In the age of ‘Fake News’ making its way in the minds of many, facts are often denied even amongst the educated and professional lot through the advancement of ICT technology.
One instance is the financial position of the strategic investment company 1MDB, which was turned from actual commercial problems into scandalous by very irresponsible Malaysians, especially the Opposition.
Malaysiankini story from Parliament this morning:
PM: 1MDB has cleared its bank debts, short-term debts
30 Mar 2017, AM 11:01 (Updated 30 Mar 2017, PM 12:01)
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has said 1MDB, which has incurred debts up to RM50 billion as of January 2016, has cleared all its bank debts and short-term debts.
“For now, 1MDB does not have any bank debt and short-term debt,” said Najib, in his capacity has finance ministry, said in a written parliamentary reply yesterday.
According to the ministry, 1MDB made the following repayments:
Paid off RM229.5 million revolving credit facility to Affin Bank in full by Nov 23, 2015.
Cleared RM950 million standby credit to the government in full by March 31, 2016.
Repaid RM2 billion term loan facility to Marstan Investment NV by April 8, 2016.
Cleared US$150 million term financing facility with EXIM Bank by April 15, 2016.
Najib was responding to Er Teck Hwa (DAP-Bakri) who requested the updated figures on 1MDB’s staff, cash flow, debts and assets.
“Due to the ongoing rationalisation plan of 1MDB, there are no new assets acquired (by the state-owned firm) in the country and overseas, in 2015 and 2016,” added the prime minister.
Under the 1MDB rationalisation plan, Najib noted that 1MDB has reduced its staff strenght from 35 as of Dec 31, 2015 to 17 staff as of Dec 31, 2016.
“By selling off the Edra Global Energy Bhd’s asset, Syarikat Bandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd’s equity and the land for the Tun Razak Exchange project, 1MDB acquired RM10.97 billion in 2015 and 2016,” he added.
According to Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) report on 1MDB, the state-owned fund’s debt has increased ten time from RM5 billion in 2009 to RM50 billion in 2016.
1MDB was reportedly had paid RM3.3 billion in interest from April 2013 to March 2015.
1MDB, which had asset valued at RM53 billion as of January 2016, had since stripped various assets and equity stakes to clear off its debts. https://m.malaysiakini.com/news/377487
************
And NST story:
1MDB now debt-free: Finance Ministry
By Nik Imran Abdullah – March 30, 2017 @ 12:17pm
KUALA LUMPUR: The 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) fund is now debt-free, as it has repaid in full all its bank loans amounting to almost RM4 billion, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
The Finance Ministry said the debts, including a standby credit facility from the federal government, were paid in 2015 and 2016.
“As of now, 1MDB does not owe anything to banks, nor has short-term debts,” the ministry said in a written reply to Er Teck Hwa (DAP-Bakri).
The ministry said 1MDB made full settlement, amounting to RM229.5 million, for a revolving credit facility to Affin Bank, on Nov 23, 2015.
On March 31, 2015, 1MDB paid the full amount of RM950 million to the federal government for a standby credit facility.
On April 8, last year, RM2 billion was paid to Marstan Investments N.V. for a term loan facility.
On April 15, last year, 1MDB paid in full a term-financing facility amounting to US$150 million to EXIM Bank.
The ministry also said 1MDB had raised cash amounting to RM10.97 billion through sales of assets in Edra Global Energy Bhd, part of equities in Bandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd, and land for the Tun Razak Exchange project in 2015 and last year.
“As the rationalisation plan of 1MDB is ongoing, no new assets were acquired in 2015 and last year,” the ministry said.
In line with the plan, the ministry said the number of 1MDB employees is 17 as of Dec 31, last year, down from 35 staff on Dec 31, the previous year.
**************
Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak acting as the Minister of Finance responded to a DAP MP’s querry, through a written reply in the Dewan Rakyat.
The Opposition since 2012 made the 1MDB the most controversial and later contentious issues ever thrown against a corporation owned by the Malaysian Government, which was supposed to implement strategic programs such as high end property and energy sectors.
Despite explanations made, even on formal platforms such as replies in the Parliament, the Opposition to continue to make the 1MDB issue continue to be contentious.
Second Finance Minister Dato’ Sri Johari Abdul Ghani did offer detailed explanation on 1MDB, as a response to DAP Strategic Director Tony Pua’s dramatised ‘Open Letter’.
COMMENT I refer to a press statement issued today by YB Tony Pua.
YB Tony Pua is well-versed in the facts concerning 1MDB, given he is a member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). Thus, it is disappointing to note that he has chosen to misrepresents the facts and has accused me of lying, in his desperate attempts to mislead the rakyat.
The matter at hand is clear, simple and has been publicly explained, as evidenced in page 81 of the PAC Report on 1MDB.
The facts are as follows:
1. The TRX and Bandar Malaysia lands were originally owned directly by the government. The government made a decision to sell the lands in 2010 and 2013 respectively, to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), a holding company 100 percent owned by MOF Inc. 1MDB in turn owned the lands via its 100 percent equity shareholding in two subsidiary companies, ie TRX City Sdn. Bhd. (TRXC) and Bandar Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (BMSB).
2. It is clear that from the above transactions, the government ownership of the lands shifted from direct to indirect ownership, via MOF Inc ultimate ownership of 1MDB and its subsidiary companies.
3. Although the Bandar Malaysia land was sold at a nominal sum to BMSB, there was a responsibility to construct/upgrade six bases for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and two bases for the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), for a total development cost of RM 2.7 billion, of which 1MDB had to contribute RM1.6 billion.
4. Although the TRX land was sold at a nominal sum to TRXC, there was a responsibility to construct infrastructure not only in TRX but also in the surrounding areas, including a vehicular tunnel under Jalan Tun Razak, for a total sum of approximately RM 3 billion.
5. TRXC and BMSB undertook debts of RM 800 million and RM2.4 billion respectively, to undertake the construction of infrastructure and the six air force/two police bases referred to above. These debts were always attached to the said land when these two companies raised their financing and thus form part of the security for the said debts. In other words, it is an operating debt of these two companies.
6. With the infrastructure development and planning approvals obtained by TRXC and BMSB from 2010/2013 to the present day, the value of the TRX and Bandar Malaysia lands have increased in value significantly.
6. The PAC recommended in April 2016 that MOF Inc take over direct ownership of Bandar Malaysia and TRX lands from 1MDB. The most efficient and cost-effective way to achieve this is via a transfer of TRXC and BMSB shares to MOF Inc. So, instead of owning those companies via 1MDB, MOF Inc will directly own BMSB and TRXC, along with all the assets and the operating debts of the respective companies.
7. The TRXC and BMSB debts will be repaid by future cashflows of these companies as described in page 81 of the PAC Report. Further, whilst TRXC will continue to be 100 percent owned by MOF Inc, it is pertinent to note that a sale and purchase agreement has been executed with a consortium for the sale of 60 percent equity shareholding in BMSB.
8. More importantly, page 81 of the PAC Report also makes clear that the debts that will remain on the balance sheet of 1MDB are the RM 5 billion sukuk, the US$3.0 billion bond and the 2x US$1.75 billion bonds. These 1MDB debts will be serviced from matching cashflows, as described in the PAC Report.
Whilst MOF Inc will not be taking over these 1MDB debts, the substance of the letter of support and guarantee from the government, remains intact, as described in the PAC Report.
There is therefore a clear distinction between 1MDB debts, which will not be taken over by MOF Inc, and the BMSB/TRXC project company operating debt, which are part of the assets and liabilities of the company and which will be serviced from the project cash-flows.
JOHARI ABDUL GHANI is Second Finance Minister. https://m.malaysiakini.com/news/375939
**********
1MDB was made contentious when Fourth Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad openly attacked Prime Minister Najib exactly two year ago this month. His baseless accusations then “1MDB lost RM42 billion!”.
Tagged team with foreign media which include the Neo Con Jewish controlled Wall Street Journal, a serious of reporting made without verified evidence and named sources (supposedly, ‘authorities’ on the matter), which spurred the 1MDB matter to be scandalous.
It was then clear that the 1MDB issue was an excuse to demonise Prime Minister Najib and his administration, in the strategic play to oust him (then attempts to trigger a ‘revolution’ amongst the Cabinet, UMNO Supreme Council, UMNO General Assembly and eventually Parliament through a vote of no confidence).
However, it failed all the way.
Aides of Dr. Mahathir even went overseas to lodge reports to the authorities in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States based on so called ‘evidence’, which many are not properly verified and speculative and some are even fabricated.
MOF II Johari also said in Parliament two weeks ago 1MDB is the most investigated corporation in the Malaysian history. So far except for being reprimanded for flogging bureaucratic regulations, no personalities from the strategic investment corporation have yet to be charged because lack of implicating evidence.
Despite all of these reports and complaints lodged all over the world the past two years, there is no progress on the investigations which implicated 1MDB in any criminal activities.
Yet, parties attempting hard to demonise Prime Minister Najib and his administration such as Dr. Mahathir, the Opposition and foreign media been using terms such as “Kleptocracy”.
The fact remains that 1MDB is a corporation which embarked on various diversified tracks faced commercial issues.
Eksekutif dan para perunding Petronas bertemu secara aktif dan merundingkan projek Petronas RAPID dengan rakan sejawatan mereka di Saudi Aramco semenjak tiga tahun dahulu, untuk mencapai keyakinan dan persetujuan bahawa syarikat minyak ‘seven sisters’ ini untuk melabur di Penggerang Integrated Complex bulan lepas.
Saudi Aramco mengadakan ‘Selidikan Rapi’ (Due diligence), sebagai amalan tadbir urus universal biasa bagi menentukan perkara-perkara seperti kedudukan kewangan dan anjaran projek, sudut perundangan, teknologi dan sistem sokongan dan seluruh eko-sistem sebelum bersetuju melabur sebagai rakan kongsi.
Walaupun Petronas mampu untuk menjana dana dalaman untuk projek PIC ini, sebagaimana yang dijelaskan Presiden dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Kumpulan Datuk Wan Zukiflee Wan Ariffin di The Star pada 22 Februari 2017 , namun kerjasama yang mencapai perkonsgian ini merupakan keputusan ‘menang-menang’ kepada kedua dua belah pihak.
Kepentingan strategik perkongsian dalam PIC ini amat jelas. Pertamanya, ia bermaksud Saudi Aramco akan menentukan bekalan huluan minyak mentah sehingga 300,000 tong sehari untuk ditapis dan proses.
Saudi Aramco merupakan pengeluar hiliran minyak mentah terbesar didunia berjumlah 10 juta tong sehari. Jadi kejayaan mengadakan perkongsian dengan syarikat pembangunan strategik minyak ini merupakan peluang ems bagi Petronas.
Keyakinan Saudi Aramco untuk melabur dalam projek RAPID yang bernilai RM31 billion ini menunjukan keyakinan mereka sebagai ‘seven sisters’ atas kemampuan Petronas dari perspektif dayamaju dan membuka peluang yang besar. Terutama penglibatan Saudi Aramco dalam pasaran rantau ini.
Sebagai timbal-balas, perkongsian dengan Saudi Aramaco bukan sahaja memberikan kepentingan strategik Petronas keatas jaringan kommersil sediada dan potensi Saudi Aramco, malah kemampuan membuka lebih banyak pintu peluang.
Ini dijelaskan dalam temuramah The Malay Mail Online Naib Presiden Eksekutif Kumpunan Petronas Md Ariff Mahmood mengenai topik yang sama:
Aramco JV was well thought out, says Petronas
BY WONG SAI WAN AND KAZI MAHMOOD
Monday March 27, 2017
06:58 AM GMT+8
KUALA LUMPUR,March 27 — The joint venture with Aramco for the Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (RAPID) was not done overnight but had been looked at since 2014, said Petronas group executive vice-president Md Arif Mahmood.
Arif said the Malaysian unit was “never forced into the joint venture” and had always been eyeing a partner like Aramco.
Arif, who is the downstream chief executive officer, dismissed as “not credible” reports which said that senior Petronas officials were against the joint-venture with the Saudi Arabia’s oil giant Aramco in the RAPID project and had to be forced into it.
Instead, he said, the partnership was “an obvious and perfect” one.
“How can we be forced to do this deal? We were looking for a partner that would complement the project. We are not selling RAPID as reported. It’s a 50-50 partnership,” he said in an interview with Malay Mail.
“We are looking for partners to invest and co-invest. And selling and co-investing are very different.”
Arif said the joint-venture was going to be a long-term marriage, and Petronas was not going to be forced into such a massive venture with a foreign partner.
“I am going to make this very clear. It had to be within the terms agreeable, not only for us but agreeable to both parties before we could actually get to the stage where we are now.”
Asked why Aramco was chosen as a partner of all the global players, Arif said the joint venture was mutual and it was a perfect match.
“We were looking for a partner that would complement the project and that is the obvious criteria when you are looking for partners.”
Petronas needed a partner that would be able to leverage their strength and manage the risks at the same time.
“Why Aramco? It is the biggest crude supplier in the world with a supply capacity of 10 million barrels a day,” he said.
“This refinery needs a specific type of crude oil that will allow us to make the necessary cut to supply to the petrochemical plants.
“To have a crude supplier as a partner, for long-term crude security, that itself is a good reason why Aramco.”
Arif said the deal with Aramco was not made within short notice.
“Not many people are aware of this, that is the discussions between Petronas and Aramco have been ongoing for some time.”
He said the Saudis had a look at this venture from 2014, and visited the site that was just being cleared for construction.
“The discussions with the Saudis took more than two-and-a-half years. They looked at the due diligence of the investment opportunities. It is not like it is only yesterday we decided to partner Aramco.
“Just to be clear, RAPID is just a sub of the whole Pengerang Integrated Complex (PIC) project. The whole complex today has seen a progression of 60 per cent and we are doing well,’ he said.
Asked whether RAPID would be refining only Aramco’s crude oil following this deal, Arif said since the partnership is on a 50-50 basis, Aramco will supply at least 50 per cent of the 300,000 barrels of crude oil to be refined at RAPID.
Aramco is investing US$7 billion (RM31 billion) cash, an amount that will be invested within a year upon the signing of the agreement, giving Aramco equal ownership in selected ventures and assets of the RAPID project with Petronas.
Amat jelas juga beliau sebagai blogger pro-Pembangkang menggunakan strategi ‘menghasut bertujuan kebencian’ (demonisation), sama yang yang digunakan pemimpin Pembangkang untuk meningkatkan kemarahan dan kebencian rakyat, dan seterusnya menghakis keyakinan keatas Kepimpinan dan Pentadbiran Perdana Menteri Najib.
Hakikatnya, Presiden Wan Zulkiflee merupakan sebahagian dari pasukan yang berkerja keras semenjak ‘Seribu Malam’ lampau untuk menentu projek strategik Petronas iaitu RAPID di Penggerang Johor, beroperasi sebagai dirancang dan berdaya maju staregik.
This picture which was shot by us when then recently elected MP for Jerlun Mukhriz Mahathir, about to launch “Berani Berubah” campaign to run for UMNO Youth Chief. Seen here is Mukhriz tidying up speech, Press Secretary Azrin Zizal and Merbok UMNO Youth Chief Abd. Karim Ali, at Titigajah, Alor Star on 6 Sept 2008
One of the premier ‘Fake News’ provider Sarawak Report is caught with another deception journalism when the story about a European enterprise providing ‘Big Data’ analytics for politics to ruling Barisan Nasional is not true.
“It is a failed investigative reporting, laced with lies and inaccurate information”, said former Press Secretary to Dato’ Sri Mukhriz Mahathir for ten years Azrin Zizal Abdul Aziz, who was mentioned in the story.
Azrin was relieved when Mukhriz appointed Menteri Besar Kedah and is now a consultant for ‘Big Data’ analytics and director of the KL office of SLC (Cambridge Analytica).
“Bollocks!”, was the first thing he said when contacted about the Sarawak Report story.
Excerpts from Rewscastle-Brown’s ‘Fake News’ blog:
Latest On Geneva’s 1MDB Snooper Raises Fears That Najib Is Employing ‘Big Data’ Tactics To Try Swing GE14
24 March 2017 2 comments
Journalists from Switzerland’s Le Temps newspaper have unearthed a startling connection between the snooping private investigator, Nicolas Giannakopoulos, who conducted a bizarre seminar on 1MDB at Geneva University and Malaysia’s governing Barisan National party.
The newspaper has in the process identified concerns that individuals closely connected to Barisan National are preparing to employ the latest highly controversial (and expensive) ‘Big Data’ tactics to swing voters at the next election.
SLC (Cambridge Analytica) uses ‘Big Data’ to influence voters. It’s SE Asia Office is in KL
Nicolas Giannakopoulos, who was recently suspended from his position at the University following an expose by Sarawak Report, is the Swiss agent for SLC (otherwise known as Cambridge Analytica).
************
Rewcastle-Brown also claimed Giannakopulous “Has been long widely suspected of using his association with its Global Studies Unit for his raft of private businesses, which are associated with commercially ‘Black Ops’, frequently on behalf foreign governments, such as Kazakhtan and now, Malaysia”.
Of course it is lie and she cannot provide any evidence to her claim. Even a fabricated one, like many before.
“If they are so-called ‘across the water’ (Sarawak) journos can’t even get this right, how could you trust them with stories so far away like Cayman Islands with very complex information, mechanics of investment banking deals and transactions”, Azrin added.
It is believed that operatives loyal to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia Chairman Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad have started to use this Rewcastle-Brown’s fake news to be viraled.
It is the extension of the demonisation strategy against Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak, especially all of Dr. Mahathir’s moves exactly the past two years have either failed or shown very poor outcome.
This is include his operatives making reports to the Department of Justice (DoJ) which led to the infamous 21 July 2016 announcement by then US Attorney General Loretta Lynch on “Kleptocracy practices in Malaysia”.
Strategi menghasut termasuk menyelitkan dusta agar timbul kebencian dikalangan rakyat sebagai senjata jangkapanjang Pembangkang untuk menjatuhkan Kerajaan Barisan Nasional diamalkan dipelbagai peringkat, termasuk penyokong walaupun berada di luar negara.
Mantan Wartawan yang menjadi Blogger pro-Pembangkang Ganesh Sahathevan masih lagi gagal membuktikan tuduhan bahawa Presiden dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Petronas merupakan antara individu yang dimaksudkan Perdana Menteri Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak sebagai “Mensabotaj ekonomi”.
KUALA LUMPUR – March 23, 2017: A Malaysian journalist/blogger based in Australia has been accused by a local blogger of being an economic saboteur following the former’s criticisms against the recently signed Saudi Aramco-Petronas joint venture.
According to Zakhir, Ganesh’s blog post on March 19 had insinuated that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Petronas group chief executive officer Datuk Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin were not on good terms.
“He (Ganesh) attacked and accused Wan Zulkifllee of being a saboteur of the country’s economy,” wrote Big Dog.
“Then, he baselessly dragged the EPF (Employees’ Providence Fund) into the matter by arguing that taxpayers’ money will eventually be used to bail out Rapid (if Saudi Aramco decided not to invest by taking an equity),” he added.
Rapid refers to the Petronas Refinery and Petrochemical Development project in which Saudi Aramco decided to participate.
Any controversy on the Saudi Aramco-Petronas joint venture was thrown out of the window when they inked the deal last month during King Salman’s official visit to Kuala Lumpur.
Ganesh, who was contacted by The Mole today, reacted to Big Dog’s allegation by cynically expressing his happiness and said he was flattered that an “Umno blogger has taken notice of my work”.
The former journalist with the local Sun newspaper maintained that what he wrote about Wan Zulkiflee was based on official news reports and press releases by Saudi Aramco.
“He (Big Dog) does not dispute my story….. I would be happy for him to do so.
“I have put all the references out there (in the posts) so that readers can decide for themselves. Having said that, let me now turn to Big Dog,” Ganesh wrote.
“Nowhere has he (Big Dog) addressed the main bloody issue that I raised (in another blog post on March 13), which is the very existence of the bloody USD$7 billion cash injection,” he wrote.
An attempt to check the post which Ganesh said was not addressed by Big Dog failed because it could not be accessed.
When contacted again, Ganesh claimed that the blog post had been blocked.
In 2000, Ganesh was sued by Malaysian tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan in Malaysian and Australian courts for defamation after he sent two e-mail about the apparent troubles affecting Tan’s Berjaya Group to journalists with foreign news organisations.
The gag order imposed on him was struck down by the Australian supreme court two years later.
(Note: Zakhir is the chief executive officer of The Mole.)
************************
Beliau menggunakan peluang untuk respon yang diberikan The Mole untuk membuat tuduhan baru dengan menyifatkan penulis Zakhir Mohamed sebagai “UMNO blogger”.
Ini juga jelas satu pembohongan tiada bukti Zakhir merupakan seorang blogger mewakili atau dilantik oleh UMNO.
Mungkin blogger Ganesh ini mempunyai masalah kerana kelemahan menguasai bahasa kebangsaan sebagai rakyat Malaysia, namun penulisan BigDogDotCom yang direspon beliau kepada The Mole ini sebenarnya mempertikaikan tulisan beliau yang menuduh Datuk Wan Zukiflee dengan tindakan yang wajar sifatkan sebagai ‘Pengkhianat Negara’.
Malah, Blogger Ganesh dalam tulisan blognya memanipulasi laporan akhbar untuk sandaran posting itu, sebenarnya beliau sendiri adalah contoh yang disifatkan Perdana Menteri Najib itu.
Beliau juga gagal menunjukkan bukti bahawa dana daripada KWSP akan digunakan sebagai ‘Bail out’ projek RAPID yang dibangunkan Petronas itu. Ini adalah tabiat penyokong Pembangkang, yang begitu mendukung pendekatan pemimpin yang mereka sokong untuk memanjangkan kebencian sebagai strategi politik.
Pengadu-domba dan mereka yang berdusta sebagai modal strategi politik untuk meningkatkan kedudukan mereka dikalangan rakyat dengan menghasut dan memburukkan pemimpin, walaupun ianya akan menjejaskan kemakmuran negara.
Terdapat pelbagai khabar angin dan pembohongan yang engage diada-adakan tau dimanipulasi dari fakta atau kenyataan sebenar hanya dengan objektif untuk mencapai menimbulkan kebencian dan menggurangkan keyakinan keatas kepimpinan dan dakar dan program-program strategi yang diusahakan.
Ini termasuk program strategik pembangunan ekonomi, yang bakal akan jadi pemangkin dan ‘penggerak permainan’ (game changer) seperti projek Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (RAPID) di Timur Laut Johor.
Ianya merupakan pelaburan strategik Petronas paling besar setakat ini yang dianggarkan berjumlah RM60 billion dan program utamanya ialah Penggerang Integrated Complex (PIC). PIC dirancang untuk kapasiti memproses dan menyaring sehingga 300,000 tong minyak mental sehari.
Kunjungan ulung Raja Salman Al Saud pemerintah Arab Saudi bulan lepas telah menyaksikan Petronas memeterai perjanjian dengan Aramco Saudi, dimana syarikat ‘seven sisters‘ itu akan melabur RM6 billion dalam projek PIC.
Laporan Utusan Online:
Petronas, Saudi Aramco meterai SPA RAPID
AHMAD SHAZWAN MD. YUSOF
28 Februari 2017 3:25 PM
KUALA LUMPUR 28 Feb. – Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) dan Saudi Aramco hari ini menandatangani Perjanjian Pembelian Saham (SPA) bagi penyertaan ekuiti syarikat minyak Arab Saudi itu dalam projek Pembangunan Bersepadu Penapisan Minyak dan Petrokimia (RAPID) di Pengerang, Johor.
Majlis pemeteraian itu disaksikan oleh Raja Arab Saudi, Raja Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud dan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak di sini.
Petronas diwakili Presiden dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Kumpulan, Datuk Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin sementara Saudi Aramco pula diwakili oleh Presiden dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya, Amin H. Nasser.
Yang turut hadir, Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan dan Menteri Tenaga, Industri dan Sumber Galian Arab Saudi, Khalid Al-Falih.
Menerusi transaksi jual beli saham itu, kedua-dua syarikat akan memiliki pegangan ekuiti sama rata ke atas beberapa projek dan aset penapisan minyak, loji perekah dan kemudahan petrokimia RAPID dalam Kompleks Bersepadu Pengerang (PIC) dengan sejumlah AS$7 bilion (RM31 bilion) bakal dijana menerusi kerjasama berkenaan.
Menurut Wan Zulkiflee, PIC merupakan salah satu projek terbesar di Asia Tenggara dan pelaburan terbesar Petronas bagi sektor hiliran.
“Perjanjian ini merupakan peristiwa bersejarah bagi industri minyak dan gas kerana dua syarikat minyak terkemuka berkongsi dalam membangunkan projek baharu bertaraf dunia.
“Perkongsian ini bakal mengukuhkan lagi kedudukan, pengalaman operasi serta prestasi kedua-dua syarikat dalam membangunkan projek-projek mega serta rangkaian komersial dalam pelbagai pasaran global,” katanya. – UTUSAN ONLINE
Ianya bukti kerjasama erat bukan sahaja diantara dua negara Islam ini tetapi dua pemimpin, yang saling mempunyai penghormatan dan keyakinan tinggi sesama mereka.
Pelaburan ini secara automatiknya melenyapkan laporan media asing sebelum itu berkenaan Saudi Aramco menarik diri keluar dari rancangan untuk melabur di RAPID.
Laporan Reuters pada 27 Januari 2017:
Aramco snub puts Malaysia’s Petronas in tight spot over RAPID project
By Emily Chow and A. Ananthalakshmi | KUALA LUMPUR
Saudi Aramco’s decision to shelve a plan to partner with Malaysia’s state oil company threatens the country’s ambitious plans for an oil and gas processing hub, which it may struggle to keep on course if it cannot find another foreign investor.
The Saudi oil major suspended plans for a joint venture with Petroliam Nasional Berhad, or Petronas, on the $27 billion project in the southern Malaysian state of Johor due to concerns it would not yield high returns, sources told Reuters this week.
Petronas – which has been hit hard by the slump in oil prices, cutting jobs, capital expenditure and its contribution to government coffers – insists the Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (RAPID) project at Pengerang, on Malaysia’s southern tip, remains on track and will begin operations as planned in 2019.
Analysts say the project is too politically important for Prime Minister Najib Razak, mired in a corruption scandal involving state fund 1MDB, to be scrapped or drastically pared back, but believe Petronas will need a strategic investor to bring in funds and industry expertise.
“They may scale it down, but it’s going to go ahead. It might get staggered,” said Subbu Bettadapura, senior director of energy, Asia Pacific, at consultancy Frost and Sullivan.
“(Malaysia) would definitely try to channel funds into Pengerang because a lot is riding on that. All the forces, political and industrial, would be trying to make this a reality.”
Industry analysts and consultants say Petronas is in talk with other foreign investors.
Najib – who has said RAPID will create jobs, raise standards of living and boost the country’s economy – will want to ensure the project in electorally key Johor state faces no further hurdles before the next national election due by 2018.
With Western oil majors also hurting from a slump in oil prices, the most likely solution for RAPID would be to recruit Chinese players to partner with Petronas.
Some analysts say cash-rich Chinese refiners looking to expand into new markets could be interested in RAPID.
ALSO IN COMMODITIES
Chinese supermarkets pull Brazil meat from shelves as food safety fears grow
Rainy end to March cheered by most U.S. farmers, but not all: Braun
Najib has been moving closer to Beijing diplomatically as the fallout from the 1MDB scandal strains ties with the United States, returning from a November state visit to China with about $34 billion in deals.
“Najib needs to ensure that RAPID can still go on,” said Achmad Sukarsono, analyst at political risk consultancy Eurasia Group. “Politically Najib would want to involve China more.”
PROJECT ECONOMICS
Others, however, caution that RAPID may not make sense for China, which already has enough refineries to meet even its huge oil thirst. Chinese energy firms, they say, would rather invest in more crude production.
A bigger concern is the economics of the project, which have been called into question after sources said Aramco had concluded it would not generate sufficient returns.
Petronas said in a statement on Thursday that RAPID – which includes a 300,000-barrel-per-day oil refinery producing gasoline and diesel – was expected to deliver positive returns and value as planned.
The project, part of the huge Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC), was announced in 2011 when oil traded at $110 a barrel. Crude prices have since halved.
Like neighboring Singapore, the Pengarang peninsula sits between the Malacca Strait and the South China Sea, through which almost all the Middle East oil and gas bound for northern Asia’s industrial powerhouses of China, Japan and South Korea is shipped.
If fully developed, PIPC would become one of Asia’s biggest hubs for oil storage, fuel refining and petrochemical production, as well as imports and exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Sushant Gupta, research director of refining and chemicals at energy research and consulting firm Wood Mackenzie, predicted Asian markets will be short of gasoline by 2020, meaning RAPID could hit the market at the right time to benefit from improving refining margins.
“So it will be prudent for the sponsors to get the refinery ready on time to capture the expected upswing in margins,” Gupta said.
CANADIAN SACRIFICE?
The RAPID setback means Petronas now faces questions over two of its biggest projects.
It is in the middle of making a final investment decision on a $27 billion liquefied natural gas project in Canada that has faced several delays due to environmental concerns.
The state-run company is also wrestling with lower profit and cash flow. In early 2016, Petronas said it would cut spending by up to 50 billion ringgit ($11.27 billion) over the next four years.
With the questions hanging over RAPID, Petronas may be forced to re-think the Canada project.
“RAPID will still come online, it’s just there is a greater financial burden on Petronas now,” said Peter Lee, an oil and gas analyst at BMI Research. “If anything were to give way or be delayed further, I would think it is the Canada project first.”
For graphic on Pengerang oil and gas development click: tmsnrt.rs/2kAw5RZ
(Additional reporting by Mark Tay and Henning Gloystein in SINGAPORE, Reem Shamseddine in KUWAIT; Editing by Alex Richardson)
************
Dalam pada itu, terdapat khabar angin yang amat popular sedang aktif digembar-gemburkan dikalangan penggiat politik Pembangkang dengan dusta memburukkan Kerajaan Pusat terbaru.
Mereka begitu berusaha untuk mengambarkan bahawa Perdana Menteri Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak sebenarnya amat tidak berpuas hati dengan Presiden dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Kumpulan Petronas Datuk Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin, berdasarkan maklumat yang dimanipulasikan dan ditambah dengan pembohongan.
Ini disandarkan kepada sidang media Datuk Wan Zulkiflee pada 22 Februari 2017.
Laporan The Star:
Wednesday, 22 February 2017
Petronas clears the air on partnerships
BY RISEN JAYASEELAN
KUALA LUMPUR: Petroliam Nasional Bhd’s (Petronas) discussions with potential equity partners for its projects are driven by its interest in bringing in new technologies, as well as diversifying risks in exploration activity.
It is not with the view of getting funding to help finance its projects.
President and chief executive Datuk Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin said that when the national oil company embarks on a project, the entire funding requirement would be factored in.
“We never take on a project with the view that we have to depend on investors for funding to complete the project,” he told senior editors at a briefing here yesterday.
“We are always in discussions with potential partners to maximise the value of our projects and better manage the cash position of the organisation. But we are not dependent on anyone for funding to complete the project. We only pursue partnerships on terms acceptable to us,” he said.
Recently, wire news reports suggested that Petronas was looking to divest a large minority stake in a key Sarawak offshore gas field, and that the sale was partly driven by a need to raise cash at a time of low oil and gas prices.
Earlier reports stated that Saudi Aramco had pulled out of a plan to get involved in Petronas’ Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (Rapid) project in Pengerang, Johor.
The reports suggested that the pressure was on Petronas to find a new partner or struggle to complete the project.
Wan Zulkiflee expressed surprise at the report of Saudi Aramco pulling out of Rapid when it had not gone into any agreement with the entity from Saudi Arabia.
“How can there be a situation of a party pulling out of something when the party was not part of it in the first place?” he said referring to reports of Saudi Aramco supposedly pulling out of Rapid.
“From day one, we have stated that we are able to fully fund Rapid. We are and will not be dependent on anyone for this project. We are close to 60% complete, costs are within projections and the refinery will be ready by 2019 followed by the petrochemical portion by 2020.”
On the potential sale of equity in the Sarawakian oil field, Wan Zulkiflee said that one of the criteria in looking for a partner was in finding one that is able to bring new technologies that make the extraction process more efficient, considering that the gas field contains high levels of carbon dioxide.
“There is also exploration work there, so it is in the normal course of business to find a production sharing partner to share the risks and rewards.”
Wan Zulkiflee also said that Petronas’ financials were intact, despite suffering from lower earnings due to the oil price collapse. Numerous cost-saving measures have also borne fruit.
“Just look at our balance sheet. We have more than RM130bil in cash. We have one of the lowest gearings among international oil companies at 17% and our ratings have not been downgraded in this entire period.”
On Petronas’ staff-rationalisation exercise, Wan Zulkiflee said that it had laid off 2,300 employees last year, which brought about an annual manpower cost savings of RM200mil.
“But the main benefit is that the exercise got rid of duplication (of roles) in the organisation and this, in turn, raises accountability. This is a much bigger win from this exercise than the cost savings,” he said.
Wan Zulkiflee also said that the oil major was using a price assumption of US$45 per barrel for Brent crude oil for its 2017 planning, and that it was maintaining its capital expenditure budget at RM60bil for the year.
The Government in Budget 2017 had also assumed oil to be at US$45 per barrel.
Despite the turbulent industry, 2016 marked many firsts for Petronas, said Wan Zulkiflee.
This included Petronas commissioning the world’s first floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) liquefaction, storage and offloading vessel – Petronas FLNG Satu – which is now operating offshore in Sarawak. It also started commercial operations at the ninth liquefaction train at the Petronas LNG complex in Bintulu, Sarawak.
Last year, Petronas also commissioned its Sabah Ammonia Urea (Samur) project with first production expected soon. In 2016, the oil giant was also awarded deepwater exploration blocks in the Gulf of Mexico’s Salina Basin. It entered into a memorandum of understanding with National Iranian Oil Company to study two oil fields there and production of oil from Iraq crossed 100 million barrels.
Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2017/02/22/petronas-clears-the-air-on-partnerships/#KVm5jKYWMfJ7MQFB.99
***************
Walaupun Datuk Wan Zulkiflee menjelaskan bahawa beliau sendiri terkejut mengenai laporan Reuters itu kerana pada peringkat itu, kedua kedua pihak masih lagi dalam proses perundingan dan belum mencapai apa-apa persetujuan yang konkrit. Hatta, soal menarik diri tidak timbul pada peringkat sebegini.
Dalam sidang media yang sama, beliau juga menjelaskan apabila Petronas menimbangkan untuk memulakan sesuatu projek, perkiraan telah dibuat agar Petronas sendiri mampu untuk menjana program tersebut.
Namun, pertimbangan untuk rakankongsi juga sentiasa terbuka bagi menerima modal tambahan dan menjana kepentingan strategik seperti meningkatkan peluang jaringan melalui kerjasama dan rakankongsi, terutama kedalam kepasaran terbitan baru.
Ini merupakan salah satu track yang di layari Petronas dengan jayanya, sebagai sebuah operator huluan industri hidrokarbon ini apabila terbukti mampu beroperasi di 20 bush negara dan membawa pulangan yang lumayan.
Kejayaan kunjungan Raja Salman dan perjanjian Petronas-Aramco Saudi merupakan bukti bahawa keyakinan global keatas Malaysia dan pengurusan ekonomi oleh Kerajaan masih mantap.
Ianya amat bertentangan dengan apa yang digembar-gemburkan Pembangkang dan dicanang merata dunia dengan bantuan sesetengah media asing bahawa pengurusan ekonomi negara amat lemas, bebanan hutang diluar kawalan dan negara akan muflis.
Perdana Menteri Najib menyifatkan perbuatan fitnah ini sebagai cubaan untuk mensabotaj ekonomi negara.
Laporan Utusan Online:
Henti sabotaj ekonomi – PM
C.Sheila Rani
20 Mac 2017 11:24 AM
KUALA LUMPUR 20 Mac – Perbuatan sabotaj ekonomi harus dihentikan oleh mana-mana pihak demi kepentingan rakyat dan masa depan Malaysia.
Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak menegaskan, tindakan sedemikian tidak wajar diteruskan walaupun golongan berkenaan mempunyai perbezaan pendapat politik.
“Ada sedikit sebanyak unsur sentimen yang boleh dipengaruhi melalui cita-cita yang bertujuan untuk memburukkan keadaan ekonomi negara dengan meluahkan fakta-fakta yang tidak berasas dan tidak tepat.
“Ini tidak wajar diteruskan kerana kepentingan negara tidak seharusnya dijadikan pertaruhan dalam soal politik kepartian,” katanya ketika menjawab soalan Datuk Seri Dr. Irmohizam Ibrahim (BN-Kuala Selangor) dalam sesi soal jawab dalam persidangan Dewan Rakyat, hari ini. – UTUSAN ONLINE
Penyokong Pembangkang memanipulasi saranan Perdana Menteri Najib ini dan menyandarkan dengan beberapa laporan media sebelumnya, untuk terus memberikan gambaran yang salah dan berniat jahat.
Ianya sebahagian dari strategi Pembangkang untuk menghakis keyakinan rakyat walaupun realitinya berbeza, seperti episod pelaburan baru RM 6 billion di Penggerang, Johor itu berbanding dengan pembohonan bahawa keyakinan keatas ekonomi dan cara pengurusan.
Blogger Ganesh Sahathevan telah memanipulasi dua laporan media ini untuk memberikan gambaran sebenarnya Perdana Menteri Najib tidak senang dengan Datuk Wan Zulkiflee.
Beliau juga menuduh bahawa Presiden Petronas itu antara yang dinamakan sebagai “Individu yang mensabotaj ekonomi negara”.
While PM Najib provided no evidence of who exactly “almost sabotaged” the Aramco-Petronas JV,we do know that Petronas CEO and President Datuk Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin himself expressed concerns about the JV just two days before signing, and he did so publicly ,via a press conference that he himself called.
The Star reported these matters:
Wan Zulkiflee expressed surprise at the report of Saudi Aramco pulling out of Rapid when it had not gone into any agreement with the entity from Saudi Arabia.
“How can there be a situation of a party pulling out o
f something when the party was not part of it in the first place?” he said referring to reports of Saudi Aramco supposedly pulling out of Rapid.
“From day one, we have stated that we are able to fully fund Rapid. We are and will not be dependent on anyone for this project. We are close to 60% complete, costs are within projections and the refinery will be ready by 2019 followed by the petrochemical portion by 2020.”
The above was preceded by an earlier report in The Star,dated 25 February 2017 in which Petronas seemed to be warning off PM Najib and his government.Headlined “Let Petronas Do Its Job”, the story included the following statements:
There has been a fair bit of speculation surrounding Aramco inking a deal with Petronas in relation to the latter’s Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development or Rapid project in Pengerang, Johor. The latest is that both parties will sign an agreement on Monday during King Salman’s visit to Malaysia.
Petronas has not said anything about any potential deal with Aramco, except that it is always in talks with potential partners, but that any deal inked would have to be on Petronas’ terms. In other words, beneficial to Petronas and not lopsided, as it should be.
Petronas’ president and CEO Datuk Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin recently told editors in Kuala Lumpur that Petronas never takes on projects with the view that it has to depend on investors for funding to complete the project.
That said, partnering Aramco should have its benefits, considering it is not only the company with the vastest oil reserves, but also the most valuable company in the world today. The deal just has to be struck on equally beneficial terms.
…..the O&G resources of the country belong to all Malaysians, and they have to be handled with care.
It does appear then that it was the Petronas CEO himself who was trying to discourage Aramco, and he was not afraid of doing so publicly.
Then there is the matter of the EPF. Najib is reported to have said:
“Some unpatriotic people had spread claims that the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) was almost bankrupt and that the government was unable to pay the salaries of its civil servants.
“The Saudi Arabian government had received this wrong information about our country and thus, were quite doubtful about investing in Malaysia.
“We had to meet them and correct the facts that Malaysia is among the best countries in the world (to invest in). When they were convinced, they finally agreed to invest with us” .
However, Aramco sells its crude to Petronas, and it would,as any oil company would, be interested only in the viability of its client. If otherwise, Shell, ExxonMobil and others would not be investing in say Nigeria. Put in another way, oil companies have long ago learnt to limit their exposure to the oil assets that they deal with, managing to ring-fence these from the problems of the countries they deal with.
Therefore the matter of EPF would be of interest only if the EPF is expected to bail-out the RAPID project, for a bail-out is what it would be.If not, the EPF would already be an investor in the project. A bail out should not be unexpected, given that the JV agreement with Aramco seems not to involve any injection of cash.
END
*******************************
Blogger ini juga dengan tanpa bukti melibatkan KWSP (EPF) dalam artikel ini dan mengambarkan bahawa wang KWSP akan digunakan untuk ‘bail out‘ RAPID sekiranya perjanjian Petronas-Aramco itu gagal. Ini ditambah sekiranya tidak, KWSP sememangnya akan melabur didalam projek gergasi Petronas itu.
Mengheret KWSP dengan manipulasi maklumat yang tidak tepat adalah salah satu cara untuk menghasut agar terdapat dikalangan pencarum KWSP salah tafsir tulisan ini dan terpedaya dengan dakyah Pembangkang bahawa ekonomi negara sebenarnya teruk dan tidak diurus dengan baik.
Maka ianya akan dijadikan sebagai titik untuk mula mebangkitkan kesangsian dan kemarahan dikalangan pencarum KWSP, yang rata-ratanya rakyat biasa.
Tindakan ini jelas sebagaimana yang ditekankan oleh Perdana Menteri Najib akan aktiviti mensabotaj ekonomi ini.
Amat malang sekiranya strategi untuk menghasut dan menjana kebencikan kepada kepimpinan dan Kerajaan Barisan Nasional memberi kesan kepada negara, terutama menghalang peluang perdagangan apa skala sekalipun dan pertumbuhan ekonomi, demi merealisasikan politik sempit sesetengah pihak.
Muka depan BH hari ini: Titah Murka Tuanku Sultan Johor bertujuan untuk membedal Dr Mahathir kerana memanipulasi dan bersdusta menegnai program-program pembangunan ekonomi yang wajar disifatkan sebagai ‘Sabotaj Ekonomi’
DYMM Tuanku Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar Johor mengulangi kemurkaan baginda mengenai campur tangan orang yang dari luar di Johor dengan mempolitikkan program-program yang dirancang untuk memakmurkan negeri Johor dan kepentingan rakyat dengan titah murka sekali lagi, buat kali ke-empat.
SELASA, 21 MAC 2017 @ 8:01am
PM Orang yang nak pecah belahkan rakyat Johor dipersilakan berambus
MERSING: Sultan Johor menasihatkan pihak berkepentingan politik yang cuba memecah belahkan rakyat Johor supaya menghentikan segera perbuatan itu.
Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar bertitah, baginda tahu apa yang baik untuk rakyatnya dan tidak memerlukan campur tangan orang luar.
Malahan, baginda juga meminta anak Johor sendiri supaya tidak bertindak sehingga memecah belahkan rakyat negeri itu.
“Orang luar Johor saya nasihatkan sama ada bukan politik atau politik jangan campur hal Johor. Saya tahu apa yang baik untuk rakyat saya. Saya pandang rakyat saya bukan daripada segi politik… sebagai rakyat.
“Saya sayang rakyat saya. Bila orang luar datang Johor memecah belah orang Johor atau orang Johor yang duduk di Kuala Lumpur balik ke Johor, yang ada kepentingan politik dan memecah belahkan, bolehlah berambus. Kamu tidak dialu-alukan di sini. Bila cita-cita mereka tak tercapai, yang rugi adalah rakyat,” titah baginda.
Baginda bertitah demikian dalam dalam temubual eksklusif bersama agensi media di bawah Media Prima Berhad baru-baru ini, sempena sambutan Hari Keputeraan Sultan Johor, lusa. SULTAN Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar.
Walaupun tidak menyatakannya, ia dipercayai merujuk kepada bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad dan Pengerusi Parti Bersatu Pribumi Malaysia yang mengkritik projek pembangunan Forest City, mempersoalkan status hak milik tanah dalam projek perumahan di situ dan dakwaan kononnya warga China yang membeli rumah boleh menjadi warga Malaysia.
Malah, Dr Mahathir menyiarkan rakaman gambar beliau ketika kunjungannya ke Forest City bersama isterinya, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali dalam blognya dan disiarkan oleh beberapa portal berita.
Ditanya mengenai kemungkinan rakyat tidak memahami kerana diputar belit mengenai perkara itu, Sultan Ibrahim berkata: ” Kalau saya nak sembunyi nak menipu rakyat saya, buat apa yang pergi letak papan tanda hak milik kekal kat situ. Guna kepala otak lah. Bergambar ramai-ramai kat situ.” Ikuti laporan penuh dalam akhbar BH esok
Baginda begitu menunjukkan kemurkaan dan kekesalan bahawa Perdana Menteri IV Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad berterusan memanipulasi dan mendustakan program-program pembangunan di Johor seperti Forest City di Iskandar Puteri, dengan bertujuan untuk mngehasut rakyat membenci Kerajaan Barisan Nasional,
Strategi menghasut sehingga timbul kebencian membuak-buak dikalangan rakyat terhadap Kerajaan Perdana Menteri Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak merupakan cara kotor dan jahat Pembangkang terutama Dr. Mahathir untuk mendapatkan sokongan rakyat kepada perluangan mereka yang tiada berhaluan atau agenda kepada rakyat itu.
Ini amat mengecewakan kerana mereka tergamak menghasut untuk menabur kebencian sebagai steategi politik berterusan sehingga ianya menjadi pertimbangan serious bagi pelabur, rakan kongsi dan pelanggan dari pasaran antarabangsa.
Ini kerana strategi hasutan menabur kebencian ini sudah memuncak, terutama dengan kerjasama dan dokongan media antarabangsa tertentu dan menimbulkan keadaan dimana keyakinan pelabur, rakan kongsi dan pelanggan antarabangsa mula tiris.
Sebagai contoh pada 18 Mac 2017 Perdana Menteri Najib membongkarkan bahawa projek PIC yang berjaya menarik pelaburan Saudi Aramco bernilai RM 6 billion di RAPID, Penggerang, Johor hampir gagal kerana khabar-khabar angin berkenaan “Keadaan politik yang tidak stabil”, “Kerajaan Malaysia muflis”, “Daya maju RAPID disangsi” dan sebagainya.
Sebagai contoh hasutan berterusan Dr Mahathir terhadap projek Forest City sewajarnya disifatkan sebagai ‘Mensabotaj Ekonomi’ negeri dan rakyat Johor, pika tidak Malaysia secara keseluruhan.
Tuanku Sultan Ibrahim juga menyebut dalam titah murka ini bahawa anak Johor yang terlibat dalam perbuatan menghasut bagi tujuan kebencian sebagai strategi politik dan yang membawa kepada ‘Sabotaj Ekonomi’, juga disifatkan sebagai “Menderhaka”.
Ianya tidak syak lagi kepada Timbalan Perdana Menteri yang dipecat Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd. Yassin, yang merupakan Menteri Besar Johor untuk sembilan tahun. Ini juga merangkumi kuncu-kuncu Muhyiddin.
Dalam kekalutan dan kekeliruan segenlintir Pembangkang seperti Dr Mahathir dan Muhyiddin menghasut rakyat dengan strategi politik kebencian, Tuanku Sultan Johor mengambil pendekatan dan tindakan bertentangan untuk membela rakyat baginda.
Baginda mengusahakan skim ‘Rumah Mampu Milik’ kepada warga Johor.
Astro Awani story:
Skim rumah mampu milik hadiah Sultan Ibrahim untuk Bangsa Johor sempena hari keputeraan
Astro Awani | Diterbitkan pada Mac 21, 2017 14:13 MYT
KUALA LUMPUR: Sultan Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar mengumumkan kejutan kepada rakyat Johor dengan memperkenalkan skim perumahan mampu milik, lantaran prihatin dengan masalah pemilikan rumah dalam kalangan rakyat negeri itu.
Lebih istimewa, pengumuman tentang projek Rumah Impian Sultan Ibrahim itu dibuat sempena menyambut hari ulang tahun keputeraan baginda yang ke-59.
Sultan Ibrahim bertitah projek hakmilik bebas unik ini akan dibangunkan di bawah naungan Yayasan Sultan Ibrahim dengan kerjasama Bank Rakyat, menawarkan konsep hartanah kediaman yang berlainan, rumah kedai dan lain-lain unit komersil.
“Fasa pertama, saya hendak buat dalam 600 unit termasuk banglo dan rumah berkembar (semi-D). Rumah atas tanah. Mana ada banglo yang boleh bawah RM100,000 dan semi-D.
“Saya mahu Bangsa Johor menjadi sebuah komuniti yang memiliki rumah. Saya mahu skim perumahan yang pertama seumpamanya ini benar-benar mampu dimiliki, murah dan berkualiti tinggi.
“Bayangkan memiliki sebuah banglo tiga bilik atau rumah berkembar dengan harga bawah RM100,000 seunit. Ia dibuka kepada semua Bangsa Johor yang layak,” titah baginda yang turut menyentuh tentang konsep pewayaran dan pengkabelan elektrik bawah tanah.
Tambah baginda, projek tersebut tidak akan merugikannya kerana ia lebih kepada amal jariah baginda kepada rakyat negeri.
Sultan Ibrahim, bagaimanapun, bertitah bahawa tawaran itu hanya terbuka kepada Bangsa Johor, dan proses pemilihan akan disaring ketat dan teliti.
“Kita mesti memastikan rumah mampu dimiliki oleh semua. Harga sekarang adalah di luar jangkauan mereka yang berpendapatan sederhana,” titahnya.
Pemohon yang berjaya hanya perlu membayar deposit RM1 untuk pinjaman penuh dengan skim pembayaran semula yang mudah.
Orang ramai juga dijemput mengunjungi majlis pelancaran projek itu di Galleria@Kotaraya, pada Rabu.
Memetik sebuah laporan temu bual eksklusif, baginda bertitah: “Jikalau Rumah Impian Sultan Ibrahim ini menjadi betul-betul impian rakyat seluruh negara, dan mendapat sokongan daripada kerajaan Persekutuan untuk saya bina rumah rakyat untuk negara, saya akan buat dengan tidak mengambil untung satu sen pun.”
SULTAN YANG MENDEKATI RAKYAT
Sultan Johor sememangnya sinonim dengan program kerakyatan antaranya Program Kembara Mahkota Johor, aktiviti yang berteraskan kerja sosial yang diilhamkan Baginda sejak 2001 ketika menjadi ‘Tunku Mahkota Johor’.
Program Kembara Mahkota Johor dengan konvoi motosikal berkuasa tinggi dijadikan acara tahunan yang disertai Menteri Besar dan pegawai-pegawai Kerajaan Negeri, bagi melaksanakan pelbagai projek kebajikan sepanjang laluan konvoi di semua 10 daerah di negeri Johor.
Kini, Kembara Mahkota Johor telah pun berlangsung selama empat belas tahun, melalui laluan darat (motosikal, pacuan 4 roda, keretapi dan bas), jalan air (bot dan kapal).
Program Kembara Mahkota Johor
Pada 5 Februari 2012, Sultan Ibrahim bertitah memperkenankan Bandar Muar menjadi Bandar Diraja ketika Tuanku menghadiri sambutan Maulidur Rasul peringkat negeri Johor di Masjid Sultan Ibrahim, Bandar Maharani, Muar.
Dalam satu istiadat yang bersejarah, Sultan Ibrahim telah mengisytiharkan Bandar Maharani sebagai Bandar Diraja Johor pada 24 November 2012, sempena sambutan ulang tahun Hari Keputeraan Tuanku pada 22 November 2012.
Sultan Ibrahim ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar telah mengisytiharkan Bandar Maharani sebagai Bandar Diraja Johor pada 24 November 2012, sempena sambutan ulang tahun Hari Keputeraan DYMM Tuanku pada 22 November 2012.
Sultan Ibrahim juga sangat berminat dalam bidang sukan, khususnya polo yang telah membawa Baginda menyertai kejohanan sehingga ke peringkat antarabangsa.
Baginda juga telah mencipta sejarah memperolehi Lesen Memandu Kereta Api Kelas 26 setelah menyempurnakan acara pusingan lokomotif seberat 86 tan.
Malaysia Book Of Records turut mengiktiraf Baginda sebagai Sultan pertama memandu kereta api secara rasmi 29 Jun 2010.
****************
Ini sewajarnya disifatkan sebagai ‘Strategi Lautan Biru’ (Blue Ocean Strategy) sebagai tindakan untuk menangani masalah rakyat dan menyediakan selesaian dengan kadar yang amat cepat, demi kebajikan dan kesejahteraan warga Bangsa Johor.
Ini amat penting kerana Bangsa Johor merupakan warga yang sentiasa dekat dihati Tuanku Sultan Ibrahim.
The Opposition incessantly is manipulating issues for the purpose of demonisation, which had been their strategy to get the rakyat to oust the ruling Barisan National (BN) Government, like throwing questions without the intention of getting the answers or acquiring proper facts.
Minister of Finance II Dato’ Sri Johari Abdul Ghani explained to DAP MP for Puchong Gobind Singh Deo in the Dewan Rakyat that there are several investigations are being carried out simultaneously on several controversial 1MDB issues. The Opposition are in cohort with some foreign media, have been spinning the commercial problems in 1MDB as ‘scandalous’,
Infact MOF II claimed that the issues of the strategic investment corporation “It is the most investigated case”. Gobind manipulated Johari’s letter to DAP Chief Strategist Tony Pua, in relation to call of the latter to declassify all documents and reports pertaining to the 1MDB issues and cases.
MOF II answer to Petaling Jaya Utara MP Pua:
1. Tony Pua has of late accused me of many things, being a liar, for one thing and now in his FB page, he accused me of covering up for the prime minister and also that I was trying to pull a fast one over the rakyat on the 1MDB issue.
2. As we know, 1MDB began as a very noble idea – to go into a massive scale enterprise which no private sector entity would dare to venture into so that we could have an enormous push for our economy. But alas, things did not go as planned and we are now saddled with this issue.
I believe that no problem should just be left to resolve itself; positive and proactive steps must be taken to address it and though 1MDB is not an enviable problem to resolve, but as they say, it came with the job. I could always just leave the job if I don’t like it – after all, no one forced me to do it but I knew then that it would be wholly irresponsible for me to shirk off this responsibility and opportunity to serve the nation, the very nation that I owe much of my success so far due to the many opportunities given by it.
With the experience that I have in the corporate world for the last 25 years, l intend to help to resolve this issue the best way that I can whilst bearing in mind at all times that the support letters/guarantees issued by the government to 1MDB still remain enforceable. To a certain extent, resolving the 1MDB issue is also crucial to uphold our credibility as a nation in the eyes of the world.
3. The 1MDB issue has been extensively deliberated by all parties and I must say that I have never seen or experienced anything of the sort where almost all the agencies, ranging from the police, MACC, Bank Negara Malaysia, the auditor-general, the public accounts committee and the attorney-general, scrutinised the 1MDB issue in extensive depth and all at the same time.
Never before have I seen or experienced anything resembling the effort or the interest put into dissecting and scrutinising 1MDB, not only by us Malaysians but also by the United States, Switzerland, Singapore and other financial centres of the world.
Despite all these, we still do not have a “complete picture” of what happened to 1MDB and why, until today, none of these jurisdictions have taken specific charge against 1MDB or its employees on the criminal aspect of the case. Even the actions taken by the Singapore government were only in respect of the non-compliance of their banking laws.
4. Even the United States’ Department of Justice (DOJ) couldn’t come up with any solid proof to prosecute any individual on criminal charges in relation to 1MDB. What the DOJ did was to freeze assets allegedly belonging to certain individuals connected to 1MDB in the hope that by freezing the assets, the owners will come forward and disclose to the DOJ how the massive assets could be accumulated without going through the US’ stringent protective laws.
5. As far as the government is concerned, there is nothing to hide and nothing to cover up. The fact is that, and I know Pua being a PAC member knows it himself. There is no clear-cut evidence to bring any criminal action against anybody for the 1MDB case at the moment.
Otherwise, I am sure that the police, MACC, Bank Negara Malaysia, the auditor-general, the public accounts committee and the attorney-general would have taken action against the responsible individuals. The only conclusions that I can make from the PAC report are that 1MDB suffered from poor corporate governance, wrong business model and weak management. I have much faith in our judicial system and I believe that if there be any proof that may be uncovered later, justice will prevail and those responsible will be taken to task. Meanwhile, let us allow these agencies to continue with their investigations, without fear or favour.
6. I want to ask Pua – so, what do you expect us to do in the meantime? Do we hold off all our development programmes and initiatives until someone is finally charged in the criminal courts for 1MDB?
Do we wait for the country to collapse?
Do we wait for the country to collapse and lose all of its credibility in the eyes of the world through incessant condemnations and criticisms from within and without? Will we wait for the opposition to be satisfied when they take over the country before we move forward? Do we stop everything just to live up to the opposition’s seeming wish that we become a “pariah nation” and then only pick up the pieces to rebuild the country and shape it into the mould that the opposition wants at the expense of the rakyat? Is that what the opposition or Pua wants?
7. We have in the past lost more than RM30 billion in our Forex (foreign exchange market) misadventure. In fact, we were not really aware of the extent of the Forex scandal until recently, when it surfaced. We also lived through the Perwaja Steel scandal, where we reportedly lost billions of ringgit and finally the operation was closed. The 1MDB issue cannot and must not be turned into a witch-hunt just so that we can appease certain pockets of the society. We need to be thorough and we need to be fair. We need to be patient and time will reveal the truth.
8. Pua, yes, I was very critical of 1MDB when I was a backbencher but at that time I was not privy to detailed information on 1MDB. When I became acquainted with the facts, I realised that it would take more than just sentiments and perception to address the 1MDB issue. You were a member of the PAC and even you know that the PAC could not recommend the charging of any particular individual for criminal conduct in the 1MDB case due to lack of evidence.
What the Ministry of Finance (MoF) is currently doing now is exactly as what was recommended by the PAC. The MoF Inc has taken over the assets of 1MDB and this could not be done without taking over the liabilities connected to the assets. We need to do justice to the two pieces of land, i.e. the TRX land and the Bandar Malaysia land, by continuing to develop them and maximise the returns in order to pay the loans which will be settled in due time.
9. As for the dispute regarding the US$3.5 billion, which was paid to the IPIC group of companies by 1MDB, IPIC cannot continually deny that they have received the monies when 1MDB has already paid the same to them. I don’t think Malaysians in their right mind will want to just give up on that issue of the payment. This is why we are seeking arbitration to resolve the matter. This process too will take time.
10. As for the criminal actions that you have been clamouring for, in time, should any further solid proof surface, I can assure you that our justice system will take care of it. After all, in criminal cases, as you are well aware, there is no deadline for prosecution and there is no time bar. That is why the Forex losses scandal comes under the spotlight now.
11. Pua, you need to realise by now that you are foremost, a lawmaker, a Member of Parliament. You cannot continue to be a judge, jury or executioner or all of them in one. Though I am a junior in comparison to your tenure as MP, your behaviour in respect of the entire affair does not fit that of a lawmaker. The spectacle of name-calling, not only towards me but towards other members of the administration as well, is nothing less than embarrassing and demeaning to your standing as a Member of Parliament. Give it a rest. I am sure that the folks of Petaling Jaya Utara elected you as their MP to do better things than just being obsessed with 1MDB.
12. Pua, whatever you may call it, bailout, rescue or whatever; the primary concern is to resolve the 1MDB issue, mitigate the losses, limit the liability of the government and reduce the impact of 1MDB to our economy and future generations.
MOF II explained that he now has more information on 1MDB. It was known that chartered accountant turned corporate man Johari has been arguing about 1MDB as a “commercial problem” when he yet to join the Cabinet.
DAP Legal Bureau Chief Gobind demanded MOF II Johari whether Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak is a suspect to the 1MDB investigations.
Malaysiakini story:
Sparks fly over ‘is Najib a suspect in 1MDB probes’ poser
PARLIAMENT| A query on whether Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was a suspect in the probes related to 1MDB led to an heated argument between a minister and lawmaker.
It started when Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) posed the question to Finance Minister II Johari Abdul Ghani.
At first, Johari said he did not have an answer to that question, but when pressed, told Gobind to meet him outside.
This angered the DAP legal bureau chief, who said that he wanted an answer in the House.
“You want to tell me the answer outside the House, that means you have an answer,” Gobind said.
The Opposition have been harping on the statement made by US Attorney General Loretta Lynch on 21 July 2016 on the complaints made insinuating that funds belonging to 1MDB have been embezzled and the Americans are committed to instigate this crime of “International conspiracy to launder funds stolen from 1MDB for personal gains”.
This include introduction of someone as “Malaysian Official 1” the US Department of Justice (DoJ) has yet to identify. The Opposition have been harping on this and throwing it against Prime Minister Najib as being the ‘MO 1’.
It has been eight months since AG Lynch’s statement on the ‘Kleptocracy initiative’ and yet till present day DoJ named the individual they identified as “MO 1”, nor explain the development of the investigations and workings of “More than USD3 billion of assets stolen from 1MDB, associated to international conspiracy to launder through American financial institutions”.
Gobind’s charge against MOF II Johari in Dewan Rakyat this afternoon is about committing the latter, to corroborate the Opposition’s incessant demonisation against Prime Minister Najib.
The Opposition have used AG Lynch’s announcement to pronounce that the Barisan National Government is practicing ‘Kleptocracy’.
Prime Minister Najib explained that the recent RM6 billion deal inked between Petronas and Saudi Aramco during the visit of King Salman, almost did not follow through because of the demonisation strategy by the Opposition. They have been painting the falsehood of the nation is going bankrupt.
Prime Minister Najib meant the Opposition including Fourth Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, who has turned the obsessed personal agenda of over throwing the former even at the expense of the nation, into a nationwide political demonisation.
Earlier Prime Minister Najib made the call for Malaysians, especially the Opposition, to stop all the manipulation and lies for their demonisation political strategy, with actually turned into economic sabotage and hurting the nation.
NST online story:
Stop efforts to sabotage economy, Najib tells “certain quarters”
By MELISSA DARLYNE CHOW – March 20, 2017 @ 2:37pm
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today called on “certain quarters” to stop their efforts at economic sabotage, in the interest of the nation.
Najib (BN-Pekan) said national interests should not be gambled with, in spite of differences in opinion among political parties.
“There are elements at play who use inaccurate and baseless facts to paint a bad picture of the country’s economic situation.
“This cannot go on. Even though there are differences in opinion, national interests cannot be gambled with in politics.
“This is very important. National interests must override everything else. There should not be such elements. Economic sabotage must be stopped,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
Najib was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Irmohizam Ibrahim (BN-Kuala Selangor), who had asked about measures being taken to stop economic sabotage by certain elements who want to tarnish the country’s image, and jeopardise the country’s economic stability.
Najib further stated that because of such elements, the country nearly lost RM31 billion in Saudi Aramco investments due to inaccurate facts being spread.
“Thankfully, we managed to convince (the Saudis) that the country’s economic situation is being addressed accordingly,” he added.
***************
The Opposition have not been regarding any information to dispel their demonisation against Prime Minister Najib despite the developments against their notion have not been favourable with regards to their allegations.
January last year Attorney General Tan Sri Apandi Mohamed Ali declared that there would be more further action on the monies believed to be deposited into Prime Minister Najib account, based on MACC’s investigation which was submitted to the former on 31 December 2015.
AG Apandi also later in the year that there was no evidence of misappropriation in 1MDB.
The fact that the Opposition continues to demonise Prime Minister Najib despite the recent visit by King Salman Al Saud, which directly demonstrated the tightness relationship of the two leaders.
Younger FELDA generations demonstrating against the Opposition at Selangor State Secretariat Building
The younger generations of high successful land transformation program Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) today are rising vocally and vehemently rejecting the negative and digressive politics brought forth by the Opposition to poison them against the Government.
They felt strongly against the poisons sowed by the Opposition and continuous demonisation against the Federal Government and leadership.
Younger FELDA generations are very vocal in their intolerance of Oppositions’ digressive politics
Instead, they are looking forward to how their issues as later generations of FELDA are being planned and sorted out.
FELDA have been very active in the planning and process of introduction and execution plans such as replanting for heirloom plots, building homes for second generation FELDA scheme dwellers and upskilling programs for the children and youth of FELDA.
FELDA New Generation Housing Project, which was the brainchild of Prime Minister Najib
NST online story:
Felda to deliver 20,000 homes to settlers by 2018: Shahrir
By EMBUN MAJID – March 1, 2017 @ 8:16pm
PENDANG: Felda is confident they will be able to deliver 20,000 units of homes under the Second Generation Housing Programme for Felda settlers by 2018 with the support from the state governments where Felda settlements are located.
Its chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad said so far the Pahang, Johor, Negri Sembilan and Kedah state governments have agreed to help speed up the first phase of the programme, involving 8,470 units.
“We need the cooperation from the state governments on land matters, as the lands which are managed by Felda, belong to the respective state government.
“Besides building the houses, we also need to provide other basic amenities for the new housing areas,” he told newsmen after presenting offer letters to 80 recipients for the programme in Felda Sungai Tiang here today.
Shahrir said he would be meeting with officials from the state governments including Perak, Perlis, Kelantan and Terengganu, to discuss the matter soon.
The Felda Sungai Tiang settlers’ second generation housing project was the second project launched by the agency after Felda Padang Piol in Jengka, Pahang.
A total of 4,990 unit houses under the first phase of the programme at 38 settlements nationwide would be handed over to Felda settlers by the end of this year.
The second phase of the project involving 11,530 units will kick-off soon.
***************
FELDA and investment arm FGV Bhd has been sponsoring students from FELDA schemes to study, including abroad. The past three years, more concentrations are given towards skills related training programs.
The 54 ‘FELDA Parliamentary constituencies’ is very import for Barisan National as it is part of UMNO’s mainstay of power base. Federal Government and relevant State Governments have been continuously developing and propping the FELDA schemes within the said areas the past forty years.
The 54 constituencies are under careful watch by the Government and the transformation program and urbanisation process is an ongoing as planned.
Bernama story:
BN Wants To Win Back Six ‘Felda Parliamentary Seats’ – Zahid
KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 (Bernama) — Felda settlers have been urged to support the Barisan Nasional (BN) so that it can win back six ‘Felda parliamentary seats’ in the 14th general election (GE14).
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said to achieve this, BN needs a more systematic strategy to win over the voters in Felda schemes.
“We want to win back six seats lost to the opposition. We won 54 (parliamentary seats comprising Felda schemes) and lost six,” he said when opening the 7th annual general meeting of Felda Youth Council here, today.
Zahid said since Felda is an agency and a national asset, it is not spared from the lies of certain parties.
“Felda has constraints and is not perfect. With Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad as Felda chairman, I am very confident that he can transform Felda.”
Ahmad Zahid said Felda has been through the process of urbanisation and is among the best models in the world.
“We want a policy of urbanisation not only in terms of social mobility or migration to urban areas but also to urbanise Felda schemes.”
He urged Felda’s second and third generation to become major supporters of the urbanisation of Felda schemes.
— BERNAMA
********************
As such, new townships in the likes of Maran, Jengka Bandar Muadzam Shah in Pahang and Bandar Tenggara, Ulu Tiram and Air Tawar in Johor have sprawled and boomed, which brought urbanisation to the FELDA folks.
Amenities such as MRSM and UiTM campuses have been erected and operational in some of these new FELDA satellite townships. The FELDA own Premier League team FELDA United has a gleaming new home Stadium Tun Razak in Jengka, Pahang.
Prime Minister Najib at FELDA United home of Stadium Tun Razak, Jengka, Pahang
FELDA schemes are homes for 1.6 million Malaysians, particularly the Malays.
Obviously, the younger FELDA generations have had enough of the Opposition continuous trait of spewing poison and demonisation as part of the politics to unseat BN in these 56 Malay hinterland Parliamentary constituencies. They fail to provide them any practical plan and development agenda, for the future of FELDA younger generations.
The sparse audience at a Bunga Raya ‘Meet The People’ event in Kedah where President Muhyiddin Yassin and Deputy President Mukhriz Mahathir about to speak
So much has been hyped about Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia making inroads and building the support amongst grassroots.
The detractors of Prime Minister Dato’ Srì Mohd. Najib Tun Razak have been busy painting the picture and creating the perception that the UMNO President generally no longer wanted by Malaysians. Particularly the Malays.
In fact they are vehement that UMNO is taking the brunt for the demonization of Prime Minister Najib, with so many scandalous stories.
Kedah BN Youth with State BN Liaison Chairman MB Kedah Dato’ Sri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanifah at party convention yesterday
However, the fact still remain UMNO as the party based on nationalism, is still the forerunner of Malaysian politics. Particularly amongst the Malays, the majority of the people.
UMNO still maintain the position of 86 MPs in Dewan Rakyat, despite the sacking of former Deputy President Tan Srì Muhyiddin Mohd. Yassin, former Kedah Liaison Chairman Dato’ Seri Mukhriz Mahathir and former Vice President Dato’ Srì Mohd. Shafie Apdal resignation from the party a year ago.
Another interesting fact is that UMNO Kedah still operating actively in all 15 Divisions with 2,196 branches and 304,661 registered members.
That is compared against Kedah Bunga Raya party with 6,214 members. Some divisions are so thin that there are less than 100 members.
Jumlah ahli PPBM Kedah yang berdaftar
The photo in the mast of this posting is in Kedah, where the Bunga Raya President Muhyiddin Yassin and Deputy President Mukhriz Mahathir are about to begin their speeches.
It is even doubtful that party Chairman Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad is attracting actual voters in the areas that he toured. Especially with his specific intentions of continuous demonization of Prime Minister Najib with his manipulation and lies.
The rakyat is more interested in the agenda for them and how bread and butter issues are being addressed instead of Dr. Mahathir’s obsession to oust Prime Minister Najib and personal political agenda.
The fact that his working relationship with former nemesis of more than half a century Chinese Chauvinist DAP Supremo Lim Kit Siang and the party isn’t auguring well amongst the grassroots.
Bunga Raya Chairman Dr Mahathir entertaining DAP Supremo Lim Kit Siang at his office in Yayasan Al Bukhary
That is the fact about the political support a Malay hinterland like Kedah, the so called ‘Home State’ for a former UMNO President and State Liaison Chairman.
Parti ciptaan Mantan Perdana Menteri Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad yang berhasrat meneraju Pakatan Pembangkang untuk menggulingkan Perdana Menteri Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak dan Barisan Nasional pada PRU 14 akan datang menerima tamparan hebat apabila 500 ahli dan penyokong Bahagian Baling telah keluar parti.
Utusan Online:
Ahli PPBM Baling mula memberontak?
500 ahli PPBM Baling keluar parti
ALI Ahmad (tiga dari kanan) dan ahli-ahli PPBM menunjukkan surat keluar parti ketika sidang akhbar Pengumuman Keluar Parti PPBM di Dewan Baling Inn, hari ini. – UTUSAN ONLINE
Norlia Ramli
16 Mac 2017 4:48 PM
BALING 16 Mac -Biarpun baru enam bulan dilancarkan, Parti Pribumi Bersatu (PPBM) Baling seakan-akan sudah goyah apabila ada dalam kalangan ahli kawasan itu hari ini mengisytiharkan keluar parti berkuatkuasa serta merta.
Difahamkan tindakan tersebut berpunca rasa tidak puas hati 13 ahli PPBM berkenaan berhubung pelantikan jawatankuasa baharu PPBM kawasan itu pada Februari lepas.
Salah seorang ahlinya, Ali Ahmad, 57, yang juga merupakan bekas Pengerusi PPBM Baling berkata, mereka terkilan apabila jawatankuasa penggerak PPBM yang ditubuhkan pada Oktober tahun lalu dinafikan hak mereka.
Dakwanya, kira-kira 500 daripada 800 ahli PPBM kawasan tersebut akan mengikut jejak mereka tidak lama lagi.
“Jawatankuasa kami dinafikan hak untuk menerima watikah perlantikan penajaan dari pucuk pimpinan sedangkan segala gerak gempur, sesi dialog dan ceramah serta merekrut keahlian kami jayakan berpandukan misi dan visi parti.
“Kami merasa amat berkecil hati apabila watikah yang sepatutnya menjadi milik kami diserahkan kepada seorang yang tidak pernah terlibat secara langsung ataupun tidak langsung dalam gerak kerja parti sejak awal penubuhannya di sini,” kata Ali ketika sidang akhbar pengumuman keluar parti PPBM di Dewan Baling Inn, hari ini. – UTUSAN ONLINE
Hakikatnya, Pribumi Bersatu bukanlah alternatif yang baik bagi orang Melayu dan sesungguhnya, parti itu tidak mendapat sokongan akar umbi sebagaimana yang diharapkan.
Dr Mahathir menubuhkan parti tersebut apabila gerakan yang beliau mulakan untuk menggulingkan Perdana Menteri Najib terkandas sepanjang jalan semenjak mula mengkritik pemimpin tertinggi pilihan beliau sendiri, secara terbuka dan makin intensif pada awal 2015.
Mantan Presiden UMNO itu pernah menggunakan “Menyelamatkan UMNO” sebagai helah bagi memenangi sokongan pemimpin dan akar umbi dalam gerakan tersebut. Usaha menggunakan UMNO melalui mesyuarat agung tahunan Bahagian dan Perhimpunan Agung 2015 gagal.
Apabila SPRM memajukan kertas siasatan mengenai penyiasatan ‘Derma RM2.6 billion kedalam akaun peribadi’ pada 31 Disember 2015 tidak menghasilkan kedudukan sebagaimana diharapkan, Dr Mahathir telah bertindak untuk kleur dari UMNO.
Namun, ianya menerima reaksi hambar kerana tiada pemimpin UMNO teringkat tertinggi, strategik atau menengah turut sama beliau untuk keluar dari UMNO dan aenentang Perdana Menteri Najib dar luar.
Kemudian Dr Mahathir mengumumkan secara rasmi kerjasama bersama dengan musuh ketat lama iaitu Pemimpin Agung Chauvinis China Lim Kit Siang dan DAP pada 4 Mac 2016 dan melancarkan ‘Deklarasi Rakyat’, ianya juga tidak mendapat sokongan sebagaimana yang diharapkan.
Beliau cuba mengaburi mata rakyat, termasuk DYMM SPB YDP Agong XIV bahawa ‘Deklarasi Rakyat’ berjaya mengumpul “1.4 juta tandatangan” sehingga Ogos 2016, dan ini dimanipulasikan sebagai “Akan dipersembahkan kepada Majlis Raja-Raja dalam usaha memecat Najib”.
Hakikatnya, apabila undangan bagi Dr Mahathir untuk menghadiri Istiadat Permahsyuran dan Tandatangan Watikah DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong XV telah ditarik balik oleh Istana Negara, beliau sudah menjadi persona non grata walaupun bertaraf Negarawan.
Jumlah ahli PPBM Kedah yang berdaftar
Setakat ini, Pribumi Bersatu hanya mampu mendaftarkan 6,000 warga Kedah sebagai ahli walaupun gerak kerja bagi merekrut sokongan dijalankan begtu intensif sekali semenjak enam bulan kebelakangan ini. Bermodalkan Dr Mahathir sebagai Pengerusi dan Mantan MB Kedah Dato’ Sri Mukhriz Mahathir sebagai Timbalan Presiden, ianya dikira sebagai sentimen paling strategik untuk meraih sokongan terutama di Kedah.
Sebagai parti yang berbekalkan 6,000 ahli yang bakal menghadapi lebih 1.1 juta pengundi berdaftar di Kedah, keberkesanan Pribumi Bersatu adalah diragukan.
Sekiranya diukur dengan kerjasama bersama Pakatan Harapan, ianya tidak akan menunjukan bahawa Pembangkang akan berjaya menawan Kedah dari BN. Ini kerana parti serpihan PAS, Amanah, sebenarnya serupa Primbumi Bersatu dimana ianya tiada akar umbi dan jentera yang mantap.
PKR yang mungkin ada jentera yang sedikit lebh mantap berbanding Amanah dan Pribumi Bersatu yang digabungkan, masih lagi kurang uapaya kerana selama ini ianya bergantung kepada jentera PAS bagi gerak-kerja politik semasa pilihanraya.
DAP juga dalam keadaan yang sama seperi PKR. Namun, perkembangan negatif dalaman DAP terutama dikalangan pemimpin peringkat menengah dan akar umbi terutama dikalangan veteran dan orang lama DAP dengan kerjasama Lim Kit Siang dengan Dr Mahathir akan menyaksikan lebih banyak pemberontakan dalaman, septett yang berlaku di Melaka sepanjang dua minggu ini.
Hakikatnya, Dr Mahathir hanya menabur harapan meleset memanipulasi sentimen orang Melayu untuk menyokong beliau dalam gerakan menggulingkan Perdana Menteri Najib yang sememangkan akan merugikan Bangsar Melayu. Ini adalah semata-mata merealisasi agenda peribadi obsessif dan semakin kronik.
The "thirteen million plus Ringgit" guy rambles.... 
Fact News
In the age of ‘Fake News’ making its way in the minds of many, facts are often denied even amongst the educated and professional lot through the advancement of ICT technology.
One instance is the financial position of the strategic investment company 1MDB, which was turned from actual commercial problems into scandalous by very irresponsible Malaysians, especially the Opposition.
Malaysiankini story from Parliament this morning:
And NST story:
Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak acting as the Minister of Finance responded to a DAP MP’s querry, through a written reply in the Dewan Rakyat.
The Opposition since 2012 made the 1MDB the most controversial and later contentious issues ever thrown against a corporation owned by the Malaysian Government, which was supposed to implement strategic programs such as high end property and energy sectors.
Despite explanations made, even on formal platforms such as replies in the Parliament, the Opposition to continue to make the 1MDB issue continue to be contentious.
Second Finance Minister Dato’ Sri Johari Abdul Ghani did offer detailed explanation on 1MDB, as a response to DAP Strategic Director Tony Pua’s dramatised ‘Open Letter’.
1MDB was made contentious when Fourth Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad openly attacked Prime Minister Najib exactly two year ago this month. His baseless accusations then “1MDB lost RM42 billion!”.
Tagged team with foreign media which include the Neo Con Jewish controlled Wall Street Journal, a serious of reporting made without verified evidence and named sources (supposedly, ‘authorities’ on the matter), which spurred the 1MDB matter to be scandalous.
It was then clear that the 1MDB issue was an excuse to demonise Prime Minister Najib and his administration, in the strategic play to oust him (then attempts to trigger a ‘revolution’ amongst the Cabinet, UMNO Supreme Council, UMNO General Assembly and eventually Parliament through a vote of no confidence).
However, it failed all the way.
Aides of Dr. Mahathir even went overseas to lodge reports to the authorities in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States based on so called ‘evidence’, which many are not properly verified and speculative and some are even fabricated.
MOF II Johari also said in Parliament two weeks ago 1MDB is the most investigated corporation in the Malaysian history. So far except for being reprimanded for flogging bureaucratic regulations, no personalities from the strategic investment corporation have yet to be charged because lack of implicating evidence.
Despite all of these reports and complaints lodged all over the world the past two years, there is no progress on the investigations which implicated 1MDB in any criminal activities.
Yet, parties attempting hard to demonise Prime Minister Najib and his administration such as Dr. Mahathir, the Opposition and foreign media been using terms such as “Kleptocracy”.
The fact remains that 1MDB is a corporation which embarked on various diversified tracks faced commercial issues.
- Economic analysis and commentary
on March 30, 2017 at 12:59 Comments (3)