The buzz being whispered about town going back and forth between market punters, gossipers and arm-chair analysts that the sudden departure of a CEO of a GLC with “Personal issues” as the excuse, is about a very delicate if not intimate ‘personal matter’.
The strange bit about the resignation that the man is only letting go of his executive function and responsibility but remained as a member of the Board of Directors (BoD).
The said married man is believed to have discovered for an intimate relationship, here in this country. It is also believed that the matter has been brought up to the attention of some of the BoD members, by his own spouse.
Across the board, this is the second surprise announcement made regarding key personalities of GLC within the Khazanah Group.
Earlier was CIMB Chairman Dato’ Seri Nazir Razak, who decided to take leave from CIMB (nothing said about Khazanah) after the recent Wall Street Journal revelation of his personal involvement of political funds channeled of the amount USD7 mil. The buzz-cock suddenly felt it was the ‘right thing to do’ (to go on leave pending investigations), for a brotherly favour he did at the same time his eldest brother Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak was handling USD690 mil of donations, believed for political purposes.
The said CEO who had summarily resigned only completed eight and half month stewardship of a New Co. which was formed as part of the turn-around and rationalisation plan, is said to have signed a contract for three years of service.
Whether issue of morality is part of the consideration for him to remain as BoD, to serve for the remaining duration of contract cannot be ascertained.
However, at the rate of the gossip it is bound that the matter would eventually be raised by some of the 6,000 (mostly able and very productive loyalists) made redundant of the Khazanah plan to revive the GLC, in the rough tones of “They put a fucker in charge, after our lives were fucked!”.
After all, most of the 6,000 made jobless are people with families, of Malay-Muslim conservative background where infidelity is a major morality matter.
China’s unsubstantiated claim of the ‘Nine-Dash-Line’
Malaysia’s position for multilateral dialogues between ASEAN and friendly regional and superpower taking precedence over any attempts of projection of power and/or force in the region not with standing the complexity of the multiple claims dispute within the South China Sea, is the flavour of inaugural Putrajaya Forum.
Bernama.com story:
Najib Highlights Critical Role Of ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus
KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 (Bernama) — The ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Plus plays a critical role in balancing major power influence in the ASEAN region, allowing practical military cooperation to take place involving the middle and super powers of the world, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The Prime Minister said this is very important as ASEAN, on its own, cannot guarantee peace in the region without support from friends and partners.
He said the ADMM Plus addressed regional defence and security challenges, including maritime security, counter terrorism, peace-keeping operations, humanitarian disaster and relief, military medicine, humanitarian mine actions and, soon, cyber security.
“These mechanisms will help guide us in the decades to come, long after ASEAN turns 50 next year,” he said when opening the 2016 Putrajaya Forum, held in conjunction with the Defence Services Asia Exhibition and Conference 2016 here today.
The ADMM is the highest defence consultative and cooperative mechanism in ASEAN which aims to promote mutual trust and confidence through greater understanding of defence and security challenges as well as enhancement of transparency and openness.
The ADMM Plus is a platform for ASEAN and its eight dialogue partners to strengthen security and defence cooperation for peace, stability, and development in the region.
ASEAN’s eight dialogue partners in the ADMM-Plus are Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the United States.
On new security threats, Najib said there were cyber terrorists who could operate with ease across any firewall that individual countries put up as well as extremists who do not accept the legitimacy of states and could radicalise from afar.
“Stepping up inter-agency cooperation is vital. Any rivalries and squabbling over jurisdiction and turfs must belong to the past.
“There is too much at stake. In this challenging time of economic uncertainty, governments are forced to optimise the use of resources,” he said.
Najib said Malaysia had adopted the National Blue Ocean Strategy which encourages inter-agency cooperation and collaboration.
The NBOS is the cooperation between the armed forces and the Royal Malaysia Police, he said.
He said that to meet the demands of defence and security challenges these days, a more comprehensive approach underscored by a spirit of openness and inclusiveness was needed.
“We must embrace the fact that defence and security are not the business of the government alone, but of all stakeholders who have common interests and goals,” he said.
— BERNAMA
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Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak reminded ASEAN and China, signatories the Document of Conduct in 2002 which agreed that dialogue based on the United Nations Convention Laws of the Seas (UNCLOS) shall take priority role to resolve issues.
In his keynote address at Putrajaya Forum 2016 Prime Minister Najib stated the importance of continuous multilateral non military engagement is way forward and ASEAN Defence Minister Meeting Plus is one of the ideal forum to achieve and maintain continuous peace and harmony.
The second of important maritime route and hydrocarbon deposits within China’s unsubstantiated ‘Nine-Dash-Line’
It is an apt message amidst growing military manoeuvres which include superpower in the likes of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) – Navy and US Naby around the region. Particularly, in the disputed areas of South China Sea and building up tension in China’s unsubstantiated claims of the imaginary ‘Nine-Dash-Line’.
ASEAN is a very important global economic region and consumer market, amidst the encouraging regional growth and global trade prominence. This is not withstanding South China Sea is the second globally most strategic and important maritime passage.
This is further echoed by Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as Putrajaya Forum 2016 was officially closed on Tuesday.
NST story:
Maintaining peace, security and stability in Asean now a more complex task: Zahid
BY ALIZA SHAH – 19 APRIL 2016 @ 6:40 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: Territorial disputes in the South China Sea and the intercession of external interests make efforts to maintain Asean’s peace, security and stability even more complex.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the importance of the maritime realm of Southeast Asia that hosts strategic and vital sea lines communication would continue to attract the attention and interest of major powers.
“The geopolitics of the region is also changing rapidly with the competing interest of major powers contesting for supremacy in this part of the world.
“The importance of the maritime realm of Southeast Asia that host strategic and vital sea lines of communication, the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea, will continue to attract attention and interest,” he said at the closing of the Putrajaya Forum 2016. Zahid said conflicts related to the territorial disputes and the intercession of external interest would require more than diplomatic efforts by all nations involved.
“Sincere efforts to diffuse tensions may now require a multitude of engagements as well as deft negotiation processes by the leaders of all nations involved.
“Malaysia has always advocated the importance of multilateralism and regional cooperation in particular, Asean, as well as the networks of diplomatic relationships which spans across the globe to collectively address emerging security challenges,” he said.
Continuous dialogues within ASEAN and at ADMM Plus forum simply translate the all the nations and stakeholders develop their friendly position and maintain diplomatic channels above other options, even the itch to flex muscle by projection of force.
The empire of democracy and free market projected the power and force when US Navy did a massive naval exercise with the Philippines Navy within the disputed areas of South China Sea which the Philippines claim sovereignty, with the specific intention to tell of China.
The Straits Times story:
US gambles by flexing military muscle in South China Sea
PUBLISHED10 HOURS AGO
China may react by taking more aggressive action, some analysts warn
ABOARD THE USS JOHN C. STENNIS (In the South China Sea) • Over the last week in Asia, US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter has visited two aircraft carriers, revealed new military agreements with India and the Philippines, and generally signalled that the Obama administration has decided to lean more heavily on military power to counter China’s territorial ambitions in the region.
But the new, muscular approach on display during Mr Carter’s tour represents a gamble. While it sends a message that the United States will work with its allies to challenge Beijing’s expanding presence in the disputed South China Sea, it also plays into fears within the Chinese leadership about US efforts to halt China’s rise.
That may mean that the more the Pentagon steps up in the region, the more China may feel it needs to accelerate its military build-up, including the construction of new islands equipped with radar and airstrips in contested waters.
With a mix of showmanship and concrete initiatives during a six-day visit to India and the Philippines, Mr Carter left little doubt that the US intends both to strengthen alliances and move more hardware and troops here to counter China’s growing military reach.
On Friday, he rode a helicopter to a symbol of American power projection in the Pacific, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, as it cruised through the South China Sea near waters claimed by the Chinese.
Mr Carter (left) and Philippine Secretary of National Defence Voltaire Gazmin in a Marine Corps V-22 Osprey as they depart the USS John C. Stennis last Friday. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Before visiting the carrier John C. Stennis, he marked the end of 11 days of military exercises between the US and the Philippines and said some US troops would stay behind “to contribute to regional security and stability”.
He also said the US had begun joint patrols of the South China Sea with the Philippine navy and would soon do the same with the country’s air force.
Earlier in the week, Mr Carter toured an Indian aircraft carrier, the first time a US defence secretary had boarded such a ship, and said the US would help India upgrade its carriers.
He also revealed a new logistics agreement and said the two nations would work together on other military technologies.
Together, the measures announced by Mr Carter hint at a potential US military resurgence in a part of the world where China believes it is destined to surpass the US in influence.
The Obama administration seems to be betting that China will back off rather than continue making moves that lead its neighbours to embrace the US military.
But some analysts warn that China could react to the Pentagon’s moves by taking more aggressive action, challenging America’s commitment to the region in a high-profile game of chicken and raising the risk of a military conflict.
The Chinese have been closely watching Mr Carter’s tour, which had included a stop in Beijing before it was abruptly scrubbed from the schedule a few weeks ago. In a late-night statement on Thursday, the Chinese Defence Ministry accused the US of reverting to a “Cold War mentality” and said the Chinese military would “pay close attention to the situation and resolutely defend China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime interests”.
On Friday, China also disclosed that its most senior uniformed military commander had visited the disputed Spratly Islands, which appeared intended to signal Beijing’s resolve in the South China Sea, most of which it considers Chinese territory.
Dr Su Hao, a professor of international relations at China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing, said: “China sees its actions in the South China Sea as legitimate in protecting its own sovereignty and integrity. China will not just change its behaviours or deployment plan simply because of the Americans.” NEW YORK TIMES
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on April 17, 2016, with the headline ‘US gambles by flexing military muscle in South China Sea’. Print Edition | Subscribe
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Defense Secretary Carter had arrived on CVN 74 USS John C Stennis, which is operating in the South China Sea from the task force led by CVN-71 USS Theodore Roosevelt, where the US Navy and Marine Corp were doing their military manoeuvres.
Earlier, Secretary Carter already warned China that US Naval Forces would remained “Engaged” to the complexity of the problems arisen from the multiple claims on the disputed spots with South China Sea.
China proclaimed the are to be ‘Nine-Dash-Line’ without substantiating them and so far, refuse to enter into multilateral talks to resolve the dispute. This stubbornness of China is despite signing the code of conduct (COC) with ASEAN in November 2002, which stipulated that issues must be resolved based on the United Nations Convention Laws of the Seas (UNCLOS).
China’s unsubstantiated claim of the ‘Nine-Dash-Line’
It is interesting how China PLA-Navy would react to this American provocation.
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir admitted he is aware about the “RM690 million donation” and the Malaysian Attorney General proclamation of “No wrong doings” at OIC summit in Istanbul on Thursday.
Fourth Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad would have no choice to accept it despite him not believing in it, which in his own words “Tok Arab gila!”
However, the man-possessed obsessed Statesman is not known to have the humility of being a gentleman and admission of defeat nor guilt.
Another Fourth Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad sordid and pathetic attempt to topple Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak, sank before the ship is even in open sea when Opposition Leader Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail backed off from his ‘Save Malaysia Campaign’.
The Malay Mail Online story:
Why Dr Wan Azizah won’t have anything to do with Dr M-led Save Malaysia group
By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal
Published: April 13, 2016 06:53 AM G
KUALA LUMPUR, April 13 — PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has unsheathed her claws against Save Malaysia frontliner Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, revealing at last her reasons for refusing to join the movement seeking to oust the ruling coalition.
The mild-mannered Dr Wan Azizah, who replaced Anwar as opposition leader after her husband was jailed for sodomy last year, previously stated she would not be a part of the non-partisan movement but was coy on why she stayed away.
She opened up to Malay Mail Online yesterday, after Dr Mahathir’s interview with The Australian, where the former prime minister said that Anwar did not have the morals to lead the country.
“I regret Dr Mahathir should choose to continue to express rancour and venom against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. This persists despite Anwar’s magnanimity in forgiving Mahathir’s previous excesses.
“But when he chose to repeat the scurrilous attacks on Anwar’s character using the same institutions he had helped control and wield influence over, and now chooses to attack, I think that is nothing short of being unacceptable,” Dr Wan Azizah said.
Dr Mahathir has in the past repeatedly attacked Anwar’s character and used the latter’s sodomy charges to justify why he could never become prime minister.
In the same interview with the Australian paper, Dr Mahathir also said Anwar — who will be 69 in August — is “too old” to become the country’s next prime minister.
Dr Wan Azizah also sought to explain her position regarding the Save Malaysia group which has been endorsed by other federal opposition lawmakers as well as civil society leaders and even some Barisan Nasional (BN) veterans.
She said the group, led by Dr Mahathir, should not just be about removing the current prime minister, but must also seek to meet the public’s demand for institutional reform.
“First I believe the declaration should be expanded to one that meets people’s demand for institutional reforms and concrete actions to see the end to endemic corruption,” she said, referring to the Citizens’ Declaration mooted by the Save Malaysia movement.
“Secondly Dr Mahathir must understand in any meaningful collaboration with the opposition and civil society, we cannot opt for autocratic methods because we have worked throughout based on consensus; prioritising the welfare of the people particularly affected by the current economic malaise and flawed governance,” she added.
The Permatang Pauh MP said that Dr Mahathir must learn to accept the fact that it was not up to him, but voters to decide on who should lead the country.
“Controlling mindsets only represent the old order,” Dr Wan Azizah said in a veiled reference to Dr Mahathir.
Dr Mahathir, together with politicians from both sides of the divide and civil society, launched the Citizens’ Declaration on March 4 in a movement called Save Malaysia to push for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s resignation.
The former prime minister was allowed on stage during Pakatan Harapan’s protest against the Goods and Service Tax last week and was also seen attending the Bersih 4 rally last year.
This is another series of failures, since the Statesman attacked Prime Minister Najib openly attack in March 2015. His full intention of ousting the leader which 160,000 delegates endorsed as the President in the last UMNO party elections (November 2013) and Malaysians voted (BN won 133 seats of 222 Parliament seats in 13GE May 2013).
A year ago Tun Dr. Mahathir lied by alleging that Prime Minister Najib is responsible for “RM42 billion lesap” (missing) from 1MDB’s coffer and completely refused any explanation on the matter. He didn’t want to wait until the investigators completed their work.
It turned out that the figure was recorded as ‘Borrowings’ in the Annual Report YE31March2015 and was properly audited by international audit firm Deloitte and submitted to Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia.
The findings of Public Accounts Committee tabled to Parliament on 7 April 2016 in a report about 1MDB also confirmed that Tun Dr. Mahathir lied when he used the amount as “Lesap”, in the attempted to create a scandalous opinion and demonise Prime Minister Najib.
He then on got his minions to do a run on Tabung Haji, with the controversy on the 67,954 sq. ft. plot acquisition within Tun Razak Exchange (TRX), crying foul that the “Unassuming and innocent old folks’ life savings for Hajj being looted for 1MDB bail out”.
However, that failed.
Then he tried to instigate then Deputy Prime Minister to pressure Prime Minister Najib upon the WSJ alleged report of “Personal monies originated from 1MDB was deposited into Prime Minister Najib’s accounts”.
Then the Attorney General as part of the conspiracy, quickly form a ‘Special Task Force’ to investigate and ready to charge him with false information, was to add to the pressure. That failed too.
The Fifth UMNO President trying to use through party vines, to create the deep satisfaction amongst grass roots at Division Level meetings. He got a few to actively hype the notion that UMNO delegates at December party AGM would force the pressure for Prime Minister Najib to resign.
That failed too.
He was out to do political stunts. Even the ones which breaks the law and the lines he himself drew, when he was the Prime Minister and till the last BERSIH 3.0.
He actively campaigned for MPs to vote no confidence against Prime Minister Najib. At one time, he even went around saying in his speeches that the Speaker of Dewan Rakyat expressed (to him in confidence, of course!) his dissatisfaction and wanted to resign.
That failed too.
Then his son Dato’ Seri Mukhriz Mahathir instead was ousted as Menteri Besar Kedah out of a rebellion of party leaders and elected representative. The Fourth Prime Minister summarily quit UMNO, in reaction to his son’s ousting.
That didn’t carry any traction.
Tun Dr. Mahathir at arms with the Opposition, particularly his nemesis for 49 years Lim Kit Siang and DAP
On 4 March 2016, he joined forces with all of his nemesis and former political enemies which include NGO leaders, to do a ‘Mahathir Declaration’ for a mass petition, to demonstrate the rakyat’s wish for Prime Minister Najib to resign.
It drew tremendous flak from UMNO and once his staunchest supporters, for willing to work with Chinese Chauvinist DAP in the likes of Lim Kit Siang, Theresa Kok, Tony Pua and anarchists like Hishamuddin Rais, Maria Chin and Ambiga.
He tried to coax the Opposition, to do a series of roadshow campaign to drum up public support and sign his ‘Mahathir Declaration’ petition.
That failed too. It did not get the attention and traction he hoped for.
He even admitted that the path and actions that he is taking and trying to get at least a million Malaysians to do is “Unconstitutional” and trying to drag His Majesty Seri Paduka Baganda Yang DiPertuan Agong and HRH Malay Rulers to pander into his politics is really despicable.
Today, another failure presented itself as the man still is bent of his goal and trying to use the Opposition to achieve it when he failed through his usual channels.
However, the Opposition Leader said that is Tun Dr. Mahathir who needed them more than they needed him. It is obvious that for over five decades, the man is Opposition’s Numero Uno.
All these compounded to the fact that while Tun Dr. Mahathir is obsessed of trying to topple Prime Minister Najib come what may, all his moves which demonstrated his desperation to succeed on his sordid desire failed at every step.
What he personally gained is probably in teaching so many younger Malaysians really bad examples. Disrespect the law even to a point of doing ‘Unconstitutional move’ to achieve whatever you interpret as important and right thing to do.
*Updated 1600hrs
Tun Dr. Mahathir’s minion Khairuddin Abu Hassan failed to undermine the authority and validity of His Majesty SPB YDP Agong’s appointment of Tan Sri Apandi Ali as the Attorney General and carrying out his duties, which include charging him and fellow economic saboteur Matthias Chang.
The Sun story:
Khairuddin fails to strike out charge
Posted on 13 April 2016 – 02:53pm
Tamarai Chelvi
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Khairuddin Abu Hassan (pix) failed in his bid to strike out his charge after a High Court dismissed his application on the grounds that it has no jurisdiction to determine the validity of the appointment of the Attorney General (AG), today.
High Court judicial commissioner Nordin Hassan said Yang Di-Pertuan Agong (YDP) appoints AG on the advice of the Prime Minister and the “prerogative” powers of YDP is “non-justiciable” by the court.
“The court has no jurisdiction to determine the validity of the appointment of the AG, who was appointed on July 27, 2015,” said Nordin. He said he obtained the date from one of the affidavits filed in the court, for the case.
“Preliminary objection (by the respondent) is allowed and the application filed on Feb 4, 2016 is rejected,” said Nordin.
On Oct 12, last year, Khairuddin and Matthias Chang were charged with attempting to sabotage banking and financial services in the country between June 28, 2015 and Aug 26, 2015, at several location such France, United Kingdom, Singapore, Switzerland and Hong Kong.
The charge for attempting to commit sabotage under Section 124L of the Penal Code, which is punishable for a maximum of 15 years jail.
On Feb 4, 2016, Khairuddin had filed a notice of motion stating the charge for attempt to be struck out or set aside as the AG Tan Sri Apandi Ali has no valid power to prosecute him, under Article 145 of the Federal Constitution on Oct 12, 2015.
He claimed that AG did not have power on Oct 12 as the former AG Tan Sri Gani Patail’s termination of service was contrary to Article 145 (6) of the Federal Constitution.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Abazafree Abbas raised preliminary objection saying Khairuddin is abusing court process as the issue of the legitimacy of the appointment is not under the jurisdiction of the court.
He said the application is “non-justiciable” by the court and it is a “premature” application. He said the notice of motion should be heard before a Session Court, which presides over the case and not the High Court.
He also said the applicant should file a “judicial review” and not by way of notice of motion.
However, Khairuddin’s lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla said on the validity of the charge, which was framed against his client. He said the charge can only be framed by a legitimate AG.
Therefore, he said the issue of the appointment affects directly to his client’s charge.
He also submitted the subject of the application is not that Apandi cannot be appointed as AG but whether there was a legitimate “AG” at the time, when the charge was framed against his client, on Oct 12.
Ex-Petro Saudi Executive Xavier Justo is suing The Edge owner and pro-Anwarista Dato’ Tong Kooi Ong in a Singapore court, for not fulfilling his side of the bargain in the episode of the acquisition of stolen information about Petro Saudi.
The Straits Times story:
1MDB leak deal: Ex-PetroSaudi exec sues The Edge owner in Singapore court
PUBLISHED8 HOURS AGO
FACEBOOK72TWITTEREMAIL
K.C. VijayanSenior Law Correspondent
Details of the alleged deal behind the leaks that spawned claims about the misappropriation of billions at a Malaysian state investment firm linked to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak may well unravel in the High Court in Singapore.
Swiss national Xavier Andre Justo, the man allegedly behind the leaks, is suing the owner of Malaysia’s The Edge media group Tong Kooi Ong and two others for damages.
Justo claims that he handed over two data storage drives in Mr Tong’s presence at a Fullerton Hotel meeting in February last year in return for US$2 million (S$2.7 million) – money which he never received.
A construction worker walks in front of a 1Malaysia Development Berhad billboard at the Tun Razak Exchange development in Kuala Lumpur.
Swiss national Xavier Andre Justo in a photo issued by the Thai police after his arrest. He claimed a deal was reached in Singapore in February on the sale of stolen documents which was followed by discussions on how he would be paid. The group of pe
I was offered $2.7m for stolen data: Ex-PetroSaudi employee Xavier Andre Justo on the 1MDB saga
He wants the items – which contain data about global oil services firm PetroSaudi and its business partner 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) – to be returned and for any copies to be destroyed, according to court documents filed last November.
Mr Tong denies the claims and argues that Justo is not entitled to the items as he was “widely reported to have confessed to have stolen the data from PetroSaudi”, according to defence papers filed by his lawyer Doris Chia.
Justo, 48, who worked for PetroSaudi International (UK) as an IT manager until April 2011,is serving a three-year jail term in Thailand for attempted extortion and blackmail of his former employer.
The information from Justo is linked to claims in The Sarawak Report, an online blog, about the misappropriation of billions at Malaysian state investment firm 1MDB, whose advisory board is headed by Datuk Seri Najib. The Edge, a Malaysian publication, also published several articles on 1MDB.
Justo claimed that the deal was inked partly in a document in February last year titled “Sale Of Justo Property IT Software”, affirmed by himself and Mr Tong.
He also cited WhatsApp exchanges between Mr Tong, two other people and himself as evidence, as well as meetings in Bangkok and Singapore between himself and Mr Tong and/or others. These allegedly included two meetings with Ms Clare Rewcastle-Brown, the owner and editor of The Sarawak Report, in a Bangkok hotel in 2014.
The court action follows repeated demands by Justo for payment by Mr Tong. Justo also seeks to obtain the names and particulars of all who had access to the data.
Justo, represented by lawyer Suresh Damodara, also wants a court order to ensure the return or destruction of all copies made.
Mr Tong, in defence papers filed, admitted signing the letter at a Feb 23 meeting at Fullerton Hotel, which he said was done at Justo’s request. But he denied that he was part of any WhatsApp messaging group with Justo. Mr Tong conceded that Justo did ask him for payment once via WhatsApp but he did not pay. He denied having induced Justo into delivering the data drives with the payout offered. Mr Tong’s lawyers also wrote to PetroSaudi last year to invite them as a party to the action or include them as a party.
Alternatively, Mr Tong would seek court direction on the ownership of the data drives and whether these and all the copies should be handed over to Justo and his firm.
Last December, Mr Tong succeeded in obtaining a court order for $50,000 to be placed as security for costs incurred so far in the High Court against Justo and his firm for the action to proceed. This was on the grounds that Justo was usually not in Singapore.
The case was stayed until security was provided via a lawyer’s undertaking in January.
Two other defendants named in the suit have not entered an appearance or filed their defences. It is understood they have not been served with the court papers.
Mr Tong argued that there are no reasonable grounds for Justo’s claims. A pre-trial conference is due this week.
•Additional reporting by Trinna Leong
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Now that the dust is settled, the storm would be stirred again. Clare Newcastle-Brown brought Tong to Justo, whom in Feb 2015 offered USD2 million for the stolen data and e mails during their meeting at Fullerton Hotel in Singapore, which Justo nicked from PetroSaudi e mail databank.
Tong, a loyalist of Anwar Ibrahim, teamed up with Rewcastle-Brown who is funded by Neo Con Jews to demonise Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak, as part of the strategy to defeat him and UMNO/BN.
The Opposition never managed to defeat Prime Minister Najib, despite stretching the intensive attacks and slanders against him and his administration.
They say there is honour amongst thieves. Tong is beneath all that. Tong never put his money where his mouth is.
“Legally, how do we take actions against people who do nothing”, YB Tan Seng Giaw, MP for Kepong and Deputy Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
He said this outside the Dewan Rakyat after the PAC tabled their report to Parliament, last Thursday.
They say, “A picture paints a thousand words”. In this case, it is a motion picture and an admission the moment by the Deputy Chairman of the PAC as soon as the PAC report is tabled in Parliament.
In the disbelief of those who thrives on controversies, scandals, conspiracies and refuse facts, 1MDB actually resolved their financial issues of “Mismatch of asset acquisition and cashflow to serve borrowings”.
The ‘Rationalisation Plan’ which President and Group Chief Executive Director Arul Kanda Kandasamy presented and got Cabinet approval on 29 May 2015, had proven effective to resolve all financial issues clawn into the Group’s coffer as a result of poor commercial decisions.
Slightly less that two weeks ago, 1MDB President Arul already pre-empted that all the financial issues of the strategic investment company fully owned ny Ministry of Finance Inc would be resolved very soon.
The Star story:
Sunday, 27 March 2016
Arul Kanda: 1MDB to announce other debt payments within weeks
PETALING JAYA: 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) will make announcements on its other debt payments in two to three weeks, says its president Arul Kanda Kandasamy (pic).
He said the 1MDB had not incurred any new debt and would be paying off its current debts.
“In the next two to three weeks, we will be making announcements about us paying our debts,” he said in an interview with Astro Awani.
Arul Kanda said that he was brought into 1MDB to help rationalise the debts of the investment fund, among others.
Among the steps 1MDb would be taking in the future was to avoid adding on to its debts, he said.
“We won’t start any new project. We will increase monitoring of the governance of 1MDB,” he said, adding that another way to move forward was by co-operating with the investigation on the investment fund.
He said that the decisions made about 1MDB were similar to dealing with “a house after an earthquake”.
“The impact is on the structure of the house and the residents are our projects such as Edra (Edra Global Energy Bhd) and TRX (Tun Razak Exchange).
“We have made a choice to ask the residents to move out,” he said, referring to the sale of Edra and the plan to sell TRX.
He admitted that the investment fund was facing several problems but insisted that the issues were purely about business.
“It’s true that there are issues within 1MDB but they are business issues.
“They should not have been politicised,” he said.
Such politicisation of the situations facing 1MDB had caused confusion and anger among Malaysians, he added.
When asked about financier Low Taek Jho, known as Jho Low, Arul Kanda said that he was not related to 1MDB but its predecessor, Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA).
“He left in May 2009 before the Finance Ministry took over TIA and changed it to 1MDB,” he said.
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Like a rail service, they did exactly that and on time. In the past two weeks, 1MDB has made a total repayments of RM4.6 billion as part of its successful rationalization plan.
1MDB President Arul Kanda has said the state-owned company will not have any more short-term debt and bank loans after the repayments.
It will have a cash surplus of at least RM2.3 billion after settling the debt.
Media statement on the RM950 million standby credit facility provided by the Government:
REPAYMENT OF RM950 MIL STANDBY CREDIT FACILITY
1MDB Media Statement 8 April 2016 —
1MDB is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, Plenitude Mentari Sdn. Bhd., has repaid in full, all the principal and interest, for the RM950 million Standby Credit Facility provided by its ultimate shareholder, the Government of Malaysia. This facility was entered into on 27 February 2015, further to the strategic review announced on 18 February 2015, as a direct response to the cash-flow mismatch faced by the company.
The Standby Credit Facility helped to stabilise the company, at a time when it was under severe attack from multiple parties and had no other financing options. With the stability, 1MDB and MoF Inc. were then able to develop and implement the rationalisation plan, the success of which has resulted in the Standby Credit Facility being repaid in full.
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The media statement on the repayment of the Powertek Group acquisition, which is a substantial amount of RM3.0 billion Syndicated Term Loan Facility has been settled.
RM3 BILLION LOAN REPAYMENT
1MDB media statement 1 April 2016
1MDB is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, Powertek Investment Holdings Sdn Bhd, has fully settled the remaining RM3.0 billion balance of an RM3.5 billion Syndicated Term Loan Facility.
The loan facility was entered into in May 2014 with a syndicate of domestic banks, led by Maybank. It has now been fully prepaid, in advance of the original maturity date of May 2024, as part of the successful 1MDB rationalisation plan.
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The media statement of the RM700 million syndicated term loan facility:
REPAYMENT OF RM700 MILLION SYNDICATED TERM LOAN FACILITY
1MDB Media Statement 25 March 2016
1MDB is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, Edra Energy (Langat) Sdn. Bhd., has fully repaid an RM700 million Syndicated Term Loan Facility to a consortium of domestic banks, per the terms of the loan agreement.
The loan was first drawn in 2012 to partially finance 1MDB’s acquisition of its energy assets.
This debt repayment and overall debt reduction is a tangible result of 1MDB’s successful rationalisation plan.
**********
Group President Arul and his leadership, very much rationalized, restructured and resolved all the assets of 1MDB Group and served all its financial commitments, with substantial bits to spare.
All these productive moves and progress are made within less than 1year, amidst very intense ‘noises’, especially the incessant political pressure led by none other than Fourth Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and band of motley crew in unbelievable political circus stunts.
This being harped on and hyped up continuously by pro-Opposition and Neo-Con Jewish controlled media, which paints totally far from facts picture about 1MDB and all the unsubstantiated alleged white collar criminal acts within and about the Ministry of Finance Inc. strategic investment company.
Now that the Public Accounts Committee which consist of MPs of both sides of the bench that already convened and investigated the relevant parties of and within 1DMB, with the full authority of His Majesty’s Parliament, the capital matters have been resolved.
The Executive was never involved in the decisions made and operations and implementations executed by the Management. Yet, rumours compounded on the scandals and contentious stories about 1MDB had been lies upon lies, harped on and hyped up.
It was clear from the start it was part of the demonisation of Prime Minister Najib to bring him down. The cash-flow strapped 1MDB Group caused by mismatch and poor aggregation of commercially acquired asset building manoeuvres through borrowings was the best vehicle for the Anti-Najib Campaign to ride and bastardise on.
Everyone had something bad to mud-pelt 1MDB, despite not having the full knowledge and comprehension of the subject matter in totality.
Even at one some few occasions, CIMB Chairman Dato’ Seri Nazir Razak took nasty swipes which include the summary dismissal of CIMB Islamic Bank CEO Badlisyah Ghazali. It was about Badlisyah’s personal opinion on the fake SWIFT codes pertaining to the alleged transfers into bank account of Prime Minister Najib.
Now all of the wounds from the financial claw-back have been resolved, 1MDB as Group is free to move forward.
On plate is the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX), which shall be the most valuable property square mile in the nation and provide very high productivity in Prime Minister Najib’s strategy of taking Malaysia into a high value economy.
Upon completion, TRX is expected to have a gross development value (GDV) of RM 40 billion.
There is still Bandar Malaysia, where 1MDB pass the burden to continue and deliver the mega development of the 486 acres of Bandar Malaysia to the Iskandar Waterfront Holdings – CREC consortium, as the 60% controlling party.
iProperty story quoting the Bernama story:
Bandar Malaysia total GDV estimated at RM160 Billion, says IWH
By The iProperty.com News Team on Mar 22, 2016
KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 — Bandar Malaysia is estimated to involve a cumulative gross development value (GDV) of RM160 billion and will be completed over the next 20 years, says Iskandar Waterfront Holdings (IWH) Executive Vice Chairman Tan Sri Lim Kang Hoo.
Lim said the China Railway Group Ltd (CREC), which acted as a first mover in Bandar Malaysia with its US$2 billion (US$1=RM4.07) commitment to building its regional centre, represents 30% of Bandar Malaysia’s first phase project.
“There will be three phases of development in Bandar Malaysia.
“We will bring in the investors to come in and join hands to develop with us, just like what we are doing in Iskandar Malaysia,” Lim told reporters at a press conference.
CREC President Zhang Zongyan earlier announced that the company would invest US$2 billion to build its regional centre in Bandar Malaysia and would consolidate all its current regional businesses and operations once its new headquarters in Bandar Malaysia is completed.
Zhang made the announcement in the presence of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and several cabinet ministers at a ceremony here today.
CREC is a Chinese state-owned company and a Global Fortune 500 company which was ranked 71st in 2015.
At the same press conference, Zhang said CREC’s project in Bandar Malaysia will kick off next year and may create up to 10,000 jobs.
CREC’s development blueprint includes an integrated underground city modelled after Canada’s Montreal underground city, with dedicated space for financial and commercial centres, tourism and shopping facilities, high-end corporate offices, theme park and themed theatres, said Zhang.
On the high-speed rail project, Zhang said the company may bid for the project if it is invited to participate in the tender.
The Bandar Malaysia development is being developed under the public-private partnership (PPP) model with the Ministry of Finance holding 40% of the development company and the IWH-CREC consortium holding 60%.
IWH is also a PPP company with the Johor State Government, through Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor, owning 40 per cent of the company and the remaining 60 per cent by Credence Resource Sdn Bhd, a company controlled by Lim.
Bandar Malaysia is situated at the old airport site in Sungai Besi just seven kilometres from Kuala Lumpur city centre.
According to IWH, a GDV of RM160 billion could be realised from Bandar Malaysia. The two, would aggregate a whopping RM200 billion in GDV. That is substantial contribution from the MOF Inc. strategic investment company.
That is not withstanding the other parcels of land which 1MDB is holding and could be turned into very productive development project, for each respective areas.
Group President Arul summed everything up quite nicely.
Straits Times story:
My job is done, says chief of embattled 1MDB fund Arul Kanda
Arul Kanda, president of 1MDB, says his job was to turn the fund around and sort out its debt. “From my perspective, I’m done,” he said in an interview.
PUBLISHEDMAR 31, 2016, 12:49 PM SGT
KUALA LUMPUR (BLOOMBERG) – Former investment banker Arul Kanda took a job in Malaysia last year and walked into the crossfire of the country’s biggest political crisis since Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak came to power in 2009.
Now, even as the finances of 1Malaysia Development Bhd. (1MDB) are being investigated in at least three countries, Kanda, president of the government-linked fund, says his job sorting out the organisation is done.
“I only signed up for one-third of what I ended up doing,” he said in an interview on Wednesday (March 30) at the fund’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. “I did not sign up for the investigations because that happened after I joined, and I definitely didn’t sign up for the extent of the comms-slash-politics that I had to deal with.”
Mr Kanda was brought in in January 2015 when the debt-ridden fund was teetering on the edge of default. Within months the company became embroiled in allegations of financial irregularities that sparked probes in Malaysia, Singapore and Switzerland.
1MDB, whose advisory board is headed by Mr Najib, has consistently denied wrongdoing.
Kanda echoes statements by Mr Najib and other government officials that the allegations are unfounded and politically motivated. He said 1MDB hasn’t been contacted by any foreign legal authorities to help with investigations.
“The misunderstandings about 1MDB stem from the fact that what was a business problem became politicised and became a tool by the opposition or those not aligned with the government to topple a democratically-elected prime minister and government,” he said. “That’s the reality of it.”
He says his job was to turn 1MDB around and sort out its debt.
“From my perspective, I’m done,” said Mr Kanda, a trained lawyer. “Everything’s signed. Legal agreements are there, they’re binding. I’m leaving the company” with available funds, he said.
1MDB will repay RM6 billion (S$2.07 billion) in the next three weeks, leaving it free of short-term debt and bank loans and with at least 2.3 billion ringgit in the bank, Kanda said.
It announced last week the settlement of a RM700 million syndicated term loan. 1MDB will also sign a term sheet for the development of its land parcel in the state of Penang in about two weeks, he said.
“We don’t need any money from our shareholders to get us to 2039” when the last bonds are due, said Mr Kanda, who signed up for a three-year term at the fund. “There is no bailout of 1MDB.”
Set up by the government in 2009 to build infrastructure with borrowed money, 1MDB amassed about RM42 billion of debt in less than five years, largely from assets in the energy sector.
It started facing cash-flow problems in 2014 after a planned initial public offering of energy unit Edra Global Energy was delayed by an unfavourable market. Kanda raised money to pay the debt by selling assets including Edra, which was bought by China General Nuclear Power Corp. for RM9.83 billion.
Mr Kanda said 1MDB will retain land and assets that will allow it to pay off outstanding bonds. They include the 70-acre Tun Razak Exchange financial district, or TRX, in downtown Kuala Lumpur, named after Mr Najib’s father.
“Why don’t I want to sell it off today and pay off the debt? Because I think it’s going to be worth more over time.”
1MDB’s 2023 notes traded on Wednesday at a level last seen in April 2015, according to Bloomberg-compiled prices. Investors would have gained 30 per cent if they’d bought the securities at their lowest point of 71.6 cents on Oct 2. The bonds were sold at par of 100 cents in March 2013 in a deal arranged by Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and rated at A- or four levels above junk by Standard & Poor’s.
Critics questioned Goldman’s earnings from arranging bond sales for 1MDB in 2012 and 2013. Goldman made about US$593 million from three bond sales that raised US$6.5 billion, according to a person with knowledge of the matter, dwarfing what banks typically make from government deals.
Mr Tim Leissner, then Goldman’s South-east Asia chairman, was an adviser to the state fund from early on, according to a former colleague familiar with the bond sales.
“There were large requirements and Goldman was one of the few firms, in fact the only firm, that could provide the solution that was required,” Mr Kanda said. “Overall the objectives were met.”
Mr Leissner left Goldman earlier this year after questions about the fund, his work on an Indonesian mining deal and an allegedly inaccurate reference letter. His lawyer Jonathan Cogan did not respond to messages. Goldman has previously defended the Malaysia fees as representing its underwriting risks and market conditions at the time.
Still, even after 1MDB pares its assets and debts, allegations may continue to dog Mr Najib as questions linger over US$681 million which appeared in his personal accounts before the last election in 2013.
Malaysia’s attorney-general said the funds were a donation from the Saudi royal family and has cleared the prime minister of any wrongdoing.
The central bank said in October its probe of 1MDB found inaccurate disclosures by the company when it sought approvals for investments abroad, prompting the regulator to revoke the permissions given and instructing the repatriation of more than US$1.8 billion related to multiple deals.
It also proposed criminal proceedings against 1MDB, something the attorney-general dismissed as it concluded there was no wrongdoing.
This month, former premier Mahathir Mohamad filed a lawsuit against Mr Najib, alleging he “actively and deliberately” sought to derail investigations by local agencies into 1MDB, according to a statement by Dr Mahathir’s lawyers.
Mr Najib has denied the allegations.
For his part, Mr Kanda says he’s done what he was asked to do.
“My job is to come in, identify the problem, put together the solution, help” people to stay focused, he said, “I’ve done it, now I need to move on.”
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The skeptics and disbelievers may continue to be in their make-belief world of controversies, contentions and scandals but facts are what they are.
Now that ‘Rationalisation Plan’ Group President Arul introduced on 29 May 2016 has been fully executed and the implementation of each projects are on the way, our attention should only be up and ride on all the goodness from the salvaged 1MDB which definitely brought about betterment for Malaysia.
Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak should be lauded for the rescue package offered in the form of RM1.5 billion soft loan, to ensure Proton continue to be a national industrial asset producer.
NST story:
Recommended by Govt approves RM1.5 billion soft loan for Proton to pay vendors
BY KOI KYE LEE – 8 APRIL 2016 @ 2:25 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: The government has approved Proton Holdings Bhd’s application for a soft loan of RM1.5 billion, subject to several conditions which must be met by the national carmaker.
The loan, said International Trade and Industries Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, is geared towards helping the national automotive company to pay vendors for components supplied.
Among the conditions for the loan, he said, were that Proton must convince the government of its new business model, to come up with a turnaround plan for the company, aside from providing a strategic plan to expand the domestic and international markets.
Mustapa said: “A special task force will also be set up and it will be led by Pemandu chief executive Datuk Seri Idris Jala. This team will overlook Proton’s transformation plan and to ensure that it is successful.”
The special task force will be made up of six representatives — three from the public sector namely the Finance Ministry, International Trade and Industries Ministry, Economic Planning Unit (EPU) while the remaining three are from the private sector which will be identified at a later date.
The minister also said the government was aware that the automotive industry was a strategic industry and that there are 12,000 workers directly under Proton while approximately 50,000 were with the vendor companies.
It is a good opportunity for Proton to clean their own act, which also include re-strategising their policy, relationship and operation with regards to the near 300 Malaysian vendors.
It is believed that many of the same vendors are also doing business with Perodua but the treatment and relationship is completely different.
Proton has been seeking funding from the Malaysian Government for a while now:
Sun Daily:
Proton sought funding from Miti, minister confirms
BY SYED JAYMAL ZAHIID
Wednesday March 5, 2014
08:30 PM GMT+8
ICYMI
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KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 — National carmaker Proton Holdings approached Putrajaya for funds, Datuk Seri Mustapha Mohamed confirmed today but said the practice was not unusual among local firms.
The minister of international trade and industry declined, however, to divulge the purpose of the funds being sought by the struggling automaker, other than to say Putrajaya provides various forms of allocations to help local companies grow, including tax breaks, research and development grants, and training incentives.
“Of course companies come for incentives especially Proton. We do give R&D grants, training grants,” the minister told reporters at his office here.
Mustapha said all such applications were screened and no preferential treatment will be given.
“The approval will be based on two things. One is the availability of funds; second is the cost benefit analysis. That is applicable to any application, not just Proton,” he said.
Earlier today, English daily The Star reported that Proton is trying to source as much as RM3 billion from Putrajaya and other sources in order for it to develop new models for the market.
According to the report, Proton had approached Miti last year to help fund its model development but came away empty handed after failing to convince its officials. It then turned to national oil firm Petronas but was similarly unsuccessful.
The firm is said to require some RM3.8 billion in investments by 2017 and at least RM1.8 billion by next year.
During its heydays in the 1990s, Proton accounted for nearly four of every five new vehicles sold, but has since witnessed its fortunes dwindle before being overtaken by second national carmaker Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) as the best-selling brand in Malaysia.
Proton was established in 1983 by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in his bid to jumpstart Malaysia’s shift towards manufacturing.
In 2012, it was sold to Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar al-Bukhary’s DRB-Hicom.
Proton should seriously look into production, distribution and marketing efficiency and optimisation, maximising capacity and capitalising on the DRB-Hicom Group strength.
Proton already producing world class cars in the B and C segments. Weak production planning, product positioning and marketing are some of the excuses been talked about for the said products failure to capture and be positioned in the targeted market.
The strategy should also include to ensure the sustainability of Proton, to continue in production of Malaysian designed and made cars.
It is also a good start for a new management headed by Proton CEO Dato Ahmad Fuaad Kenali and DRB-Hicom Group MD Dato’ Seri Syed Faisal Albar.
Semporna MP Dato’ Seri Mohd. Shafiee Apdal is incorrigibly splenetic in sordidly aggravating an issue which Malaysia considered resolved by suggesting in Parliament to resolve the kidnappings, the Philippines’ claim over Sabah should be brought to International Court of Justice (ICJ) to be resolved once and for all.
The Star story:
Tuesday, 5 April 2016 | MYT 8:27 PM
Lawmakers: End Sabah kidnappings ‘once and for all’
BY MARTIN CARVALHO, HEMANANTHANI SIVANANDAM, andSUZANNE LAZAROO
KUALA LUMPUR: MPs from both sides of the divide have called for a “once and for all” solution to end kidnap-for-ransom incidents off eastern Sabah.
A vocal Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal (BN-Semporna) demanded for a White Paper on the kidnappings in Sabah and that the Philippines government be held accountable.
“I am very disappointed that Sabah’s security and sovereignty of the nation are discussed only through a motion.
“It is time we have a White Paper on the matter,” the former Cabinet member said, adding there were nine kidnappings in the state between 2012 and 2016.
He said this when debating the special motion filed by Datuk Datu Nasrun Datu Mansur (BN-Silam) in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday.
On April 1, four Sarawakian sailors were kidnapped off Pulau Ligitan along the Malaysia-Philippines border in the Celebes Sea.
Shafie also lamented the lack of enforcement of the sea curfew in eastern Sabah, saying there were still boats plying the waters at night.
He also laid blame on the Philippines’ claims over Sabah which he said had contributed to the intrusions.
“We must settle all this once and for all and refer this to the International Court of Justice,” said Shafie.
Datuk Jumat Idris (BN-Sepanggar) proposed that it was high time the navy based its warships in the affected areas and conduct aeriel patrols.
“Indonesia sent five warships and two planes to save 10 of its citizens who were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf,” he said.
Jumat said if Malaysia is unable to solve the issue alone, then it should ask for international help.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, in his winding-up speech, said the Government has taken immediate steps to ensure that the situation does not escalate.
He said these include the temporary suspension of barter trade activities in the waters there.
“We will also postpone the launching of the passenger ferry service to Philippines, which was supposed to start on May 1.
“Stern action will be taken against vessels found violating the curfew,” he said, referring to the Eastern Sabah Security Command’s dusk-to-dawn sea curfew.
Shahidan explained that syndicates behind the kidnap-for-ransom acts had changed their tactics and are now targeting slow-moving and less protected targets.
He said they no longer target island tourist resorts and fish farms because they are now well protected.
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The issue is so obsolete if not totally irrelevant to the several kidnappings, off the coast of Sabah.
First of all, Malaysia does not recognise these claims made by neither the Philippines Government nor the reminiscence of the Sulu Sultanate.
Secondly, Ii is a constitutional fact that Sabahans already made their choice to join Federation of Malaya in the formation of Federation of Malaysia, which was enforced on 16 September 1963 by an international treaty and recognised by United Nations.
The Brief on the Kingdom of Spain cessation and colonisation of the Sultanate of Sulu and later in 1885, denounced it in favour of British North Borneo
Fourthly, Shafie must be able to do a bit of research that the treaty of the lease on what is today the east half of Sabah to the Austrian emissary to Hong Kong and British North Borneo Chartered Company in 1878, was ceded after Spain colonised the entire Sultanate of Sulu.
Fifthly, Shafie as one time Deputy Minister of Defence must understand and appreciate that the kidnappers that have been terrorising in the Sulu Sea are members and splinters of the brutal Abu Sayyaf militant group.
That itself is a rogue splinter off the Moro International Liberation Front (MILF) and today present themselves are nothing more than as a bunch of criminals.
Fiery Cross Reef, which is Cina PLA-Navy newest military installation in the disputed territories which the China name as the ‘Nine-Dash-Line’
They are not freedom fighters. They are ruthless common criminals, who prey on innocent tourists, sport diving enthusiasts, fishermen and sea man of merchant shipping that ply the Sulu Strait. They show little mercy and capitulate hostages heads, to obtain their goals.
The Sulu marauders are plying the Sulu Strait ad Eastern Sabah Sea for prey, and the modus operandi is to demand for USD millions as ransom to release the hostages.
They should be dealt as criminals and act according. Regardless under United Nations Convention Laws of Seas (UNCLOS) or the Malaysian Police Act, Maritime Act, Penal Code, UNCLOS and other existing laws.
Map showing Chinese construction in the disputed Spratly Islands
Shafiee of all Parliamentarians must know all these intrusions and acts of crimes are within the jurisdiction of the police and internal security, to manageme issues in an SPV East Sabah Command (Esscom)..
Shafiee Apdal Gäng Loceng theatrics is very animated, designed instigate this who are confused of acts
There is no requirement to take operational and tactical issues under Esscom to be escalated for Foreign Office (Wisma Putra) make it an issue at the senior officials’, minister’s and eventually head of government’s agenda to discuss at the layered ASEAN dialogue and summit.
It is being handled quite well now, in the midst of the complexity of various layers on international law and UNCLOS thrown into it,
Shafiee, on one side should pelted with rotten tomatoes and tosses with fowl eggs for his gravely sordid attempt to regain whatever bits leftover of his standing, as a skeptic and rogue mainstream politician who last July got sacked from Cabinet.
Shafiee would do his outrageous claim aloud, to sublimely trick everyone’s attention by tossing a spanner-in-the-works for , for all the intense improductive debate go back and forth, at the gross expense if the real, opportunity to work and resolved issues
It is just time for prominent Sabah leaders starts calling Shafie names. In good times, it was “Lanun”.
The "thirteen million plus Ringgit" guy rambles.... 
Playing with three sticks
The buzz being whispered about town going back and forth between market punters, gossipers and arm-chair analysts that the sudden departure of a CEO of a GLC with “Personal issues” as the excuse, is about a very delicate if not intimate ‘personal matter’.
The strange bit about the resignation that the man is only letting go of his executive function and responsibility but remained as a member of the Board of Directors (BoD).
The said married man is believed to have discovered for an intimate relationship, here in this country. It is also believed that the matter has been brought up to the attention of some of the BoD members, by his own spouse.
Across the board, this is the second surprise announcement made regarding key personalities of GLC within the Khazanah Group.
Earlier was CIMB Chairman Dato’ Seri Nazir Razak, who decided to take leave from CIMB (nothing said about Khazanah) after the recent Wall Street Journal revelation of his personal involvement of political funds channeled of the amount USD7 mil. The buzz-cock suddenly felt it was the ‘right thing to do’ (to go on leave pending investigations), for a brotherly favour he did at the same time his eldest brother Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak was handling USD690 mil of donations, believed for political purposes.
The said CEO who had summarily resigned only completed eight and half month stewardship of a New Co. which was formed as part of the turn-around and rationalisation plan, is said to have signed a contract for three years of service.
Whether issue of morality is part of the consideration for him to remain as BoD, to serve for the remaining duration of contract cannot be ascertained.
However, at the rate of the gossip it is bound that the matter would eventually be raised by some of the 6,000 (mostly able and very productive loyalists) made redundant of the Khazanah plan to revive the GLC, in the rough tones of “They put a fucker in charge, after our lives were fucked!”.
After all, most of the 6,000 made jobless are people with families, of Malay-Muslim conservative background where infidelity is a major morality matter.
- Economic analysis and commentary
on April 20, 2016 at 17:00 Comments (3)