent of the postings.

*Updated 2330hrs

UMNO Vice President Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who is the custodian of the program ‘Kris 2314’ which UMNO Deputy President Muhyiddin spoke, said they are looking for the person who shared the video recording.

The Rakyat Post story:

Ahmad Zahid looking for mastermind who shared video of Muhyiddin’s speech

Ahmad Zahid (L) SM AMIN By:
Sm Amin
Umno vice-president and Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is looking for the mastermind behind the sharing of a video taken at the party’s closed door event in Janda Baik. — TRP file pic
KUALA LUMPUR, May 21, 2015:
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is investigating who was the mastermind behind the sharing of a speech by Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
The speech was made at a closed meeting with Umno leaders at the Institut Latihan Memperkasakan UMNO (Ilmu) at Janda Baik on Saturday.
The matter was revealed by Umno working secretary Datuk Ab. Rauf Yusuf when contacted by The Rakyat Post.
Rauf said according to Ilmu’s rules, recordings of any programmes at the institute were prohibited.
“I believe Datuk Zahid is conducting investigations regarding the sharing of the video to find the mastermind who recorded and shared the speech.
“According to guidelines set, such training programmes cannot be recorded, what more spread to the public.

“It should not have happened because it was a private training session that was conducted specifically for Umno members.”
In the Janda Baik programme, Muhyiddin had urged Datuk Seri Najib Razak to sack 1Malaysia Development Berhad’s (1MDB) board of directors because they caused the Prime Minister to face the consequences of their actions.
Muhyiddin also urged police to investigate the investment body to avoid negative perceptions that could cause Barisan Nasional to fall in the coming general election.
In a press conference in Thursday, Muhyiddin stressed the statement he made during the speech was merely his personal opinion.
Muhyiddin said the speech was just to give an understanding to political leaders in the party the efforts to resolve issues that arose regarding the investment arm of the Finance Ministry.
“It was my own opinion that I made in a closed meeting in the political course that was conducted by the (Umno) training bureau.
“To me, it is my view for my fellow political leaders so that they better understand that this is not a new issue.
“I have also voiced this outside and what’s important is we find a solution of the matter,” he said at a press conference at the Parliament lobby.

Lessons from Paracels XXI: Bald eagle challenging the protogonistic panda

China encroaching into neighbours EEZ territories as defined by UNCLOS (1982) and relationship is sliding downwards, with the ‘Nine-Dash-Line’ unsubstantiated claims

United States is considering to deploy the US Navy around the disputed are of multiple claims in South China Sea, as a projection of force in an international waters which China claimed to be part of ‘Nine-Dash-Line’.

CNN.com story:

China cautions U.S. Navy on patrols in South China Sea

By Brad Lendon and Jim Sciutto, CNN
Updated 0106 GMT (0806 HKT) May 14, 2015

Source: CNN

150511-N-VO234-286 SOUTH CHINA SEA (May 11, 2015) The littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) conducts patrols in international waters of the South China Sea near the Spratly Islands as the People’s Liberation Army-Navy [PLA(N)] guided-missile frigate Yancheng (FFG 546) transits close behind. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Conor Minto/Released)
U.S. considering surveillance of South China Sea

150511-N-VO234-286 SOUTH CHINA SEA (May 11, 2015) The littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) conducts patrols in international waters of the South China Sea near the Spratly Islands as the People’s Liberation Army-Navy [PLA(N)] guided-missile frigate Yancheng (FFG 546) transits close behind. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Conor Minto/Released)
U.S. considering surveillance of South China Sea

Story highlights
South China Sea is the subject of numerous rival territorial claims
U.S. considers deploying aircraft and ships to contest Chinese claims to disputed islands
China cautions U.S. it doesn’t have “free access” to China’s territorial waters
Washington (CNN)The U.S. is considering deploying aircraft and ships to contest Chinese claims to disputed islands in the South China Sea, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

Options are on the table to fly surveillance aircraft and sail Navy ships nearby in a move that puts the U.S. directly into a contentious territorial contest in East Asia, in which, until now, the U.S. has avoided overtly taking sides.

The South China Sea is the subject of numerous rival — often messy — territorial claims, with China, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam disputing sovereignty of several island chains and nearby waters.

China on Wednesday cautioned the U.S. against taking any actions that might be considered provocative, according to a report from the state-run Xinhua news service.

While Beijing supports freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, the U.S. must be careful in how it uses that right, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in the report.

“Freedom of navigation does not give one country’s military aircraft and ships free access to another country’s territorial waters and airspace,” Hua is quoted as saying in the Xinhua report.

A U.S. Navy statement Wednesday said the littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth arrived for resupply in the Philippines after completing a weeklong patrol in the South China Sea that took it near the disputed Spratly Islands.

The Navy said it was the first time an LCS, one of the newest vessels in the U.S. fleet, had operated in international waters near the islands. The Spratlys have been claimed in whole or in part by China, Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia, according to the U.S. State Department.

“As part of our strategic rebalance to bring our newest and most capable Navy platforms to the Indo-Asia-Pacific, (the LCSs have) a regular presence in Southeast Asia. Routine operations like the one Fort Worth just completed in the South China Sea will be the new normal as we welcome four LCSs to the region in the coming years,” Capt. Fred Kacher, commodore of the Navy’s Destroyer Squadron 7, said in the Navy release.

The Navy said the Fort Worth came across “multiple” Chinese warships during its patrol. A photo released by the Navy showed the Fort Worth being trailed by a Chinese guided-missile frigate, the Yancheng.

“Our interactions with Chinese ships continue to be professional,” the commander of the Fort Worth, Cmdr. Matt Kawas, said in the statement.

China building ‘Great Wall of Sand’ in South China Sea
China building ‘Great Wall of Sand’ in South China Sea 02:12
Kawas said his vessel followed the international Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea to “clarify intentions and prevent miscommunication” with the Chinese ships.

Tensions over the Spratlys have increased in recent months as China has built facilities on five reclaimed-land sites in the islands, including a 10,000-foot (3,050-meter) airstrip.

James Hardy, editor of Jane’s Asia Pacific, told CNN in February that China was executing “a methodical, well-planned campaign to create a chain of air and sea capable fortresses across the center of the Spratly Islands chain.”

The disputed areas in the islands include fertile fishing grounds and potentially rich reserves of undersea natural resources.

****************

PLAN building a permanent airstrip and jetty in an atoll which was illegally occupied and contravened the UNCLOS

This projection of force by US Navy is one of the reaction welcome by some of the countries which is affected by China’s aggressive military maneurvres. China’s expansionary attitude and doctrine is well demonstrated by PLA Navy (PLAN) operations within the ‘Nine-Dash-Line’.

In March, China has been caught to been building permanent airstrips and jetties which suggest that this ‘occupied’ atolls would be used as a forward base for PLAN troops and assets.

Putih mata

Nothing else can hardly express the dismay of seeing something that would turn out to be very good and valuable beyond one’s imaginations, to slip away like sand through the grip of a clenched fist.

Sin Chew story:

TRX attracts Indonesia’s leading property developer

1MDB debt issue News 2015-05-13 12:30
KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 (Bernama) — The Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) has signed on Indonesia’s leading property developer, Mulia Group, to develop its Signature Tower at the upcoming international financial district here.

In a statement today, it said 1MDB Real Estate Sdn Bhd (1MDB RE), the master developer of the TRX, signed the sale and purchase agreement with Mulia Group for the development rights to the plot.

The land transaction is valued at RM665 million, it said.

1MDB RE Chief Executive Officer Datuk Azmar Talib said, “We are pleased to have the Mulia Group on board towards realising the potential of the TRX. This significant investment underscores foreign investor confidence in Malaysia.

The Mulia Group, which has a leading market share for premium commercial properties in Jakarta, developed, owns and manages seven premier office buildings in Jakarta’s central business district.

It includes the Wisma Mulia 1 and 2, ranked among Jakarta’s tallest and most prestigious office buildings.

Mulia Group President Director and owner, Eka Tjandranegara said the company is excited to be embarking on the project to develop the Signature Tower to become Kuala Lumpur’s new landmark.

“We see TRX’s potential to further develop the city’s role as a financial capital. It also aids our growth and expansion plans.

“I am committed to personally seeing this project through, drawing from our vast experience,” he added.

Mulia Group now joins the list of investors such as Lend Lease International, a global property and infrastructure group developing the RM8 billion Lifestyle Quarter and Veolia Water Technologies, whose water management technology will halve potable water use in TRX, said the statement.

The statement also said a mass rapid transit (MRT) service would connect TRX to the upcoming High Speed Rail terminus station at Bandar Malaysia and linking it to Singapore’s financial centre.

TRX will also have direct link to key roads and major highways such as SMART, MEX, Jalan Tun Razak and Jalan Sultan Ismail, it added.

***********

On Saturday, TH Chairman Dato’ Seri Azeez Rahim announced that the BoD of pilgrimage fund investment body of over 8 million depositors amongst Malaysian Muslim decided to hive off the 1.6acre acquired from TRX. This is despite obtaining a discount of RM 32 million from the original offer price.

It is a totally missed opportunity for TH to make good money from a high value premium investment.

Many reacted in the overtone of emotional sentiment after a blog irresponsibly posted papers to TH BoD on the internal evaluation for the proposal, which was designed solely to create anguish and public outcry.

The parcel for the 90 storey TRX  signature tower was offered to TH at the price of RM 578 million. However, TH rejected the offer.

Today, Mulia Group of Bakrie Group in Indonesia swooped the piece and paid RM 665 million for it. That is a cool RM 87 million, for just mere flipping exercise.

There is a market talk that Mulia Group might take up the serviced apartment parcel which TH had to relinquish with haste over the weekend.

Missed opportunity

This afternoon Tabung Haji Chairman Dato’ Sri Azeez Rahim announced that the BoD of the pilgrimage investment body decided to hive off the controversial 1.6 acre plot in Tun Razak Exchange (TRX), amidst the serious contentious overtone of the business deal of the acquisition.

NST story:

Tabung Haji to sell off 1MDB land

BY ARNAZ M. KHAIRUL – 9 MAY 2015 @ 3:07 PM

KUALA LUMPUR: The plot of prime land in the Kuala Lumpur city centre which Lembaga Tabung Haji (LTH) purchased from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) is to be sold to the highest of three bidders within the next two weeks, its chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim announced today.

Azeez said the LTH board had unanimously agreed upon the sale of the 0.63ha plot of land, located at the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX), in a meeting attended by all 11 board members this morning, although a similar meeting last night had seen the board unanimously agree to proceed with plans to develop the land as everything was above board, despite criticism from various quarters over the purchase.

“This morning, I received a call from the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Razak). I must stress that this was not a directive, but he advised us to sell the plot of land seeing that the issue had created too much defamatory rumours”.

“The board met this morning and we decided that in the best interest of the public and Tabung Haji depositors that we heed that advice,” said Azeez.

The land which was purchased at RM188.5 million will now be sold to the highest of three interested bidders with LTH set to make a minimum profit of RM5 million. Azeez said there was no criteria set on the bidders being Muslim or not.

“The process of this purchase had adhered to all our regular procedures in procurement and investment. It was scrutinised by the board since the proposal was first made in April 2013.

Everything was above board and we decided that this was a worthwhile investment which would profit LTH. It was purely a commercial decision,” said Azeez. He stressed that Tan Sri Ismee Ismail, who is LTH chief executive officer and managing director as well as 1MDB director, had abstained from being part of discussions regarding the purchase as he was privy to information from both parties.

These matters, he said, were overseen by deputy chief executive officer Datuk Johan Abdullah.

“There was no political motivation in the purchase of this land, but as it turned out LTH has been dragged into this issue by those who have politicised it. It is an investment in property, the same as investments we have made both locally and abroad. It doesn’t in any way have an effect on the dividends or deposits of the public in LTH.

“In fact, it is such investments which allow us to provide dividends and subsidise pilgrimage for our depositors. We also reassure our depositors that none of their money is affected as their deposits are guaranteed by the government. This will not stop us from making further investments in real estate for the benefit of our depositors.” Azeez said LTH will continue to invest in other properties, stating that the fund still has an allocation of more than RM5 billion in which they can explore further real estate investments.

Bloggers had previously revealed documents believed to be from LTH pertaining to the purchase, and Azeez said the matter had called for an internal investigation.

“It was stated that these documents were made available to them by LTH. But this is not the case and police reports have been lodged against these bloggers,” said Abdul Azeez.

Read More : http://www.nst.com.my/node/83671

*****************

The decision to sell off the said prime land in a hugely potential new growth international financial district of Kuala Lumpur is very tactical and deemed to be a political reaction, instead of one based on the principles and interests of  business.

The fact is that 1MDB, which obtained the land and the planning right to develop into such a new high end and premium development, offered the parcel to TH back in 2013 at a price of RM220 million.

1MDB Profit and Loss FY 2013 (pp 1)

1MDB Profit and Loss FY 2013 (pp 2)

That was when the Malaysian Government strategic investment corporation was not deep in trouble as what it is now. Infact, for FY2013 1MDB posted a healthy accumulated net profit of RM 832 million.

The cash position of 1MDB then was also solid. Hence when 1MDB started to talk with TH for the said plot and another one, it was another ordinary business activity.

TH was in good financial position then and still now. The returns derived from investments which bore profits for TH has been on a steady incremental rate. This include properties abroad.

Hence, it is reflective in the annual dividends and bonus enjoyed by TH depositors for the past seven years.

That could only mean that TH BoD and investment advisory panel have been making sound business decisions and took calculated risks, which correspond to the healthy growth in net returns.

That was also even when palm oil prices dropped steeply in 2012 and has not gone up to a comfortable level in previous years.

The decision to take up 1MDB’s offer is purely business in nature and the plot has huge potential. Considering that the gross development cost (minus the land) for a land which obtained a plot ratio planning approval of 10.4:1, At RM 575 psf, the construction cost is calculated at RM 420 million.

The Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) master plan

It is valued that the said proposed building could brought upon RM 850 million in value. That is 13% return on investment per annum.

The rental income by 2018-9 could also fetch in the neighbourhood of RM 70-75 million per annum.

TH ought to be looking for more opportunities like this one presented by 1MDB, for the purpose of strategic investments. Azeez pronounced in the media conference that TH could go up to RM 5 billion in investment in real estate and property.

The Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) master plan

Even if TH allocate 40% of that for green-fields, the strategic pilgrim investment corporation should be able to acquire all these plots and hold them into land bank, for mid to long term development programs. This is because TH liquidity position is very healthy and all these could be acquired for cash.

RM 2 billion in premium and potentially high value green-fields with an average ROI of 12% per annum should translate to an additional quarter of million Ringgit attributable as dividends to the over 8 million TH depositors.

1MDB financial obligations

Nevermind the endless arguments and ramblings on why TH should be acquiring the parcel from 1MDB and why at that price.

The fact is that the opportunity for such a green-field  potential high value development was only opened for 1MDB and this deal for TH was below market price. This is on top that TH had its usual internal processes to evaluate the proposal and arrived to the decision to venture into this.

No different from other investment opportunities which now bore fruits, which include returns paid in cash through dividends.

It is obviously a missed opportunity, in a presentation of an incomplete business story laced with emotional overtone which is clearly designed for the masses to be riled and rise and do a political coup d’etat.

For the sake of the over 8 million depositors of Tabung Haji, let us pray that this missed opportunity is now offered to another Bumiputera corporation. Let it be a consortium of Bumiputera property developers and/or investors.

This agenda of political coup d’etat should not not be at the expense of the Bumiputera economic agenda. Otherwise, it is a sin of a different degree and dimension.

*Updated 1500hrs 11 May 2015

A very interested opinion by Dato’ Mohamed Salleh Said Keruak on TH’s acquisition of the said land and the opportunity that landed.

LEMBAGA TABUNG HAJI PAID A FAIR MARKET PRICE

May 11, 2015

Wee Ka Siong of MCA and Lim Kit Siang of DAP have referred to my Blog posting where I was alleged to have said that the Lembaga Tabung Haji land purchase from 1MDB was discussed at the Cabinet meeting. I did not say that. What I asked was whether the Cabinet ever discussed 1MDB during the weekly Cabinet meetings.

Tabung Haji has its own Board that runs the organisation and decides its policies. Not every operational matter of every organisation is discussed at the Cabinet. If not the Cabinet meetings would take days.

The issue seems to be regarding Tabung Haji paying 1MDB a discounted price of RM188.5 million for a plot of land at the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) or RM2,774 per sq ft. What Tabung Haji paid was for converted land with title, planning approval and infrastructure. This is relatively cheap if compared to similar transactions concluded in the Golden Triangle.

Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB) bought the 1.8661 acre German Embassy land for RM259.15 million or RM3,188 per sq ft. This is about 6% higher than the market value of the land based on the appraisal conducted by CH Williams Talhar & Wong and Raine & Horne International Zaki & Partners.

SP Setia Bhd paid RM294.97million or RM2,200 per sq ft for the 1.22 ha British High Commission land in Jalan Ampang.

Oxley Holdings (M) Sdn Bhd, a unit of Singapore-based developer Oxley Holdings Ltd, purchased 1.3 ha in Jalan Ampang for RM446.7million or RM3,300 per sq ft. KSK Group Bhd paid RM568 million or RM3,299 per sq ft for a 1.6 ha parcel in Jalan Conlay.

The vendor was Suasana Simfoni Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Singapore-listed UOL Group Ltd.

If the issue is that Tabung Haji paid too much for the land or that it was a bad investment then this is not so, as the many other transactions around that area have proven. And the land deal was negotiated before 1MDB even became an issue and not after that.

*************

Populus hic locutus

The people have spoken. In Rompin and Permatang Pauh. Strong messages relayed, though in both locality are quite not the same.

First it was Rompin. BN saw its majority reduced from 15,144 votes over PAS’s in 13GE to only 8,895 votes two days ago. The votes for PAS’s candidates did not change and the reduction for votes for BN’s candidate correspond to the lesser turn out.

Then it was Permatang Pauh. PKR saw the reduction of majority of votes obtained over BN’s from 11,721 in 13GE to 8,841 yesterday.

Percentage wise, in Rompin BN’s majority reduced by 41.26% on a turn out which is lowered by 13% as compared to PKR’s 24.57% of a lowered turn out of 20%.

First of all, it is easy to generalise that both are by-elections and the common people are very tired of over politicking. After all, it is a by-election to many and some chose to not take it seriously.

In a constituency of a BN strong hold aka ‘fixed deposit’, the lowering of majority is very substantial and something to be alarmed about. Issues such as confusion arisen from the introduction of GST is top of the list.

Of course, politics is about perception. Many of the issues being speculated and exaggerated from mouth to mouth in everyday social interaction such as at the place of work or the local coffee shop in many ways sink into the minds of voters.

Probably the popularity of Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak isn’t what many what to think where it actually is. Especially, the aggregated stories about his family’s lifestyle which is coupled with the compounded faux pas of Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers especially in very sensitive issues such as price hike of everyday goods and GST.

The unanswered issues in 1MDB as being highlighted by Fourth Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad which drew in more attention and speculations, evolved further. The matter moved upwards into the ‘scandalous range’ became more complicated a day before the Permatang Pauh polls, when Tabung Haji’s acquisition in one of the parcels with the Tun Razak Exchange became viral on social media.

The ‘dynasty’ of Anwar & Co. in Permatang Pauh for the thirty fourth year now did not actually take effect. However the more interested analysis in that by-election is that the working relationship between the three Opposition parties.

It is now proven in Permatang Pauh that PKR and DAP no longer is heavily reliant on PAS’s voters, sympathisers nor their election machinery, to win in an election.

This is a landmark theory proven especially after the year long stiff internal struggle within PAS between the orthodox ‘golongan ulama‘ and the more radical ‘Young Turks’, who are actually minions of Anwar Ibrahim.

Officially, PAS is at arms with PKR and DAP on very stinging fundamental issue of Hudud.

The recent slightly more than a year ‘Kajang Move’ on the play of the Kajang by-election designed to help then Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim in his final leg of the Sodomy II case and the removal of Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim as MB Selangor did not augur well on the PAS-PKR relationship.

UMNO should really pay attention on this development within the (un)holy-marriage-of-(in)convenience-between-enstraged-backstabbing-bed-fellows and strategically use the opportunity.

Many lessons learned from this two by-election. Especially taking into the consideration of factors such as the introduction of GST, 1MDB scandals, Fourth Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s attacks on Prime Minister Najib and other usual political punts.

What is most important are the leaders willing to seriously take notes in all these and learnt something?

Paedophilic sympathiser

It cannot be argued otherwise but principally and morally wrong for Minister of Rural and Regional Development Dato’ Seri Mohd. Shafie Apdal to even suggest that there is a consideration to appeal on the Southwark Criminal Court’s judgment on Malaysian student Nur Fitri Azmeer Nordin.

Shafie Apdal: Ministry may appeal ex-Mara student’s child porn conviction

Monday May 4, 2015 08:27 PM GMT+8   Shafie Apdal said the ministry may appeal a London court’s decision to sentence an ex-Mara student to five years in prison on 13 offences of possessing more than 30,000 pornographic images and videos of children. — Bernama pic

ROMPIN, May 4 — The Ministry of Rural and Regional Development will consider whether to appeal to the Southwark Crown court in London to reduce the sentence imposed on former Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) loan student Nur Fitri Azmeer Nordin, 23.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said this when commenting on the London court’s decision to sentence Nur Fitri to five years in prison on 13 offences of possessing more than 30,000 pornographic images and videos of children. “We can appeal (to reduce the length of the sentence), the problem is we are subjected to the prevailing laws of the country. We have to respect the laws that other countries practice,” he told reporters after attending the Mara programme with Rompin entrepreneurs in Kuala Rompin here, today.

According to British newspapers, the smart mathematics student at Imperial College London was arrested during a raid at his home in Queensborough Terrace nearby Hyde Park on November 20 last year, while 600 category ‘A’ videos and images — defined by the British authorities as ‘extreme form of child sexual abuse’ were seized.

Mara, who sent Nur Fitri to London to further his studies last year, terminated the study loan upon his conviction on April 30. — Bernama

***************

It is unsure what does the Minister in-charge of MARA attempting to gain with such a suggestive statement. Paedophile is utterly hedious crime in almost all sovereign societies.

It is almost very certain that even in Kuala Rompin, where the Minister was campaigning for the P99 Rompin Parliamentary by-election that the average fair minded folks in the area would reject the notion that it is fair to help the boy who committed such a heinous crime.

Nur Fitri did not commit a felony which average kids that age would probably inquisitively ventured to do, such as shop lifting, smoking marijuana, drunk and disorderly or even indecent behaviour. He fantasised sexual acts on minors who are by law prohibited to commit sexual acts, even by their own will and device,

That is highly in-despicable.

Malaysian Government has a moral duty to help any of the citizens of Malaysia when they are in trouble when they are abroad, even by their own device. However, that obligation should never be extended to people who have been convicted as a sexual deviant in a court of law for highly immoral crime.

It is a matter of principle. That is very important, to educate other Malaysians especially those who are impressionable and probably would have the tendency to experiment or veer off-course when they are all by themselves in a land far away from home.

*Updated Thursday 7 May 2015

More Cabinet Ministers voiced their discern for the suggestion of assistance to MARA student Nur Fitri Nordin after Southwark Crown Court convicted him for nine months jail for being a paedophile.

Astro Awani story:

There should be zero-tolerance against paedophiles: Khairy

Bernama | Updated: May 06, 2015
(First published on: May 06, 2015 20:05 MYT)
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There should be zero-tolerance against paedophiles: Khairy
It was reported that when British police raided his home in Queensborough Terrace last year, they found Nur Fitri Azmeer (pic) with his laptop open, next to a life-size mannequin of a young boy.
PERMATANG PAUH: Paedophilia should never be condoned in a civilised nation like Malaysia and there should be ‘zero-tolerance’ towards paedophiles, said Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

He hoped that Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) would reject the idea to appeal for its sponsored student Nur Fitri Azmeer Nordin, 23, who is now undergoing five-year imprisonment in the United Kingdom after pleading guilty at a London court recently to possessing more than 30,000 images and videos on child pornography.

“This is a reminder to MARA’s board, do not be influenced by its members…(because) we must have zero-tolerance on paedophilia,” he said when met by reporters at Kampung Sama Gagah, here, today.

Khairy, who is UMNO Youth chief, was asked to comment on the statement from his UMNO Youth executive committee member Nazir Hussin Akhtar Hussin, who is also a MARA board member, that Nur Fitri Azmeer should be given a second chance.

READ: MARA to give Nur Fitri Azmeer a second chance

Nazir Hussin, in a recent news report, was quoted as saying that Nur Fitri should be given chance to pursue his study once he settled the punishment, and returned back to Malaysia.

When asked to comment further about Nazir Hussin’s statement, Khairy insisted that the former was commenting based on his capacity as a MARA board member and not representing the UMNO wing.

On May 2, MARA had terminated its study loan given to Nur Fitri Azmeer with immediate effect following his conviction for being in possession of images and videos on child pornography by a London court on Thursday (April 30).

READ: MARA terminates Nur Fitri Azmeer’s study loan

News portal United Kingdom International Business Times had reported that Nur Fitri Azmeer was sentenced to five years jail by the Southwark Crown, London after he pleaded guilty to 17 offences, including possession of indecent images and videos of children, with intent to distribute the material.

READ: Why should a paedophile be given a second chance? – Social media

READ: Malaysian math genius jailed in UK for child pornography
Read more at: http://english.astroawani.com/malaysia-news/there-should-be-zero-tolerance-against-paedophiles-khairy-59016?cp

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Foreign Minister Dato’ Seri Anifah Aman is firm about not extending any hand to convicted sexual pervert such as Nur Fitri Nordin.

The Star story:

Published: Thursday May 7, 2015 MYT 5:19:00 PM
Updated: Thursday May 7, 2015 MYT 6:49:02 PM

Anifah Aman: Government will not ‘rescue’ child porn convict from British jail

BY M. KUMAR

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Government will not step in to help Mathematics scholar Nur Fitri Azmeer Nordin (pic) who is serving a 18-month jail sentence for possession of child pornography material in Britain.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said that the Government viewed the matter gravely and would not step in to “save” Malaysians who had committed crimes abroad.

“Do not confuse consular services and the preservation of basic human rights with a right to be saved when committing an act deemed as a serious and inhumane crime, especially one related to children,” he said in a statement Thursday.

He also said that it is high time Malaysia considered establishing a register of convicted paedophiles that would be publicly available.

“I believe that this will act as a strong deterrent against such crimes, and parents and communities with young children will feel safer,” he said.

On Friday, British newspapers reported that student Nur Fitri Azmeer Nordin was arrested in his bedroom in Queensborough Terrace, London on Nov 21 last year.

He was found to be using his laptop, sitting next to a life-sized mannequin of a boy.

In his computer was a cache of child pornography images and videos of minors being abused.

Many of the files were classified as Category A, meaning they depicted the most extreme form of abuse.

Nur Fitri was reportedly sentenced to jail after pleading guilty to 13 offences, including possession of indecent images and videos of children, with intent to distribute the material.

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Hence, Shafie should retract his suggestion to provide Nur Fitri a ‘second chance’.