مهاتير محمد's Blog, page 37

UMNO dan DAP

1. Ramai ahli UMNO yang rasa terkilan dan tidak senang melihat Kit Siang dan DAP berada diatas pentas yang sama dengan UMNO dan pemimpinnya, yang lama dan yang baru.

2. Kenapakah ahli dan pemimpin UMNO sanggup bersama dengan DAP dan Kit Siang?

3. Soal yang sama juga ditanya oleh ahli dan pemimpin DAP yang benci dan bermusuh dengan UMNO terutama dengan saya sendiri sebagai bekas pemimpin UMNO sejak DAP ditubuh.

4. Amat sukar bagi ramai dalam kedua-dua parti yang bermusuh ini menerima bahawa mereka yang menghadiri dan menandatangani deklarasi menolak Najib, menghadiri bukan sebagai ahli dan pemimpin parti politik atau gerakan, tetapi mereka hadir sebagai “citizen”, rakyat Malaysia yang khuatir akan kesan buruk perlakuan Najib sebagai Perdana Menteri.

5. Bagi pemimpin UMNO, jika UMNO seperti UMNO dahulu dan segala saluran untuk menghentikan perbuatan yang salah masih ada, penyelesaian boleh dicari dalam parti. Tetapi Najib sudah tutup semua saluran ini. Hak ahli dalam UMNO, Mesyuarat Agong UMNO, Majlis Tertinggi UMNO sudah tidak berfungsi lagi. Mulut anggota dan badan-badan dalam UMNO sudah ditutup rapat oleh Najib dengan berbagai-bagai cara, dengan melumpuh bukan sahaja badan-badan tertentu dalam parti tetapi melalui institusi-institusi Kerajaan seperti polis, Peguam Negara, Surhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah, PAC dan lain-lain.

6. Tindakan Najib menekan bukan sahaja parti-parti politik tetapi juga keatas semua rakyat tanpa mengira kaum atau parti.

7. Dalam keadaan ini rakyat yang menjadi mangsa sudah lumpuh dan tidak lagi dapat bergantung kepada parti politik mereka sendiri untuk perlindungan, dan tidak pun melalui institusi Kerajaan yang ditugas untuk melindungi keselamatan rakyat.

8. Bagi semua rakyat Malaysia hanya penyingkiran Najib sahaja yang boleh memulihkan demokrasi negara. Tetapi rakyat tidak ada apa-apa jentera yang boleh diguna untuk menyuara pendapat mereka pun.

9. Oleh itu tokoh-tokoh dalam pelbagai bidang, terpaksa membelakangkan pertubuhan dan perjuangan mereka supaya suara mereka dapat diperdengarkan kepada semua. Mereka perlu bertindak sebagai “citizen” (rakyat) dan bukan lagi sebagai parti atau badan-badan tertentu.

10. Kesedaran inilah yang menyebabkan mereka yang bermusuh membelakangkan permusuhan mereka buat sementara untuk menyelamatkan negara tercinta. Mengutama parti masing-masing bermakna menyokong dan mengekal rejim Najib.

11. Apabila demokrasi dan kebebasan di kembalikan maka perbezaan pendapat antara mereka bolehlah diteruskan.

12. Jika kita tidak faham, lihatlah keadaan dikalangan orang Islam di Timur Tengah. Musuh mereka ialah Israel yang dibantu oleh Amerika Syarikat.

13. Malangnya mereka lebih utamakan permusuhan sesama mereka, permusuhan antara Sunni dengan Syiah, antara Fatah dengan Hamas, antara Iran dengan Arab sehingga mereka lupakan musuh sebenar mereka, iaitu Israel, dan mereka berperang sesama orang Islam.

14. Maka bertepuk tanganlah Yahudi dan Amerika.

GOVERNMENT SECRETS

1. The A.G. would like the punishment for people who leak Government secrets to be caned and jailed for life.

2. It tells of a very primitive mind and is unIslamic. The Quran repeatedly enjoins upon Muslims to judge with justice. The punishment should fit the crime. It should not be excessive. Even for your foes you have to judge with justice, if you are guided by the teachings of the Quran.

3. But I am not going to complain about his primitive mind. I am questioning whether Najib with 2.6 Billion Ringgit in his personal and private accounts is doing his work as Prime Minister. Is it in his terms of reference to acquire secret funds and keep it in his personal accounts. No Prime Minister of Malaysia has ever done this.

4. In Government there are procedures and rules for receiving and handling funds. Najib has not abided by these rules. In fact he admits that the money is a gift to him personally, not to the Government. He did not inform the Government authorities about the money. It is in fact a secret from the Government. He seems not to have paid taxes on this money. Clearly the possession and management of this RM2.6 billion is not part of his work as Prime Minister of Malaysia.

5. The money is therefore not a Government secret which is protected by the Official Secrets Act. The reports by Bank Negara and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission are therefore about wrong-doings involving Najib as a person while in the Government. Such wrong-doings must be investigated and reported by the relevant authorities so that appropriate actions can be taken according to the laws of the country.

6. The police and other enforcement authorities must act and investigate the reports. Not doing so would be a dereliction of duty. Covering up would be a crime.

7. The A.G. has the right to decide whether a case should go to the courts or not. That right should be exercised with due consideration for the elements involved in the cases and public concern about them. All sides should be heard. And this can only be done in a court of law. Judgement by the A.G. simply by reading the reports is a denial of justice, is frivolous and unjust, especially when the reports are made by credible and established institutions. What the A.G. has done is to damage the credibility of an institution of governance and a part of the judicial system of this country.

8. The OSA is not meant to make a secret of criminal acts perpetrated by officers and employees of the Government. Such criminal acts are not above the law. They should be investigated by the authorities and be put before a court.

9. Instead the person reporting on the alleged wrong-doings by Najib, was arrested together with his lawyer, detained and charged in court.

10. When the A.G. prefers a charge on anyone, the law must fit the crime. When the charge does not fit the allege crime, so much so that the presiding judge dismissed the case, the A.G. loses his credibility. And along with it goes the judicial system.

11. Now the A.G. wants to appeal against the decision of the judge. Should the A.G. win, the institution would lose respect and acceptance by the people.

12. If the A.G. wishes to regain his credibility he should clarify whether he considers crimes perpetrated by officers of Governments are considered as Government secrets which must be hidden and protected by the Official Secrets Act or not.

TUN MUSA

1. My very good friend, colleague, former Deputy President of UMNO and Deputy Prime Minister, Tun Musa Hitam blames me for the failure to achieve Vision 2020 (read here). It is all because I failed to groom successors at all levels.

2. My first failure was Tun Musa Hitam himself. He could not wait for me to retire. So he resigned after 5 years being with me as my deputy, in a Government his boys called the MM Government.

3. He believed the UMNO Supreme Council would throw me out and appoint him as President. The Council decided to persuade him to return as DPM and Deputy President. He came back as Deputy President.

4. At the next UMNO Election he persuaded his erstwhile rival and enemy, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah to contest for President against me. He was prepared to be Deputy President and DPM under Tengku Razaleigh and not under me.

5. These he did even though I overlooked his bad faith and later appointed him as Special Envoy to the UN with ministerial rank.

6. In the contest for presidency, (Tan Sri) Syed Hamid Albar, (Tan Sri) Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, (Tun) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and (Tan Sri) Rais Yatim sided with Tengku Razaleigh.

7. I and Ghafar Baba won. Then I appointed all those who were not loyal to me as ministers in my cabinet. One of them, Tun Abdullah, eventually was named my successor as Prime Minister. Far from choosing only loyalists, I chose those disloyal to me.

8. I did not train anyone so they can make a success of Vision 2020. I believed in leadership by example. I must have set a bad example because those who succeeded me all failed to make a success of Vision 2020. I am to blame of course.

9. Dear Musa, thank you very much for pin-pointing the cause of the failure of Vision 2020. You must have known this in 1986, long before the Vision. It must have been your foresight which caused you to resign from the Government I headed. So no one can blame you. Your service to me and the nation will go down in history.

CORRUPTION IN MALAYSIA

1. There has always been corruption in Malaysia but for years after independence the scale was small. A country where corruption is rampant can never be developed. But Malaysia developed at a good rate.

2. At the time of independence Malaysia was a poor third world country. All development work was done by the Government through the JKR (Public Works Department) with its own staff.

3. But as Malaysia developed rapidly the Government machinery was unable to cope with the development of infrastructure such as roads and railways, Government offices and buildings and staff housing, generation of power and water supply, ports and airports, telecommunications etc. So contracts had to be given to the private sector.

4. The contest for contracts by the private sector created opportunities for corruption. The bigger the contracts the bigger would be the amount of illegal gratification offered.

5. However, the political leaders in the Government were not obviously involved initially. Then came Najib who believes in “Cash is King”. This is just another name for influencing decision on the basis of money to be gained for the decision makers. As the contracts grew bigger the leverage and decision of the decision makers became more valuable. Unscrupulous contractors would offer bigger and bigger amounts in order to get the contracts. It came to a stage when the decision maker accepts higher cost in order to include his sweetener for the contract. In fact many are aware of demands for 30% share in the project if the contracts are to be approved. Of course proxies are used. And the gratification for getting the contracts can go into billions of Ringgit. Government had to pay more than the real cost of the project.

6. The decision makers collect lots of money. Getting proofs or evidence for cases of corruption is very difficult. No contractor would come forward to give evidence because he would be marked and his business and future contracts would be affected. Good contractors may withdraw and so do good officers. But they would never come forward to give evidence especially when their bosses and powerful people are involved. The more powerful their bosses the less would they be inclined to make reports on corruption. The Government says it will protect whistle blowers but only if the person exposed are not powerful.

7. The best way for the anti-corruption commission to act would be to audit the life-style of the suspects. Are they living within their means? If it is beyond their means a thorough investigation must be made on all sources of income of the suspect.

8. Although the Commission is free and can investigate even the Prime Minister but an unscrupulous Prime Minister can frustrate the Commission in many ways. Malaysian Prime Minister, Ministers and high officials are not very highly paid but with all the perks such as housing, payment of water and electricity bills, traveling allowances, motor cars and even aeroplanes, they can have a decent life in keeping with their official status.

9. But if their life-style is lavish, owning luxurious homes and mansions in the country and abroad, their shopping involve buying of high priced things occupying crates and crates, their personal entertainment such as weddings etc very lavish and if they have money in the banks or elsewhere very much in excess of their sources of income, then it can safely be assumed that they may be in receipt of illegal gratification. The source of great wealth needs to be investigated by the authorities and institutions of the country.

10. The Inland Revenue Board was set up as an independent authority so that they can act without fear or favour. It is within their right to investigate everyone including the Prime Minister.

11. Of late we are seeing clear interference with the functioning of the Anti-Corruption Commission. Since the Board of Inland Revenue appeared not to be doing their duty in a case involving the Prime Minister, principally the ownership of the 2.6 billion Ringgit in his private account in Ambank, this amount of money is obviously beyond what a Prime Minister of Malaysia can have, investigations need to be made.

12. Because of the status of the Prime Minister concerned authorities set up a special powerful task force to investigate the source of this money. There was to be no fear or favour. The task force consist of the Attorney General, the Inspector General of Police, the Governor of the Central Bank and the Anti Corruption Commission.

13. Malaysia is fortunate in that officers of Government are professionals. They do not get involved in politics. They simply take orders from the elected Government. But what if the Government ask them to break the law? Well they did not think this would happen. But this has happened. They are in a quandary. But better obey orders than refusing orders and have to face unpleasant consequence.

14. Today Malaysia is listed among the 10 most corrupt countries in the world. No doubt the involvement of Dato Seri Najib in the formation and management of huge sums of borrowed money for 1MDB with clear support from the Government and the subsequent loss of a big portion of this money, the buying of Independent Power Plants at inflated prices, the commission of 10 per cent to Goldman Sachs as well as the interest rate at 5.9 per cent, the inability to repay the loans, the 2.6 billion Ringgit in Najib’s personal account, plus lots of other unsavoury stories and the publications in foreign press, lead to Malaysia becoming one of the 10 most corrupt in the world. Saying that it is all untrue and the Attorney General has cleared Dato Seri Najib does not carry water. Only a full investigation including the identification and questioning of the donor or donors, sources of income and the documentary evidence of money transfer to Najib’s account would clear the air.

15. The AG has no credibility at all after his dismissal of the reports by Bank Negara and the MACC. He proposes life imprisonment for leaking Government information – a sure indication that he is hiding the truth.

16. As a good Muslim he should swear on the Quran in a mosque witnessed by mosque officials and the public that the reports did not implicate Najib in any way. He should not try to cheat by vowing in his heart something else, and swearing aloud something else. That would be a double sin. He will go to a worse hell.

17. And the new publicity chief suggests I am doing this because I want to be arrested. That is as clear a warning as can be of the wish to arrest me.

18. And so Najib’s Cash is King creed must be promoted because it advocates corruption as a means of holding on to power. The country is now one of the 10 most corrupt countries but don’t say anything about 1MDB and the 2.6 Bilion Ringgit if you wish to remain free.

PROTON

1. Recently, I officiated the first firing of the new engine for Proton. It is not often that an automotive company produces a new engine. Proton’s Campro engine is now more than 10 years old. Obviously it is no longer suitable for today’s cars. So the production of a new engine for Proton is something to celebrate.

2. But unfortunately journalists do not see the significance of this event. We used to export quite a lot of Proton cars to the UK. But since the introduction of new emission and fuel efficiency standards we have not been able to sell any Proton cars in the UK. The development of the new Proton engines by our engineers working with RICARDO of the UK is going to make us once again able to meet the conditions in the UK and Europe. We hope to export our cars to these countries once again.

3. Incidentally the engine will only be used after rigorous testing including running for five million kilometers. It will not be until late 2017 before their installation in Proton cars. After that there will be more tests for each model. Producing a car takes a lot of time.

4. Proton is aware of the negative perception of its cars in the Malaysian market. This is especially among owners of imported cars. Nothing can persuade them to buy Proton cars. Certainly pride in a Malaysian made car is not with them.

5. But the cars we produce now are not like the cars we produced before. They are much improved and often have more features than other

cars in the same category. In fact the low-priced Protons have features normally found in higher-priced cars.

6. The Iriz 1.6 automatic has six airbags, doors which only open after the second pull, will not slide back when the foot is lifted from the brake on slopes etc.

7. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. And so it is with Proton’s new cars. You need to drive them to know their capability. I drive the Iriz and the Suprima S and believe me I enjoy driving them. The Iriz especially has electric powered steering. It is very light. It responds quickly to the accelerator.

8. I think Proton cars deserve a test drive by Malaysians. Tell us about your experience. Criticise these cars. We want feedbacks so we can further improve the cars.

9. I am not an engineer although I know something about engineering. Believe me it is not easy to design, build, test and produce cars. If you are familiar with jigsaw puzzles, you will understand the problem faced by our engineers and assembly workers as they put the parts together.

10. There are 4000 parts to be designed, calibrated, manufactured and put together. We are the only developing country in the world that can do all these. I think our workers and engineers deserve to be tested if not supported.

11. We are not the cause of car prices being high. What support we get from the Government is also given to other companies because of local content. We have almost 90% local content; so we pay less excise duty. But since its founding Proton has paid more than 24 billion Ringgit in taxes while receiving only 14 billion in excise duty cuts, not cash. Yes, we have received a part of the research and development grants the industries have been promised.

12. Taxes on motor vehicles are what caused the prices to be high. But Government need to tax motorists because of the roads and other infrastructures that Government has to provide.

13. It is important to remember that when you buy foreign cars, money will flow out of the country to sustain their economies, to benefit their workers.

14. When you buy a local car, money stays in the country, workers earn money, dealers and agents and their employees enjoy the business they do and the local economy grows. Thousands of families enjoy a good life.

15. Assuming that all local industries are closed, few will have money to buy imported things. We will revert into being a failed third world country.

16. Malaysia is a trading nation i.e. we export and we import. If imports exceed exports we will not grow and prosper. All the countries which export cars to Malaysia protect their markets so that Proton cannot enter them.

 

MALAYSIA’S SHAME

1. There was a time not so very long ago when Malaysia was admired for successfully raising itself from an impoverished third world country into a stable newly industrialised country. No one doubted that its announced intention to become a developed country by 2020 would be achieved.

2. But today when we go abroad we are asked, “Hey, what happened to your country.” Some mention 1MDB and the corrupt Government which has lost billions of dollars. Many comment on the lavish lifestyle of the Prime Minister.

3. They asked these questions because reputable foreign newspapers publish stories about 1MDB, about the Prime Minister having appropriated to himself billions of dollars, about huge amounts of money in his private accounts, about his lavish life-style. No Malaysian Prime Minister can afford the grand wedding that he had for his daughter.

4. Although Malaysians read only good things about Najib in the local media but the alternative media do not mince words when expressing their disgust with Najib and the sycophants covering up for him. When the Wall Street Journal reported that the PM has 2.6 billion Ringgit in his private account in AMBank, the world laughed at Najib’s claim that it was a donation from an Arab.

5. Then there is the story of the purchase of submarines from a French company. It is now before a French court. Razak Baginda, a close associate of Najib, and the companies owned by him have been named in the court case.

6. Razak had no authority to decide on Government purchases. But Najib as Minister of Defence had. Whatever, if Razak or his company received money from the builders of the submarines; he should be hauled up before the French court.

7. The Malaysian A.G. would certainly not charge Razak because it might lead to Najib’s name being brought in. The A.G. has already not only dismissed but hidden the reports by Bank Negara and MACC.

8. All these and more have given Malaysia a bad name. Najib’s name is even worse. Malaysians are generally ashamed of these things and the role of their Prime Minister in these scandals.

9. To clear Malaysia’s good name and his own, Najib must prove beyond a shadow of doubt that he is innocent of all the accusation against him. The A.G. saying he is innocent means nothing. He, the A.G. has no credibility.

10. Failing this Najib should resign. So should all those who have been covering up and abusing their authority so as to save Najib.

11. Malaysia must be freed from a Prime Minister with such a bad reputation if it is to regain its reputation.

VERSI BM

MEMALUKAN MALAYSIA

1. Ada satu masa tidak berapa lama dahulu ketika Malaysia dikagumi kerana berjaya meningkatkan dirinya daripada sebuah negara dunia ketiga yang miskin menjadi sebuah negara perindustrian baru yang stabil. Tiada siapa yang meragui bahawa niatnya yang diumumkan untuk menjadi sebuah negara maju menjelang 2020 akan tercapai.

2. Tetapi hari ini apabila kita pergi ke luar negara kita ditanya, “Hey, apa yang telah berlaku kepada negara anda.” Ada yang menyebut 1MDB dan Kerajaan yang korup yang telah kehilangan berbilion-bilion dolar. Ramai yang komen akan gaya hidup mewah Perdana Menteri.

3. Mereka bertanya soalan-soalan ini kerana surat khabar asing yang berwibawa menerbitkan cerita-cerita tentang 1MDB, tentang Perdana Menteri memperuntukkan kepada dirinya sendiri berbilion-bilion dolar, tentang sejumlah wang yang banyak dalam akaun peribadinya, tentang gaya hidup mewah beliau. Tidak ada Perdana Menteri Malaysia yang mampu majlis perkahwinan begitu indah yang dia adakan untuk anak perempuannya.

4. Walaupun rakyat Malaysia membaca hanya perkara yang baik tentang Najib dalam media tempatan tetapi media alternatif tidak melapik perkataan mereka apabila menyatakan rasa meluat mereka dengan Najib dan pengampu-pengampu yang melindungi kesalahannya. Apabila Wall Street Journal melaporkan bahawa Perdana Menteri mempunyai RM2.6 bilion dalam akaun peribadinya di AMBank, dunia mentertawakan dakwaan Najib bahawa ianya adalah sumbangan dari Arab.

5. Kemudian pula ada kisah pembelian kapal selam dari syarikat Perancis. Kini dihadapkan di mahkamah Perancis. Razak Baginda, rakan rapat Najib, dan syarikat-syarikat yang dimiliki oleh beliau telah dinamakan dalam kes mahkamah.

6. Razak tidak mempunyai kuasa untuk membuat keputusan mengenai pembelian Kerajaan. Tetapi Najib, sebagai Menteri Pertahanan, mempunyainya. Walau bagaimanapun, jika Razak atau syarikatnya menerima wang dari pembina kapal selam, dia harus dihadapkan ke mahkamah Perancis.

7. Peguam Negara Malaysia sudah pasti tidak akan caj Razak kerana mungkin nama Najib akan diheretkan bersama. Telah pun Peguam Negara bukan sahaja menolak tetapi menyembunyikan laporan-laporan oleh Bank Negara dan SPRM.

8. Semua ini dan banyak lagi telah memburukkan nama Malaysia. Nama Najib adalah lebih teruk lagi. Rakyat Malaysia secara umumnya malu dengan perkara-perkara ini dan peranan Perdana Menteri mereka dalam skandal-skandal ini.

9. Untuk membersihkan nama baik Malaysia dan namanya sendiri, Najib perlu membuktikan tanpa ragu bahawa beliau tidak bersalah terhadap semua tuduhan terhadapnya. Dengan hanya Peguam Negara berkata beliau tidak bersalah tidak mempunyai sebarang makna. Peguam Negara, dia sendiri, tidak mempunyai kredibiliti.

10. Jika gagal, Najib perlu meletakkan jawatan. Begitu juga semua mereka yang telah melindungi dan menyalahgunakan kuasa mereka untuk menyelamatkan Najib.

11. Malaysia perlu dibebaskan daripada seorang Perdana Menteri yang mempunyai reputasi yang begitu buruk jika ia hendak menebuskan semula reputasinya.

AG TO AG

1. Following upon the Malaysian A.G.’s (Tan Sri Mohamad Apandi Ali) decision that the report of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission showed there were no wrong doings by the Prime Minister in relation to the 2.6 billion Ringgit and 42 million Ringgit in his personal accounts, perhaps coincidentally, the French legal authorities have initiated legal action on the payment of so-called consultation fees to companies under the control of Razak Baginda, a close associate of Dato’ Sri Najib. Then the Swiss A.G. released a media statement against former officials of the state-owned fund 1MDB and persons unknown, on suspicion of bribery of foreign public officials (Article 322septies of the Swiss Criminal Code – SCC), misconduct in public office (Article 314295 SCC), money laundering, (Article 305bis279 SCC) and criminal mismanagement (Article 158 SCC). The office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) has requested the Malaysian Authorities for mutual assistance. This request for mutual assistance now puts the agreement in principle between Malaysia and Switzerland into concrete forms.

2. Investigation by the Swiss A.G. has revealed serious indications that the funds have been misappropriated from Malaysian State companies.

3. The Swiss A.G. mentioned specifically Petrosaudi, SRC, Genting/Tanjong and ADMIC.

4. The sum involved is stated to be USD 4 billion. The object of the request for mutual assistance is therefore to advise the companies and the Malaysian Government of the results of the Swiss criminal proceedings, with the aim of finding out whether loss of the scale have been sustained.

5. The Malaysian A.G. responded immediately that he and the relevant Malaysian authorities are keen to establish all the facts about 1MDB that have led to recent allegations against the company. However in stating the number of authorities in the ongoing investigations he mentioned only three i.e. the Public Accounts Committee, the Royal Malaysian Police and the Auditor General’s Department. No mention is made of the Central Bank (Bank Negara) which actually submitted a report.

6. It is public knowledge that the A.G. dismissed this report without explanation and that Bank Negara appealed against the dismissal. The appeal was rejected by the A.G.

7. Now the A.G. has dismissed the report by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission with instruction that MACC stops its investigation.

8. The contents of these reports are the results of serious investigations by reputable authorities. Will the A.G. in response to this request by the Swiss A.G. submit the reports for the latter’s examination and assessment? Or will the A.G. simply dismiss these reports as of no relevance in the Swiss A.G’s investigation, perusal and assessment of the loss of USD 4 billion by 1MDB.

9. Already the A.G. has warned that “any attempt by media organisations to conflate the two sets of investigation is irresponsible and prejudicial”. Clearly the AG does not want the Swiss A.G. to know whether the money in the Prime Minister’s personal accounts comes from 1MDB or not.

10. The public has always insisted that the funds in the personal accounts of Dato’ Sri Najib is from 1MDB. The A.G. in dismissing the two reports has not proven that it is a donation from a dead King and other Arab individual. There is no clear explanation as to how this huge sum of money was moved into Najib’s accounts, the banks used by these Arabs, the sources of the fund, the business of the donor.

11. The Saudi authorities have already declared that there are no records of the King giving any money to Dato’ Sri Najib.

12. The Saudis do make large donations to Bahrain and Jordan and perhaps other countries. But these were not personal gifts to individuals. These were from their Government to the Governments of the recipients.

13. The claim that the USD700 million were for fighting IS is not credible because Najib openly claimed that it was for UMNO to win the election in 2013.

14. Winning elections in Malaysia does not require billions of Ringgit.

15. The money is said to have been moved to Singapore banks where it is supposed to be frozen. So how come the claim that RM2.3 billion has been returned to the Saudis? On what basis has the Singapore banks unfrozen it??

16. The European Union Parliament has passed a resolution condemning the erosion of democratic rights in Malaysia. This is likely to be because of arbitrary arrests of a Malaysian who had made police reports together with his lawyer; the improper dismissal of the previous Malaysian A.G. just before he was expected to bring a charge against the PM, the emasculating of the Public Accounts Committee by appointing its members to the Government. No report could be made by the task force for investigating money in Najib’s private accounts. But Bank Negara did make it own report.

17. The current A.G., with whom the Swiss A.G. seeks cooperation, was appointed by the PM through false representation made to the King. This means the A.G. owes to the PM his position. Can he be expected to charge the person to whom he owes his position? Knowing his predecessor was dismissed for trying to do the same, the new A.G. is not likely to prefer a charge against the PM. Hence his dismissal of the reports by Bank Negara and the MACC. He is therefore unlikely to provide the Swiss A.G. with any evidence which may incriminate his employer.

18. If any truth is to be obtained by the Swiss A.G. and the European Parliament, they need to know Malaysian laws and practices. For this it is important that they appoint Malaysian lawyers to work with their lawyers in the interest of justice.

QUO VADIS MALAYSIA

1.​In Malaysia the Attorney General decides if a law has been broken or not. That decision is in fact a judgement. The A.G. is both a judge and a prosecutor. This in itself is an injustice.

2.​I admit I was not shocked when the A.G. decided that the report by the MACC does not show that the Prime Minister has committed any criminal act when 2.6 billion Ringgit is found in his private account or a further amount of 42 million Ringgit was also in his account. I had already said it would be his decision.

3.​Merely having that amount of money in a Prime Minister’s account is already wrong even though it may not be criminal. But now the A.G. declares that the money was a gift from the Saudis.

4.​It seems there was a letter by a Saudi stating that a sum of US$ 681 million or RM2.08 billion was a donation for the PM’s contribution to the fight against Islamic terrorists. Who is this Arab, how does he have the huge sum of money to give away, what is his business, what is his bank, how was the money transferred, what documents prove these. Just a letter from a deceased person or some nonentity is enough for the A.G.

5.​Then he goes on to say that the balance of US$620 million or RM2.03 billion has been returned to the Saudis. How and when was this done? We are told the balance is frozen by Singapore. Can Singapore explain the unfreezing and the delivery back to the Saudis? Or does Singapore also believe in the free gift story, the letter and the Saudi admission.

6.​Singapore is a financial centre. Can it be so gullible?

7.​Then the A.G. concludes that there is no case for Najib to answer. He also directed MACC to close the case and cease investigation.

8.​I thought the MACC is an independent body. Now it seems it is subordinate to the A.G. and it takes orders from him. No wonder Malaysia is included among the ten most corrupt countries in the world. The Anti-Corruption Agency is not free.

9.​I was right when I predicted that the A.G. will reject the report by the MACC as he did with the report by Bank Negara.

10.​A lot of people must know the contents of both reports. But they have all seen what can happen even when someone lodges a report to the police. And they are scared.

11.​I am scared too. In Malaysia today laws and rules no longer protect the people. The OSA for example is used to prevent reports from reaching the people. On the other hand people are now exposed to abuse of the OSA and they may end up in jail. Even the ISA did not frighten people as much.

12.​Quo vadis Malaysia.

 

THE TPP

1. The International Trade and Industry (MITI) Minister says it will take two years to amend 26 laws to meet TPP requirements.

2. This is a clear admission that the TPP limits Malaysia’s freedom to make laws deemed necessary for the country. These laws have been passed by the Malaysian Parliament apparently because they were considered essential and god for the country. But now they have to be amended because the TPP is apparently more powerful than our elected parliament in determining what laws Malaysia should have.

3. By the same token future laws to be debated in Parliament must be subjected to the requirements or conditions in the TPP. Being right and suitable for Malaysia’s needs is not enough anymore. The needs of TPP will outweigh Malaysia’s needs.

4. Malaysia is not exactly like the other members of the TPP. We have many sensitivities because of our racial mix, our economic disparities, our poverty rates and our low levels of incomes. To correct all the economic, political and social problems certain policies and laws must be put in place. These are meant for overcoming our domestic problems. But these are no longer enough. If they don’t conform to TPP conditions they may not be passed by Parliament. A part of our independent rights will be eroded. The need to amend 26 of our existing laws carries this implication.

5. When those opposed to the TPP claim that the so-called free-trade agreement would undermine our sovereignty, and our freedom to act in our interest, they are dismissed for being emotional. But now it is clear that the TPP will stand in the way of our legislative rights, a fundamental freedom of a sovereign country.

6. Our founding fathers fought hard to gain independence; to be masters of our own affairs and destiny and now we are going sign away our rights and our freedom because of the need to obey the dictates of TPPA.

7. I have no doubt the rubber-stamp parliament will approve the TPP. That in itself is evidence that we are preparing to submit to foreign forces and give up the Merdeka that our former leaders had fought so hard for.

8. Truly cash is king.

TUN RAZAK

1. It is difficult to think that 40 years have passed since the demise of Tun Razak, the much respected and beloved second Prime Minister of independent Malaysia .

2. Watching the T.V documentary on his life and times, I cannot help but feeling sad. Those were great days. Leaders then were dedicated, bent on developing the country and tackling the disparities in Malaysian society. It was Tun Razak who introduced the New Economic Policy.

3. He broke away from the apron-strings of the British Commonwealth past, and visited Russia and China. The winds of change blew strongly.

4. It is sad that he should be taken away from us so early.

5. I am of course particularly saddened because I owed everything to him. I was expelled from UMNO and people who were expelled before me never returned. Their political career was blighted.

6. But he not only allowed me to return to the fold but subsequently appointed me a full minister. I was described as Tun’s blue-eyed boy, which angered many UMNO stalwarts.

7. As a doctor I noticed early his deteriorating health. Before he left for the U.K at a function at Parliament House, he pulled me aside and told me he was suffering from leukaemia. He told me to speak to his doctor, Dr. Macpherson. I did, and knew that the periods of remission would get shorter and shorter. He would not be able to continue for long. Still I was shocked to hear of his demise. Malaysia truly lost a great leader. He could have made a real difference to the future of this country which he fought so hard for.

8. For me the loss is personal. Tun Hussein who succeeded him was never close to me and I thought that that was the end of my career.

9. But it wasn’t. It wasn’t because Razak had spoken a good word for me to Tun Hussien.