Video Zahid: Umno leader working with Opposition MPs to topple government

Video: Muhyiddin: I was never involved in plot to topple the Government

Former A-G: ‘Is it improper for MACC officer to defend agency?’

PETALING JAYA: Former Attorney-General Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman has questioned whether it was improper for a serving officer in the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to defend the integrity of his agency and officers.
He said this yesterday in responding to the statement by Public Service Department (PSD) director-general Tan Sri Mohamad Zabidi Zainal on Thursday on the two MACC directors who were transferred out last Friday and sent back on Monday.
On Wednesday, Abu Talib was reported in The Star as saying that Chief Secretary Tan Sri Ali Hamsa and Mohamad Zabidi prima facie were guilty under the Penal Code of obstructing the officers from performing their duties, by transferring them without giving them the opportunity to be heard first.
He had asked Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohd Apandi Ali to instruct the police to investigate Ali and Mohamad Zabidi.

Yesterday, Mohamad Zabidi said the action taken against MACC’s special operations division director Datuk Bahri Mohamad Zin and strategic communications director Datuk Rohaizad Yaakob was not connected to their core duties.
He said action was taken under Regulation 19 of the Civil Service Regulations (Conduct and Discipline) 1993, adding that MACC’s Code of Ethical Conduct clearly prohibits any MACC officer from making a public statement without the permission of the Chief Commissioner or to openly expressing any dissatisfaction about the commission and the Government.
“The explanation given by the PSD director-general sounds very interesting to me,” said Abu Talib when contacted.
“How is it improper for a serving officer in the MACC to defend the integrity of his department and the status of his officers?”
Asked whether officers were not bound to the rules and regulations governing members of the civil service, Abu Talib replied: “They are subject to the rules but these two were transferred without due process. That is not correct.”
“It started with investigations into the leakage of information from the Special Task Force’s probe into 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Bhd).
“Is it wrong to thank members of the public who came to support MACC officers in the exercise of their lawful duties?” he asked.

Muhyiddin: Is there an invisible hand in 1MDB probe?

KEMAMAN: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said people are now questioning if there is an invisible hand interfering in the investigation into 1Malaysia Development Berhad.
“What is going on with the people who are supposed to investigate 1MDB? The people want to know,” he said when opening the Kemaman Umno division meeting yesterday.
The Umno deputy president said he was unsure if the task force set up to probe 1MDB was still around.
“What has happened to the task force? I was told recently that it is no longer around. It seems like there is an invisible hand that is interfering. Is this a coincidence or is it being done on purpose?” he asked.

Muhyiddin, who was dropped as deputy prime minister in a recent reshuffle, also said it was the Cabinet that wanted the matter to be investigated and as a member, he had only supported the suggestion.
Following that suggestion, he said, a task force was formed to get to the root of the problem and bring those responsible to book.
“The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, Bank Negara and the police were included in the task force. But now it seems things are not going smoothly,” he said, referring to the recent aborted transfer of two MACC directors and the questioning of a few of the commission’s senior officers by the police.
He added that he had raised questions about 1MDB and the RM2.6bil fund channelled into Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s personal account to save the Prime Minister from being accused of wrongdoings.
Reiterating that he had no ulterior motives when he raised the two issues, Muhyiddin said: “I have never questioned the PM’s prerogatives. The only thing I did was to voice my suggestions on 1MDB and the RM2.6bil fund issue.”
He said he was forced to raise the issue as the public was clamouring for answers after reports on the matters were highlighted by The Wall Street Journal.
“The people have the right to know. When they ask me, all I can say is ‘I don’t know’. They want to know where the money came from.
He said as soon as he read the report about the fund channelled into Najib’s account, he had texted the Prime Minister asking for clarification and suggested that he should act on it.
“All he did was say ‘thank you’ and that he would ask the Attorney-General to clear the air. That was all I was told,” he added.
In Kota Kinabalu, Umno vice president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal said opinions and views voiced by delegates at the ongoing Umno division meetings must be given serious attention by the leadership.
He said ideas on how to strengthen the party’s struggles should be given priority.
The Semporna Umno division chief added that Umno would only remain relevant if it could effectively handle current issues, listen to the people’s concerns and prove that it was sensitive to their needs.

1MDB hits out at ‘recycled allegations’

PETALING JAYA: Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua has been recycling various allegations against 1Malaysia Development Bhd which have been answered through ­various press announcements, said 1MDB president and group executive director Arul Kanda Kandasamy.
Arul Kanda said 1MDB had already responded to the allegations made by Pua through 48 press announcements since January this year.
He was responding to Pua’s statement asking Arul Kanda to prove his claim that 1MDB was an “open book” and to answer whether the state investment fund transferred nearly US$1.2bil to Gold Star Limited, a company controlled by businessman Jho Low.
In a statement yesterday, Arul Kanda said the Auditor-General presented an interim report to the Public Accounts Committee (of which Pua is a member) early last month answering many of the questions raised.

He added that the PAC would issue its final report on 1MDB by the end of the year.
1MDB is currently being investigated by Bank Negara, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the police, the Attorney General’s Chambers, the Auditor-General and PAC

The Edge fails to stay order

KUALA LUMPUR: The Edge Communi­ca­tions Sdn Bhd has failed to get a temporary stay of the Home Ministry’s three-month suspension on its two publications until the outcome of a judicial review.
High Court judge Justice Asmabi Mohamad made the decision in chambers yesterday.
Senior federal counsel Alice Loke Yee Ching, who represented the minister, said the application was dismissed on grounds that the publisher failed to show special circumstances to earn a stay.
She said The Edge Communica­tions claimed that it would suffer irreparable harm if the suspension order was not lifted but did not show what the damage would be.

The company does not have to worry about financial loss if the suspension was not lifted now, according to her.
“In the event The Edge wins in a substantive application, they could still be adequately compensated,” she said.
The court granted the company leave on Aug 5 to file an application for a judicial review of the suspension order, with a view to quashing it.
On July 23, the ministry suspended the printing permits of The Edge Weekly and The Edge Financial Daily for three months, beginning July 27.
It said that articles on the debt-­ridden sovereign fund 1Malaysia Deve­lop­ment Bhd (1MDB) in the publications were detrimental to public order, security and national interests.
Failure to comply with the suspension order would result in revocation of the publishing permits of the publications, the ministry said.
The Edge Media Group, in a statement yesterday, said it was “disappointed and gravely concerned” over the court’s decision not to temporarily stay the Home Minister’s suspension order.
It said that this meant that it would now be deprived of the full benefit of any remedy from a judicial review that it applied for and which has been fixed for hearing on Sept 7. But the group said it respected the court’s decision and would not be appealing.
“We will instead focus on preparing for the judicial review,” it said.
The group also expressed disappointment that no reasons were given by the Home Ministry as to how or why the articles on 1MDB threatened public order, security and national interests.
“No affidavit was filed by the respondents in resisting our application for a stay,” it said.

‘Right 1MDB decisions made’

PETALING JAYA: 1Malaysia Deve­lopment Berhad (1MDB) is an “open book” and is the most investigated company in Malaysia, said the company’s president and executive director Arul Kanda Kandasamy.
“We are being investigated by Bank Negara, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the police, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the Auditor General and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC),” said Arul in an interview on TV3’s Soal Jawab programme last night.
“All the investigations are still going on. We are willing to return to the PAC when new dates are given.
“To me, the PAC (probe) is presently the best of all the investigations as there are Government and Oppo­sition members,” said Arul, adding that the company is ready to face the committee and present the facts.

“What is important is that the investigation carries on and the facts are brought out. Let the investigators continue their probe in a professional manner,” he said.
On the company’s rationalisation exercise, Arul said it is going smoothly and it should be completed in the next five or six months.
“On all major decisions such as the rationalisation plan, we work together as a team, the management, shareholders and board work together to implement the rationalisation plan.”
When asked what would happen if the rationalisation plan fails, he said that some of the loans are backed by the Government so it is imperative for 1MDB not to allow it to fail.
“The pathway is clear with the investors to solve the debt problem,” said Arul.
“We have other options. With the solid assets, the options are there. We do not need to do a fire sale to settle our debts.”
He added that in the long run if good steps are taken, the company can recover.
“I am confident. The future looks clear. I am confident and this is why I am here in Malaysia today,” he said.
He acknowledged, however, that there are times when plans do not succeed due to “outside factors”.
“When we see the challenges, we have to take action. That is important.
“When things do not go according to plan, we have to make corrections and that is what the rationalisation plan is for,” he said.
Arul said earlier that there are many things that 1MDB does that can’t be seen by the public.
“When you reach for your switch to turn on your light, some of that power is provided by 1MDB,” said Arul.
“We are also currently building the eight camps costing RM2.7bil which will be completed by 2018.
“And the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) has RM3bil in infrastructure that can’t be seen. It is below ground. When it is completed, buildings will rise and that you can see,” he said.
On the bad press the company has received, Arul maintained that he aims to provide the truth and facts to keep the public updated.
“There have been 48 press releases issued by 1MDB and along with our Twitter and Facebook accounts, this is how we have reached out to the rakyat to explain 1MDB.”

Video: We have been honest from the start, says company chief

PETALING JAYA: 1Malaysia De­velop­ment Berhad (1MDB) has welcomed confirmation that no funds from the company were transferred into Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s personal account.
“1MDB welcomes the clear statement from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), which confirms that no funds from 1MDB were transferred to the Prime Minister,” said 1MDB president and executive director Arul Kanda Kandasamy (pic).

He said the company had always maintained that it never provided any funds to the Prime Minister and was confident that the “truth will prevail”.

“To continue to suggest otherwise, as PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli did in his blog yesterday, is highly irresponsible and a deliberate attempt to undermine the company,” said Arul in a statement yesterday.
He added that 1MDB had “fully disclosed” what the company’s RM42bil debt had been used for in a summary published on June 3.
Arul said such information could be found in 1MDB’s audited and publicly available accounts from March 31, 2010, to March 31, 2014.
MACC released a statement on Monday saying that the RM2.6bil allegedly deposited into Najib’s personal account came from donors and not from 1MDB.

Video: Affin Bank buys TRX land from 1MDB to build new HQ

KUALA LUMPUR: Affin Holdings Bhd’s banking unit, Affin Bank Bhd, will buy 1.25 acres of land in the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) to build its new headquarters.

The price it will pay KLIFD Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of 1MDB Real Estate Sdn Bhd (1MDB RE), is RM255mil. This works out to about RM4,699 per sq ft (psf) for the land. 1MDB RE is the master developer of TRX and a wholly owned subsidiary of 1MDB.

According to an announcement by Affin, the parcel of land comes with a plot ratio of 15.2 times. A plot ratio of 15 times indicates that the gross floor area to be built on the parcel is about 15 times or more.

Affin said that the parcel of land had been earmarked for a 35-storey building and would have a gross floor area of 823,439 sq ft with 830 parking bays.

“The purchase price implies a price per gross floor area (GFA) of RM309.67 psf,” it said.

Affin will place a 10% deposit and the balance 90% of the purchase price will be paid upon presentation of the registration title.

Affin also said that its deputy chairman Tan Sri Lodin Wok Kamaruddin, who is also the chairman of 1MDB, had voluntarily abstained from and would continue to abstain from being involved in all deliberations and decision making with regard to the acquisition.

According to Affin, the purchase price is slightly lower than the independent valuation of RM261mil that had been carried out by CH Williams Talhar & Wong.

“We had to negotiate for the price and we do not think this is a bargain for us, as it is only a 2.3% discount to the independent valuation.

“But we think it is a reasonable price and within (our) range. We are quite pleased with this,” Affin Holdings group chief executive officer Kamarul Ariffin Mohd Jamil said at a press conference yesterday.

In May this year, Lembaga Tabung Haji (LTH) had come under scrutiny for acquiring 1.6 acres of land in TRX for RM188.5mil. It was reported that LTH had bought the land at RM2,773 psf and it came with a plot ratio of 10.47 times.

Land transactions in the city centre area close to KLCC are being done at RM3,000 psf and normally come with a plot ratio of between 10 to 12 times.

The parcel of land that Affin has proposed to purchase fronts Jalan Tun Razak and sits at the intersection of two Mass Rapid Transit stations.

“As of now, we do not have a proper home per se and this is a very good opportunity for us to relocate there. We have been presently leasing our office here at Menara Affin for the past 40 years,” said Kamarul.

Kamarul said that the board had given its “unanimous vote” to the purchase, including the independent directors and the directors that had represented its 23.5% shareholder, Hong Kong-based Bank Of East Asia Ltd.

Asked if Lodin had a role to play in the purchase or the events leading up to it, its director Tan Sri Mohd Ghazali Mohd Yusoff said: “He was not involved from the beginning of this.”

“We have visited other sites such as KL Sentral and KLCC but this is the most suitable place and the owner gave us a good offer.”

Lodin was not present at yesterday’s press conference to announce this purchase.

Kamarul further added that the plan to purchase the land in TRX was initiated more than a year ago, and that it was not a decision made recently.

“We are quite confident that notwithstanding the problems at 1MDB, we will still continue with this (purchase). Moreover, the board had unanimously approved this and Lodin had abstained from all deliberations pertaining to this purchase,” Kamarul said.

Pursuant to the purchase of this land, Affin will allocate approximately another RM300mil to construct its new headquarters thereafter.

“The total consideration is about RM600mil, including land and construction, but this is still a preliminary figure. We expect this to be done latest by the end of 2018,” Kamarul added.

The purchase does not require the approval of shareholders or the regulators.

Buying of TRX land from 1MDB not a rushed deal, says Affin

KUALA LUMPUR: Affin Bank Bhd, which is acquiring a 1.25-acre piece of land located in the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) for RM255mil, has been in discussions with TRX since 2012.

“This is not a rushed deal. Affin Bank has been in negotiations with TRX. Affin Bank is just one of the many financial institutions we are currently talking to,” according to an executive close to the deal.

As a master developer with a comprehensive master plan process, the executive said it was implementing site-wide infrastructure, including transport connectivity, water management, district cooling and a sizeable public realm.

The development did not have a uniform plot ratio, said the executive.

A plot with a higher plot ratio will have greater potential to generate higher value, as it could build more gross floor area to generate higher income.

“So, investors do not just rely on purchasing a large piece of land,” said the executive.

“Affin Bank’s land has a plot ratio of 15.2 times and the price per square foot (psf) based on the gross floor area (GFA) is RM310. TRX as a whole will have a plot ratio of 6.8 times, as the higher plot ratios for the buildings are balanced out by the lower plot ratios for the public realm area, which includes an urban central park,” the executive said.

Previously, 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) had sold a 1.6-acre parcel of land to Lembaga Tabung Haji for RM188.5mil. It came with a plot ratio of 10.47 times.

1MDB has also signed a sale and purchase agreement with Indonesia’s Mulia Group for the development rights of Signature Tower, a 3.44-acre parcel in TRX. That transaction was valued at RM665mil.

The executive said that it was not “necessarily true” that TRX’s prices were higher than surrounding sites.

The executive said most of the transactions within the KLCC and Jalan Sultan Ismail area had been quoted in prices psf of the land.

“As illustration, recently, the German Embassy land was purchased by Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd for around RM3,100 psf of land. However, if as anticipated the land will have a plot ratio of between eight and 10 times, then the price on the GFA will be between RM310 and RM380 psf, with the potential for a higher price if the plot ratio is increased.

“Based on that comparison, the price on TRX is not considered expensive. On top of this, TRX provides comprehensive master planned infrastructure, TRX incentives and strong public transport connectivity,” the executive explained.

TRX has a development period of 15–20 years to be completed in phases. The initial Phase 1 is slated for completion in 2018.

The first earthworks package is already reaching completion, while the next package of work has been extended to the road works and tunnels to support its infrastructure.

This includes the underground road structures, installation of buried utilities and both at-grade and elevated road ways.

Thai cops submit case after probe on Justo

BANGKOK: Thai police have completed investigations into Xavier Justo and submitted his case to state prosecutors.
Police said Justo tried to blackmail his former employer, PetroSaudi International, an energy company that was involved in a failed venture with Malaysian government-owned 1Malaysia Deve­lop­ment Berhad (1MDB) in 2009.
He has signed a confession in the hope of a reduced sentence.
The crime carries a jail sentence of one year to 10 years and a fine of 2,000 baht to 20,000 baht (RM220 to RM2,209).

It is now up to the state prosecutors to indict Justo, deputy commander of Thailand’s Crime Sup­pression Division, police ­colonel Kornchai Klayklueng, told The Straits Times yesterday.
Justo has been remanded in a Thai prison since he was arrested at his home on Koh Samui island in June.
In 2013, the former PetroSaudi executive allegedly demanded 2.5 million Swiss francs (RM9.94mil) from his former employer, but was rejected.
PetroSaudi made a complaint to the Thai police in May this year, after documents showing 1MDB’s financial mismanagement were published by news website Sarawak Report.
In an interview with The Straits Times last month while under custody, Justo revealed that he was promised US$2mil (RM7.7mil) by Malaysian business­man Tong Kooi Ong for the documents.
But he had yet to receive the money up to the point when he was arrested.
In response to Justo’s revelations, Tong, the owner of The Edge Media Group, admitted he misled Justo into believing that he would be paid for the data.
“That was the only way to get hold of the evidence to expose how a small group of Malaysians and foreigners cheated the people of Malaysia of US$1.83bil (RM7.1bil),” he said in a joint statement with the media group’s publisher Ho Kay Tat.
Malaysian police, who have tried to gain access to Justo, have so far not been allowed any contact with him, said police colonel Kornchai. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Najib seeks second opinion on WSJ

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (pic) has sought a second opinion before initiating legal action against the Wall Street Journal over its 1Malaysia Development Bhd articles.
His lawyer Datuk Mohd Hafarizam Harun said this was in light of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s statement which contradicts the publisher’s suggestion the money came from 1MDB’s coffers.
On Monday, the MACC issued a statement that some RM2.6bil had been found in Najib’s private bank accounts but clarified it was from donations.
The firm had sent a letter of clarification to WSJ for an explanation over its July 2 article accusing Najib of transferring 1MDB funds into his personal accounts.

Dow Jones & Company, the publisher of the US-based newspaper, on July 23 merely said the contents of the article was “self explanatory”.
“The publishers had studiously avoided admitting their article accused that the money comes from 1MDB,” he said at the Duta Court Complex yesterday. Mohd Hafarizam said Najib was considering consulting a Queen’s counsel or an American lawyer as the matter had issues of international jurisdiction.
Although no deadline was set, he declined to confirm the course of legal action being considered.
“We are not ruling out the possibility of filing a suit, but we’re keeping our options open at this point,” said Mohd Hafarizam.

TNB falls to 52-week low

PETALING JAYA: Shares of Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) plunged to the lowest in more than 52 weeks, as the ringgit weakened past 3.90 to the US dollar and the local bourse tumbled by more than 30 points.

TNB, which has also been weighed down by concerns about its purchase of power assets from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), tumbled to its intra-day low of RM11.26 in early trade.

However, it managed to recoup some of its losses and ended yesterday down 40 sen, or 3.1%, to RM11.38, giving the power giant a market capitalisation of RM64.22bil.

The utility giant has lost more than RM16.8bil in market cap since May, as its share price fell from RM14.36 on May 1 to RM11.38.

The fall in its share price erased 3.77 points from the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KL Composite Index.

TNB was once the most valuable company on Bursa Malaysia with a market cap of RM85.2bil. Year-to-date, TNB is down 17.54%.

At the last traded price of RM11.38, it is trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.9 times.

The ringgit fell to 3.9125 against the US dollar at 5pm – its weakest since Sept 2, 1998, a day before the Government pegged the ringgit at 3.8000. Malaysia lifted the peg in 2005.

Shares of TNB have been under pressure, as investors appeared to take a cautious stance on its plan to buy the power assets of Edra Global Energy Bhd, the power company arm of 1MDB.

Nexgram keen on buying 1MDB's TRX Land

KUALA LUMPUR: Nexgram Holdings Bhd is steadfast in its decision to acquire a parcel of land in the 1Malaysia Development Bhds Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) here, its chief executive officer Datuk Larry Tey said.

However, to date the company is still in a negotiation phase and remains cautious in terms of costs and returns for the property.

“If the price tag matches our appetite, we will proceed," he told reporters after the company's EGM here, yesterday.

TRX, an iconic 28.32ha development in the heart of the capital, is set to become a leading centre for international finance and business.

Tey said TRX's strategic location made it attractive for any developer and the price was attractive.

As a property developer, he said Nexgram would ensure that the margin was good, otherwise it would discontinue the negotiation.

He said since venturing into property development three years ago, Nexgram had been very careful in selecting its projects.

Going forward, he said the company would be launching property projects in Cyberjaya and Putrajaya by year-end.

Nexgram is undertaking a commercial development project worth RM1.1bil in Cyberjaya and building affordable houses worth RM300mil in Putrajaya.

“These will keep us busy for a couple of years," he said, adding that the company expected a double-digit contribution from its property sector in the 2016 financial year.

Besides property development, Nexgram has diversified into telecommunication media and technology, and project investments and incubation.

At noon, the investment holding company's share was traded at 9.5 sen, up by half a sen. — Bernama

1MDB: Probe more important than Pua's 'chicken challenge'

PETALING JAYA: 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) has rejected a challenge by PJ Utara MP Tony Pua for a public face-off between him and chief executive Arul Kanda Kandasdamy, saying "it is not an appropriate forum to establish the truth."

"1MDB fully acknowledges that YB Tony Pua raises many legitimate questions. We assure the Malaysian public that the lawful authorities investigating 1MDB, have asked the same questions, and more.

"It is clear that YB Tony Pua is attempting to undermine the various ongoing investigations through his “chicken challenge". This is not the appropriate forum to establish the truth," the government investment arm said in a statement on Sunday.

It was reported that Pua had said that information about 1MDB largely came from third-party sources and had called Arul Kanda's televised statements "insincere".

Arul Kanda had appeared on TV3 on Wednesday night in a one-hour question and answer session over 1MDB.

1MDB said in the interests of transparency, fairness and due process, Arul Kanda had publically stated “To me, what is important is that the investigations must continue, the truth and the facts must be made public by the independent investigators."

1MDB pointed out that Arul Kanda had added, in relation to various demands for answers by 1MDB: “Don’t take our word for it; let the investigators do their work in a transparent and professional manner. That is more important”.

"1MDB will not be distracted and will continue 'full steam ahead' with our rationalisation plan. We aim to stabilise the company, continue to meet our debt obligations and deliver on our core projects: TRX, Bandar Malaysia and Edra Energy Berhad," said 1MDB.



Media statement by 1MDB

We refer to the third press statement in as many days, on 1MDB, by YB Tony Pua. Despite prior clarification by 1MDB, YB Tony Pua persists with his provocative “chicken challenge" issued today.

We note that in his attempt to regurgitate, reuse and recycle old allegations, YB Tony Pua conveniently forgets the past clarifications on the issue of fund unit redemptions, by the Ministry of Finance, to Parliament.

This is despite the fact that Arul Kanda has openly and publicly, on 10 June 2015, taken full responsibility for any past miscommunication on this matter.

In fact, appropriate steps have been taken since the issue arose in March 2015 and 1MDB is pleased to confirm that no such miscommunication has happened, ever since.



1MDB fully acknowledges that YB Tony Pua raises many legitimate questions. We assure the Malaysian public that the lawful authorities investigating 1MDB, have asked the same questions, and more.

In the interests of transparency, fairness and due process, Arul Kanda has publically stated that “To me, what is important is that the investigations must continue, the truth and the facts must be made public by the independent investigators”.



Arul Kanda has further added, in relation to various demands for answers by 1MDB: “Don’t take our word for it; let the investigators do their work in a transparent and professional manner. That is more important”.



It is clear that YB Tony Pua is attempting to undermine the various ongoing investigations through his “chicken challenge".

This is not the appropriate forum to establish the truth. 1MDB will not be distracted and will continue “full steam ahead” with our rationalisation plan. We aim to stabilise the company, continue to meet our debt obligations and deliver on our core projects: TRX, Bandar Malaysia and Edra Energy Berhad.

DPM: I will never eat pork to get votes from Chinese

TAMPIN, Aug 16 — While maintaining a healthy relationship between Malaysia’s different races is important, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told Umno delegates today that there were some lines which he would not cross like eating pork to gain votes from Chinese voters.

In his opening address at the Tampin Umno division meeting here, the Deputy Prime Minister said that he is well-versed with the Chinese culture, especially Chinese opera as he took up four minor subjects in Chinese which included writing and Chinese literature.
“I believe in cross-culture. Though we are Malays, we must respect the Indians and the Chinese cultures.
“I only don’t eat pork to get votes from the Chinese… that I will never do,” Ahmad Zahid said.
The Home Minister said that though he has always defended the Malay community, he has also not deprived fair opportunities to other races.
“Yes I defend the Malays, but I never deprive opportunities of other races.
“Since Umno’s formation… we never deprived others races. Why? Because Umno is led by credible and rational leaders,” Ahmad Zahid said to cheers from the crowd.

Ahmad Said had agreed to being replaced a year ago, Umno veep says

Former Terengganu mentri besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said should have gracefully stepped down from the post, as it was part of an understanding reached with the party’s top ranks a year ago, said Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.
Shafie said Ahmad was sworn in as mentri besar on May 9 last year amid strong opposition from state representatives and party grassroots.
The New Straits Times (NST) quoted Shafie saying that Ahmad was given a year-long extension by Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“At that time the political situation in Terengganu was quite precarious. There were some who agreed (to Ahmad’s continuing as the Mentri Besar) and they were some who disagreed.
“To avoid the situation from worsening, it was agreed between the prime minister and Ahmad that he would remain in his position for one year,”  Shafie was further quoted as saying.
Shafie insisted that Ahmad was aware of the terms and should not be claiming that it was insensitive to replace him before his daughter’s wedding reception on May 17.
Ahmad quit Umno and turned independent hours Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman was sworn in as the new Mentri Besar of the oil-rich coastal state.
The embattled lawmaker claimed he had asked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to allow him to step down as mentri besar after the wedding reception but the Umno president had reportedly disregarded the request as a “personal matter”.
“That (the wedding) is his own matter. The understanding concerns government matter. And, we did not know about the wedding plans because it was not stated earlier nor was it in the understanding reached last year,” insisted Shafie, who is also the Semporna MP.
Ahmad, who is the Kijal assemblyman, was blamed for the Barisan Nasional’s (BN) weakest polls performance in a decade.
BN managed to hold on to the state by 17 state seats against PR’s 15 seats in last year’s general election.
Ajil assemblyman Ghazali Taib announced his resignation shortly after Ahmad, followed by Bukit Besi assemblyman Roslee Daud reducing BN’s numbers from 17 to 14, plunging the state into a political mayhem.
Roslee, however, withdrew his resignation letter last night and that the Umno leadership is persuading Ghazali to also retract  but no official statements have been issued.
If Roslee returns to Umno, BN will tie with Pakatan Rakyat’s 15 elected representatives in the Terengganu Legislative Assembly, with Ahmad and Ghazali as independents.
New MB Ahmad Razif arrived at work this morning and insisted that dissolution of the state assembly was not necessary.
He is expected to meet with Najib in Putrajaya today to discuss the state administration’s predicament.(Malay Mail Online) -

Power play that rocks Terengganu

THE late-night swearing-in of Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman as the new Mentri Besar for Terengganu on Monday was the first hint that all was not well in the state.
The other hint was the glaring no-show by Razif’s predecessor Datuk Ahmad Said. By then, political circles in Terengganu were abuzz with speculation that Ahmad had resigned from Umno and declared himself to become an independent assemblyman for Kijal.
Just hours after the swearing-in, it was confirmed that Ahmad, deeply frustrated and unable to accept his fate, had also persuaded two other assemblymen – Ghazali Taib (Ajil) and Roslee Daud (Bukit Besi) – to follow him out of the party into the no man’s land of politics.
Terengganu was on the road to yet another constitutional crisis. The irony is that it is the second such crisis associated with Ahmad who came to power in 2008 after a protracted standoff between the Palace and Umno over the choice of Mentri Besar.
For much of yesterday, Terengganu was throbbing with speculation that more assemblymen would jump ship and that the State Legislative Assembly would be dissolved.
But the situation seems to have been contained, thanks to intense behind-the-scenes intervention by top Umno leaders. Two of the assemblymen concerned have since been persuaded to retract their resignations.
The State Assembly is also not going to be dissolved any time soon. As Umno politician Datuk Wan Farid Wan Salleh put it: “The Sultan cannot simply act to dissolve the State Assembly based on what is reported in the media.”
Wan Farid said the assemblymen involved have to formally inform the State Assembly that they are now independent members and a confidence vote will be taken at the next State Assembly sitting in September where the fate of the state government will be decided.
“It would be a different story if they had made it clear that they are with PAS.
“But they are independents and the Speaker cannot assume that they are with the other side,” he said.
But that, apparently, was the option of last resort for Umno. All the Umno assemblymen in Terengganu had signed open-dated letters after the general election, pledging to vacate their seats if they defect from Umno and the party had intended to hold them to their word.
Despite claims that PAS is preparing to join forces with the trio to form the next government, a PAS leader from Terengganu claimed there had been no meetings with the defectors and that they are in wait-and-see mode for now.
But there is no doubt that PAS can smell the prospect of power and even has a potential candidate for Mentri Besar, in the form of Manir assemblyman Hilmi Harun, a young ulama whose late father was the hardline Datuk Harun Taib who had led the party’s Dewan Ulama.
Ahmad, who is known for his street-fighter style of politics, is probably revelling in the upheaval he has created.
He does not seem to care about how history will view him and as one Umno politician put it, he is “making don’t know” about the fact that he had signed a letter agreeing to stay for only a year after Terengganu almost fell in the general election.
He also does not seem to be making any immediate effort to move out of the official residence of the Mentri Besar in Kuala Terengganu.
As his successor was being sworn in on Monday night, Ahmad was entertaining several of his stalwarts and supporters in the official residence. There were only a few cars parked outside, but the whole place was brightly lit, as though something big was going on.
Ahmad, according to one of those present, was in a jovial mood, joking and smiling through the night. It could be his usual bravado although it is possible that he may be enjoying the moment for all it is worth.
He told those present that he had pleaded with the Prime Minister for one more month when they met on Monday morning because he was planning to have a second wedding kenduri in his constituency for his daughter who got married last Saturday.
He also told them that Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob should go first and not him.
But basically, the leadership transition has been poorly managed. Umno politicians claimed that the Putrajaya official who was in charge of the matter had under-estimated Ahmad.
On Monday night, the official was more interested in mingling with the new Mentri Besar instead of doing whatever he could to contain the fallout from the leadership transition.
Many in Umno have been at a loss to figure out what Ahmad is all about. His rise to power was very controversial and his exit has been even more controversial.
He not only refused point-blank to take responsibility for nearly losing the state in the general election, he has tried to bring down the Barisan government.
He had advertised himself as the “rakyat’s MB”, but his actions show that the rakyat is the last thing on his mind and that it is all about himself and his political ego.
His associates said that he has lost face, his pride has been injured and that was why he is fighting back. But his critics think he is being spiteful, full of revenge and does not seem to understand that the Mentri Besar’s position is not personal to holder.
The Prime Minister had wanted to give Ahmad a “soft landing” when he agreed to let him stay on for one year. But the “soft landing” became a hard landing because Ahmad was not ready to be grounded.
 Joceline Tan, The Star

In Terengganu, inertia rolls over Umno’s political storm

Rohaida Yasin sits on a high platform, patiently peddling keropok lekor to customers at the Pasar Besar Kedai Payang.
The 42-year-old has been selling the traditional fish snacks since leaving school.
Her mother, Ramlah Hassan, 72, who has been selling various wares including the current keropok for about three decades, sits at the next platform.
“Those days you can be well-off if you had such a business. Now, what you earn is just enough to get by,” said Rohaida.
“I really don’t care who is in power. I malas nak tau (I don’t want to know). Even this time around, it’s just political play. People like me can’t do anything. If they really cared, they wouldn’t be doing this.”
She is, of course, referring to the recent political drama that has once again brought nationwide spotlight to the east coast state.
Once led by Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Mokhtar Ahmad of Barisan Nasional (BN), his 25-year hold on the helm ended when the state fell to PAS in 1999 but regained it in 2004.
BN won back the state in the 2013 general election with a lesser majority, winning only 17 of the 32 seats. PAS has 14 seats while Parti Keadilan Rakyat has one.
A little more than a year after the general election, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said resigned following an agreement that he would do so and more drama ensued.
This is not the first time Ahmad has been drawn into controversy. In 2008, he wrangled the position after Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin swore him into the post.
Then prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s choice of Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh was rejected. Ahmad went ahead and started his job and after a standoff between Umno and the palace, he kept his job.
Kuala Terengganu Umno division chairman Datuk Mohd Sabri Alwi lamented that the state is Umno’s to lose citing the in-fighting between the upper echelons of leadership in the state.
“It was stable under Wan Mokhtar and Idris. But now it isn’t. We need to be united. And it is up to YB Razif to bring us together. He needs to do and not just talk,” he said.
He said the political scenario was such that while there were PAS supporters, it was the fence sitters that one had to fight for.
“You see even now PAS is not making much noise. It is a problem for us when Umno fights,” he said.
A local political observer said cracks were deepening and the state BN, specifically Umno, had the next three years to improve matters.
“Razif, as head, should drive the state into boosting the economy for the urban, rural and suburban people,” he said, adding that oil royalty should be used to this end.
Former politician Tan Sri Wong Foon Meng said BN’s declining popularity had caused the current situation.
“In Terengganu, the opposition is not strong. In a way, it is the factions within BN. It was not that serious in the 1970s, 80s or 90s,” said the former Bandar assemblyman.
The former MCA secretary-general added that the state fell to PAS in 1999 due to events like Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim getting a bruised eye while detained.
He added that PAS had made some inroads in the last general election.
The state, he said, had come a long way from being the poorest to having development.
“Improve the livelihood. Development should be for all across the board,” he said. 
Audrey Edwards, Malay Mail Online

Terengganu a storm in a teacup

The opposition is trying to paint the recent Terengganu episode as a crisis. In fact, they are even labelling it a Constitutional Crisis and are equating it to the Perak crisis of five years ago when the Pakatan Rakyat state government lost power due to three crossovers, two from PKR and one from DAP.

Actually, it was merely a storm in a teacup and a minor misunderstanding that was easily resolved.
What happened was that it was agreed a year ago soon after the 5th May 2013 general election that the Menteri Besar, Ahmad Said, would stay on for just another year and then resign to make way for his replacement. And that would make his resignation affective from 5th May 2014.
Mat Said, as he is popularly called, however, had scheduled his daughter’s wedding for 10th May 2014. Hence Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak postponed his resignation to the day after that.
What the Prime Minister did not realise is that there was to be as second ceremony a week later, that is on 17th May 2014.
For Malays, a daughter’s wedding is very important, as the girl’s family must ‘play host’. It is not so crucial for the boy’s family and they can also hold a second ceremony later or not hold one at all if they so wish.
Hence many would regard Mat Said’s resignation as a slap in his face because it happened in between the two wedding ceremonies. For that matter, any Malay would view this as a form of insult.
The prime Minister has since apologised for confusion in the date of wedding and has, in fact, indicated that he would be attending the wedding. There is no better gesture than this and the Prime Minister acted in a most diplomatic manner, contrary to what some say in that the Prime Minister had not acted diplomatically enough.