Dislodged Menteri Besar Kedah and PPBM President Dato’ Seri Mukhriz Mahathir tried to lie about using international polling analytical expert Cambridge Analytica’s services provided to him personally in 13GE, but disputed by his former aide.
Statement by Azrin Zizal
21 March 2018
1. Mukhriz Mahathir’s statement yesterday about Cambridge Analytica’s advice for the Kedah campaign in 2013 contained outright lies.
2. Mukhriz says I was only his media officer until 2013 and that I was no longer with him when he became Chief Minister of Kedah. But this is absolutely false. I worked for Mukhriz personally and provided communications and strategy advice for him until 2015, including during the 2013 general election, and afterwards when he became Chief Minister. I will provide proof if he continues to falsify the truth.
3. Perhaps – while Mukhriz continues to deny my work for him and deny the benefits he gained from the advice I provided to him from Cambridge Analytica/SCL Group for Kedah during the 2013 general election – he will also deny Kedah winning an extra six parliament seats, winning over the State and him becoming Chief Minister?
5. Lastly, Mukhriz said Cambridge Analytica worked for Barisan Nasional. This again is not true. At no time has Cambridge Analytica or its parent SCL Group ever worked for or been paid by BN or any part of the Government of Malaysia. The 2013 election advice for Kedah was provided to Mukhriz personally.
6. It is time for Mukhriz to stop deliberately distorting the facts to save himself, and come clean.
Azrin Zizal
************
The ruckus started when Mukhriz new ally political analyst President of IDEAS Wan Saiful Wan Jan who recently joined the mainstream political foray by jumping into the former’s party, made the startling revelation about Barisan Nasional used Cambridge Analytica in 13GE.
The Straits Times story:
Malaysian politicians point fingers as Cambridge Analytica linked to 2013 polls
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and his fellow Barisan Nasional party members celebrate their 2013 general election win at Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur on May 6, 2013.PHOTO: ST FILE
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN) has become embroiled in the Cambridge Analytica scandal as the opposition on Tuesday (March 20) questioned Prime Minister Najib Razak’s role in using the big data firm to score wins in the country’s 2013 polls.
But the administration has denied employing the firm, and said any services were provided personally to former BN leader turned opposition politician Mukhriz Mahathir.
On its website, Cambridge Analytica said that it “supported Barisan Nasional (BN) in Kedah state with a targeted messaging campaign highlighting (its) school improvements since 2008”.
“Barisan Nasional won Kedah back from Pakatan Rakyat in the 13th General Election and walked away from a successful campaign. With wins in 21 out of 36 state seats and 10 out of the 15 parliamentary seats in the state, BN enjoyed a landslide victory,” it added. Pakatan Rakyat was the opposition pact then.
“The revelation spurred opposition politicians on Tuesday to demand answers on the firm’s role, described by some as “foreign interference”.
“Najib should immediately explain how much was paid to Cambridge Analytica in GE13 and what was the exact nature of their work for Umno,” said Mr Wan Saiful Wan Jan, deputy chairman of strategy and policy at Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM).
“I was shocked to learn about the relationship between Najib’s campaign with Cambridge Analytica,” Mr Wan Saiful said.
He said the firm, which had been engaged by United States President Donald Trump’s campaign for the 2016 election, had made use of the data it had retained to launch targeted ads to specific users in a manipulative way.
Mr Wan Saiful noted that Cambridge Analytica’s investors included Republican billionaire Robert Mercer, who is known for his financial contributions to Mr Trump’s right-wing campaign, and other American right-wing organisations. He added that former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, who is notorious for his right-wing views, was also on the Board of the company.
Cambridge Analytica’s website states that the firm “supported Barisan Nasional in Kedah State with a targeted messaging campaign highlighting their school improvements since 2008”. PHOTO: CA-POLITICAL.COM
But Mr Wan Saiful’s query has led back to his party colleague and former Kedah chief minister Mukhriz, who spearheaded BN’s election campaign in the state in 2013. .
Datuk Seri Mukhriz denied any knowledge of the data analytics firm. “No, I was not aware of CA (Cambridge Analytica), let alone engaged their services at any time,” Mr Mukhriz told The Straits Times.
According to news portal Malaysiakini, Mr Mukhriz said: “Perhaps they were consulting with the Prime Minister’s Office or BN’s headquarters.”
The Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement on Tuesday saying neither Cambridge Analytica nor its parent company SCL Group had ever been employed by BN or the government. It added that the SCL Group country representative had confirmed Cambridge Analytica provided advice on the 2013 election personally to Mr Mukhriz, and that he reported directly to Mr Mukhriz.
The statement did not name the representative, but he is believed to be Mr Azrin Zizal, a former media officer to Mr Mukhriz.
Mr Mukhriz said via Twitter on Tuesday that Mr Azrin Zizal was his media officer from 2009 to 2013 when Mr Mukhriz was at the Ministry of Trade and Industry. “He was not employed by me as a representative of SCL Group or Cambridge Analytica, and he was no longer my media officer when I became Kedah MB,” he said, referring to his post as Menteri Besar.
Mr Wan Saiful said the matter was ultimately one for Mr Najib to clarify. “Usage of services like this is usually not something conducted at the state level. Operations like this would normally be run from the centre. That is why it is only for for Najib to explain,” he said.
“Additionally, I am more worried about what Najib will do now for GE14 rather than what Kedah state did in the past. That is why it is important for them to explain if they are planning the same for GE14,” he added.
Facebook has come under pressure after The New York Times and The Guardian newspaper reported that Cambridge Analytica had used data, including user likes, inappropriately obtained from roughly 50 million Facebook users.
Facebook has suspended the firm and on Monday hired forensic auditors to investigate and determine whether Cambridge Analytica still had the misused data.
British privacy regulators are seeking a warrant to search the firm’s offices while European and US lawmakers are seeking an explanation of how it gained access to the data.
************
The consulting firm subsidiary of SCL admitted that the Cambridge Analytica system was provided personally to Mukhriz instead of Barisan Nasional in the 13GE.
PETALING JAYA: Cambridge Analytica’s advice on the 2013 general election was provided personally to Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, said the Federal Government.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said the SCL Group’s country representative confirmed the matter.
“The SCL representative also confirmed that he reported directly to Mukhriz Mahathir, not Barisan or the Government.
“Neither Cambridge Analytica nor its parent company SCL Group have ever – now or in the past – been contracted, employed or paid in any way by Barisan Nasional, the Prime Minister’s Office or any part of the Government of Malaysia,” the statement read.
When contacted, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia deputy president Mukhriz said the statement was false.
He claimed the PMO’s statement was to divert attention away from a recent statement that Cambridge Analytica worked closely with Barisan for both the 2008 and 2013 general elections.
“The representative that they meant, I assume is this chap by the name of Azrin Zizal.
“He was employed by me personally when I was Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry as a media officer, not as a representative of any company.
“If Azrin or anyone else is trying to imply that they were the ones providing strategies and things like that for Barisan to win over Kedah from the PAS government back then, that will all be false actually,” he said.
When asked if he would take any action against the allegations made, Mukhriz, who was the head of the Kedah Barisan election machinery for GE13, said he would think about it.
Azrin was Mukhriz’s media officer from 2009 to 2013. Mukhriz did not extend his employment when he became Kedah Mentri Besar.
In a separate event, Pribumi president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin denied any knowledge of Cambridge Analytica allegedly influencing votes during GE13.
“I don’t know. I’ve no knowledge and this is the first time I’m hearing about the matter,” he told reporters in Parliament yesterday.
He was Deputy Prime Minister and Umno deputy president from 2009 to 2015 and also Barisan’s elections director during GE13.
On its website, Cambridge Analytica stated in its Malaysia case study that it supported Barisan in Kedah with a targeted messaging campaign highlighting their school improvements since 2008, which resulted in Barisan winning Kedah back from Pakatan Rakyat.
“With wins in 21 out of 36 state seats and 10 out of the 15 parliamentary seats in the state, BN enjoyed a landslide victory,” the case study read.
Pakatan Harapan and Pribumi chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was also present during the press conference, denied that Kedah had engaged Cambridge Analytica in political campaigns.
“Kedah never had outside interference in elections. There is no record of the Kedah government doing such things.
“The Federal Government dealt with them. Not Kedah,” he claimed.
Cambridge Analytica is a London-based political consulting firm which has been accused of extracting the personal data of up to 50 million Facebook users without consent to help Donald Trump in his US presidential campaign in 2016.
******************
Yesterday, Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement denying Barisan Nasional nor Malaysia Government used the services of Cambridge Analytica.
CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA HAS NEVER BEEN HIRED BY BARISAN NASIONAL OR THE MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT
Contrary to media reports, neither Cambridge Analytica nor its parent company SCL Group have ever – now or in the past – been contracted, employed or paid in any way by Barisan Nasional, the Prime Minister’s Office or any part of the Government of Malaysia.
However, the SCL Group country representative today confirmed to the Government that Cambridge Analytica’s advice on the 2013 general election was provided personally to Mukhriz Mahathir, PPBM Deputy President. The SCL representative also confirmed that he reported directly to Mukhriz Mahathir, not BN or the Government.
20th March 2018
Prime Minister’s Office
Malaysia
************
Mukhriz’s response to the statement was surprising.
Putrajaya: Cambridge Analytica reported directly to Mukhriz, not us
Tuesday March 20, 2018
08:47 PM GMT+8
UPDATED:
March 20, 2018
10:28 PM GMT+8
Earlier today, Mukhriz had denied working with CA in the previous polls. — Picture by Azneal IshakKUALA LUMPUR, March 20 — Putrajaya and ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN) said today they had never engaged controversial data firm Cambridge Analytica’s (CA) services in 13th general elections.
In a statement to the media, the Prime Minister’s Office stated that a representative from CA’s parent company SCL Group earlier confirmed that it had personally provided its advice to then-Kedah Umno chief and now Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) deputy president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.
“Neither Cambridge Analytica nor its parent company SCL Group have ever — now or in the past — been contracted, employed or paid in any way by Barisan Nasional, the Prime Minister’s Office or any part of the Government of Malaysia,” the statement read.
“The SCL representative also confirmed that he reported directly to Mukhriz Mahathir, not BN or the Government,” it said.
Earlier today, Mukhriz had denied working with CA in the previous polls.
However, Mukhriz admitted that he personally knows SCL Group’s South-east Asia head, Azrin Zizal, who was his former press officer when he served as international trade and industry deputy minister from 2009 to 2013.
Azrin had earlier refused to comment on the matter when queried by Malay Mail.
CA claimed to have supported the BN Kedah campaign during the 2013 general election with a “targeted messaging campaign” highlighting school improvements since 2008.
The election saw a swing back to BN’s favour with a landslide victory in which 21 out of 36 state seats and 10 out of 15 parliamentary seats returned to the ruling coalition’s hands.
Mukhriz was appointed the mentri besar following the victory; however, he resigned from the post on February 3, 2016 after the Regency council told him that he had lost the support of the majority in the state legislative assembly.
CA came under pressure after The New York Times and The Guardian newspapers reported that the company had used data obtained from roughly 50 million Facebook users without their permission.
The social media platform suspended the firm and hired forensic auditors yesterday to find out if CA had misused the data.
The company’s website lists five office locations in New York, Washington, London, Brazil and Malaysia.
**************
When the story about Mukhriz used the services Camridge Analytica in the 13GE first surfaced, he wanted to take the firm to court.
The Malay Mail Online story:
After Mukhriz reveal, PPBM mulls legal action against PMO
BY AZRIL ANNUAR
Tuesday March 20, 2018
10:00 PM GMT+8
ICYMI
The Prime Minister’s Office stated that a representative from CA’s parent company SCL Group earlier confirmed that it had directly provided its advice to Mukhriz. ― Picture by Saw Siow Feng
KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 — Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) said today it would seek the advice of its lawyers to see if there are any grounds for legal action against the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) over a statement linking Cambridge Analytica (CA) and a top PPBM leader.
The party’s chief strategist Datuk Rais Husin told Malay Mail that the press statement from PMO quoting SCL alleging that CA worked with then-Umno Kedah chief and now PPBM deputy president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir was a “complete and blatant lie”.
“It is highly defamatory. We are not taking anything off the table including unleashing legal action against them,” Rais said in reference to the statement.
“This is clear defamation and an attempt to smear Mukhriz, especially since he has issued two statements [on the matter].
“Yet, they continue doing this. This is a mode of distraction which they are good at,” he added, referring to the statement.
Putrajaya and ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN) said in a statement earlier today they had never engaged CA’s services in 13th general election.
Instead, the Prime Minister’s Office stated that a representative from CA’s parent company SCL Group earlier confirmed that it had directly provided its advice to Mukhriz.
Mukhriz admitted that he personally knows SCL Group’s South-east Asia head, Azrin Zizal, who was his former press officer when he served as international trade and industry deputy minister from 2009 to 2013.
However, he denied working with the controversial data mining firm during the 13th General Election. CA on the other hand has stated on its website that it was instrumental for BN’s Kedah victory.
* A previous version of the article erroneously reported Rais as saying PPBM was considering action against Cambridge Analytica. He has since clarified that he meant the Prime Minister’s Office.
****************
Now the true value of Mukhriz’s leadership is questionable. The question now did Mukhriz lie about Cambridge Analytica or his memory failed him?
The is also the probability that he was oblivion of things and information that were passed to him in the GE.
Just like the mutiny about his cronies being placed in strategic position in his party.
Regardless, his credibility as a ‘heir apparent’ of a wannabe political party created out of anger, obsession and rejection has started to be proven again as a failure, much like his short lived MB-ship.
Kali ini merupakan Kompleks Tabung Haji yang baru dan serba canggih, Movenpick Hotel & Convention Centre (MHCC) di KLIA, yang sedang diperlengkapkan dan memulakan operasi pada musim Haji 1439H (2018M) atau lebih tepat lagi, pasca Syawal 1439H.
Sebuah fasiliti baru yang lebih besar dan canggih akan menggantikan Kompleks Tabung Haji di Kelana Jaya, yang mula beroperasi semenjak Ogos 1982.
Latarbelakang
* Kompleks Tabung Haji yang dinyatakan adalah Movenpick Hotel & Convention Centre KLIA (MHCC KLIA). MHCC KLIA ialah sebuah hotel dan pusat konvensyen bertaraf empat bintang yang telah dibangunkan oleh TH Properties Sdn Bhd anak syarikat pemaju milik penuh TH, TH Properties Sdn. Bhd. (TH Properties).
Operasi
*Movenpick Hotels & Resorts AG Management (Movenpick) sebagai operator hotel yang akan beroperasi berdasarkan konsep “Hotel Mesra Syariah” atau “Muslim Friendly Hotel.
*Pengendalian hotel adalah berdasarkan operasi tempoh sepanjang tahun berdasarkan prosedur pengendalian standard Movenpick yang merupakan operator hotel bertaraf antarabangsa yang mempunyai rangkaian hotel di seluruh dunia.
*MHCC KLIA akan berfungsi sepenuhnya sebagai hotel dan pusat konvensyen patuh syariah yang terba kepada orang awam. Manakala pusat konvesyen akan berfungsi sebagai pusat pelepasan jemaah haji/kompleks haji pada musim haji.
Pulangan Operasi
* Oleh yang demikian kewujudan operasi hotel dan pusat konvensyen di luar waktu musim haji adalah dapat memberikan pulangan terhadap pelaburan yang dibuat oleh TH dalam pembangunan MHCC KLIA ini.
*Pendapatan tahunan akan dijana melalui:-
*Bayaran kadar bilik hotel yang bertaraf 4-bintang.
*Food & Beverages (F&B), cafe, restoran, dan spa
*Penggunaan bilik seminar oleh syarikat persendirian, badan-badan korporat, MICE dll
*Penggunaan Dewan Bankuet untuk pameran, majlis rasmi dan perkahwinan
*Penggunaan Pusat Konvensyen yang berbayar untuk orang ramai mengikuti aktiviti pemasaran seperti EXPO kereta, motosikal berkuasa tinggi, aktiviti rekreasi seperti indoor games, cinema (pertunjukan musikal, tradisional dll)
Pulangan pelaburan
*Jangkaan pulangan ke atas pelaburan (ROI) berdasarkan unjuran tunai selama 25 tahun termasuk pendapatan daripada pusat konvensyen adalah 50% dengan tempoh pulangan pelaburan selama 20 tahun.
Rasional
*Pembangunan MHCC KLIA ini juga bakal memberi TH peluang lain untuk terlibat dalam perniagaan perhotelan di manaTH dan THHR akan beroleh manfaat dari aspek teknologi dan perkongsian pengetahuan melalui kerjasama dalam industri perhotelan bagi rangkaian hotel Movenpick di seluruh dunia.
*Pembangunan MHCC KLIA ini juga merupakan sebahagian daripada sumbangan TH terhadap Tanggungjawab Sosial Korporat (CSR) bagi melancarkan operasi haji bagi bakal haji negara.
****************
Hakikatnya, fasiliti baru MHCC ini merupakan pelaburan yang menepati keperluan untuk mengendalikan bakal dan jemaah Haji Malaysia akan datang. Manakala pada musim lain pula, ianya akan bertindak sebagai entiti kommersil terutama mengambil peluang sektor eksibisi dan rang konvesnyen, disamping industri hopitaliti.
Jelas bahawa Pembangkang sengaja membangkitkan pelaburan untuk fasiliti baru ini sebagai satu modal politik, untuk membangkit emosi terutama kepada orang Melayu dan mereka dikawasan luar bandar.
Amat malang apabila agensi yang telah banyak memberikan menafaat kepada beratus ribu jemaah Haji semenjak ditubuhkan, termasuk peningkatan perkhidmatan bakal dan jemaah Haji disemua peringkat, dijadikan modal politik untuk menabur kebencian.
Ini bukan kali pertama ini berlaku. Pada Mei 2015. fitnah disebarkan oleh Pembangkang mengenai TH ‘menyelamatkan 1MDB’ dengan pembelian tanah di TRX seuls 70,000 kaki persegi bagi tujuan pelaburan dalam bentuk apartmen mewah.
Laporan Utusan Malaysia:
Lebih 3,000 tutup akaun Tabung Haji – Saksi
4
KUALA LUMPUR 12 Mac – Seramai 3,105 daripada 3,954 pendeposit Lembaga Tabung Haji (Tabung Haji) yang telah menutup akaun Tabung Haji mereka pada tempoh Januari hingga Februari 2016 telah hilang kelayakan menunaikan haji termasuk kehilangan tahun giliran menunaikan ibadah itu.
Ketua Pegawai Kewangan Kumpulan Tabung Haji, Datuk Rozaida Omar dalam keterangannya di Mahkamah Majistret di sini hari ini memberitahu, pendeposit terlibat perlu mendaftar semula sekiranya ingin menunaikan haji dan menunggu dalam tempoh yang lebih lama.
Beliau berkata, walaupun sebelum ini terdapat pengeluaran atau penutupan akaun, namun alasan yang diberikan adalah lebih kepada bersifat peribadi seperti kematian, pembelian rumah dan pelaburan.
“Namun bagi tempoh yang dikaji, terdapat beberapa pendeposit yang menyatakan mereka tidak yakin dengan pengurusan, hilang kepercayaan dan ingin melabur di tempat lebih selamat.
“Tabung Haji telah memantau pergerakan simpanan dan pengeluaran pendeposit setiap hari dan dalam tempoh artikel-artikel berhubung Tabung Haji dalam media sosial pada 9 Februari 2016 terdapat banyak aktiviti pengeluaran di luar jangkaan berbanding sebelumnya,” katanya ketika pemeriksaan utama oleh Timbalan Pendakwa Raya, Mohd. Abazafree Mohd. Abas dalam perbicaraan terhadap Naib Presiden PKR, Rafizi Ramli.
Rafizi dibicarakan selepas mengaku tidak bersalah atas pertuduhan menyiarkan artikel bertajuk ‘Analisa Kewangan Tabung Haji 2009-2015’ dalam akaun Facebook Rafizi Ramli bertarikh 9 Februari 2016, yang mengandungi tohmahan terhadap Tabung Haji yang boleh merosakkan nama baik perbadanan itu.
Beliau yang diwakili peguam, Gobind Singh Deo, Haijan Omar dan Adi Zulkarnain didakwa melakukan perbuatan itu di tingkat 18, Bangunan Tabung Haji, 201, Jalan Tun Razak di sini, kira-kira pukul 9 pagi, 18 Februari 2016 mengikut Seksyen 500 Kanun Keseksaan yang membawa hukuman penjara sehingga dua tahun atau denda atau kedua-duanya.
Dalam pada itu, Rozaida yang merupakan saksi pendakwaan ketiga berkata, pernyataan yang mendakwa Tabung Haji membayar bonus pada tahun 2013 melebihi keuntungan bermotifkan pilihan raya adalah tidak benar sama sekali.
Malah, pemberian hibah kepada pendeposit pada awal tahun 2015 yang didakwa berlatarbelakangkan krisis 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) adalah mengikut peruntukan dan tiada kaitan syarikat itu.
“Tabung Haji adalah satu institusi kewangan yang ditubuhkan secara statutori dan mempunyai urus tadbir yang mampan.
“Sebarang kecenderungan yang menyatakan bahawa Tabung Haji boleh digunakan sebagai bahan politik menjejaskan pengurusan perbadanan itu sendiri,” katanya.
Perbicaraan di hadapan Majistret Umzarul An-Nur Umar bersambung 4 April ini.
Amat malang apabila fitnah seperti ini memangsakan penabung, yang juga terdiri dari rakyat biasa yang dalam giliran untuk diberikan peluang menunaikan Haji. Serangan keatas MHCC ini juga berniat yang sama, agar orang ramai hilang kepercayaan kepada TH berasaskan fitnah.
Memangsakan ummah dan bakal jemaah bagi memenuhi kepentingan politik terutama menaburkan berita palsu dan fitnah adalah salah, dari perspektif apa jua anutan agama sekali pun.
Pakatan Harapan is definitely face the Herculean up-hill battle to wrest the Federal Government from Barisan Nasional in the much awaited upcoming 14GE.
Particularly the imbalance of infrastructure and fundamental issues systematically denied for so long, which were incorporated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and under the Federal Constitution.
The on going construction of the Pan Borneo Highway, which shall cover end-to-end from Sarawak to Sabah and toll/free, is a manifestation of Prime Minister Najib’s commitment to improve infrastructure, which is the basis of any development particularly in the interiors and rural areas.
Another glaring example is Prime Minister Najib’s separate visits to Sabah and Sarawak in the first five years in office surpassed Pakatan Harapan Chairman Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s twenty two years in office as the Fourth Prime Minister.
The former’s consultative and open door-policy approach is far different from the latter’s heavy handed approach.
Analysts projected a prudent number of 80% of Parliamentary seats of the upcoming 14GE shall go to BN. That would very much translate to in the neighbourhood of 46-8 seats in BN’s favour.
It means that BN requires only 75 seats from Semenanjung a simple majority to control the Dewan Rakyat.
At the current 13th Parliament, BN Semenanjung comprises of 70 UMNO, 7 MCA, 4 MIC and 2 Gerakan MPs.
Considering now BN already possessing the benefit as the incumbent for the upcoming 14GE for 132 seats, the most successful coalition of political parties needs only to do 90% of the 13GE performance.
A few factors could easily work on BN’s favour and retain status quo here in Semenanjung despite many issues and controversies (mostly compounded due to the Opposition’s sowing of hatred strategy) which somewhat created a negative perception in certain quarters.
The economy is growing despite so many quarters tried to convince themselves otherwise and undeniably the trickling down effect has reached almost every corner of Malaysia. The quality of life improved significantly and Malaysians across the board are enjoying more benefits.
The purchase power parity has gone up since Prime Minister Najib took office.
The indicators are so glaring. More of more Malaysians are connected, physically and virtually. This include more and more finds it more affordable now to travel between Semenanjung, Sarawak and Sabah.
Soon, when infrastructure projects such as the Pan Borneo Highway, MRT system, HSR, ECRL and even the new airport terminals are completed and operational, the domestic economic growth would see a steeper curve.
Domestic tourism grew encouragingly. Malaysian digital economy on retail alone recorded RM73billion for 2017 transactions.
Of the RM45billion of GST that it is expected to be collected for 2018, it is reflective of the RM750billion worth of goods and services domestic economy transaction which falls under the GST Act.
Politically, Dr Mahathir is more bane than boon for the Opposition. The fact is that a considerable number of traditional and hardcore supporters of the Chinese Chauvinist DAP party have gone bland if not completed disappointed with them working hand-in-hand with a nemesis of half a century.
Sabahans have an axe to grind with Dr Mahathir. They are unable to forget how Dr Mahathir ‘punished’ Sabahans for turning their back on Berjaya (then BN) in 1985 and worse still, after PBS left BN on the eve of the 8GE.
Equal sentiment is harboured by Sarawakians. Many of their requests were blatantly turned down when Dr. Mahathir was in power.
One important point is the criticism of the recently launched Pakatan Harapan’s Manifesto.
Malaysiakini article:
Harapan’s manifesto falls short of Reformasi ideals
Kua Kia Soong
12 Mar 2018, 5:45 pm (Updated 12 Mar 2018, 5:57 pm)
The Pakatan Harapan manifesto for GE14 promises many things, the most welcome of which are the calls to repeal draconian laws, make several commissions directly answerable to Parliament and trim the fat from the Prime Minister’s Office, which are long overdue.
Beyond these critically needed reforms, the manifesto is long on populist concepts but short on actionable specifics. The current water crisis in Selangor is yet another reminder of the dire consequences of such cavalier populist policies as Selangor’s free water policy.
Is providing cheaper cars the answer to our traffic problems or purely populist?
Editor’s Pick
‘No point in political feuds when we share same surname’
The manifesto proposal to “resolve issue of unilateral child conversion in a harmonious manner” is no doubt well-intentioned, but wishful thinking in the current toxic climate without spelling out the clear constitutional and juridical positions on this issue.
Fundamentally, the manifesto lacks three vital changes sorely needed to take our country into a new beginning after 60 years of BN rule, namely: a race-free agenda to unify the nation, a progressive tax structure to redistribute wealth, and a truly democratic society.
A truly democratic society
Term limits for the posts of prime minister, chief minister and menteri besar are welcome and overdue. We are told that it will not be applied retrospectively to Selangor and Penang, the states that Harapan already rule.
Why not? The democratic principle behind the term limit for these posts is simply that elected officials can over time obtain too much power or authority and thus makes them less representative of all the citizens. It is also to prevent chances of corruption.
As we have seen only recently, even within a two-term service, corporate interests including those in property and finance can provide inducements to the incumbent leaders such as drastic discounts on house purchases.
There is clearly a correlation between the length of time a politician serves and the degree to which he or she has opportunities to engage in corruption. So, if Harapan truly believes in democracy, it should adhere to the two-term limit for their menteri besar in Selangor and chief minister in Penang as of now.
A national agenda
Now with Harapan having embraced the leader of Bersatu as the prospective prime minister, there is no mention of an end to the New Economic Policy in their GE14 manifesto. This is indeed bad news for those who had hopes of a more liberal economic policy, and also for all who have criticised the government for its racially discriminatory economic and educational policies.
Harapan tries to suck up to the “Malay agenda” by proposing puzzling proposals such as “restoring state sultans’ powers”. Which sultan’s powers are Harapan referring to that have been weakened? The ones that Mahathir effected during his reign? Please be specific.
And are we going to go through the same “statistical charade” that we have seen through the 50 years of NEP with the manifesto’s proposal to “increase bumiputera equity through GLC management buyouts?
Which class of bumiputeras is going to gain from this? Doesn’t it matter whether or not the poorer bumiputeras benefit? The statistics on “bumiputera equity” are meaningless when such equity can be resold to non-bumiputeras as soon as it is allocated, and when bumiputera companies fail such as happened during the 1997 financial crisis.
Instead of needs-based measures that target the lower-income and marginalised sectors, the Harapan manifesto follows the same divide-and-rule method practiced by BN. Thus, Indians have been specifically identified for special treatment as increasing their numbers in premium schools and Mara institutions. But the manifesto does not specify by how much.
And what about the Chinese, Eurasians and the Orang Asli? Harapan would like to “invest in training schemes for Indians” but a needs-based policy would be more cost effective and unifying to open the “bumiputeras only” institutions in this country to all Malaysians.
The NEP was scheduled to end in 1990, but has become a populist never-ending policy to win over the bumiputeras while benefiting mainly the political elite. Instead, it is common sense that poor rural Malaysians should be assisted based on their needs according to the particular economic sectors in which they live and work.
Today, with the lack of ethnic diversity in the civil and armed forces, it is high time that recruitment and promotion in these services are based on merit. Does Harapan address this? Does Harapan propose an expiry date for the NEP or is this not going to be realised in our lifetime?
Progressive taxes on the super-rich
Harapan does not tell us how their many populist promises will be financed. There are no fiscal policies to redistribute wealth, never mind fundamental changes in economic policies, including nationalisation of utilities. Malaysia is one of the few countries where the super-rich do not have to contribute part of their wealth to finance state welfare.
How much do the top 10 percent of earners contribute to total tax revenues?
Across the developed world, the rich are expected to pay a substantial share of taxes and this share has risen in recent decades. According to the OECD, the top 10 per cent of earners contribute about a third of total tax revenues – 28 per cent in France, 31 per cent in Germany, 39 per cent in Britain and 42 per cent in Italy.
The wealthiest households in the US contribute a larger share to government than in any other OECD country, at 45 percent. In Europe, they certainly have more to show for it – social services, unemployment benefits, a national health system and other social benefits.
Despite this, William Buffett, one of America’s richest men recently criticised the US tax system as manifestly unfair since he is taxed at a lower rate than his secretary!
Malaysia’s income tax system grants greater tax savings for the rich as well as encourages tax evasion. We rank among the world’s top countries for illicit outflow of money.
What reforms does the Harapan manifesto propose to prevent tax evasion? The limited coverage has resulted in poor revenue generation. Without sufficient revenue, individual income tax cannot provide substantial funds for poverty lifting projects.
Similarly, we do not see a higher marginal tax rate on high-income earners and a correspondingly lower tax rate for lower income earners; an incremental capital gains tax on property; a progressive inheritance tax; a tax on all international financial transactions and hedge funds; a progressive tax on all luxury goods.
A progressive economic policy
Harapan has all along stood for the same neoliberal capitalist policies as the BN. Consequently, their manifesto does not have a progressive economic policy, including nationalising all utilities and essential services including water resources, health, public transport and energy.
They have not proposed measures to ensure that government enterprises such as the GLCs are owned and controlled by the Malaysian peoples at federal, state and local levels and to bring respite to our lowest paid workers, who deserve a decent standard of living, and not populist crumbs.
Mother tongue education as part of the national education system
The Harapan manifesto pledges to recognise the UEC and to build one Tamil Secondary school. That is good. But are the Chinese and Tamil schools still going to be treated like step children in this country , with a few schools being allowed to be built and the Chinese secondary schools getting occasional funding at the pleasure of the government whenever elections are round the corner?
Defence cuts
The Harapan manifesto is silent about their defence policy, which is surprising as they speak vociferously against the commissions that are creamed off from big arms deals. While we are agonising over giving our lowest paid workers a guaranteed minimum wage of RM1,500, the government is coolly shopping for the next generation Multi-role combat aircraft to replace the MIGs.
British Aerospace is trying to flog their Typhoons and other special offers in a RM10 billion arms deal. It is expected that the government will go through with this deal as soon as they get their mandate after GE14.
Beyond GE14
It is time that BN and Harapan take human rights seriously and respect all Malaysian citizens irrespective of ethnicity, religious beliefs, gender or sexuality so that we can march forward as a unified nation.
Furthermore, in the states under both BN and Harapan, deforestation by developers goes on uninhibited, highways, tunnels and land reclamation continue unabated without concern for the environment, the public commons and the marginalised people living there.
A just, democratic and progressive alternative calls for a living wage and rights for all workers; a reasonable pension at retirement; affordable and liveable housing; free tertiary education (means tested for the well-off); formal or informal elected local government; commitment to international human rights practices and covenants.
The neoliberal ideologies that both BN and Harapan practice involves allowing private developers to buy up public assets. Such a practice has serious consequences in that it overrides and neglects the people’s interests and degrades our precious environment which is regarded as a free resource.
As a result, we are left with polluted air, questionable water quality, and limited green commons. We want a government that will take the lead in sustainable development initiatives such as renewable energy, that will benefit ordinary Malaysians and their environment.
The current reliance on the private sector results in environmentally harmful and socially destructive projects. A people’s government would enforce recycling measures, responsible waste disposal and enact laws to protect animal welfare.
Such a progressive government would also make it a priority to put the rights and livelihood of the Orang Asal at the top of the national agenda by recognising their rights over the land they have been occupying for centuries, prohibiting logging in Orang Asal land and ensuring all Orang Asal villages have adequate social facilities and services.
KUA KIA SOONG is Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) adviser.
****************
First, Pakatan Harapan is facing a lot internal problems within each component party, which includes mutiny and rebellion.
Second, the (un)holy-marriage-of-(in)convenience-between-backstabbing-strange-bedfellows can no longer hold water for Malaysians, who generally are more concerned for the well being and how the nation move forward more than anything else.
Third, the Pakatan Harapan lame Manifesto is a manifest that they are not trying at all for Malaysians and they don’t really have a plan to move forward and achieve better position for the nation.
It is logical to have BN back in power instead of Dr. Mahathir’s motley crew’s poor offering to Malaysians in the upcoming, ‘Mother of all GEs’.
Another party under Pakatan Harapan Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s leadership and helm risked to be de-registered by Registrar of Society (ROS) for non compliance of its own annual housekeeping regulations as per party constitution, exactly a repeat to a previous party he helmed 30 years ago.
NST story:
PPBM could be disbanded if information and documents not submitted, says ROS
Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) could be disbanded if it fails to submit information and documents pertaining to the minutes of branch meetings, divisions and centres, as well as party financial statements to the Registry of Societies (ROS).
PUTRAJAYA: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) faces the risk of being disbanded under Section 14 (5) of the Societies Act 1966 if it fails to submit information and documents pertaining to the minutes of branch meetings, divisions and centres, as well as party financial statements to the Registry of Societies (ROS).
ROS director-general Surayati Ibrahim confirmed today that the notice to submit the information and documents under Section 14 (2) of the same Act was sent to PPBM effective Feb 28.
She said the notice was sent to the party’s secretary-general and PPBM was required to answer and submit all information and documents as stipulated in the notice to ROS.
Registry of Societies (ROS) director-general Surayati Ibrahim says the notice to submit the information and documents under Section 14 (2) of the same Act was sent to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) effective Feb 28. File pic by ABD RAHIM RAHMAT
Notice 14 (2) is a notice referring to matters directed by ROS to submit minutes of meetings of branches, divisions and centres and the details of the party’s financial statements.
“At the same time, the notice under Section 14 (2) was issued due to complaints lodged by PPBM members to ROS and the information is required to complete the investigation into PPBM.”
*****************
The fact is that ROS bend the rules to accommodate Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) to comply its housekeeping rules based on its own constitution, after the approval of the formation of the party eighteen months ago.
The inability of PPBM to organise their own housekeeping and themselves as a political party raised the doubt whether they are able to run the nation if and when Pakatan Harapan is given the mandate at any general election (GE).
NST story:
Settle branch meetings before running the country: Najib
The opposition cannot be expected to run the country if its component parties have problems even managing branch and division meetings, said Datuk Seri Najib Razak. (NSTP/ASYRAF HAMZAH)
PAGOH: The opposition cannot be expected to run the country if its component parties have problems even managing branch and division meetings, said Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
The prime minister warned the people against trusting the future of the country to a certain ‘parti bunga’, a name frequently used in reference to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) that is helmed by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“They have (not conducted) branch meetings. They have not even held division meetings,” said Najib, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, at the launch of BN Youth and Puteri election machineries here today.
Najib was referring to the Registrar of Societies’ (RoS) warning to PPBM yesterday that the opposition party was at risk of being deregistered under Section 14(5) of the Societies Act 1966, unless PPBM furnishes information and minutes of its branch, division and central party meetings as well as financial statements.
RoS director-general Surayati Ibrahim had said that the party must submit the information and documents as part of the regulator’s probe into complaints by party members.
“Do not speak of managing the country if one cannot even administer one’s own party. Before one criticizes others, one must look at oneself first,” said Najib.
*************
Then again, the approval of for the application Opposition Coalition as a coalition of parties under one house, Pakatan Harapan, is being hampered because of unresolved statutory requirements of PPBM.
When Dr. Mahathir and other rejects from UMNO formed PPBM twenty one months ago and upon approval worked very closely with other Opposition parties, they came to the conclusion that to defeat Barisan Nasional (BN). the Opposition must offer equivalent option.
Otherwise, they would not gain the confidence and trust for the rakyat to provide them with the strong mandate they require to topple BN and rule the nation.
Obviously, exactly like thirty years ago, Dr. Mahathir is fully aware of the non compliance of its own housekeeping requirements which would led to the de-registration of the party by ROC and is ready for the next action.
The Star story:
Dr M: Pribumi has other plans if party deregistered
TANAH MERAH: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Pribumi) has other plans if the party is deregistered, said its chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic).
He said these plans would be activated if the Registrar of Societies (RoS) deregistered the party and rejected the registration of Pakatan Harapan as a coalition.
“We have plan B and C, depending on the outcome from the RoS, we have to use other means,” he told reporters at the “Jelajah Harapan Kelantan” programme here Saturday.
On Friday (March 9), Pribumi was issued a notice by the RoS to furnish information and documents on minutes of meetings by its branches, divisions and central level and also its financial report by March 29 or face deregistration.
RoS needs the information to complete its probe on complaints lodged by Pribumi members regarding the party’s affairs.
Pakatan Harapan comprises Pribumi, DAP, PKR and Parti Amanah Negara. – Bernama
It is an interesting story by Raja Petra Kamaruddin (RPK) who resides in Oldham, Greater Manchester, that Dr. Mahathir and Co. is ready to contest under DAP’s banner and throw other PPBM leaders under the bus.
Malaysia Today story:
Mahathir, Mukhriz And Muhyiddin Contesting Under DAP’s Banner
And for DAP they can use the fact that Mahathir, Mukhriz and Muhyiddin are contesting under a DAP banner in Chinese-majority seats as ‘evidence’ that DAP is a multi-racial party and not a Chinese party while the government would be seen as zalim for deregistering PPBM. That is what is called a win-win situation.
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin
A most interesting development has just taken place today. The Registrar of Societies (RoS) has just issued a press release regarding Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) saying that since the party has not complied with certain terms and conditions the party will have to be deregistered.
Actually, those terms and conditions are very basic and not at all difficult to comply with. Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, however, purposely refuses to comply with what the RoS wants so that they would have no choice but to deregister PPBM. This had been discussed earlier between Mahathir and Lim Kit Siang and is part of the plan for him, his son Mukhriz, and Muhyiddin Yassin to contest the general election under a DAP banner in Chinese-majority seats.
Mahathir and Kit Siang had already discussed and agreed that PPBM will be closed down and Mahathir, Mukhriz and Muhyiddin will contest under DAP
Mahathir knows PPBM has absolutely no chance of winning the upcoming general election and if he, Mukhriz and Muhyiddin were to contest the general election under PPBM they would be wiped out. PPBM, which is no better than Semangat 46 and is just another Malay party, has no hope of defeating Umno or of replacing Umno as the new warlord of Malaysian politics. So Mahathir needs to discard PPBM and migrate to DAP.
The only way Mahathir, Mukhriz and Muhyiddin can win the general election would be if they contested the election under the DAP banner and in Chinese-majority areas. They realise they need Chinese votes in a Chinese-majority seat to win and not Malay votes in a Malay-majority seat.
And the only way Mahathir, Mukhriz and Muhyiddin can contest under a DAP banner in Chinese-majority seats would be if PPBM did not exist. If PPBM existed how would they explain contesting under a DAP banner in a Chinese-majority seat? That was why Mahathir needed the RoS to deregister PPBM.
These three will be saved while the other PPBM candidates will be thrown under the bus
Now Mahathir can blame the RoS. It is because the RoS deregistered PPBM that Mahathir, Mukhriz and Muhyiddin have no choice but to contest under a DAP banner in Chinese-majority seats. The RoS would be seen as the villain while Mahathir, Mukhriz and Muhyiddin will be seen as innocent victims of injustice and political persecution.
But that solves Mahathir’s, Mukhriz’s and Muhyiddin’s problems. What about the rest of the PPBM candidates? Well, they are never going to win anyway so what does it matter? What matters is that Mahathir, Mukhriz and Muhyiddin win the general election even if they won under a DAP banner in Chinese-majority seats.
And for DAP they can use the fact that Mahathir, Mukhriz and Muhyiddin are contesting under a DAP banner in Chinese-majority seats as ‘evidence’ that DAP is a multi-racial party and not a Chinese party while the government would be seen as zalim for deregistering PPBM. That is what is called a win-win situation.
****************
The Malays have a proverb to cite that it is impossible for the same problem to crop up until the leadership of the same man, “A banana tree don’t bear fruit twice”.
Unless everyone have forgotten George Santayana’s wise words of “Those who don’t learn from history would be damned for the same mistakes”. Obviously Dr Mahathir’s ‘worshipers’, should be damned!
After more than two years of deep investigations against financial wiz-kid and businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low, Police finds no evidence of him being involved in 1MDB so called financial fiasco.
The Star story:
IGP: Investigations reveal no link between Jho Low and 1MDB
PETALING JAYA: There is no link between Low Taek Jho (pic), also known as Jho Low and 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), says Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun.
The Inspector-General of Police said an investigation had already been carried out by the police based on the findings of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in April 2016.
“Based on that investigation, Low never worked for the company nor did he make any business decision for the company.
“All business decisions were made by the 1MDB board of directors,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
Mohamad Fuzi, however, added that the investigation is still ongoing and action would be taken if any new evidence implicating Low surfaces.
He added that the seizure of the Equanimity yacht in Bali was merely a civil forfeiture against Low and not against 1MDB.
“Bukit Aman has not received any request for assistance from the US Department of Justice (DoJ) or Indonesian authorities over the seizure of the Equanimity yacht,” he said.
It was reported that Indonesia on Feb 28 seized a luxury yacht on the island of Bali sought by the DoJ as part of a multibillion-dollar corruption investigation linked to 1MDB.
Following the seizure, a spokesperson for Low, named as a key figure in US lawsuits, said the DoJ has stayed asset forfeiture proceedings in this case and has still not taken any steps to prove that any impropriety occurred
This revelation by IGP Tan Sri Mohamed Fuzi is grossly against popular notion brought upon the compounded lies by Sarawak Report Clare Rewcastle Brown and later by Fourth Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.
They are in cohort with Neo Jewish Controlled foreign media in the same of Wall Street Journal to perpetuate and compound the spin and lies, especially in the eyes of the global perspective.
In all instances of the so-called 1MDB financial fiasco, there is no evidence to link alleged ‘master criminal’ Jho Low to linked to 1MDB is anyway. Yet, this notion was manipulated, lied upon another lie many times over and hyped over, that in the minds of many he is the Chief Pirate.
Never mind the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee concluded in 2016, finds no offence been committed except by the Management and Board of Directors of 1MDB.
One interesting case is the linkage between 1MDB and Equanimity.
The recent seizure of Super Luxurious Yacht Equanimity in the waters off Bali by Indonesian Police and splurged globally as a ‘triumph’ in the case of against “Cheats, Plunders and Pillages of State Wealth and Kleptocracts”, came is a very much awaited ‘capital’ for the wankers who are so trapped in this propestoreous story concocted by Rewcastle-Brown.
1.Samada kapal layar Equanimity milik Malaysia atau tidak bukan soalnya. Yang menjadi masalah ialah kapal ini dimiliki oleh Low Taek Jho atau Jho Low dengan mengguna duit 1MDB. Pembelian ini adalah satu cara untuk bersihkan wang 1MDB yang Dept. of Justice, Amerika Syarikat dakwa diselewengkan (curi) oleh Jho Low.
2.Jho Low adalah sahabat karib Najib dan Rosmah. Najib adalah Penasihat berkuasa penuh syarikat milik Kerajaan 1MDB. Tidak ada keputusan boleh dibuat oleh 1MDB tanpa persetujuan Najib.
3.Ini bermakna Najib perlu tahu dan bertanggungjawab akan apa terjadi kepada wang 1MDB sebanyak 1 billion Ringgit yang diguna oleh Jho Low untuk bina/beli kapal layar Equanimity.
4.Sepatutnya Najib mengaku duit ini diberi kepada Jho Low untuk beli kapal. Jika tidak diberi oleh Najib, sebagai orang yang bertanggungjawab dalam 1MDB, Najib perlu lapor kepada polis supaya polis dapat pertolongan Interpol untuk dapat balik 1 billion Ringgit duit 1MDB. Jika dakwaan oleh Dept. of Justice, Amerika Syarikat bahawa Jho Low mencuri duit 1MDB untuk beli kapal layar bagi membersihkan duit yang dicuri, adalah tidak benar, maka Najib perlu protes kepada Dept. of Justice. Tetapi Najib tidak buat apa-apa.
5.Yang kita dengar ialah A.G. (Pendakwa Raya) menyatakan Najib tidak lakukan apa-apa kesalahan. Bolehkah Najib berdiam diri jika ada dakwaan bahawa duit 1MDB telah dicuri, sedangkan ia bertanggungjawab sepenuhnya dalam pengurusan 1MDB.
6.Di Singapura beberapa orang telah dituduh dan di penjara kerana selewengkan duit 1MDB. Beberapa bank ditutup oleh Kerajaan Singapura kerana terlibat dengan kehilangan duit 1MDB. Di Switzerland dan di Luxembourg juga terdapat tindakan terhadap penyelewengan duit 1MDB.
7.Tetapi di Malaysia kehilangan duit 1MDB, salahguna duit 1MDB, pengurusan yang tidak bertanggungjawab, pemindahan masalah dan pengurusan 1MDB kepada Kementerian Kewangan, penglibatan Perdana Menteri, laporan-laporan oleh Bank Negara, MACC dan PAC, kehilangan berbillion duit 1MDB, Jho Low, kapal Equanimity berharga 1 billion Ringgit yang didakwa dicuri dengan duit 1MDB, tindakan polis Indonesia dan FBI Amerika merampas kapal yang dimiliki Jho Low secara haram, – tidak ada tindakan yang diambil oleh polis atau Kerajaan Malaysia. Kata A.G. tidak ada salahlaku oleh Najib. Kes tutup. Empat buah negara dakwa duit 1MDB dicuri oleh Jho Low, A.G. Malaysia kata tiada apa-apa yang berlaku. Semua okay.
8.Apa jenis Kerajaan ini. Berbillion Ringgit duit Kerajaan lesap. Duit ini dipinjam. Kita kena bayar. Rakyat kena bayar. Kerajaan tak tahu apa.
9.Kerajaan bisu. Perdana Menteri bisu. Menteri bisu. Wakil Rakyat Kerajaan bisu.
10.Apakah mulut tersumbat terlalu banyak dedak yang mereka semua bisu.
11.Sudah sampai masanya Malaysia tukar Kerajaan. Sudah sampai masanya Kerajaan baru dipilih untuk siasat segala-gala yang tidak disiasat oleh Najib dan A.G. jinaknya.
*******************
Then it a major embarrassment that quite quickly it was revealed that Equanimity belongs to someone else. It is not even owned by Jho Low as he has been wrongfully accused. And worse still, Malaysian GLC 1MDB got nothing to do with it all.
Then, suddenly news from United States broke which literally embossed pig skin drenched in the filthiest mud deep into Dr. Mahathir’s face. US DoJ cut a deal with Red Granite, which one of the entity in the report made by Khairuddin Abu Hassan and Matthias Chang to the DoJ about the whole nonsense of the 1MDB compounded cases,
Bloomberg story:
‘Wolf of Wall Street’ Producer Settles U.S. Forfeiture Suit
By
Edvard Pettersson
Updated on
Settlement also covers ‘Daddy’s Home,’ ‘Dumb and Dumber To’
The lawsuit is among more than two dozen 1MDB-linked cases
Leonardo DiCaprio filming on location for ‘The Wolf Of Wall Street’ in New York on Aug. 25, 2012.Photographer: James Devaney/WireImage/Getty Images
The producer of “The Wolf of Wall Street” settled a forfeiture lawsuit by the U.S. Justice Department alleging the movie was funded by money siphoned from a Malaysian state investment fund.
Lawyers for Red Granite Pictures Inc., which was co-founded by Riza Aziz, a stepson of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, said in a filing Friday in federal court in Los Angeles that they have reached a “settlement in principle” with the government.
Terms of the settlement weren’t disclosed. It will also cover U.S. forfeiture claims against the producer’s rights and interests in two other pictures, “Daddy’s Home” and “Dumb and Dumber To.”
“We are glad to finally put this matter behind us and look forward to refocusing all of our attention back on our film business,” Red Granite said in a statement.
The complaint against the 2013 picture, directed by Martin Scorsese, is among more than two dozen forfeiture lawsuits filed by the U.S. against $1.7 billion assets that were allegedly acquired with money stolen from 1Malaysia Development Bhd. The assets include mansions in Beverly Hills, California, luxury condos in New York, jewelry and artworks.
The Justice Department sought the profits, royalties and distribution proceeds that are owed to Red Granite Pictures. The movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio took in $392 million in worldwide ticket sales, according to the website Box Office Mojo.
Bombardier Jet
Riza is a friend of Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, the Malaysian financier whom the U.S. alleges orchestrated the scheme to loot $4.5 billion from the Malaysian fund going back to 2009. Of the allegedly stolen money, $1.7 billion has been traced to assets in the U.S. and U.K., including a stake in New York’s Park Lane Hotel, a stake in EMI Music Publishing, a $35-million Bombardier Jet, and a $30-million penthouse at Time Warner Center.
Trusts for Low and his family are fighting lawsuits seeking to forfeit those assets.
The Justice Department last month asked a judge to put the civil forfeiture lawsuits on hold because it doesn’t want to have disclose the identities of witnesses and other sensitive information while it’s pursuing a parallel criminal investigation.
U.S. prosecutors in June escalated its efforts to recover assets they claim were acquired with stolen funds by filing a second round of 1MDB-related forfeiture lawsuits. The new claims include a $1.29 million heart-shaped diamond and a $3.8 million diamond pendant Low gave in 2014 to his then-girlfriend, actress Miranda Kerr. Low allegedly also gave a $3.2 million Picasso painting to DiCaprio, according to the new lawsuits.
Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles, declined to comment because some details of the settlement haven’t been finalized yet.
The case is U.S. v. “Wolf of Wall Street,” 16-05362, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
*******************
This is a landmark decision reached on the case which given a volcanic eruption sensation when US AG Loretta Lynch, together with DoJ and Inland Revenue Service announced on 20 July 2016.
One, there was never any criminal charges ever brought upon to any of the personalities specifically named in AG Lynch’s mega shocking announcement, anywhere in any criminal court, for the purported white collar crimes of “Cheating, stealing, money laundering and Kleptocracy”.
It was repeated again exactly a year later.
Two, the accuser (in this case United States Govt authorities such as the US AG’s chambers, Department of Justice, Inland Revenue Service and Federal Bureau of Investigations) actually sat down with those they accused with all sorts of criminal activities but without ever throwing the book at them.
They negotiated for a year!
Three, the outcome is an out-of-court settlement was reached and Red Granite shall pay up a sum of USD60m, case is closed and the latter can go about with their business.
Four, this is a very interesting point. Red Granite and personalities involved decision to reach this out-of-court settlement with DoJ does not tantamount to ‘an admission of guilt’.
Five, this a clear evidence that everything in United States is for sales and has a price, Even the US AG and DoJ!
Six, there isn’t a need to ask how much from the USD60m obtained from Red Granite would be returned back to in AG Lynch’s own words, “The people of Malaysia”. Although, this should be the bottomline of DoJ and other US law enforcement authorities civil case for the planned forfeiture of so many assets worth USD billions!
The penny has been dropped. The cat out of bag. The old man is caught with his pants down because it was his trusted aides who made the reports based on manipulation of actual facts and compounded with lies, to hoodwink Malaysians..
Dr, Mahathir’s strategy of sowing hatred failed miserably on the third anniversary of his open movement to oust Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak,
Then again, he failed and transpired over every time since exactly the past three years ago, to a point four of His Majesties and His Royal Hignesses the Seri Paduka Yang DiPertuan Agong and Malay Sovereign Rulers treated him as a Persona Non Grata.
It eventually prevails that the so-called BERSIH had along been an apparatus of the Opposition masquerading as NGO to demand for ‘Free and Fair Elections’ and ‘Freedom of Speech’, when the Chairperson Maria Chin announces her intention to contest in the upcoming 14GE.
Malaysiakini story:
Maria Chin to join GE14 battle as ‘independent’
Published on | Modified on
Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah will contest in the coming general election, offering herself to Pakatan Harapan as an “independent” candidate.
She is slated to announce her decision at a press conference tomorrow, according to her press invite that has gone viral.
However, it was not made clear as to which Harapan party she would contest under.
When contacted, Maria merely said she would explain the matter at the press conference.
“I have decided to resign from Bersih 2.0 as the chair and to take on a new challenge in the political arena,” she said.
Maria also confirmed that she would send out the media invite to the press conference today.
“The invite was for (my) friends, but the letter went haywire to everyone. Today I will send the invite to the media,” she told Malaysiakini.
Maria has been speculated to contest under PKR’s ticket in Petaling Jaya Selatan, a federal seat currently held by Hee Loy Sian.
Harapan parties are reportedly recruiting social activists, academicians and analysts to stand in the coming general election.
Last week, analyst Wan Saiful Wan Jan joined Bersatu and he is expected to be fielded in a parliamentary seat in this general election.
Meanwhile, former Umno Sungai Benut parliamentarian Tawfik Ismail said Maria’s announcement only confirmed BN’s suspicion that the electoral watchdog was not as independent as it claimed to be.
“It’s expected. It only confirms BN’s view that Bersih is led and hijacked by the opposition,” he was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today (FMT).
Tawfik also questioned if Bersih would be able to gain as much traction as it had in the past, following Maria’s decision.
“What’s the future of Bersih? When it began, it rallied a broad spectrum of people.
“Now, instead of reforming the government, its leader has gone to the side of the man who inspired Bersih’s establishment, Dr Mahathir Mohamad,” he said.
PKR Wanita chief and Selangor PKR deputy chief Zuraida Kamaruddin (photo) said the party would issue a statement right after Maria’s announcement tomorrow.
“As Wanita chief, I will gladly welcome Maria, especially to boost female representation, especially someone like Maria who has proven her worth.
“With her calibre and integrity, (it) will definitely upgrade the standards of women representatives in the country, and her commitment for good governance and a clean and fair election, will take our struggle to greater heights when we take over the government,” she told Malaysiakini in a text message.
The Ampang MP responded when asked if PKR would allow Maria to contest under the party’s ticket without joining the party.
A PKR leader, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said several leaders of the party had discussed about Maria, and some of them had raised concerns about the activist declining to join the party after the election.
**********************
Maria, who is a socialist activists all the while had been political and very left and radical in the stance.
Her political ambition has finally prevailed and she used BERSIH to prop herself amongst Opposition leaders, who are embracing reforms and change but not to Maria’s liking.
Now that the cat is out of the bag and the penny has been dropped, it is now questionable on BERSIH’s quest all along and the claims they make out loud, especially to berate Malaysia’s democratic system and process, to the attention of the world through foreign media.
If the past three GEs (X in May 2004, XI in March 2008, XII in May 2013) has been marred with “unhealthy democratic practices”, “gerry-mandering” and “cheating”, then what is the meaning of the complainer participating in the game which she claims to be “deceitful’?
Maria either lied in the five BERSIH organised, all against Police permit despite two were after the Public Assembly Act is enacted. Or she mocked all who participated in the BERSIH demonstrations, as part of staging herself and being propped for mainstream political stage.
The "thirteen million plus Ringgit" guy rambles.... 
Dislodged Liar’s Denial Lambasted
Dislodged Menteri Besar Kedah and PPBM President Dato’ Seri Mukhriz Mahathir tried to lie about using international polling analytical expert Cambridge Analytica’s services provided to him personally in 13GE, but disputed by his former aide.
The ruckus started when Mukhriz new ally political analyst President of IDEAS Wan Saiful Wan Jan who recently joined the mainstream political foray by jumping into the former’s party, made the startling revelation about Barisan Nasional used Cambridge Analytica in 13GE.
The Straits Times story:
The consulting firm subsidiary of SCL admitted that the Cambridge Analytica system was provided personally to Mukhriz instead of Barisan Nasional in the 13GE.
The Star story:
Mukhriz’s response to the statement was surprising.
When the story about Mukhriz used the services Camridge Analytica in the 13GE first surfaced, he wanted to take the firm to court.
The Malay Mail Online story:
Now the true value of Mukhriz’s leadership is questionable. The question now did Mukhriz lie about Cambridge Analytica or his memory failed him?
The is also the probability that he was oblivion of things and information that were passed to him in the GE.
Just like the mutiny about his cronies being placed in strategic position in his party.
Regardless, his credibility as a ‘heir apparent’ of a wannabe political party created out of anger, obsession and rejection has started to be proven again as a failure, much like his short lived MB-ship.
- Commentary
on March 21, 2018 at 23:00 Comments (2)