Tag: malaysians

Terengganu To Implement Dress Code Targetted At Female Tourists

PETALING JAYA: Tourists who intend to visit Terengganu must now abide by a dress code, as outlined by the state government.

According to the the state government news portal Teganukita, a circular with guidelines on attire will soon be released to all Malaysian travel agents and Malaysian tourism headquarters in neighbouring countries, including Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.

The website states that the guidelines are targeted at tourists, especially female tourists.

State Tourism and Cultural Affairs chairman Datuk Mohd Jidin Shafee said that he was certain the new ruling, along with the implementation of the syariah criminal enactment (Takzir) 2001, would not deter tourists from visiting the state.

Mohd Jidin, who is also Permaisuri assemblyman, however, clarified that action will only be taken once the circular is released.

“Before legal action is imposed on women who wear revealing attire in public, to the point that the dressing causes fervency (kegairahan), a letter with guidelines will be issued,” he was reported as saying.

Mohd Jidin explained that a meeting was held with the Terengganu Islamic and Malay Heritage Council (Maidam) to prepare guidelines, which specify the dress code acceptable according to Islamic rulings.

He explained that ever since the ruling on attire was announced by Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman two weeks ago, both local and international tourists have abided by the specific guidelines.

Terengganu is a major tourist destination due to its pristine beaches and world famous islands like Pulau Redang and Pulau Perhentian, which attract thousands of visitors each year.

According to a source, the ruling does not require men and women to comply 100% with the Islamic dress code. However, visitors and locals must dress decently.

Those who fail to do so will be called for counselling. In the case of underage perpetrators, parents will also be called in to attend counselling sessions, the source said.

It is understood that a meeting will be held Monday to further clarify the guidelines.

Source: www.thestar.com.my

March 2, 2015
Anwar Ibrahim’s Family Pleads For Royal Clemency On His Behalf

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR President Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and her second daughter, Nurul Nuha Anwar, were earlier reportedly at Istana Negara to submit a Petition for a Pardon from the Agong for jailed Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Earlier, Anwar’s lawyers had expressed some doubts that the Opposition Leader would apply for a Pardon and stressed that he continues to maintain that he was innocent of the charges.

A Petition for Pardon would delay Anwar’s disqualification as Permatang Pauh MP.

Anwar’s eldest daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar was reported in Malay Mail Online as confirming that the family was seeking the Pardon from the Agong, on Anwar’s behalf, and there’s a precedent for this.

She cited the case of DAP’s father-and-son team Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng who had submitted a similar Petition when they were in prison.

She was apparently speaking from Parliament where she was submitting the letter on the Petition on the Pardon to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia.

In the absence of a Petition, Anwar can be barred from being a federal lawmaker 14 days from February 10, based on Article 48 Clause 4 (a) of the Federal Constitution.

Nurul Nuha confirmed, in a statement, that the Petition for the Pardon had been submitted to Istana Negara for the Agong’s attention.

“An appeal for a royal pardon has been submitted. The courts may have pronounced a guilty verdict but our father, and we as a family continue to state that he is innocent,” she said in the statement. “By virtue of Article 42 of the Federal Constitution, we hope that the Royal institution would in the name of justice based on the entire facts grant an appeal.”

The family, she stressed, she said would continue to pursue and exhaust all available legal means to free Anwar.

PKR veteran Sivarasa Rasiah, one of Anwar’s lawyers, said on Monday the legal team will apply for a review of the decision under Rule 137 of the Federal Court Rules as a judicial review was not possible for a criminal conviction.

The Federal Court, on February 10, saw no reason to interfere with an earlier Court of Appeal decision to convict Anwar on a sodomy charge and sentence him to five years in jail.

The Bar Council, in an initial reaction, said that Anwar had been convicted of a victimless offence and implied that there was no law on this.

On the role and function of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the State Rulers, the Federal Constitution is largely fashioned on the British model but with local adaptations, according to Law Professor Shad Faruqi in an advisory written in 2006 for Australian journalists who raised the case of Anwar.

“The Agong has the power to grant pardons, reprieves and respites. On any constitutional question, he can refer a matter to the Federal Court for the court’s advisory opinion.”

The British Queen’s judicial powers are now very minimal and there is only really one which is used on a regular basis, with others having been delegated to judges and parliament through time:

Royal Pardon – The Royal Pardon was originally used to retract death sentences against those wrongly convicted. It is now used to correct errors in sentencing and was recently used to give a posthumous pardon to WW2 codebreaker, Alan Turing.

Source: www.freemalaysiatoday.com

February 25, 2015
IS Is A Result Of The Atrocities Of Israelis And The Failure Of Muslim Governments

The emergence of militant group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) is caused by Israeli atrocities which oppress Muslims and the Muslim governments’ inability to solve their problems, says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

During an interview with Sky News presenter Adam Boulton early this morning, the former prime minister said the evolution of terrorist groups such as Isis was due to their frustration over the state government’s failure to defend Muslims.

“From what they see, the governments of Muslim countries have not been able to do anything about their problems, particularly over Israel, for example.

“So, people tend to take law in their own hands,” he said.

Dr Mahathir, an outspoken critic of the Zionist state, added that it did not mean he supported Isis.

He acknowledged that the group’s violent reactions were caused by the cruelty shown by the Israeli regime itself.

“No, it is not justifiable at all. It is all about frustration that is resulting in violence,” he said when asked whether it was fair for Isis to be set up because of the Israeli establishment.

Dr Mahathir described the struggles of Isis as not in accordance with Islamic teachings but rather due to mere dissatisfaction, especially in the face of powerful countries.

“I know it is very unfortunate. But it is not the teaching of Islam. It is the expression of their frustration over something that they find themselves unable to resolve, because they are up against a powerful nation,” he said.

Dr Mahathir (pic, left) said Muslims around the world feel they were oppressed and under attack.

“But the main thing is, there is this feeling that Muslims generally are being oppressed, their countries are being invaded, and thousands of their people have been bombed and killed. So how do they react to this?” he added.

Isis was formed in 2013 in Iraq.

Its members comprise thousands of local and foreign jihadists and former military men who served under the reign of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.

Media reports say Malaysians have also joined their struggle and some were killed during the battles in both Syria and Iraq.

Malaysian authorities are actively keeping an eye on the activities of those who visited the Arab countries to join Isis.

Source: www.themalaysianinsider.com

February 21, 2015
Why I Left For Malaysia…

In 2013, I packed my bags, quit my job , withdrew my entire savings from the bank and left for Kuala Lumpur (KL) with my husband. To me, leaving Singapore was one of the most difficult decision I had made in my life. It was not a surprise that none of my family members or close friends could not understand my decision.

I spent a year thinking deeply before I finally came to a decision. But when I excitedly announced my plans to people around me, I have received no positive responses. None of the people around me were supportive. Instead, many have asked me why I have chosen to relocate to Malaysia when most Singaporeans are leaving for countries with a higher standard of living like Australia, Canada or USA.

So, why am I leaving Singapore when plenty of Malaysians are trying to get into my country? Even my Malaysians colleagues are very surprised when they learnt that I am actually a Singaporean. I was even told by several of them that a lot of their Malaysian friends have actually renounced their Malaysian citizenship to become Singaporeans. No Singaporeans would want leave Singapore for Malaysia. Why I have not follow the norm?

Well, it all began with my Malaysian husband who desperately wanted to be back home permanently. Of course, we fought several times because of this issue. We could be in a long distance relationship which I thunk I can never accept. However, we never have the intention to break up. We simply could not because we just love each other too much.

So, we were left with only two options – Continue to live our life in Singapore or get married and settle down in KL.

After giving much thoughts to this matter, you would know that I have chosen to get married and relocate to KL with my husband. This is seriously the most difficult decision for me to make in the entire 22 years of my life. In this blog post, I shall be documenting my reasons that eventually led me into making my final decision.

Pros of Living in Malaysia

1. Transport system

Certainly, KL does not have the best transport system in the world. But at least, it is definitely efficient enough to transport me to most of the places in KL without frequent breakdown or delays. In fact, I always find the trains in KL to be more efficient than the ones in Singapore. Similarly, trains are relatively crowded during peak hours too. But definitely, not as crowded as in Singapore. I found it very stressful and mentally draining to commute in extremely overcrowded trains everyday when I was still in Singapore. It was even worst when trains started to breakdown more frequently than before as I have to spend more time on commuting everyday.

However, buses in KL tend not to arrive on time as traffic congestion can be pretty bad during the peak hours. So, waiting for buses in KL can be rather frustrating at times. I will try to avoid commuting by bus in KL as much as I could.

The bus services in Singapore are still far from being reliable or punctual either. Just like the trains, delays are common nowadays. Even when the buses managed to arrive on time, they are usually packed like sardine.

Singapore used to have one of the best transport system in the world. However, in recent years, I started to feel very disappointed with our transport system. I actually find commuting to work in Singapore to be more stressful than the work itself.

Now, I feel really glad that I have made the right decision to relocate to KL. Certainly, I would never want to experience the stress of commuting to work ever in life again.

In Malaysia, a country where public transportation is still lacking, living without a car is difficult and inconvenient. But luckily, cars are available at pretty affordable price in Malaysia, but not really cheap if you are considering the fact that the country actually manufacture its own cars. Unlike in Singapore, I am really glad that I do not need to pay a hefty price to bid for a piece of paper in order buy a new car in Malaysia. All I would need to pay for is only the price of the vehicle itself. Of course, not taking into the account of bank loan interest, road tax and insurance.

KL is often well-known for its terrible traffic congestion, no matter the time of the day. So, be prepared to find yourself caught in a jam for at least an hour if you are driving your way to work.

Parking

Most of the time, you probably do not need to pay a fee to park your car unless you are driving into major shopping malls, business buildings or city areas. If not, you could just park in any empty space which you could find around the vicinity. However, in certain areas, you would need to look out for any traffic police who may appear any time to issue you a summon for illegal parking.

Living with car in Malaysia has gave me plenty of freedom and convenience to travel around and explore the rest of the country. I find this so much better than having to squeeze into a crowded train or bus just to get to any shopping mall in Singapore.

3. Public holidays

Malaysia has one of the highest number of public holidays in the world, currently ranking number seven in the top ten countries after Thailand, Indonesia, India and Hong kong. Just in KL alone, I would be enjoying at least 18 days off from work a year for free. Undeniably, this is the most awesome part about working in KL!

Now, I believe many of you might start to question whether Malaysians do ever work. Of course they do. In fact, working overtime is quite common, but for me, I usually get to knock off from work on time at 5.30pm. The latest would be 6pm for me. Most of the colleagues, including my boss would probably leave the office by 7 pm.

Working in KL enables me to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Other than working in the office, I am happy that I actually have plenty of time for my family and personal life as well. I enjoy the slower pace of life in KL very much. Now, I am glad to have escape from the hectic Singapore lifestyle for good.

4. Compulsory CPF contribution

Put aside the conversion rate, the salary package is really not that bad in KL. Currently, I am earning so much more as compared to the times when I was still working in Singapore. Furthermore, it is not a mandatory for me to contribute to CPF (known as EPF) in Malaysia. Certainly, I do not mind even if it is a must for me to make a contribution to EPF too. Unlike Singapore, EPF can be fully withdraw after reaching the age of 55. It will become part of my retirement fund.

CPF vs EPF contribution & interest rates

In addition, I did a quick comparison between Singapore CPF and Malaysia EPF contribution and interest rates.

In Singapore, employed Singaporean citizen up to the age of 50 are obligated to contribute 20% of their wages into their respective CPF accounts every month. The employer, on the other hand, are required to contribute an additional amount equivalent 16% of the employee’s monthly wage.

Whereas, in Malaysia, employed Malaysian citizen up to the age of 60, earning less than RM 5000 per month, are obligated to contribute 11% of their wages into their respective EPF accounts. Correspondingly, the employer are required to contribute an additional amount equivalent 13% of the employee’s monthly wage.

However for employee who earns more than RM 5000 per month or above, the employer are only required to contribute an additional amount equivalent 12% of the employee’s monthly wage to their EPF account. For employees aged 60 and above, they may opt to continue to contribute to their EPF account at a reduced 50% rate,

I would prefer the EPF system, where I would have more spare cash to spend. Perhaps I could do some long-term investment if I wish to. There may be a chance that I mismanage my finances and left me with little savings for retirement. But who can be sure of that? I would prefer to plan my retirement myself while enjoying my life. Undoubtedly, deducting 20% from my monthly wages is definitely going to result me missing a lot of things in life. The even bad news is that CPF cannot be fully withdraw even when employees have reached their retirement age.

Furthermore, CPF have been paying a fixed interest rates to its contributors, which has remained unchanged over the years. CPF interest rate for its Ordinary Account is fixed at 2.5% annually. As for its Special, Medisave and Retirement Accounts, the interest rate is fixed at 4% per year.

EPF has a guarantee a minimum dividend rate of 2.5% annually, but usually, it is much more higher. A 6.35% dividend rate is declared in 2013, the highest ever payout in over a decade.

Which is the better system? I shall leave it for you guys to judge.

5. Cost of living

When compared to the cost of living in Singapore, KL is still an affordable city to live in. Although the cost of eating out in KL is higher than in Singapore, the price of housing, healthcare and public transportation remain at affordable levels. It is relatively cheap to rent a room in KL. With RM 600 per month, you could probably rent an entire 3 rooms apartment that is located outside of the city area. There are plently of rooms for rent in a semi-detached house for as low as RM 250 per month too.

A condominum that is located outside of the KL city would probably cost about RM 600k. Apparently, this is how much a 4-room HDB flat would cost in Singapore. If I have an option, I would definitely choose to live in a condominum.

The ridiculous high cost associated with raising a child in Singapore scares me very much too. How am I going to raise a child when I am struggling to feed myself?

6. Obsessed with paper qualification

Singapore is an extremely competitive society obsessed with paper qualifications. A thing which I always hate because it give rise to elitism in our society.

I am always not a very ambitious person. All I wanted in life is to have a job that will give me a decent and stable income. I once thought that completing university will help me to make enough income to lead a comfortable life. Unfortunately, I was wrong.

Having an university qualification in Singapore is no big deal, especially for those that are obtained from a private institution. In fact, based on my personal experience, private diplomas and degrees are often not recognized by the government sectors.

Between work experiences and paper qualifications, I believe most employers in Singapore would prefer to hire the better educated candidate rather than the one who only have plenty of work experiences.

A local degree holder would naturally fetch a higher pay than a private degree holder. To me, this is absolutely frustrating because I seriously think that private university are no way inferior to the local university. Throughout my three years in private university, I spent two of the years working full time in the day and attending part-time classes at night. I gained experiences which are never taught in books. But that does not help me to start anywhere higher than those who actually graduated from a local university. I got even more frustrated to know that even a foreigner who holds a foreign degree from some unrecognized university is offered a better pay package than me.

Furthermore, being overly obsessed with chasing paper qualifications actually makes Singaporeans apathetic to changes around them. Singapore is an emotionless society filled with not really ‘nice’ people. I do not mean that Singaporeans are not nice and friendly. But rather, our niceties does not seem to go beyond the surface level. Most of time we are just too obsessed with striving for excellence that we forget about caring for others.

To put it in other words, Singapore education system is rigid and very result-orientated, which does not encourage innovative and creative individuals. I believe this is also the reason why Singapore has not been very successful in producing as much entrepreneurs as Malaysia.

I have never encountered such problem while I was seeking for employment in KL. Paper qualification is important too, but without relevant experiences, chances of you securing an employment will be lower. Most Malaysians I have met are very friendly people who I could easily start a conversation with.

7. Flexibility

In Singapore, everyone simply just follow what the higher authorities say we should do. Although we often question the golden rule set by these people, eventually, we will still do whatever we are told to do. In fact, we have become extremely reliant on the rules set by higher authorities that we started to lose our own ability to solve problems.

The society lacks the flexibility to handle new challenges. Singaporeans are generally ‘trained’ to follow rules. I must say that we really did a good job on that. But sometimes, I really feel that our society is just too structured and rigid, which does not really encourage creativity.

I would not deny that Singapore is indeed a very fast and efficient country. But it comes with a price. A higher quality of life will naturally leads to a higher cost of living. Did I asked for that? Not really. I just wanted a simple and not so stressful life.

Cons of Living in Malaysia

I believe every city has it good and bad side. KL is definitely is not exception as well. Having listed all the good aspects of living in KL, let us look at some of the bad aspects of this city now.

1. Ringgit – the weaker currency

Undeniably, the weakening currency is always the bad thing about working in Malaysia. To be frank, I was actually surprised by the price of goods in Malaysia. All of a sudden, I realized that I could no longer buy as much products as before. Yes, it is certainly very frustrating, especially for those who just love shopping very much. But at least, I have learnt to spend my money more wisely now.

My Singaporean friends often told me that the cost of living in Malaysia is very low, thus I would have nothing much to worry about. I always thought so too. But I would probably ask them to stop comparing apples to oranges now. Cost of living in Malaysia is low, but not as cheap as we assumed it to be. Without the high exchange rates between SGD and MYR, Malaysia, or particularly KL, can quite an expensive country to live in. Locals who are earning their income in Malaysia are struggling to make ends meet every month due to the high cost of living. Eating out is expensive where a plate of chicken rice will easily cost you RM 5. Then I will see people starting to convert the RM 5 into SGD and thought that is really cheap.

However, if you gave it a deeper thought, if you are earning SGD, I believe you will be spending your income in Singapore too. Thus, it is not very right to convert and compare the price of goods in Malaysia with those in Singapore.

The weaker Ringgit also makes travelling seems almost impossible most of the time. For Southeast Asia countries, except for Singapore, it is still fine. However, if you wish to visit Europe, I believe you would need to have at least RM 15k in hand.

2. Language barriers

In Malaysia, where unlike Singapore, Bahasa Malaysia is the national language. Thus, it is relatively important for one to be conversant in Bahasa Malaysia, especially when you plan to set up a business in Malaysia.

Communicating with the Malaysian Chinese living in KL is not a problem as most of them can either speak Mandarin or Cantonese. However, I find it difficult to engage in a conversation with the Malay population, who usually communicate in Behasa Malaysia. Even so, I am glad that there is actually quite a number of them who are rather fluent in English language. But still, it is important and good for me to master some basic Behasa Malaysia if I have decided to stay in KL on a long-term basis.

3. Higher crime rates

Crimes are pretty rampant in Malaysia nowadays, especially theft, pickpocketing and rapes. In Malaysia, I have to stay alert and be very careful with all my personal belongings at all times. I could no longer enjoy the kind of safe environment like I used to while I was still in Singapore.

4. Lesser career advancement & opportunities

Comparing to Singaporeans, Malaysians are less ambitious. Most of them are easily satisfied with a decent and stable job, thus job hopping is actually less common. As a result, there are actually lesser career advancement opportunities available in the workforce. Companies in Malaysia seldom send its employees for trainings too. Most of them would not see the need to.

To an extent, this is not an absolutely bad thing. At least I would not feel the pressure and stress to constantly upgrade myself to survive in the competitive society.

Conclusion

Do I see myself moving back to Singapore someday? Well, probably, but chances are not high. Currently, I feel really satisfied with my life in KL. But for certain, I do not have the intention to give up my Singapore citizenship. After all, Singapore is still my homeland.

I used to love my little red dot very much and feel very proud to be a Singaporean. However, life has become so stressful and tough in Singapore in the past decade. The Singapore which I have knew is changed. Will I be able to earn enough to even feed myself? I am not very confident with that. Even if I could, I am not satisfied with just living with the bare minimum, struggling every month to make ends meet. I also hate to share our limited spaces with all the foreigners who Singapore welcomed in with open arms.

We could have postponed our plans where we continue to work in Singapore and only relocate to KL once we have enough savings to provide us a comfortable life. But how old we would be when that time finally comes? It is better that we start everything anew when we are still young.

If I were to become rich someday, I might fell in love with this city once again. But now, I am satisified with my life in KL. Apart from that, I also enjoy exploring the rural side of Malaysia very much.

Elin Chow

*Article first appeared on http://elinchow.blogspot.sg/

Source: www.therealsingapore.com

February 12, 2015
Anwar Ibrahim Lashes Out At Federal Court Decision

Malaysia’s highest court has upheld a sodomy conviction against opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, sentencing him to five years’ jail amid angry scenes that will inflame political tensions across the country.

Dr Anwar, 67, warned before the verdict was delivered that jailing him would backfire on Malaysia’s government. He lashed out at the judges after prosecutors argued his sentence be at least six years’ jail, saying they had “bowed to their political masters”.

“You could have carved your names . . . but in bowing to the dictates of your political masters, you have become partners in the murder of the judiciary. You chose to remain on the dark side,” he said.

When Dr Anwar refused to stop speaking, the judges left the court. “Allah is my witness. I will not be silent. I will never surrender,” he said.

Lead prosecutor Muhammad Shafee Abdullah argued the original sentence of five years’ jail was “manifestly inadequate”.

He said Dr Anwar had shown no remorse. “The higher the man, the higher the crime,” Mr Shafee said, referring to Dr Anwar’s government service.

The conviction disqualifies Dr Anwar from political office and contesting the next election, which must be held by 2018.

Repeated charges of sodomy brought against Dr Anwar over more than a decade have been seen as an attempt to end his threat to the government’s increasingly precarious 58-year reign.

The conviction will renew criticism of the Malaysian government’s frequent use of courts to cripple its political opponents. Within minutes of the verdict being announced, the government issued a statement claiming that Malaysia has an independent judiciary.

“In this case, exhaustive and comprehensive due process has been followed over many years,” a government spokesperson said. “We call on all parties involved to respect the legal process and the judgement.”

The country’s colonial-era law, which criminalises consensual sexual acts between people of the same sex, has been condemned by the United Nations and many Western countries, including Australia.

After Dr Anwar had been take to jail the Abbott government issued a statement expressing disappointment at the verdict.

“We are deeply concerned by the severity of the sentence and we have made our concerns known to the Malaysian Government,” a spokesperson said.

“As a friend of Malaysia, Australia encourages the Malaysian Government to consider the impact of recent decisions, including the Anwar verdict and the retention of the Sedition Act, on its international standing and its commitment to human rights.”

David Wells, a forensic expert from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine who gave evidence in Dr Anwar’s first trial, said the scientific evidence led by the prosecution was deeply flawed and was accepted as such by the presiding judge when he delivered a not guilty verdict, which was later overturned.

“It is difficult to see how this position has changed in the absence of fresh evidence,” Professor Wells said.

Hundreds of chanting opposition supporters rallied outside the Federal Court in Kuala Lumpur as Dr Anwar arrived with his wife Wan Azizah Ismail, family members and senior opposition figures to hear the verdict.

Ms Wan Azizah said her husband was innocent and the judges must answer to God and their conscience. Dr Anwar hugged members of his weeping family after the verdict was read to a hushed and packed court.

Human rights groups called the verdict a travesty of justice.

“Prime Minister Najib Razak’s government has persisted in its politically motivated prosecution of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim at the expense of democratic freedoms and the rights to non-discrimination and privacy for all Malaysians,” said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Allowing this travesty of justice to stand will further undermine respect for rights and democracy in Malaysia.”

A former deputy prime minister once seen as a rising star among Asia’s political leaders, Dr Anwar was accused of sodomising a male aide in 2008 but was acquitted by the High Court in 2012. However the Appeals Court overturned the acquittal in March last year and sentenced him to five years’ jail.

Dr Anwar was previously imprisoned for six years after being ousted as deputy prime minister in 1998 on earlier charges of sodomy and abuse of power. He was freed in 2004 after Malaysia’s top court quashed that conviction.

Dr Anwar has maintained all of the charges were trumped up to kill his political career after a falling-out with former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Tuesday’s verdict is seen as a turning point in Malaysia’s sharply divided political system, in which the coalition led by the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) has held power in one form or another since 1955.

Only a pro-rural gerrymander saved the coalition from defeat at bitterly contested elections in 2013, after Dr Anwar’s opposition alliance won the popular vote.

As tensions have risen in the country ahead of the verdict, the government made a flurry of arrests and prosecutions using a draconian sedition law that Mr Najib had pledged to abolish in 2001.

The quashing of dissent comes at a time Mr Najib is locked in a long-simmering battle with Dr Mahathir and other conservatives in UMNO.

Dr Mahathir, 89, has criticised a state-owned strategic investment firm called 1Malaysia Development Berhad, headed by Mr Najib, that has been plagued by charges of mismanagement. The firm has missed three payments on a $US600 million loan but the government insists it remains solvent.

Dr Mahathir, an abrasive and outspoken figure who remains a powerful influence in UMNO, has also blamed Mr Najib for the party’s poor poll result in 2013 and for plans to scale back a program that provides special privileges for the country’s Malay majority.

Mr Najib has also been embarrassed by allegations swirling around the gruesome slaying of Mongolian socialite Altantuya Shaariibuu eight years ago that have re-emerged after two of his former bodyguards were sentenced to hang in January over the murder.

The case has raised allegations of covert payments over Malaysia’s $US2 billion purchase of French submarines when Mr Najib was defence minister. Mr Najib and the government deny any wrongdoing.

Australia has been drawn into the case after Sirul Azhar Umar, one of the bodyguards, was arrested in Queensland. He is being held in immigration detention at Sydney’s Villawood detention centre.

Dr Anwar has been the unifying figure in the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (People’s Alliance), holding together three unlikely partners, the Islamic PAS (Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party), the secular and socialist DAP (Democratic Action Party) and Dr Anwar’s PKR (People’s Justice Party).

Source: www.theage.com.au

February 11, 2015