Tag: Najib Razak

  • Clare Rewcastle Brown – The Woman Behind Whistleblower Website Sarawak Report

    Clare Rewcastle Brown – The Woman Behind Whistleblower Website Sarawak Report

    Sarawak Report founder Clare Rewcastle Brown was born in Sarawak in 1960 to British parents.

    She is married to Mr Andrew Brown, the brother of former British prime minister Gordon Brown, who has publicly supported her work against deforestation in the East Malaysian state.

    During a visit to her birthplace in 2005 to speak at an environmental conference, Mrs Brown was asked by local journalists and activists to support the campaign against deforestation occurring under the state government of then Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.

    She began her anti-Taib campaign in earnest in 2010, running the Sarawak Report and sister radio station Radio Free Sarawak from a flat in London to expose alleged corruption by the senior Malaysian politician.

    She went public as the founder of the two media outlets just months before Sarawak’s state polls in 2011, in which the opposition parties recorded their best performance. But it was not enough to unseat Tan Sri Taib, who later resigned in 2014 after 33 years in power to fill the more ceremonial role of governor.

    As with the current allegations that Mrs Brown is part of a conspiracy to topple Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, she was also accused in 2011 of running a malicious agenda to bring down Sarawak’s Barisan Nasional government.

    But Mrs Brown has said that “we are not motivated by malice, only by concern for the people of Sarawak and the priceless Borneo jungle that has been destroyed by the greed of just a few people”.

    Sarawak has put her on a travel blacklist and, in 2013, she was deported from the state on the day before British Prime Minister David Cameron was due to meet his Malaysian counterpart, Datuk Seri Najib, in London.

    The 55-year-old Mrs Brown, who first worked as a journalist for the BBC World Service in 1983, has also denied that she is seeking to topple Mr Najib.

    She told The Malaysian Insider website that such an agenda “is not my role, I am just exposing the truth as a journalist”.

    Over the past year, the Sarawak Report has published astonishing claims that 1Malaysia Development Berhad – whose advisory board is headed by the Prime Minister – was a front for Mr Najib and several businessmen to misappropriate public funds.

    The allegations have been furiously denied by these individuals and the debt-laden state investor.

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com

  • British National Working In Malaysia: Malaysia Is Destined For Doom

    British National Working In Malaysia: Malaysia Is Destined For Doom

    I am a British national and have been based in Malaysia for the last two years with an internationally acclaimed biotechnology company. Over the past 20 years of my life, I have been travelling across the globe as per my job requirement. I am boldly saying that throughout all the countries I have visited so far, Malaysia is the worst because it is inhabited by bad politicians and even worse people.

    Being in the know about the latest political situation in the country I am in is important as political stability affects the function of the company I work for. The situation in Malaysia today is the worst I have ever experienced so far.

    Malaysia has two major political coalitions, the government and the opposition. Both coalitions are like headless chickens having no clue with the happenings internally and externally. Ironically, they rather point fingers at one another instead of solving internal conflicts. The situation is made worse by Malaysians who have no clue what they want.

    The vision from my lens makes me understand that the majority of Malaysians want the current prime minister, Najib Abdul Razak, to resign which is not surprising with all the alleged scandals surfacing almost on a daily basis. On numerous occasions I have been with different groups of people and without fail politics is often discussed. Most say that Najib has to go.

    I have asked everyone if he goes, who do they think should replace him? There has not been a single group of people who can collectively agree on one name to replace Najib. The number two man,Muhyiddin Yassin, is not favourable either. Anwar Ibrahim is in jail. Face it, his wife is no leader. She is the only female politician in the world that repetitively campaigns by crying and holding grandchildren.

    Lim Guan Eng is a Chinese so he cannot be a prime minister. Azmin Ali may have been a choice but how he is handling the opposition coalition in Selangor rules him out either. These are not my words but merely by people who want Najib out. Everyone wants Najib out but there is no Plan B. Whoever succeeds him will still not satisfy Malaysians and in no time you people will want that person out, too.

    Political instability stirs economic imbalance that keeps foreign investors away. The value of the ringgit plunges and the government gets the blame. In truth, the instability is brought by knee-jerk reactions from fellow Malaysians.

    Generally, most Malaysians have already deemed Najib guilty because of reports from The Wall Street Journal. Wall Street Journal, an American paper is trusted by Malaysians more than the Americans themselves. Wall Street Journal and NY Times are not even the preferred medium in its country of origin.

    If eventual investigations reveal Najib is not guilty of the accusations, and even if Wall Street Journal ultimately apologises, Malaysians will still play judge and accuse Wall Street of being bought over. That is so typical of Malaysians.

    World champion keyboard warriors

    When the unfortunate Malaysia Airlines faced disaster, most Malaysians became aviation experts and knew better than the authorities. When deaths occurred in a music festival, Malaysians became pathologists and forensic scientists. Now, Malaysians are bankers and economists. In truth, Malaysians are world champion keyboard warriors. I read that the opposition intends to call for a street rally to shoo Najib away and many people on social media are game for it.

    During the flood crisis in Kelantan, why didn’t the opposition and fellow Malaysians gather people to be present and physically help? Would that not have been better? Malaysians would rather romp on the street, scream, make noise, vandalise things not belonging to them and cry foul on the government. Typical Malaysians.

    I hear a hue and cry by Malaysians that emergency services and police are late to arrive on the scene during an emergency. How are they to be blamed when you Malaysians do not follow road rules at all? Emergency lanes are packed with vehicles because somebody is getting late for a dinner date or rushing for a movie.

    Malaysians have been awarded as the worst drivers in the world. You people cannot follow basic road rules and you blame everyone else. When the police have road blocks and frequent checks, you say they are a nuisance and are corrupted. When they do not do so and crime occurs, you say they are not doing their job. What do you Malaysians actually want?

    Today, the Malaysian hero is former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. You defend him by saying he brought development to the country and it is because of him Malaysia has huge enterprising buildings. More than half of Kuala Lumpur city central is allegedly owned by Arabs. Most sky rise buildings are owned by foreigners who are allegedly majority Singaporeans.

    Concrete jungles have led to a rise in environmental issues. You speak of modernisation and call Mahathir your Father of Modernisation but Mahathir’s brainchild is Perkasa which continues to stir racial sentiments. Is that modernisation for you, Malaysia? Malaysians do not own half of your own country and the guy who caused this is your hero?

    My contract in this country is at its tail-end. I had the option of extending my stay that I have gladly declined. Malaysians are too shallow-minded to fix anything. Instead of speaking on ways to solve the current crisis, Malaysians are only interested in clicking the delete button and hope a reboot will bring improvement. Keep on hoping, Malaysia.

    At this current rate, Malaysia is doomed for failure and politicians alone are not the cause. Malaysians have a fair share in dragging down your own country, too.

     

    Source: www.malaysiakini.com

  • Leaked Classified Documents: PDRM Don’t Rule Our Possibility Of Conspiracy To Topple Najib Razak

    Leaked Classified Documents: PDRM Don’t Rule Our Possibility Of Conspiracy To Topple Najib Razak

    KUALA LUMPUR — Police have not eliminated the possibility of a conspiracy to subvert Malaysia’s democratic process and topple the Prime Minister over the criminal act of leaking classified documents to foreign nationals.

    Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said these criminal acts were very serious and raised national security implications.

    He said the Attorney-General had instructed a full investigation to be carried out on the leaking classified documents, where these materials were alleged to be from an unnamed Malaysian government investigation into 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

    “In addition, the Royal Malaysia Police have also received police reports related to this matter. We are therefore duty bound to conduct a full and independent investigation,” he said in a statement here today.

    He said the investigation would include investigating all members of the Special Task Force, who included Bank Negara personnel, to uphold the integrity of the inquiry and trust in Malaysia’s financial system.

    “The leakage of information, whether the documents have been doctored or otherwise, could trigger offences under the Financial Services Act 2013 (Sections 133, 248, 249 and 250), the Islamic Financial Services Act 2013 (Section 145), the Official Secret Acts 1972 (Sections 3, 4, 7A, 7B, 8, 11 and 14), the Penal Code involving sections under Chapter XL for false and fabricated evidence and criminal defamation in Sections 499 to 502 and could constitute economic sabotage against Malaysia.

    “Anyone found guilty of leaking or doctoring the said documents will face the full force of law,” he added.

    Khalid said the objective of the police investigation was to identify those who had leaked the material, and determine whether these documents were genuine or had been doctored, as in the case of Xavier Justo, the former PetroSaudi International (PSI) executive who was being investigated by the Thai authorities for blackmail and extortion.

    The Thai police were reported to have detained Justo last June 24 for allegedly attempting to blackmail PSI, an international company based in Saudi Arabia which had drawn attention in Malaysia as it had established ties with 1MDB.

     

    Source: www.malaysiandigest.com

  • Dr Mahathir: Yes I’m Behind ‘Crisis’ But Najib Can End It By Resigning

    Dr Mahathir: Yes I’m Behind ‘Crisis’ But Najib Can End It By Resigning

    KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 — Undeterred by Datuk Seri Najib Razak blaming him for creating the current 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) “crisis”, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad lobbed the ball back in the former’s court by accepting the blame.

    But Dr Mahathir also offered Najib a solution to end the “crisis”, saying the best option would be for the latter to resign as prime minister and return only when 1MDB is thoroughly investigated and cleared of any wrong.

    Dr Mahathir added that although he admits to being the person behind the “crisis”, it was Najib who had caused it by “borrowing huge sums of money and losing billions of ringgit”.

    “I will admit that I am behind the ‘crisis’. I am behind it because there is a climate of fear in this country.

    “Lots of people know about the loss of billions of ringgit by 1MDB. These people are in a position to know because they have seen evidence of this loss.

    “But they are afraid because of actions which the government can take against them. They may lose their jobs, or contracts or expectations of titles etc,” Dr Mahathir wrote in his latest blog post today.

    He said these critics of 1MDB approached him for help but he desisted for a long time, knowing full well that any move on his part to reveal the alleged misdeeds of 1MDB would eventually lead to Najib being questioned.

    Dr Mahathir said he first tried to resolve the matter quietly by telling him in private that he no longer supports his leadership.

    “But there was no result,” he claimed. “So I had to go public. Najib has destroyed Umno and BN.

    “I know he would lose the next election. And then the whole country will see turmoil as no party, would have the majority to run the country,” he said.

    “So I decided to expose the wrong-doings of 1MDB of which the Prime Minister is effectively the head.

    “Is there a crisis? There is. It is caused by the Prime Minister creating 1MDB borrowing huge sums of money and losing billions of Ringgit,” Dr Mahathir added.

    He urged Najib to step down to allow a full investigation on 1MDB’s reported RM42 billion debt pile, insisting that with the prime minister still in power, the probe would not be carried out thoroughly.

    “If no crimes can be detected and all the money is returned, Najib can come back as Prime Minister and lead BN in the next election,” Dr Mahathir said.

    He said by accusing him of starting the so-called crisis, Najib was as good as saying the alleged disappearance of billions of ringgit should be accepted and ignored as though no wrong had been committed.

    But from the public’s interest in the controversy, Dr Mahathir said the matter cannot be ignored and those guilty of any wrongdoing must be brought to book.

    “A crisis may be the result but should we allow thieves to steal billions of ringgit in order to avoid a crisis,” he said.

    On his blog on Monday, Najib accused Dr Mahathir of causing the “mess” in the country that he now has to bear the brunt of the blame for, amid the ongoing controversy surrounding 1MDB.

    Najib also said in the Frequently Asked Questions section on his blog that the former prime minister did not have to face endless allegations during his time in office, from 1981 to 2003, as social media was not developed then.

    “The ‘mess’ that Tun refers to, is largely of his own making as a result of his attacks and his echoing of Opposition lies and slander,” Najib wrote.

    Dr Mahathir has been calling openly for Najib’s resignation, citing the controversy surrounding 1MDB that is currently being investigated by the Auditor-General and the Public Accounts Committee.

     

    Source: www.themalaymailonline.com

  • A Guide To Being The PM’s Wife By Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali

    A Guide To Being The PM’s Wife By Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali

    KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 — A prime minister’s wife is there to support her husband in his duties and must resist competing with him for attention, according to Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali.

    In words that epitomised her position as arguably the most recognisable wife to a Malaysian prime minister despite her low profile, the spouse to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said such virtues were among those needed to perform the unofficial role, in an interview published by Malaysiakini today.

    “As the prime minister’s wife, do not compare (yourself with anyone). Generally, you have to support your husband, you have to be knowledgeable, you have to know what is happening around you and you have to make sure that you are together with your husband to meet with the people,” she said in the interview.

    “People like to know that this is the PM’s wife and that they are together, they are family-oriented. So you have to support your husband, definitely. But don’t compete with him,” she advised.

    The soft-spoken medical doctor by training explained that the wife of the prime minister was often an unofficial intermediary between the public and the head of the government.

    But despite the seeming power this conveyed, Dr Siti Hasmah said it was imperative that a prime minister’s wife avoid taking an active role in matters that are within her husband’s powers to decide.

    “They (the people) cannot see the PM. So, they want to see the wife, and then for no reason, they will ask for anything. Never promise anything. Just say that you will convey the message to your husband to consider.

    “You have no part in telling people that ‘yes, I will make sure you get this, you get that, you get the contract’,” she said further in the interview with the news portal.

    As part of her general tips, which she insisted was not directed at any person in particular, Dr Siti Hasmah pressed on the need to be humble, regardless of one’s station in life.

    She said she learned this lesson during her days as the first female Malay doctor in Kedah, where she treated the poor.

    “You may be a doctor or you may be a minister’s wife but if you are arrogant, they (the people) won’t accept you,” she said.

     

    Source: www.themalaymailonline.com