Gossip Malaysia: Mahathir Wants Najib Removed

Mahathir Mohamad, modern Malaysia’s founding father and former leader, has called for a vote of no-confidence against Prime Minister Najib Razak, accusing him of halting an investigation into corruption and buying politicians.

“A vote of non-confidence is necessary now because Najib has made BN members of parliament beholden to him by giving them lucrative posts in the government,” Mahathir said on his blog, referring to the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.

David Cameron presses Malaysian PM on corruption claims

Najib is facing calls to resign after reports that he pocketed nearly $700m (£456m) from the debt-laden state fund 1 Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB). 

1MDB was launched in 2009 by Najib, who still chairs its advisory board. Critics say it has been opaque in explaining its dealings.

Mahathir was once a patron and supporter of Najib but has now used his widespread influence to lead the call for Najib to step down on graft allegations, which the prime minister denies, calling them “political sabotage”.

“Najib’s lack of respect for the law and constitution and his willingness to buy politicians and civil servants may mean the end of Parliamentary Democracy in Malaysia,” said Mahathir, 90, who ruled the country for 22 years.

“Even those who had come to me complaining about Najib’s administration before, upon being given posts in his government, have now changed their stand. One of them who claimed to have documentary evidence of Najib’s misconduct, now gladly support him upon being made minister.”

Najib responded to the corruption allegations by changing the attorney general and transferring officers involved in the investigation against him. He also removed deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, the second most powerful member of Najib’s party, who has called for an investigation into the allegations.

Source: The Guardian

Gossip Malaysia: Najib's Best Option Is To Go On Leave

Embattled Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has three options to consider for his immediate future as he wards off allegations that US$700 million (RM2.67 billion) was transferred into his personal bank accounts, Tun Musa Hitam told The Malaysian Insider.

The former deputy prime minister said Najib could: 1) remain in office and fight the allegations, 2) resign as prime minister and, 3) go on leave pending the investigations by a special government task force.

On a personal note, Musa said he would prefer it if Najib took the third option to allow for an open and transparent investigation.

Speaking exclusively to The Malaysian Insider yesterday, the 81-year Musa said he could no longer sit quietly as the issue gripped the nation.

"I have been under pressure from friends and foes to offer my views although I am out politics," said Musa who was deputy prime minister from 1981 to 1986 to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Najib's harshest critic.

Explaining why he preferred Najib to take the third option, Musa said this would give investigators the "space psychologically, politically and legally for them to find the truth".

He said Najib could resign and this would be the best "treat" the country would have and give way to new leader in Umno.

"But I humbly suggest that Najib take leave of absence for a certain length of period to facilitate the non-partisan investigation that is under way," he said. "To me, this (going on leave) is the best option that will show Najib's leadership, character and personality in line with the principles of parliamentary democracy," he added.

 

Musa said he was making the suggestion in Ramadan and also was invoking the good name of his mentor, Tun Abdul Razak, who had taken the nation to where it was now.

The late Razak, the nation's second prime minister, is also Najib's father. "He (Razak) cared for the people and the nation," said Musa, almost in tears.

Musa said should Najib go on leave, it should not be construed as a sign of weakness.

"As for me, I hold dear to the legal maxim that one is innocent until proven guilty and this also applies to Najib.”

Commenting on Umno, Musa, who was a former deputy president, said the party was in denial mode over its leadership problem.

"There is a very big problem in Umno and this affects the people because Najib was legally and constitutionally elected," he said, adding that the Umno president is always the prime minister of the country.

Musa said Umno must recognise the problem and find ways and means to overcome it.

"They must find an alternative and this does not mean getting the president out but looking at the options before them.

"But this must be done rationally, calmly and in the interest of the country and the people."

Musa said all the implications of the options must be studied before a decision was made.

"This is the way I will do it but unfortunately I am not there.”

Musa also said that he did not believe in the declaration of support for a leader in power.

"Those who pledge their support will be first to scoot off when their leader is in trouble," he said recounting his own experience in the party.

Last Friday, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that up to US$700 million was transferred into Najib's personal bank accounts in AmPrivate Bank in Kuala Lumpur between 2013 and 2015.

The WSJ reported that US$681 million (RM2.6 billion) originating from Tanore Finance, a company in the British Virgin Islands, was deposited into Najib's accounts in two transactions on March 21 and 25 in 2013, ahead of the general election in May.

It also uploaded documents it used in its report which showed instructions for telegraphic transfers and charts showing the money trail.

The task force confirmed yesterday that Najib had accounts at AmBank, but added that the two accounts were closed before the business daily broke the story last Friday.

The task force, in a statement yesterday, had also said one of the accounts had been closed on August 30, 2013.

Another sum of US$11.1 million (RM42 million) originating from Finance Ministry-owned SRC International Sdn Bhd was moved in three tranches between December 2014 and February this year.

The second account was closed on March 9 this year, the task force said in the same statement.

The task force on Tuesday froze six accounts in relation to its investigation. Najib denied taking money for personal gain, but has not commented directly on the fund transfers to his accounts. Bank Negara and AmBank have also not responded to the allegations.

The task force yesterday also said the documents being investigated had been provided by the group itself and were not the ones the WSJ had published. The statement was signed by the four members of the task force: Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed. – July 10, 2015.

Source: The Malaysian Insider

Gossip Malaysia: Dr. Mahathir Turns 90

 

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is celebrating his 90th birthday today and Malaysia's longest-serving prime minister remains sharp and combative as ever, as he continues campaigning to oust his latest successor Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Dr Mahathir, who was prime minister from July 16, 1981 to October 31, 2003, was born in Alor Star, Kedah on July 10, 1925 but his official birthdate is December 20.

It is understood that a big birthday bash has been organised for the medically trained politician this month.

But age has not slowed him down despite stepping down from public office in 2003. Dr Mahathir remains a key influential figure in Malaysian politics – who helped remove his successor Tun Abdullah Badawi in office in 2009 and now agitating for Najib's ouster because of the scandals surrounding strategic investor 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

The influential politician had cut his support for Najib in August 2014 and in recent months, has ratcheted his campaign against the prime minister, whose father, the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, was also prime minister.

He had also asked Najib to resign from the top job, echoing the calls of both government and opposition leaders who are seeking the truth behind The Wall Street Journal's (WSJ) revelations last week that US$700 million (RM2.67 billion) had been funnelled into Najib’s bank accounts.

The prime minister has vowed to fight the WSJ claims, saying he did not gain personally from the accounts in AmPrivate Bank. Bank Negara Malaysia has frozen six bank accounts but said none was linked to the prime minister.

Despite that, Dr Mahathir has been asking the authorities, including the Internal Revenue Board, to investigate Najib's wealth and harangue the government to explain the high debt racked by 1MDB.

The auditor-general and Public Accounts Committee (PAC) are investigating 1MDB's business but an interim report submitted yesterday had cleared the company of any wrongdoing.

But Dr Mahathir has cleared through the fog surrounding 1MDB to ask one question: why did 1MDB raise that much debt but only spent US$15 billion to acquire land and utilities across Malaysia and Asia.

Najib last week accused his former political mentor of working with the foreign media against him after several exposes in WSJ and The New York Times.

Dr Mahathir has denied the claims but remains a formidable political influence among the 30-million population, most of whom grew up during his rule. – July 10, 2015.

Source: The Malaysian Insider

Gossip Penang: Transformers Spotted In Penang

The Transformers movie franchise has been successful at the box office and has won fans from all over the world. Many fans used to watch its TV cartoons version when they were kids. It was like dream comes true when Hollywood first planned to put these bunch of favourite robots onto the silver screen.

Now, another dream comes true when the life size Autobots has come to the Esplanade of Penang which makes them look like they are defending the city against any potential threats from Decepticon.