A Kadir Jasin

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ"In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful".

WHEN the Yellow shirts had their demonstrations in Kuala Lumpur on 29 and 30 August, the purpose was to continue their demand for free and fair elections.

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Additionally they wanted to save the country from what they perceived be a bad government under Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Mappadulung Daeng Mattimung Karaeng Sanrobone) Mohd Najib Abdul Razak.

Then, on Sept 16, almost out of the blue, came the Red shirts, whose purpose was purportedly to save the Malays from being “bangsat” (immigrants) in their own land.

At first Mohd Najib and his panglima Umno (Umno worriors) and srikandi (female warriors) were coy about admitting the party’s affiliation and sympathy with the protestors.

But when it became apparent that the gathering might match or even surpass that of the Yellow Shirts, they started to openly align themselves with the demonstrators. By now Mohd Najib and Umno appear to have conclusively embraced the Red shirts.

There are a few things to consider in the post-Yellow and Red Shirts demonstrations. Among them:

1. That armed with money and political support, the organisers of Red Shirts had been able to corral enough participants in a span of a few days using the Malays greatest fear – being overwhelmed by the non-Malays. They portrayed the Bersih protests as a non-Malay conspiracy to take over the county.

2. This was what Umno had done in the past, albeit more subtly, and that’s what they are likely to do at the next general election. They will use money and political power to garner votes while instilling fears among the Malays that they are in the danger of being swept away by Chinese Tsunami. The latter term was Mohd Najib’s own creation.

3. There are enough people around the Prime Minister who believe that with money and political power, they can continue to marshal enough rural votes in the name of the survival of the bangsa (race) to cling on to power.

4. Mohd Najib’s emotive use of “bangsat” is bound to find currency with many rural Malays. Mohd Najib himself believes that if he could hang on to power until the next GE to lead the Barisan Nasional to victory.

5. So those who think that Mohd Najib will be done away with soon and the BN will be gone in the next GE better think twice. For as long as he can get half of the pak cik, mak cik, the Orang Asli, the rural folk and Felda settlers to side with him, Umno would be returned to power and his position would the be unassailable. He would be vindicated.

6. All that he has to do in the interim is making sure that no criminal action is taken against him and BN legislators are kept in a tight grip to avoid defections and a vote of no confidence.

7. If the red shirt organisers could, within less than two weeks, put up such a show by bussing the people from faraway places that knew neither the rhyme nor the reason for joining the protest, there is nothing to stop them from using the same modus operandi to win the next GE.

8. Mohd Najib’s motto – money is king - sells well with the poor Malays in the villages and Felda settlements. With continued depression in commodity prices and rise in the cost of living due to the fall of the ringgit and the imposition of the GST, the power of money is even stronger among the rural poor. Impoverishing the people has its merit.

9. Mohd Najib does not need the clever Malays and the urbanites. He knows he cannot spook them with his “bangsat” slogan or threaten them into submission by spreading fear that their every move is being watched. The arrest and detention of (Datuk Paduka) Khairuddin Abu Hassan (KAH) and the expulsion of Aninah Saadudin from Umno have the effect of proving that intimidation is now a strategy.

10. But Mohd Najib, Umno and the government are losing on the media front. The mainstream media, the mainstay of their propaganda campaign, is losing grips of the audience and is in dire financial situation. Their integrity and reporting standards have fallen so badly that they lost literally every legal suit brought against them by Mohd Najib’s opponents. Their defence of Mohd Najib, Umno and the government crumbled when they lost these suits.

11. Readers, viewers and listeners are rapidly declining. Take the once mighty Utasan Malaysia newspaper as an example. The official website of Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) Malaysian puts its circulation at 173,000 copies a day when back in 2003 it was selling around 320,000 copies. It peaked in the 1990’s around 350,000 copies. Its publisher, Utusan Melayu Berhad is in dire financial position. Bernama reported that for the 2014 financial year its losses increased four-fold to RM82.64 million. The same trend is seen at Media Prima Berhad and, to a lesser degree, at the Star Publications Berhad.

12. The influence of the independent media like the Malay language Sinar Harian and the Edge is increasing so is that of the media platforms like blog, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Attempts by Mohd Najib and his backers to use these platforms, starting from the 2013 GE, had not been a sterling success. Instead their sites are being used by the people to pour scorn on them.

13. Having said at that, the immediate concern remains the direction the country is heading. We have lost international respect, our economy is tittering on the brink, welfare of the rakyat is getting worst and the country is becoming less safe.

14. Akhirulkalam, if Khairuddin is a liar and the documents in his possession were fake or doctored, why should the Prime Minister fear him? Being a good friend of the US, he should have faith in the US justice system and allow Khairuddin to provide the FBI with the fake and doctored documents. Let the US arrest and prosecute him for lying. Lying to a US Government agency is a criminal misdemeanour.

Wallahuaklam.

A Kadir Jasin

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

“Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah lagi Maha Penyayang”

BEKAS Menteri Besar Selangor, (Datuk Seri) Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo, berkata beliau tidak melakukan kesalahan rasuah. Betullah tu.

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Dalam sistem penghakiman kita, adalah hak mutlak yang tertuduh untuk menafikan tuduhan ke atasnya dengan mengaku tidak bersalah (plead not guilty).

Malah orang yang bersalah dan bersedia mengaku salah pun diingatkan (cautioned) oleh hakim jangan mengaku salah. Tapi kalau hendak mengaku juga, dia akan diingatkan dan dibagi amaran padah pengakuan salahnya itu.

Dalam sistem kehakiman Inggeris yang menjadi asas kehakiman kita, penghakiman hanya boleh dibuat oleh mahkamah. Hanya mahkamah berhak menentukan sama ada seseorang itu bersalah atau tidak.

Malah keadilan (justice) memihak kepada tertuduh (the accused). Mula-mula sekali, tertuduh tidak bersalah sehinggalah dibuktikan bersalah (innocent until proven guilty). Jadi Dr Khir “tidak bersalah” sehinggalah “dibuktikan bersalah”.

Beban mutakhir adalah di bahu pihak pendakwa. Pendakwa wajib membuktikan “tanpa sebarang keraguan” (beyond reasonable doubt) akan kesalahan tertuduh. Maksudnya tanpa syak wasangka.

Pihak pembela pula hanya perlu mewujudkan keraguan yang berpatutan (reasonable doubt) bagi membebaskan anak guaman mereka daripada sabit kesalahan.

Dr Khir dan pasukan pembelaannya gagal cetuskan "reasonable doubt"

Jadi, walaupun Dr Khir “bersumpah” beliau tidak bersalah, pihak pendakwa berjaya membuktikan tanpa sebarang keraguan bahawa beliau telah melakukan jenayah yang dituduh manakala peguam beliau gagal menimbulkan keraguan yang berpatutan.

Sekarang sahlah kesalahan beliau. Penafian beliau tidak bermakna lagi di segi undang-undang. Maka dengan itu, Dr Khir dipenjarakan selama 12 bulan dan harta yang terlibat dirampas.

Dengan itu juga, jadilah beliau Menteri Besar Selangor yang kedua dipenjarakan kerana rasuah dan menjadi antara segelintir pemimpin kanan kerajaan yang didapati bersalah melakukan rasuah.

Natijahnya:

1. Sama ada beliau mengaku bersalah atau tidak, Dr Khir telah dibuktikan terlibat dengan rasuah.

2. Pemimpin politik masih boleh disiasat, didakwa dan didapati bersalah mengikut undang-undang Negara.

3. 0rang baik dan berprofil rendah menjadi alpa, bongkak dan hilang akal apabila mendapat kuasa. Dr Khir boleh dikatakan tidak dikenali sebelum dilantik entah dari mana (out of the blue) menjadi Menteri Besar pada tahun 2000.

4. Pemenjaraan Dr Khir memberi kesan psikologi yang positif kepada rakyat jelata iaitu tidak ada sesiapa pun berada di atas daripada undang-undang (above the law).

5. Kesabitan kes Dr Khir memberi makna yang istimewa dan tersendiri dalam kaitan dengan penyiasatan dalam negara dan antarabangsa membabitkan 1MDB dan Perdana Menteri (Datuk SeriMappadulung Daeng Mattimung Karaeng Sanrobone ) Mohd Najib Abdul Razak.

6. Ada beberapa persamaan di antara kes rasuah Dr Khir dengan “derma” RM2.6 bilion yang masuk ke dalam akaun peribadi Mohd Najib, khususnya alasan politik dan dakwaan rakyat jelata tidak rugi apa-apa.

7. Tidak seperti Dr Khir yang menafikan keterlibatannya,Mohd Najib terus berdiam diri malah tidak menafikan kewujudan akaun peribadi RM2.6 bilion itu sebaliknya para penyokong beliau mendakwa wang itu adalah “derma” daripada seorang dermawan misteri Arab.

8. Para peguam Mohd Najib juga masih berdolak-dalik mengenai ancaman saman terhadap Wall Street Journal kerana mendedahkan hal itu walaupun telah mengeluarkan ancaman itu hampir tiga bulan lalu (8 Julai).

9. Pemenjaraan Dr Khir pastinya menaikkan tahap kebimbangan mereka yang terbabit atau dikaitkan dengan skandal 1MDB dan tabung peribadi Mohd Najib.

Anekdot 1: Jumpa Mohd Najib buat kali pertama pada tahun 1977 untuk temu bual bagi pihak akhbar Business Times sempena ulang tahun pertama beliau sebagai Ahli Parlimen Pekan. Berbual mengenai beliau berjalan kerluar daripada bayang raksasa (giant shadow) bapanya, Allahyarham Tun Abdul Razak Hussein. Bayang raksasa adalah padanan tajuk filem Kirk Douglas (bapa Micheal Douglas) “Cast A Giant Shadow” (1966).

Anekdot 2: Jumpa Dr Khir di Pejabat SUK Selangor, Shah Alam ketika beliau di puncak kuasa. Beliau dan kakitangannya berasa saya terlalu kritikal terhadap beliau. Waktu itu sudah timbul cakap-cakap yang tidak menyenangkan mengenai tindak-tanduk beliau. Saya mengingatkan Dr Khir agar berhati-hati sambil merujuk kepada “sumpahan” (curse) jawatan MB Selangor.

Akhirulkalam, bukan mudah menjadi saksi kepada sejarah dalam suasana di mana sejarah diabai dan dinafikan!

Wallahuaklam.

A Kadir Jasin

سْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ"In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful".

UPDATE, Oct 6 – Bernama reported a while ago that the Malay Rulers want the government to complete investigations relating to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) as soon as possible and take appropriate stern action against those found to be implicated.

In a statement, the Rulers stressed that all concerned should extend "real and sincere" cooperation in order for the investigation to achieve its objectives.

"The findings of the investigation must be reported comprehensively and in a transparent manner so that the people will be convinced of the sincerity of the government which shall not at all conceal facts and the truth," they said.

The statement was released by the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal, Datuk Seri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad, after the pre-council meeting of the Conference of Rulers at Istana Negara today. The 239th meeting of the Conference of Rulers is scheduled for two days from tomorrow.

The statement said: "The failure to give convincing clarifications and answers is feared to have resulted in a crisis of confidence.

ORIGINAL POST

A EUROPEAN Union (EU) diplomat, who proudly told me that he “attended” both the Yellow and the Red Shirts demonstrations in Kuala Lumpur recently, thought I was joking when I said Malaysia could be heading in the direction of Zimbabwe or, worse, Togo.

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That struck the cord immediately with him because before being posted to Malaysia, he spent several years in Zimbabwe. He ought to know much more than I do about Zimbabwe. My only trip to that land-locked east African nation was way back in the 1980’s to report on the Non Alliance Conference.

Then its leader, President Robert Mugabe was still celebrated as a hero and a nation builder. By our standard, Zimbabwe was poor but by African standard it was not. It was one of the best-developed post-colonial nations in Africa.

Today, Mugabe is 91 years old. He has been in power for 35 years – first as Prime Minister and later President. He is tyrannical. Zimbabwe’s economy has literally collapsed. It no longer has its own currency. The war that Mugabe helped to perpetuate killed as many as 30,000 of his own people and displacing many more.

The Zimbabwean dollar became a junk currency. Last June it was withdrawn from circulation because even Zimbabweans did not want it. Today the government’s official currency is the US dollar while South African rand, Indian rupee and Chinese yuan are widely used. Chinese yuan is accepted because China is Zimbabwe’s big brother while the US dollar is preferred because Zimbabwe’s trade is large denominated in that currency. Some say its is because many big men water land (orang besar tanah air) of Zimbabwe keep their haul in US dollar.

The worthless Zimbabwean currency

(Datuk Seri) Idris Jala, when he was a minister, warned that Malaysia could become like Greece if subsidy was not gradually phased out. Many people were upset with him. Then things were not as bad as today.

His warning proved prophetic. If the present political and economic crises are not immediately solved, we could become like Greece or worse like Zimbabwe and Togo.

A Spooked PM Won’t Not Go

The Prime Minister, (Datuk SeriMappadulung Daeng Mattimung Karaeng Sanrobone) Mohd Najib Abdul Razak refuses to resign, confidence in the economy is declining, the ringgit is plunging, cost of living is rising, capital is fleeing, the people are seething, Umno is fracturing and the Barisan Nasional is dying.

When Mohd Najib took power as Prime Minister and Finance Minister in 2009 the ringgit was doing well after Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi removed the peg in 2005. RM rose steadily to around 3.30 from 2011 to the middle of last year. Since a year ago, however, it had fallen to as low a 4.70.

There is so much that we can blame the external factors for our predicament. We are suffering a major confidence crisis and trust deficit. Our strong economic fundamentals are being ignored by investors because they do not have confidence in our government.

It is for the above reasons that I had braved the possibility of being condemned by suggesting that we should allow him safe passage. I am saying it again. Let’s give him a safe passage. Let's make it easier for him to leave.

We have to ask ourselves, which is more important - putting him on trial for alleged corruption or saving the country?

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad wasn’t stating anything new when he said, Mohd Najib won’t leave because he is afraid of being arrested and charged, and that the ringgit would recover if he resigns.

Want To Be Like Zimbabwe?

Do we want him to do the Mugabe by staying on at whatever cost while the economy heads towards the abyss? Or we allow him a safe passage?

Let us put aside our thirst for his blood and set our focus on saving our country from ruin. The longer the current situation persists, the worse it is for us.

Mohd Najib needs executive protection

We all know that he would do all he could to stay put. He may be putting a brave face at home and abroad but deep in his heart he knows the moment he resigns or losses control of the AG’s Chamber, the police, the MACC and Bank Negara, he would be arrested and charged.

We see that in his desperation to be accepted, he is trying to sound in sync with the rakyat. Take his most recent statement in New York that 1MDB’s business model was too idealistic and it went into heavy debt financing. That’s what we have been saying all along. With the ringgit in free fall, 1MDB’s debt could have risen way about the reported RM42 billion.

We will all be damned by the future generations if we do nothing to stop this rot. We should be gravely concerned about our present and about the future of our children and grandchildren.

We can wait for the next general elections in 2017 or 2018 to force him out. Even that is not a sure thing. He might still win and by then it might be too late for the country.

Look at our neighbour the Philippines. It used to be better than us. It took only one bad leader and his wife to ruin it. Marco had long gone but the Philippines has never really recovered from what he and his wife did.

The singing couple Marcos and Emelda: They ruined the Philippines

Marcos and his free-spending wife, Emelda would not have left on that night of Feb 25, 1986 had the US not guaranteed them their safety and President Corazon Aquino had not allowed them free passage.

Or our country could become like Togo. The west African country is the 26^thpoorest country in the world. But in April, less than a month after the UNDP issued a report stating that the people of Togo were the least happy people in the world, its President, Faure Gnassingbe, was re-elected for a third term. His family has been in power for 48 years. His father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, took power in a coup in 1967. All over the world bad leaders get re-elected by enslaving the people and manipulating the electoral process.

Akhirulqalam: Let me categorically state that not all people around Mohd Najib are bad and rude. Yes, some are very bad and extremely rude. But most are decent men and women who themselves are not in total agreement with him. I met a couple of them at a wedding reception in Putrajaya on Oct 3. Special thank to (Datuk) Rohana Mahmood.

Historical anecdote from the Philippines: Prime Minister Cesar Virata contacted President Cory Aquino by phone. Mr. Virata informed Mrs. Aquino that he had just gotten a phone message from the Americans requesting him to be the "honest broker" in negotiating the departure of Mr. Marcos "in safety" from the Palace. Malacañang was already besieged by angry crowd. Virata asked President Aquino if she wanted to impose any "conditions". Mrs. Aquino replied, "Tell him it's okay to go - my only condition is that he leave the country."

Footnote: If you have time, watch the movie “Turks and Caicos” on Astro’s Cinemax. It is about unscrupulous American contractors who conspired with a rogue British spy to overcharge the British Government, laundered their loot in Turks and Caicos, and set up a secret fund for the British Prime Minister who has the ambition of becoming an international statesman. Like Caymen Islands, Turk and Caicos is an offshore financial centre or tax haven.

Wallahuaklam.

A Kadir Jasin

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

“Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah lagi Maha Penyayang”

RAJA-RAJA Melayu telah bertitah.

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Pertama, mereka menitahkan agar kerajaan menyelesaikan secepat mungkin penyiasatan yang berkaitan dengan 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Kedua, mereka mahu tindakan sepatutnya dan tegas diambil ke atas orang-orang yang dibabitkan.

Menjunjung kasih Tuanku.

Kita mahu lihat sama ada kerajaan, bermula dengan Perdana Menteri (Datuk Seri Mappadulung Daeng Mattimung Karaeng Sanrobone) Mohd Najib Abdul Razak, akan mentaati perintah Raja-Raja Melayu itu atau menderhakainya.

Mohd Najib Orang Besar Pahang

Seyogia diingatkan, Mohd Najib bukan setakat Pahlawan Bugis, beliau juga adalah salah seorang Orang Besar Berempat Pahang. Pastinya beliau arif mengenai kedaulatan Raja-Raja.

Kita juga mahu lihat sama ada Peguam Negara (Tan Sri) Mohamed Apandi Bin Haji Ali, Ketua Polis Negara (Tan Sri)Khalid Abu Bakar, Ketua Pesuruhjaya, Suruhnjaya Pencegah Rasuah Malaysia (MACC) Abu Kassim Mohamed,Gabenor Bank Negara (Tan Sri) Zeti Akhtar Aziz dan Jawatankuasa Kira-Kira Wang Negara (PAC) taat kepada Raja-Raja Melayu atau setia dan takut kepada Mohd Najib.

Peranan Peguam Negara (Mohamed Apandi) amat penting

Bukan amalan harian bagi Majlis Raja-Raja mengeluarkan titah mengenai pentadbiran negara. Tetapi apabila ia mengeluarkan titah mengenai penyiasatan 1MDB, pastilah ia sangat mendesak dan diperlukan.

Dalam erti kata lain, Raja-Raja Melayu berasa tidak boleh berdian diri lagi.

Pertimbangkan fakta-fakta berikut yang terkandung dalam titah mereka yang diumumkan oleh Penyimpan Mohor Besar Raja-Raja Melayu, (Datuk Seri) Syed Danial Syed Ahmad semalam:

1. Raja-Raja Melayu menekankan peri pentingnya semua pihak yang terbabit memberikan kerjasama "sahih dan ikhlas" demi memastikan penyiasatan itu mencapai matlamat.

2. Hasil penyiasatan mesti dilaporkan secara terperinci dan telus supaya orang ramai yakin terhadap keikhlasan kerajaan tidak menyembunyikan fakta dan kebenaran.

3. Kegagalan memberi penjelasan dan jawapan yang meyakinkan dikhuatiri menyebabkan berlakunya krisis keyakinan.

Natijahnya, kecuali Mohd Najib dan para penyokong ekstrem beliau sudah hilang akal, "mereng" dan derhaka kepada Raja, mereka akan melakukan seperti yang dititahkan.

PERINGATAN: Mohon kerjasama dan persefahaman. Semua ulasan yang mengandungi unsur-unsur lèse-majesté tidak akan disiarkan.

Wallahuaklam.

A Kadir Jasin

سْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ"In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful"

I BELIEVED many rakyat were confused and angry at the statement by the Attorney General Chamber (AGC) rejecting Bank Negara’s recommendations for action against 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) “after finding no wrongdoing”.

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My understanding is, the AGC was referring to a wrongdoing specific to Bank Negara’s complaints but its statement gave the impression that the investigations against 1MDB had been completed and no wrongdoing was established.

Also the statement was issued in the name of the AGC and not the Attorney General, (Tan Sri) Mohamed Apandi Ali, himself.

Give Mohamed Apandi benefit of the doubt

I would not speculate that the statement was in response to the instruction (titah) by the Malay Rulers on Oct 6, urging the government "to complete investigations relating to 1MDB as soon as possible and take appropriate stern action against those found to be implicated".

Indeed the ACG’s statement had confused the people forcing it to issue a follow-up statement on Oct 8 stating “that the special task force formed to investigate 1MDB has never been dissolved or disbanded.” (Read here)

Mohamed Apandi may be new in the job but I believe he knows what the Malay Rulers know about the scandal engulfing 1MDB that implicates the Prime Minister, (Datuk Seri Mappadulung Daeng Mattimung Karaeng Sanrobone) Mohd Najib Abdul Razak.

We should give him the benefit of the doubt that despite coming through from the Umno background, he would act without fear and favour to uphold the rule of law and justice.

It would be delusional for a public servant as import as Mohamed Apandi to assume that the Malay Rulers are uninformed about the development surrounding 1MDB and the alleged complicity of the Prime Minister.

It would be an insult to the Rulers to think they issued a baseless statement just before the formal sitting of the Rulers Council on Oct 7.

Criminal Action

As for the reported criminal action against the Prime Minister, the general understanding is it concerns not 1MDB but another Finance Ministry company called SRC International Sdn Bhd (SCRI).

According to media reports, Mohd Najib and another person linked to SCRI were supposed to have been charged last July with misusing the company’s money amounting to RM42 million but did not take place when then Attorney General, (Tan Sri) Abdul Gani Patail, was removed supposedly hours before the case was brought to court. His term was prematurely terminated on July 28 on ground of poor health.

SCRI is a wholly-owned company of the Ministry of Finance of which Mohd Najib is the minister. It started life as a subsidiary of 1MDB but was placed directly under the Finance Ministry in February 2012.

It had taken a government-backed loan of RM4-billion from the civil service pension fund, the Kumpulan Wang Amanah Pencen (KWAP).

The alleged corruption case has nothing to do with the 1MDB RM42-billion debt or the RM2.6-billion “donation” that went into Mohd Najib’s personal accounts at AmBank – at least not yet.

A Global Investigation

The investigations into 1MDB affairs and the Prime Minister’s RM2.6-billion personal accounts are ongoing in Malaysia and in several sovereign jurisdictions like Singapore, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, the USA and Switzerland.

As such, even if the investigations in Malaysia were to be deliberately stalled or terminated, and the recommendations by the various investigating agencies were rejected, the investigations abroad are likely to continue.

Any about turn by Malaysia authorities might even strengthen the resolve of foreign investigators to uncover 1MDB’s money trails and their links to the Prime Minister and his associates.

Already several overseas bank accounts belonging to or associating with 1MDB have been frozen. To unfreeze these accounts, 1MDB and parties linked to it have to prove to that their money is clean.

Then there is the issue of the people wanted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) who had absconded from the country. To a layperson, these people have something grave to hide that they are willing to behave like fugitives and hiding in foreign lands.

Lawyer Nik Faisal "wanted" by MACC

If they have nothing to hide or if they are afraid of being charged, they should cooperate with the MACC and ask to become prosecution’s witnesses. But if they keep hiding and refusing to meet MACC, the impression will be created that they are hiding something or that they are guilty.

Jho Low: 1MDB's dealmaker

Three persons that MACC is interested to speak to are 1MDB’s dealmaker, Jho Low, lawyer Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil bin Nik Othman Ariff Kamiland civil service retiree, (Datuk) Suboh Mohd Yassin. The latter two are said to be hiding in Indonesia.

Suboh believes to be in Indonesia

Hopefully the AG and his charges would take the royal decree seriously or risk being accused of committing an act of "derhaka" (disloyalty).

Wallahuaklam.

A Kadir Jasin

سْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ"In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

A MALAYSIAN whistle-blower and his lawyer detained for their efforts to expose allegations of corruption against the prime minister were charged Monday with attempting to "sabotage" the banking sector, according to reports.

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Prime Minister Najib Razak faces mounting calls to explain massive sums of money allegedly missing from a state-owned development company he launched, as well as the revelation in July that nearly $700 million in mysterious transfers had been made to his personal bank accounts.

Khairuddin Abu Hassan, a former member of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), was arrested in September after launching an international campaign to expose the allegations. – Agence France Presse (More here).

Khairuddin and Chang in handcuffs.

Meanwhile, Malaysiakini reported that Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad today linked arms with rival Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah to condemn the use of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) against 1MDB critic Khairuddin Abu Hassan and his lawyer Matthias Chang.

In a joint statement clearly referring to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, the BN big guns said it was “shameful” for someone accused of a wrongdoing not to defend himself but to persecute others instead.

(From Left) Shafie, Muhyiddin, Dr Mahathir, Tengku Razaleigh, Sanusi and Ong

The statement was jointly issued by the Mahathir, Tengku Razaleigh, Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin, Umno vice-president Shafie Apdal, former Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Junid and former MCA presidents Ong Tee Keat and Dr Ling Liong Sik.

However, Ling was not at the press conference the others held in Putrajaya this morning.

“To the sound mind, the (Sosma arrests) show that when someone lodges a report on a wrongdoing, all laws will be used to cover-up that wrongdoing.

“Isn’t it shameful when someone who is accused of a crime does not do anything to prove his innocence, but instead the person lodging the report on the wrongdoing is arrested,” the BN big guns said. (More here).

Wallahuaklam.

A Kadir Jasin

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

“Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah lagi Maha Penyayang”

OLEH sebab ada pembesar kontemporari kita sangat bangga dengan asal-usul Jawanya, maka saya mulakan nukilan kali ini dengan mengemukakan tiga “hadangan” bagi orang-orang besar menurut kebijaksanaan orang Jawa.

Pertama, gemrincinging ringgit.

Kedua, gebyaring wentis kuning.

Ketiga, klubuking iwak ono kedung.

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Tiga halangan di atas amat tepat dan bermakna dalam konteks apa yang sedang berlaku di negara kita sekarang di mana wang, kuasa dan wanita memainkan peranan penting.

Oleh kerakusan kuasa, orang yang pada pandangan umum berusaha mencari kebenaran ditangkap, ditahan dan, pada 12 Oktober, dihadapkan ke mahkamah atas tuduhan “mensabotaj perkhidmatan perbankan dan kewangan negara”.

(Datuk Seri) Khairuddin Abu Hassan 53, dan peguam beliau, Matthias Chang Wen Chieh, 65, didakwa melakukan kesalahan itu di lima lokasi, iaitu pejabat Ketua Bahagian Jenayah Ekonomi dan Kewangan Peranchis di Paris, Balai Polis Charing Cross London, United Kingdom, pejabat Peguam Negara Switzerland di Bern, Balai Polis WaiChan, Hong Kong, dan ibu pejabat polis Cantoment, Singapura - antara 28 Jun hingga 26 Ogos tahun ini.

Mereka didakwa mengikut Seksyen 124L Kanun Keseksaan (Penal Code) yang jika sabit kesalahan boleh dihukum penjara sehingga 15 tahun. Hari ini, 13 Oktober, Peguam Negara (Tan Sri) Mohamed Apandi Ali, menjelaskan mereka tidak didakwa di bawa Akta Kesalahan Keselamatan (Langkah-Langkah Khas) 2012 (Sosma).

Khairuddin dan Chang Boleh Dedah Dalam Mahkamah

Mari kita sama-sama fikir, persoal dan pertimbangkan hal-hal berikut:-

1. Apakah usaha mendedahkan kemungkaran dan mencari kebenaran mengenai 1MBD dan penglibatan Perdana Menteri (Datuk Seri Mappadulung Daeng Mattimung Karaeng Sanrobone) Mohd Najib Abdul Razak adalah mensabotaj perkhidmatan perbankan dan kewangan negara?

2. Bukankah Khairuddin terlebih dahulu membuat aduan terhadap 1MDB dan Mohd Najib kepada Polis Diraja Malaysia, Suruhanjaya Pencegah Rasuah Malaysia dan kepada Bank Negara Malaysia?

[Berkenaan PDRM, saya sengaja menyebut nama penuhnya kerana saya ingin tahu sama ada ia masih taat dan setia kepada Raja atau itu hanya pada nama saja.]

3. Yang mana lebih berunsur “sabotaj” terhadap sistem perbankan dan kewangan negara – membuat laporan rasmi kepada PDRM, SPRM dan Bank Negara atau menyembunyikan maklumat keluar masuk wang RM2.6 bilion dalam akaun peribadi seseorang dan memberi maklumat palsu kepada Bank Negara?

4. Bagi ramai rakyat jelata, Khairuddin dan Chang adalah syuhada politik (political martyrs).

5. Pendakwaan Khairuddin dan Chang berkemungkinan memperkukuhkan azam agensi-agensi penyiasatan di Singapura, Hong Kong, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Perancis dan Amerika Syarikat menyiasat laporan terhadap 1MDB dan Mohd Najib. Mungkin lebih banyak akaun bank dan aset, termasuk kediaman, akan dibekukan.

6. Malaysia akan terus menjadi bahan persendaan masyarakat antarabangsa yang seterusnya memburukkan lagi ketidakyakinan terhadap pemerintahan dan ekonomi negara.

7. Agensi-agensi nasional dan internasional telah pun menampakkan sikap tidak ambil hirau (disdain) dan tidak yakin dengan tindak-tanduk agensi-agensi Malaysia. Ini terbukti apabila pihak berkuasa mata wang mereka membekukan akaun-akaun berkaitan 1MDB dan Polis Antarabangsa (Interpol) menolak permintaan PDRM agar mengeluarkan waran tangkap ke atas Pengarang Sarawak Report, Clare Rewcastle Brown. Polis Thailand pula tidak membenarkan Ketua Polis Negara (Tan Sri) Khalid Abu Bakar menemu bual bekas eksekutif PetroSaudi International (PSI), Xavier Andre Justo.

8. Negara-negara seperti Singapura dan Switzerland serta wilayah berautonomi Hong Kong amat tegas mengenai jenayah rasuah dan pembersihan wang haram (money laundering) manakala Amerika Syarikat sangat tegas terhadap pakatan untuk menipu (conspiracy to defraud).

9. Tindakan Mohamed Apandi merestui tuduhan terhadap Khairuddin dan Chang tetapi pada masa yang sama menolak perakuan pakar (expert recommendation) Bank Negara agar mendakwa 1MDB berkemungkinan memperkukuhkan lagi iltizam pegawai-pegawai SPRM dan Bank Negara serta kakitangan awam lain yang berintegriti untuk tidak tunduk kepada intimidasi.

Keputusan Mohamed Apandi Cetus Tindak Balas

10. Alhamdulillah, kita mula melihat makin ramai petugas awam kanan seperti Gabenor Bank Negara (Tan Sri) Zeti Akhtar Aziz, bekas Timbalan Pengarah Cawangan Khas, Datuk Abdul Hamid Bador dan Timbalan Ketua Pesuruhjaya SPRM yang baru bersara, (Datuk Seri) Zakaria Jaffar mula bercakap dan bertindak kerana mereka tidak mahu dituduh bersubahat melakukan kemungkaran. Kita berdoa tiada bala menimpa penjawat awam yang berani seperti Zeti.

11. Di arena politik, Umno sudah berpecah kepada dua puak – puak Mohd Najib dan puak Muhyiddin-Shafie.Di peringkat akar umbi pula, kepemimpinan bahagian dan cawangan tidak lagi berani angkat kepala kerana malu diherdik dan dipersendakan oleh ahli-ahli sendiri.

12. Barisan Nasional hanya wujud pada nama. Ramai perwakilan ke Persidangan Agung MCA baru-baru ini secara terbuka menggesa Mohd Najib meletakkan jawatan. MIC lumpuh akibat krisis dalaman. Di Sarawak, parti-parti suku kaum yang membentuk BN negeri mula bersuara mengenai autonomi dan menjauhkan diri daripada krisis pemerintahan pusat. Umno Sabah pun telah berpecah akibat pemecatan Shafie dan penonjolan musuh-musuh politik beliau.

13. Kem Mohd Najib serba salah. Mereka mahu menyingkir atau, setidak-tidaknya pun, meminggirkan Muhyiddin dan Shafie, tetapi tidak berani kerana mereka tidak yakin dengan kekuatan mereka sendiri. Duri dalam daging sudah bernanah.

14. Secara tersirat, pendakwaan terhadap Khairuddin dan Chang adalah “amaran” bahawa sesiapa saja yang membuat laporan rasmi membabitkan 1MDB dan Perdana Menteri berkemungkinan disiasat dan didakwa sebagai pensabotaj.

15. Soalnya, kalau membuat laporan, memberi maklumat dan menyerahkan dokumen kepada PDRM dan SPRM adalah sabotaj, bagaimana pula PDRM dan SPRM hendak mendapatkan kerjasama rakyat jelata dalam usaha mencegah jenayah dan membasmi rasuah?

Natijahnya, di sebalik jargon, slogan dan retorik seperti 1Malaysia, rakyat didahulukan, keterangkuman (inclusivess) dan kesederhanaan (moderate) terselit unsur-unsur ancaman yang mendalam dan menyeluruh.

Abdul Rauf jawab surat saya, terima kasih

Nota Kaki: Terima kasih kepada Setiausaha Kerja Umno Malaysia, (Datuk) Abdul Rauf Yusoh kerana menjawab surat saya. Harap-harap saudara masih ingat rumah terbuka “power” di kediaman saudara pada tahun 2008 apabila kita - termasuk Tun Dr Mahathir, Tun Daim Zainuddin dan Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin - hadir memberi sokongan kepada Mohd Najib sebagai bakal Perdana Menteri. Sejarah sewajarnya menjadi pengajar kita dan kebenaran menjadi landasan perjuangan kita.

Wallahuaklam.

A Kadir Jasin

سْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ"In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

THE NORTHERN states of the Peninsula have been affected by an outbreak of rabies. Some 1,000 dogs had been exterminated and several persons were reported to have been bitten.

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We thought we had eradicated rabies. Maybe we had but like malaria and polio, the dreaded disease appears to be making a comeback. That’s the price we have to pay for being negligent.

If you’re bitten by a dog, including “anjing persepit” (a trapped dog), and have the following symptoms - fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, agitation, anxiety, confusion, hyperactivity, difficulty swallowing, excessive salivation fear of water (hydrophobia) because of the difficulty in swallowing, hallucinations, insomnia and partial paralysis – you could have contracted rabies.

Please immediately get yourself to a hospital. Mantra, jampi and pooja are not known to cure this dreaded disease.

A rabid dog salivate excessively

But if you have not been bitten by a dog but experiences headache, anxiety and confusion, your affliction could have been caused by the extraordinary events now taking place in the country.

If your headache, anxiety and confusion continue for a long time and are not relieved by Panadol, please make a visit to your doctor.

If you nauseate, vomit and feel agitated, that could be due to being forced to watch TV3 news when you call on your friend who is a rabid supporter of Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Mappadulung Daeng Mattimung Karaeng Sanrobone) Mohd Najib Abdul Razak.

[Rabid in that sense is defined as “having or proceeding from an extreme or fanatical support of or belief in something”.]

But if you continue to nauseate, vomit and feel agitated after having a good cup of teh tarik and posted a stinging critique of TV3 on Facebook, please pay a visit to your doctor.

If you are a critic of Prime Minister and you have hallucinations, insomnia and partial paralysis after reading the mainstream media reports about 1MDB and the “tindak-tanduk” of the new Attorney General, (Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali), just take two Panadol tablets and a two-hour power nap.

But if your hallucinations, insomnia and partial paralysis persist, please pay a visit to your doctor.

When I was growing up in the kampung in Kedah in the 1950’s and 60’s, rabies was very common. We called it “penyakit anjing gila” (mad dog disease) and associated it with excessive salivation and fear of water (hydrophobia).

If you’ve not been bitten by a dog and have not seen the most voluptuous “tante” from the Minangkabau highlands of Sumatra but you salivate excessively, please pay a visit to your doctor.

She should cause any healthy man to salivate

On the other hand, if you have seen the most voluptuous “tante” from Minangkabau but you do not salivate excessively, please also pay a visit to your doctor. You could be experiencing impotency brought about by a “koro” curse.

Remembering My Uncle’s Dogs

Excessive discussion about dogs and rabies brings back memories of my teenage years when I would make trips to my auntie’s house in Selama, Perak during the durian season.

Her husband, Haji Abdul Wahab was the patriarch of a large Rawa clan. He was well respected because he owned a large durian orchard and many acres of rubber plantation. He was religious and because of his wealth he performed the Haj at a reasonably young age.

He kept several dogs to guard his farm from wild boars and his domestic animals from tigers, thieves and possibly communist terrorists.

Because Haji Abdul Wahab was well respected, his dogs too enjoyed the respect of his neighbours. Nobody would dare to venture into his property without first calling out his name and they would not dare taunt his dogs.

Blessed are the dogs whose owners are respected and revered!

Those days, the Malays did not show off their piety. They were not judgmental. Those with dusun, huma and kebun kept dogs. Dogs were “najis” (dirty) but they made no big issue about it. Of course they didn’t go crazy wanting to hug dogs.

They kept dogs for a purpose. There wasn’t such a thing as a lap dog. And a dog knew its place. A respectable dog earned its keep by driving away wild boars, tigers and thieves. It did not wag its tail and stick out its tongue to beg for handouts.

The Arabs keep dogs too. The best-known Arab canine breed is the saluki. They were superb desert hunters.

An Arab gentleman with his salukis and falcon

An Arab proverb says: “He is a gentleman. He grew up with the saluki”.

POST-SCRIPT: Since no debater raised any question about the Javanese wisdom I quoted in the last posting, I assume that there are no Javanese debaters in this blog or, if there are, they do not know Javanese. For the record, “gemrincinging ringgit” means money, gebyaring wentis kuning (women) and klubuking iwak ono kedung (power). According to this old Javanese wisdon, money, women and power are the causes of the undoing of powerful men.

Wallahuaklam.

A Kadir Jasin

سْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

“Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah lagi Maha Penyayang”

MULA-mula mohon maaf pasal lama tak siar rencana baru. Maklumlah apabila usia masuk kategori warga kanan (senior citizen) ada saja masalahnya – kalau tak besar, kecil.

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KEMUDIAN saya minta izin bincang hal 1MDB dalam bahasa paling mudah sebab takut ada lagi orang yang tak faham.

1. 1MDB diasaskan pada tahun 2008 sebagai Terengganu Investment Agency (TIA) dengan tujuan melabur hasil minyak negeri itu. Pada tahun 2009 ia ditukar jadi 1MDB. Dalam pengumuman pada 22 Julai, 2009, Perdana Menteri, (Datuk Seri Mappadulung Daeng Mattimung Karaeng Sanrobone) Mohd Najib Abdul Razak, kata TIA diubah jadi 1MDB dengan tujuan perluaskan faedah kepada seluruh rakyat Malaysia dan bukan Terengganu saja. Dengan itu, 1MDB jadi syarikat milik penuh Kementerian Kewangan di bawah kawalan lansung Perdana Menteri.

2. Low Taek Jho atau lebih dikenali sebagai Jho Low jadi agen bebas (free agent) sejak zaman TIA lagi dan tambah berpengaruh bila TIA jadi 1MDB. Dia anak kepada jutawan Cina Pulau Pinang, (Tan Sri) Larry Low Hock Peng. Larry Low adalah antara pengasas dan peneraju syarikat Malaysia Weaving Printing Dyeing Factory Limited yang sekarang dikenali sebagai WME Holdings Berhad. Nenek Jho Low, (Datuk) Low Meng Tak lahir di Guangdong, China pada tahun 1922 dan bina kekayaan di China, Thailand dan Malaysia melalui perlombongan bijih besi, pengilangan arak dan kemudiannya hartanah.

Jho Low, agen bebas 1MDB hidup mewah

3. Pada mulanya 1MDB didakwa sebagai tabung berdaulat (sovereign fund) tapi ditukar jadi syarikat pelaburan strategik (strategic investment company) setelah dihujahkan yang kita sudah pun ada tabung berdaulat, iaitu Khazanah Nasional Berhad (Khazanah).

4. Dengan modal permulaan RM1 juta, 1MDB berhutang besar-besaran dari dalam dan luar Negara. Sebahagian hutangnya dijamin oleh kerajaan. Ertinya kalau 1MDB tak mampu bayar balik atau muflis (bankrupt), pembayar cukailah yang kena tanggung bebannya. Silap-silap anak cucu kita pun kena juga. Sudah sekali ia tak mampu bayar hutang ikut masa. Terpaksa berhutang untuk bayar hutang. Siapa yang bagi hutang sampai hari ini masih samar-samar. Ada kata Arab. Ada kata Ananda Krishman. Ada kata kerajaan sendiri.

5. Cara 1MDB berniaga sangat menakjubkan. Dengan modal yang sangat kecil, ia berhutang dengan sangat besar. Laporan kewangan 1MDB tahun 2014 menunjukkan ia berhutang RM49 bilion dengan harta sebanyak RM52 bilion. [Dengan hutang sebanyak itu, kita boleh bina lima buah KLIA asal.]

6. Cara ia berhutang pun luar biasa. Contohnya pada tahun 2012/13 ia guna khidmat bank pelaburan Amerika, Goldman Sachs untuk pinjam AS$3 bilion (kira-kira RM13 bilion pada kadar tukaran sekarang). Yang anehnya 1MDB bagi komisen sampai AS$500 juta (RM2.1 bilion) kepada Goldman. Agensi berita ekonomi Amerika, Bloomberg laporkan pada 9 Mei 2013 bahawa komisen Goldman adalah kira-kira 7.7 peratus sedangkan kadar purata komisen bagi “junk bond” (bon sampah) adalah 1.32 peratus bagi tahun 2013. Adakah ini bermakna bon 1MDB lebih teruk daripada “junk bon” maka Goldman perlu dibagi komisen yang sangat tinggi? Dalam pasaran bon, lagi tinggi risiko, lagi murah harganya dan lagi tinggi komisennya sebab susah nak jual.

7. Rasanya tak ada syarikat dalam dunia yang nisbah antara modal dan hutang begitu luas macam 1MDB. Bila skandalnya mula didedahkan selepas Pilihan Raya Umum 2013, barulah 1MDB tambah modal (equity) kepada RM900 juta. Kemudian pada tahun 2014 ditambah lagi kepada RM2.4 bilion.

8. Walaupun modal RM2.4 bilion tu nampak banyak, tapi banding dengan hutang RM49 bilion, ia adalah kecil. Maksudnya 1MDB berhutang 20.4 kali ganda daripada modalnya. Ini sangat-sangatlah tinggi pasal nisbah purata hutang-kepada-modal (debt-to-equity-ratio) syarikat-syarikat yang diniagakan di Bursa Malaysia hanya satu setengah kali ganda saja.

10. Bila saya tanya pendapat seorang kawan yang bekerja sebagai penyelidik ekonomi, dia kata, ini samalah dengan seorang penjaja yang ada modal RM2,000 tapi pergi bank minta pinjam RM40,000. Tak masuk akal dan tak ada bank yang akan bagi.

Penjaja, sukar bank nak layan

11. Kemudian 1MDB beli harta di dalam dan luar negara daripada penjual swasta dengar harga tinggi. Jauh lebih mahal daripada harga pasaran. Inilah sebabnya orang yang tahu hal ehwal perniagaan syak ada urusan belakang tirai di antara pembeli dan penjual.

12. Tapi bila 1MDB beli harta kerajaan macam tanah, ia bayar harga yang sangat murah. Ada tanah kerajaan di Kuala Lumpur dibeli dengan harga RM64 sekaki persegi yang kemudiannya dijual kepada Tabung Haji dengan harga 43 kali ganda lebih tinggi. Kerajaan rugi pendapatan, 1MDB buat duit atas angin dan Tabung Haji kena kutuk sampai terpaksa buat dusta.

13. Dari segi moral, ini sudah boleh dikira salah guna kuasa dan dari segi undang-undang pula ia boleh dianggap pakatan untuk menipu kerana negara hilang peluang untuk dapat hasil yang lebih tinggi. Dalam bahasa Inggeris, perbuatan ini disebut “conspiracy to defraud”.

14. Perdana Menteri dan para pelindung serta pembela beliau boleh bagi macam-macam alasan dan guna macam-macam muslihat untuk sembunyi kebenaran, tapi satu dunia sudah tahu. Apatah lagi ramai pembela terkini Perdana Menteri kurang kredibiliti.

15. Kalau tak ada bukti dan syak wasangka yang kuat, macam mana pihak berkuasa jenayah, kewangan dan perbankan di Singapura, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, Switzerland, United Kingdom dan Amerika Syarikat telah membuka siasatan ke atas 1MDB dan membekukan beberapa akaun yang bersangkut-paut dengannya?

16. Kalau semua laporan media mengenai penglibatan Mohd Najib dalam skandal 1MDB fitnah dan dusta, pasal apa Mohd Najib dan peguam-peguamnya hanya gertak nak saman tapi tak saman?

Propaganda Utusan tidak tepat, PM tak saman

17. Kalau beliau berani kerana beliau berada di pihak yang benar, pasal apa guna Kanun Keseksaan (Penal Code) ke atas (Datuk Seri) Khairuddin Abu Hassan dan peguamnya, Matthias Chang – mengapa tidak kemukakan saman malu ke atas mereka?

18. Selain kejatuhan harga minyak mentah dan kelembapan ekonomi dunia, semua orang tahu bahawa nilai ringgit merudum kerana skandal 1MDB dan kurang keyakinan kepada kerajaan pimpinan Mohd Najib.

19. Natijahnya, katalah apa nak kata berkenaan 1MDB, tapi orang yang tahu berkenaan urus niaga korporat, kewangan, perbankan dan undang-undang tak akan percaya.

20. Tak keterlaluan kalau kita ibaratkan 1MDB sebagai gajah Tok Mia yang kena penyakit EEHV (elephant endotheliotropic herpesviruses) yang keluarkan bau busuk. Simbahlah dengan minyak wangi paling mahal dari Paris atau Milan baunya tak hilang juga. Hatta minyak wangi Amouage yang diuar-uarkan sebagai minyak wangi paling mahal di dunia itu tak berkesan lagi. Lapan puluh peratus gajah yang kena penyakit ini mati.

21. Serentak itu, jentera propaganda Umno, kerajaan dan 1MDB semakin hari semakin hilang kewibawaan apabila mereka disaman, khususnya oleh pembangkang, dan kalah perbicaraan, terpaksa memohon maaf dan bayar ratusan ribu ringgit ganti rugi.

Main stream media lost repeatedly

22. Malangnya bagi Malaysia dan rakyat jelatanya, apabila Mohd Najib bentangkan Belanjawan 2016 Jumaat ini, berapa ramai akan percaya. Kalau pelabur dan pengguna tak yakin, mereka tak melabur dan tak beli-belah. Bila mereka tak labur dan tak berbelanja, tak adalah “private consumption”. Private comsumption adalah penggerak ekonomi negara. Kalau kerajaan hendak berbelanja, ia terpaksa berhutang. Tapi macam mana nak berhutang apabila hutang kerajaan sudah sampai had maksimum berbanding keluaran dalam negara kasar.

Wallahuaklam.

A Kadir Jasin

سْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

“Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah lagi Maha Penyayang”

BELANJAWAN 2016 yang dibentangkan oleh Menteri Kewangan, (Datuk Seri Mappadulung Daeng Mattimung Karaeng Sanrobone) Mohd Najib Abdul Razak semalam dapat sambutan “banget” hangat daripada para Yang Berhormat Pembangkang.

Sebaik saja Mohd Najib, yang juga Perdana Menteri, tamatkan ucapan 90 minit beliau, para YB pembangkang itu menaikkan sepanduk berbunyi ‘Mana RM2.6 bilion’.

PAS tak tanya mana RM2.6 bilion

PAS tak tanya. Boleh jadi para ulama PAS tahu Arab mana yang bagi “sadakah” itu dan di mana duit itu atau bakinya disimpan.

[Untuk liputan Belanjawan 2016, sila baca The Star, Utusan Malaysia, New Straits Times dan Berita Harian.]

Wallahuaklam.

A Kadir Jasin

سْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ“Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah lagi Maha Penyayang”

PADA hari Jumaat 23 Oktober, hari Menteri Kewangan merangkap Perdana Menteri, (Datuk Seri Mappadulung Daeng Mattimung Karaeng Sanrobone) Mohd Najib Abdul Razak membentangkan Belanjawan 2016, Bursa Malaysia naik 0.34 peratus.

Waktu pasaran tutup, butir-butir belanjawan belum diumumkan tapi pasaran naik sebab pelabur mengharapkan sesuatu yang positif daripada Belanjawan.

Pasaran saham adalah penanda aras atau kayu ukur terawal sama ada pelabur yakin atau tidak dengan butir-butir serta janji-janji Belanjawan.

Nampaknya tidak. Apabila Bursa Malaysia diniagakan buat hari pertama selepas Belanjawan pada hari Isnin, 26 Oktober ia jatuh 0.24 peratus.

Mohd Najib peruntuk RM20 bilion kepada ValueCap

[Saya pun mahu pasaran saham naik sebab sebahagian simpanan persaraan saya adalah dalam bentuk saham. Hatta KWSP, KWAP, ASB serta banyak lagi tabung pelaburan turut melabur di pasaran saham untuk cari keuntungan. Bila saham merudum, semua menderita.]

Pasaran terus jatuh walaupun pada 14 September lalu, Mohd Najib telah memperuntukkan RM20 bilion kepada tabung permodalan ValueCap untuk membeli saham di Bursa Malaysia.

Dalam bahasa yang mudah, pelabur swasta di Bursa Malaysia tidak mendapati apa-apa yang menarik dan meyakinkan dalam Belanjawan 2016 untuk membeli saham tambahan.

Ini tidaklah memeranjatkan kerana pasaran saham Malaysia telah jatuh merudum sejak lebih setahun kerana pelabur tempatan dan asing telah hilang keyakinan.

Antara 31 Disember tahun lepas dengan 17 Oktober lalu, Bursa Malaysia merudum 20.5 peratus dalam mata wang dolar Amerika dan 4.1 peratus dalam ringgit.

Saya tahu, beberapa kerat anggota kabinet yang berakal macam (Datuk Seri) Abdul Wahid Omar, tahu betapa goyahnya kedudukan politik, ekonomi dan kewangan negara kita sejak meletusnya skandal 1MDB dan SRC International, tetapi mereka tidak berani bersuara dan bertindak kerana sudah diikat dan dikunci.

Wallahuaklam.

A Kadir Jasin

سْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ"In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

PROLOGUE: The former Perak Menteri Besar, (Datuk Seri) Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin has apologised to Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Mappadulung Daeng Mattimung Karaeng Sanrobone) Mohd Najib Abdul Razak Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak over a disparaging remark he made in 2012. – The Star Online.

***

THE KULAI, Johor Member of Parliament, Teo Nie Ching had described as downright “appalling” the leniency shown by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) towards two directors of SRC International.

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The two persons referred to by the DAP lawmaker are lawyer Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil and former top civil servant (Datuk) Suboh Md Yasin. They are wanted in the corruption probe implicating the Prime Minister.

From left: Suboh, Nik Faisal and Jho Low in MACC "wanted" poster

Among the many questions begging answers are:

1. Is it true that Mohd Najib and possibly the two “missing” persons ware on the verge of being charge for allegedly misappropriating RM42 million belonging to SRC International when then Attorney General, (Tan Sri) Abdul Gani Patail, was abruptly relieved of his job on July 27 last?

2. Did Nik Faisal and Suboh lelf the country on their own free will or were they told to leave the country when the news of their impending arrest by the MACC leaked out?

3. It is true that Nik Faisal and Suboh are hiding in Indonesia under the protection and patronage of some very influential people there?

4. Is it true that the two fugitives are willing to meet the MACC investigators in a foreign country (not Indonesia) but “were stopped” by their “handlers” in Malaysia?

Teo also described as “ridiculous and completely unacceptable” Mohd Najib’s explanation that the two men were absence because they were “making preparations to be interviewed by MACC soonest.

It is widely believed that the Nik Faisal Suboh are under some sorts of “protective custody” in Indonesia to avoid them from talking to the MACC or being clandestinely shanghaied by the latter.

I can believe the theory that they are in the protection of some powerful Indonesia personalities but I cannot believe that the MACC would dare risk a diplomatic scandal by clandestinely apprehending and transporting the two back to Malaysia.

The Malays have a proverb that says “berani kerana benar, takut kerana salah.” Roughly translated it means you dare because you’re in the right and you fear because you’re in the wrong.

Logically, since these two men are Malays and Muslims, they should not run away if they have not done anything wrong. But the very fact that they absconded from the country suggests that they have something to hide.

If they have nothing to hide and are free to act on their own, they should clear their names and the good name of their families by presenting themselves to the MACC.

They have been missing since July. The MACC issued an appeal by the latter on August 22 requesting them to present themselves for interviews.

DAP MP Teo wants Mohd Najib to act

Speaking at a press conference at the Parliament House on Oct. 29, Teo said it was unheard of that preparations for an interview should take three months and demanded Najib take stern action against them immediately, failing which their absence would be seen as being “sanctioned” by him.

The talk about these people and others - like 1MDB’s President Arul Kanda Kandasamy and Jho Low - needing time to prepare for the MACC interviews could be a delaying tactic to give 1MDB enough time to restructure and regularize its books.

The fact that Nik Faisal and Suboh are wanted in connection with SRC International and absconded strengthens the assumption that it was the SRC International’s case that Abdul Gani was brining to court when he was unceremoniously booted out.

Abdul Gani Blinked

Abdul Gani could have made a tactical error by hesitating and by consulting too many people in his decision-making.

He was believed to have consulted several Malay Rulers, former law and legal officers and retired Umno/Barisan National leaders for guidance and consent.

Abdul Gani and Mohd Najib during happier days

When he was ready and rearing to go, some of these people had second thought about the timing of the action, including the Ramadhan fasting and the Hari Raya Aidifitri that followed.

Now Abdul Gani is gone and his lips are “sealed” for reasons that only he knows, the SRC International’s legal case is unlikely to see daylight anytime soon.

Abdul Gani's successor, (Tan Sri) Mohamed Apandi Ali, is unlikely to reopen the case. He has given us the preview of what is to come when he shot down Bank Negara’s recommendation to charge 1MDB for forex offences.

Apandi had already shot down Bank Negara's recommendations

His stand and stance should not surprise us if we take into account his past involvement in politics and the circumstances in which he was appointment AG.

The Economy Stalls

In the meantime, confidence in the government and thus in the economy continues to decline. The stock market – the indicator of investors’ confidence – tumbled after Mohd Najib presented his 2016 Budget on Oct. 23.

Even the mighty EPF is cautious. It is unsure about meeting its annual dividend target of inflation plus two per cent “due to volatile market movements since the middle of this year”, according to its CEO, (Datuk) Shahril Ridza Ridzuan.

Felda Global Ventures Berhad – Mohd Najib’s post- 2013 General Election corporate coup – is as good as a junk stock. In the last one year, its share price had fallen by almost 52 percent. It is now trading below RM1.80. Its 2012 IPO price was RM4.55 and it opened trading at RM5.39. FGV is the lifeblood of Felda settlers and Mohd Najib is their mentor.

EPILOGUE: – Prime Minister has filed a defamation lawsuit against former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik.On October 5, Najib demanded that Dr Ling apologise and retract remarks reported in the press that claimed the prime minister “has taken people’s money and put it in his own personal accounts.” – The Malay Mail Online.

Wallahuaklam.

A Kadir Jasin

سْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ“Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah lagi Maha Penyayang”

SAYA telah bercerita mengenai anjing dalam kaitan dengan penyakit anjing gila (rabies) dan kesetiaan anjing kepada tuannya.

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Alhamdulillah, nampaknya penyakit anjing gila yang melanda negeri-negeri barat laut Semenanjung sudah dapat dikawal. Sebenarnya kita ada kepakaran cuma ramai yang diberi amanah malas, alpa, cuai, seleweng dan rasuah.

Kemudian sekarang berlaku pula wabak kepialu (typhoid). Adoi, bala demi bala melanda negara kita di bawah pemerintahan Perdana Menteri Mappadulung Daeng Mattimung Karaeng Sanrobone. Silap-silap ebola pun dibawa masuk juga.

Kali ini saya akan bercerita mengenai kerbau pula. Dalam banyak budaya, kerbau sering digambarkan sebagai haiwan bodoh, bengis dan bertindak membabi buta. Babi buta sondoi (rempuh) sana sondoi sini.

Dalam bahasa Melayu, ada kiasan berbunyi “seekor kerbau bawa lumpur habis semua terpalit” yang merujuk kepada seorang anggota masyarakat yang membuat jahat menyebabkan nama semua anggota masyarakat tercemar.

Kerbau berkubang untuk kesihatan

Dalam bahasa Inggeris pula ada ungkapan “bull (kerbau atau lembu jantan) in a china shop” yang menyamakan seorang yang berang dan bertindak liar dengan seekor kerbau atau lembu jantan dalam kedai menjual barang-barang porselin.

Perangai dan amalan manusia dan kerbau sepatutnya berbeza. Kerbau berlumpur perkara biasa tetapi manusia yang tercemar namanya patut dijauhi.

Kerbau berkubang dan membalut badannya dengan lumpur untuk beberapa tujuan. Pertama menyejukkan badan. Kedua menyekat gigitan lalat. Ketiga melemaskan kutu dan keempat mematikan berengga (maggots).

Jadi kerbau membawa lumpur bukanlah perbuatan kotor. Itu tabiat semula jadi kerbau. Tapi manusia membuat kejahatan itu tidak baik. Lagi-lagilah apabila kemungkarannya itu membusukkan nama ibu bapa, keturunan, masyarakat, bangsa dan agamanya.

Saya boleh bercakap dengan yakin mengenai kerbau kerana sebagai anak pesawah, saya menolong nenek dan ayah saya memelihara kerbau.

Ada waktunya, pada tahun 1950-an dan 60-an, keluarga saya memelihara hingga 30 ekor kerbau dan lembu. Bila diserang wabak penyakit kuku dan mulut, habis mati.

Kerbau Haiwan Kuasa Ibu

Kalau kita baca jurnal saintifik atau menonton saluran pendidikan di TV, kita akan tahu bahawa kerbau adalah haiwan “matriarchal” iaitu haiwan yang dipimpin oleh haiwan betina – selalunya ibu paling kanan dalam satu-satu kumpulan.

Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu DBP menterjemahkan “matriarchal/matriarchy) sebagai kuasa ibu.

Ibu kerbau inilah yang memandu kumpulannya mencari rumput, tempat minum dan mandi serta tempat beristirahat.

Dalam masyarakat manusia pun ada masyarakat kuasa ibu di mana wanita memimpin. Antaranya adalah Minangkabau (Sumatra), Mosui (Tibet), Akan (Ghana), Bribri (Costa Rica), Garo (India) dan Nagovisi (Bougainville).

Wanita Minangkabau berkuasa ke atas masyarakatnya

Tapi ada perbezaan antara tunduk kepada sistem kuasa ibu dengan takut kepada wanita atau lebih tepat, takut kepada bini. Dalam kumpulan kerbau, kerbau jantan tidak takut kepada kerbau betina, hatta kerbau betina yang jadi matriarch.

Tabiat kerbau jantan menyendiri. Ia masuk kumpulan hanya ketika mengawan. Habis mengawan ia pun keluar kumpulan. Tapi ia akan berlaga dengan kerbau jantan lain, kadang kala sampai mati, untuk mempertahankan haknya mengawan dengan kerbau-kerbau betina dalam kumpulannya.

Memang betul kerbau boleh dijinakkan dan diperhamba. Caranya adalah dengan mengurungnya di dalam kandang dan memberinya makan rumput atau jerami untuk beberapa hari. Apabila ia cukup jinak, cucuk hidungnya dan ikat dengan tali.

Manusia jenis itu diibaratkan seperti kerbau dicucuk hidung. Mereka akan turut perintah dan buat apa saja yang diperintahkan oleh orang memberi mereka makan.

Wanita menarik kerbau yang dicucuk hidung

Manakala yang “macho” atau berlagak jantan jadilah mereka macam “bull in the china shop” yang akan menyondol apa saja tanpa mempedulikan buruk baiknya.

Kerbau yang dicucuk hidung ini kalau tidak ditambat pun ia tidak akan merayau jauh. Bila petang baliklah ia ke kandang. Lagi mudah ia balik dan masuk kandang kalau disediakan rumput atau jerami.

Selain membajak sawah ia boleh diajar menarik kereta atau anor (sledge). Kalau mahu dan berani, kita boleh menunggangnya. Jadilah ia kerbau tunggangan.

Kerbau jinak boleh ditunggang

Maaflah kalau saya kata, dalam arena politik, pentadbiran awam dan media massa di negara kita sekarang ada banyak manusia yang wataknya macam yang disebutkan di atas.

Wallahuaklam.

A Kadir Jasin

سْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ"In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

I HAVE resisted the temptation to comment on issues raised by the likes of (Datuk Seri Panglima) Salleh Said Keruak, (Datuk) Abdul Rahman Dahlan and (Datuk Seri) Mohd Nazri Aziz.

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This is not because the issues they raised were uninteresting or irrelevant but rather the way they put forth their arguments baffles me. I am mortally fearful that their level of intellect far outstrips mine, being the country yokel that I am.

Furthermore, these men are extraordinary and plenipotentiaryspokesmen of the Prime Minister, (Datuk Seri Mappadulung Daeng Mattimung Karaeng Sanrobone) Mohd Najib Abdul Razak.

But when the Sabahan Salleh wrote in his blog on Nov 2, saying that former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had made serious allegations that Mohd Najib Razak had sabotaged the country’s banking and finance systems but failed to offer solid explanation, temptation took the better of me.

The Sabah Factor: Mohd Najib, Musa Aman (Sabah CM) and Salleh

Either Salleh has not been reading what Dr Mahathir had written in his blog and said in public or if he did, he didn’t understand. If the latter is the case, I won’t blame Salleh.

He could have difficulty comprehending what Dr Mahathir (the Prime Minister for 22 years) had written and said because the latter wrote and spoke simply and precisely whereas Salleh, being Canadian-educated and all, may be more familiar with the Shakespearean English.

For the record, Salleh was for a short period the Chief Minister of Sabah under Dr Mahathir. Could he have an axe to grind with his former boss?

My peasant response to Salleh is this. If indeed Dr Mahathir is big on allegations but small on details, he should tell us who is big on details.

Ask PM to Go to Court

My layman’s hunch is that man is none other than Mohd Najib himself. SRC International and 1Malaysia Development Berhad are his creation and his corporate play.

If indeed Dr Mahathir allegations, which are shared by the majority of Malaysians, are indeed farcical, Salleh should prevail on the Prime Minister to clear his name in the court of law instead of groaning and moaning about being unfairly tried in the court of public opinion.

Presumably Salleh is influential with the Prime Minister. He should use that special relationship to advise Mohd Najib to either sue Dr Mahathir or instruct the Attorney General, (Tan Sri) Mohamed Apandi Ali to take the SRC International’s case to court.

Direct Apandi to charge Mohd Najib

Mohd Najib should have no problem submitting to the country’s judicial system in order to clear his name once and for all.

Surely he has enough faith in the country’s judiciary to give him a fair hearing. All that he and his brilliant lawyers have to do is raise reasonable doubt against the charge and he goes scot-free.

After all, only a few days ago that the Prime Minister’s Department (PMO) issued a statementdefending the judiciary against the attack by the United Nations’ Working Group on Arbitrary Detention over its condemnation of the jailing of former Opposition Leader, (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim.

Even his lawyers want him to file a defamation suit against the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) in Malaysia instead of in the US, where the newspaper is based.

Leadership by Example

He should start the ball rolling by submitting himself to a Malaysian court to clear his name over the corruption allegations involving the RCI International’s money once and for all.

All that Mohd Najib’s believers like Salleh, Abdul Rahman, Mohd Nazri, (Datuk Seri) Ismail Sabri Yaakob, (Datuk) Azalina Othman Said, (Datuk) Ahmad Maslan and (Datuk) Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi have to do is to ask him to instruct the AG to charge him with the SRC International case.

In that way he could clear his name and prove once and for all what a big liar Dr Mahathir is.

Isn’t that brilliant?

He would be killing three birds with one stone – clearing his name, discrediting Dr Mahathir forever and bringing back confidence in his administration, which his own brother said is lacking (read here).

I rest my case.

Wallahuaklam.

A Kadir Jasin

سْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ“Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah lagi Maha Penyayang”

SEPERTI Julius Caesar, Emperor Rom, yang membawa bala tenteranya menyeberangi Sungai Rubicon pada tahun 49 SM, kita di Malaysia pun sudah melakukan hal yang sama.

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Tetapi janganlah kita berasa terlalu sombong, mendabik dada berkata: “Aku sudah menyeberangi Rubicon.”

Kita terpaksa menyeberangi Rubicon kerana Perdana Menteri, (Datuk Seri Mappadulung Daeng Mattimung Karaeng Sanrobone) Mohd Najib Abdul Razak telah terlebih dulu menyeberanginya.

Julius Caesar Menyeberangi Rubicon

Beliaulah menyeberangi Rubicon apabila beliau merujuk kepada kebijaksanaan Bugis yang berbunyi, sekali layar terkembang pantang biduk surut ke pantai.

Dalam bahasa Bugis, "kualleangi tallanga natowalia" atau dalam bahasa Melayu Indonesia, lebih kupilih tenggelam (di lautan) daripada harus kembali lagi (ke pantai)". (Daripada blog http://ila-galigo.blogspot.my).

Oleh sebab sebahagian daripada kita kini menjejaki dan menghambat beliau maka kita juga terpaksa ikut menyeberangi Rubicon.

Kita juga terpaksa mengikrarkan apa yang Julius Caesar ikrarkan apabila tenteranya menyeberangi Rubicon. Kata Caesar: “alea iacta est.” Acuan tekan sudah dituang maka terpaksalah kita menerima bentuknya.

Kita sudah berusaha sedaya upaya mengubah keadaan demi menyelamatkan negara kita berlandaskan kebijaksanaan semasa (conventional wisdom). Tetapi kita gagal kerana Mohd Najib tidak berjuang di atas landasan yang sama.

Conventional wisdom nampaknya tidak ada tempat dalam strategi dan tindak-tanduk beliau. Sebaliknya beliau bertindak di luar konvensyen dan kebijaksanaan semata-mata untuk menyelamatkan diri.

Kita terpaksa akur kepada apa yang sedang berlaku, iaitu sesuatu yang belum pernah kita lalui sejak merdeka pada tahun 1957. Kita bermain bola di atas padang yang tidak rata, pengadilnya berat sebelah dan kedudukan gol diubah-ubah.

Berfikir Secara Tidak Konvensional

Dalam situasi itu, kita perlu memikirkan kemungkinan-kemungkinan berikut:

1. Kita terpaksa akur kepada hakikat bahawa Mohd Najib tidak akan meletakkan jawatan dan kita tidak dapat melakukan apa-apa sehingga Pilihan Raya Umum (PRU) diadakan.

2. Kita terpaksa menyediakan minda untuk menerima kemungkinan usaha dilakukan untuk menangguhkan PRU sekiranya Mohd Najib dan konco-konco beliau berasa mereka akan kalah.

3. Kita jangan sekali-kali melakukan hal-hal yang boleh dijadikan alasan oleh Mohd Najib dan konco-konco beliau untuk tidak mengadakan PRU.

4. Sekiranya PRU diadakan, kita perlu melihat ke hadapan melepasi Mohd Najib dan hegemoni Umno/Barisan Nasional.

5. Kita perlu melihat ke satu era baru di mana Umno/BN bukan lagi tempat bergantung kerana Umno dan BN di bawah kepemimpinan sekarang tidak lagi terangkum (incusive) dan peduli kepada kepentingan rakyat jelata. Mereka bertindak seolah-olah mereka “lord and master of the universe.”

6. Kita perlu memikirkan politik yang lebih Malaysia, buta warna, berpaksikan kemanusiaan, ketamadunan dan keluhuran Perlembagaan.

7. Dalam masa terdekat, kita juga perlu memikirkan pewujudan gerakan massa non-partisan yang menggabungkan penggiat dan pesara daripada segala aliran - politik, agama, profesional, cendekiawan, usahawan, pesara tentera dan polis, pemimpin pelajar, badan-badan bukan kerajaan dan sesiapa saja yang komited menyelamatkan Malaysia.

8. Kita perlu mempamerkan kepada dunia yang semakin tidak percaya kepada negara kita bahawa kita peduli dan akan melakukan apa saja bagi menyelamatkan negara kita. Insya-Allah.

Nota: Kepada yang berminat memahami lanjut sebab mengapa saya menguar-uarkan gelaran Mappadulung Daeng Mattimung Karaeng Sanrobone, sila baca di sini.

Makam Sultan Hasanuddin, Raja Gowa, Sulawesi

Wallahuaklam.

A Kadir Jasin

سْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ"In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

I AM no fan of the United States of America, but I have great respect for International Trade and Industry Minister, (Datuk Seri) Mustapa Mohamed.

My last trip to the US, the land of hope and opportunity, where poverty rate in 2014 was 14.8 percent and 46.7 million people lived below poverty, was in 2002.

Two of my children attended university there and in 2002, when visiting one of them, I was held incommunicado at the Des Moines International Airport, Iowa, for almost four hours because my name is “Bin Jasin” and I bought my ticket cash. I was released only when the local FBI Station Chief confirmed that I was not on the US terrorist list.

Mustapa is a friend. He was a scholar when I first came to know him back in the 1980’s. He had just been appointed political secretary to then Finance Minister, Tun Daim Zainuddin.

He is one of the few “clean” politicians that I have had the good fortune of knowing in my 46-year career as a journalist. He is a committeeman, straight as an arrow and totally loyal to the boss.

Many may not know that back when he was serving Daim, he played an important role as a backroom operator in helping to expand the Bumiputera business community.

But that brilliant civil record is about to be put to the ultimate test as and when the Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership Agreement (TPPA) comes into force. The agreement had been agreed upon last month but needs ratification of member countries. We have been promised that the agreement would be tabled for debate in the Parliament before we ratify it.

Mustapa (sixth from left) is our chief TPPA negotiator

Mustapa is our chief negotiator in the controversial and widely opposed agreement. If we fail to benefit tangibly from it or, worse still, if we lose, Mustapa has to bear the blame.

I will be the first to condemn him.

I don’t care much about the stance of Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Mappadulung Daeng Mattimung Karaeng Sanrobone) Mohd Najib Abdul Razak on the agreement.

His fascination with the US and his closeness to his golf buddy, President Barrack Obama, might have dulled his sensitivity to interest of the country. Also, he may not know a lot about TPPA.

Mohd Najib Golfing with Obama during last year's big floods

US the Biggest Winner

Parallel to the TPPA is the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, which the US has been negotiating with European Union since 2013.

These two transoceanic agreements would literally make the US the centre of the global, not just in trade but also in territorial sovereignty and defence.

Let us hope that Mustapa is telling us the truth and his assurances are well founded.

For now, the biggest and surest winner is the US. TPPA is the US answer to its dwindling position as an economic superpower. The US is under threat of losing its position as the world’s largest economy to China.

This is happening at the time when its military hegemony is being challenged by China and Russia. Some statistics have suggested that the US had already lost its economic dominance to China.

The TPPA, without China as a signatory, would once again bolster its dominance and help keep China at bay, at least temporarily.

What is not often known or taken cognizant of is the fact that the US is also the largest country territorially. The US landmass may not be the biggest in the world, but the Law of the Sea Conference gave the US a vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Today, the US maintains sovereign rights over more marine areas than any other country in the world. Its underwater holdings totalled 4.69 million sq miles. Its closest rival, France has 3.93 million sq miles, followed by Australia 3.5 million sq miles, Russia 2.97 sq miles, UK 2.62 sq miles and New Zealand 2.59 sq miles.

The TPPA will also bolter the US industries. Many US industries are either dying or are undergoing massive structural changes. Pharmaceutical is among them. With ageing population and the growing consumers preference for biology-based medicines, the chemistry-based US pharmaceutical industry is losing its domestic market.

So one way of ensuring survival is to force the developing countries to ban generic medicines and produce patented ones. We may end up paying hefty royalties for their patents while their pharmaceutical giants gain unlimited access to our treasure trove of herbal plants and organisms.

Even the so-called concessions and exclusions supposedly given to the developing member countries are not a guarantee. They could be subjected to re-interpretation at the point of implementation.

Also it would be dangerous for us to side with the US and its allies in an agreement that does not include China. The US is not our largest trading partner. It comes fourth after Singapore, China and Japan.

Thus it serves us well be mindful of the promises Mustapa makes because even Americans, including Nobel Prize winner, Joseph Stiglitz, had warned about TPPA’s pitfalls for the developing countries. Read Here.

Wallahuakkam.

A Kadir Jasin

سْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ"In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) would have to interview the Prime Minister, (Datuk Seri Mappadulung Daeng Mattimung Karaeng Sanrobone) Mohd Najib Abdul Razak,before the year runs out, decreed the Attorney General(Tan Sri) Mohamed Apandi Ali.

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He told the Malaysian Insider (MI) news portal yesterday that the MACC has until the end of this year to record Mohd Najib’s statement on the RM2.6-billion “donation” he received and credited into his personal bank accounts.

He said the investigation into that alleged donation must also be wrapped up by then.

Mohamed Apandi Ordered PM Interviewed

The fact that Mohamed Apandi gave the interview to MI is in itself significant. Apart from the need to clear his own name, the choice of the independent portal as a medium suggests that he is serious about his instruction to the MACC.

Surely he knows that MI is not likely to dance to his tune. If he goes back on his words, the portal would go to town to unclothe him. (More here).

Mohamed Apandi told MI that he had directed the MACC to complete its investigations into SRC International Sdn Bhd and the RM2.6 billion “donation” that went into Mohd Najib’s personal accounts before year end as he took the public's concerns seriously.

Mohamed Apandi said he had informed the Prime Minister of the decision and the latter agreed that he would have to be questioned.

“Sooner or later, before they (MACC) give the file, the prime minister must give his statement,” said Apandi.

On August 5, MACC said it would question Najib over the donation, which the commission established came from a Middle Eastern donor.

Line of Questioning is Critical

So I would give him the benefit of the doubt. He may be genuinely serious about wanting the MACC to record Mohd Najib’s statements.

The big question mark is would the MACC be given the mandate to go beyond just recording Mohd Najib’s statement? Would it be given a free hand to interrogate the Prime Minister?

There’s a world of difference between recording one’s statements and interrogating him or her.

What is Mohd Najib’s status in the investigations? Is he a witness or a suspect? This is important because it determines the line of questioning. Of course a witness could end up being a suspect and likewise a suspect could become the crown’s witness.

In high profile cases like the SRC International and the RM2.6-billion “donation” there is nothing to stop the authorities from perpetuating the cover-up by blaming them on scapegoats. People like Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil and (Datuk) Suboh Mohd Yassin, who are implicated in the SRC International’s case, could easily be sacrificed.

AG Was An Umno Leader

On allegation that he was once Kelantan Umno treasurer, Mohamed Apandi said he was never.

But he acknowledged he was an Umno member from 1982 till 1991, and the only position held was the Pengkalan Chepa divisional Youth chief.

He said he quit the party when he joined the Bar in 1991, and was active until 2001.

Personally, I believe that after seeing the files and speaking to investigators of the 1MDB, SRC International and the RM2.6-billion “donation” cases, he now knows the truth and realizes the gravity of the situation.

He must have realized too that his every move is being closely watched and judged by his own peers. Being a former judge, he knows that justice must not only be done but seen to be done.

Wallahuaklam.

A Kadir Jasin

DARI semasa ke semasa, elok kita mengingati bumi yang kita pijak dan langit yang kita junjung.

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Dalam konteks blog kita ini, ia adalah bumi tempat kita berpijak di mana kita berbincang dan bertukar-tukar fikiran.

Alhamdulillah, usia blog kita sudah melebihi sembilan tahun. Februari tahun depan genaplah 10 tahun.

Dalam tempoh itu, banyak isu yang telah kita bincangkan. Ramai pembahas datang dan pergi. Begitu juga dengan pembaca dan pengikut (followers).

Insya-Allah, selagi ada tenaga dan kewarasan saya akan terus menulis. Inilah derma yang mampu saya berikan – derma ilmu (knowledge philanthropy).

Dari semasa ke semasa, kita dikunjungi pembahas yang berbeza daripada pembahas lazim.

Mereka ini datang ibarat ribut dan pergi umpama taufan sehingga menyebabkan kita mengesyaki yang mereka ini ada agenda tertentu dan sekadar menggunakan ruang bahas kita ini untuk memenuhi tujuan sempit mereka.

Yang terbaru menepati deskripsi itu adalah “Saja saja”. Beliau begitu galak, rajin dan berani berbahas. Saya gembira mengalu-alukan beliau kerana menyangka beliau seorang pejuang yang komited kepada idealisme. Saya teruja dan akhirnya terpedaya.

Tiba-tiba beliau meminta saya memadamkan semua komen beliau selama ini atas alasan beliau menerima panggilan telefon daripada orang yang tidak diketahui mengancam beliau.

Beliau berkata, sesetengah anggota keluarga beliau dan kawan-kawan beliau adalah pemimpin tinggi Umno.

Saya berkata saya tidak nampak sebab yang kuat mengapa saya harus memadamkan komen beliau. Lagipun, kata saya komen-komen beliau telah diulas dan dibahaskan dengan luas.

Malam tadi, saya dimaklumkan atau, lebih tepat, dituduh oleh pembahas “silent silent tapioca” (5.05pm) memadamkan komen-komen “Saja saja”.

Saya menjawab, antara lain, “Masya-Allah, dengan nama Allah saya tidak "remove" atau "delete" komen-komen Saja saja.”

Apabila saya memeriksanya, saya dapati menang betul. Komen-komen “Saja saja” telah terpadam dengan notis “This comment has been removed by the author.” (Komen ini telah dipadamkan oleh pengarang).

Kalau saya yang padam, notisnya berbunyi: “This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.” (Komen ini dipadamkan oleh pentadbir blog).

Dalam bahasa yang mudah, “Saja saja” telah “menceroboh masuk” ke dalam blog kita dan memadamkan komen-komen beliau.

Apa hendak buat. Ia sudah berlaku. Saya berdoa dan berharap para pembahas blog ini, biar apa pun pegangan ideologi dan kecenderungan mereka, adalah insan waras, ikhlas dan bijaksana.

Bagi saya, pengalaman dengan “Saja saja” memberi peringatan dan pengajaran bahawa kita berbudi orang tidak semestinya berbahasa.

Wallahuaklam.

A Kadir Jasin

SELEPAS kena sebiji dengan “Saja saja”, izinkan saya bercakap sikit berkenaan bola. Bukan bola “Man U”, tapi bola Harimau Malaya.

Alhamdulillah, pasukan bola kebangsaan Malaysia kalah 6-0 kepada Palestin dalam pertandingan pusingan awal Piala Dunia 2018.

Piala Dunia: Bola kita standard estet

Syukur mereka tidak kalah 10-0 macam kepada Amiriah Arab Bersatu September lalu.

Dalam pusingan pertama dengan Palestin di Stadium Kebangsaan Jun lalu, mereka kalah 6-0 juga.

Kesimpulannya mutu bola sepak kita kekal – tak jatuh dan tak naik.

Syabas pemain, jurulatih, pegawai, Persatuan Bolasepak Malaysia (FAM) dan Menteri Belia dan Sukan, (Encik) Khairy Jamaluddin.

Cadangan Saya

1. Bubarkan pasukan bola kebangsaan dan FAM.

2. Kalau tak mahu bubar (takut hilang peruntukan dan peluang merayau ke luar negara) sila jangan malukan sang harimau. Tolong gugurkan pelekat “Harimau Malaya”.

3. Kalau nak guna juga nama harimau, tolong tukar kepada “Harimau Sarkas”.

Adoi, apa punya harimau laaa.....?

4. Kalau tak mahu bubar dan nak juga guna label “Harimau Malaya”, tolong jangan ambil bahagian dalam pertandingan antarabangsa selama lima hingga 10 tahun.

5. Dalam tempoh 5-10 tahun itu bina pasukan baru dan ganti FAM dengan satu struktur baru yang egalitarian.

6. Dalam tempoh itu juga adakan pertandingan persahabatan dengan pasukan-pasukan negeri, estet dan Felda serta negara-negara jiran. (Zaman saya remaja pada tahun 1960-an pasukan bola Harvard Estate di Gurun, Kedah, sangat terkenal. Geng tendang betis kering).

7. Lantik menteri sukan yang lebih berinspirasi dan mampu menaikkan semangat serta aspirasi pemain dan pegawai.

Sabun Mandi Jenama Popinjay

8. Kalau semua ini tidak mahu dibuat atau tidak mampu dibuat, sila maklumkan saya. Saya akan dermakan beberapa tong sabun mandi “Popinjay”. Pandai-pandailah manfaatkan.

Wallahuaklam.

A Kadir Jasin

THE new Attorney General, (Tan Sri) Mohamed Apandi Ali, and, by extension, the government of Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Mappadulung Daeng Mattimung Karaeng Sanrobone) Mohd Najib Abdul Razak, suffered a major setback in court today.

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The Kuala Lumpur High Court disallowed the use of Security Offences (Special Measures) 2012 against two staunch critics of 1MDB – the former vice-chief of the Batu Kawan Umno division (Datuk Seri) Khairuddin Abu Hassan and his lawyer, Matthias Chang Wen Chieh, and ordered their release.

They were charged under the anti-terrorism legislation allegedly for allegedly sabotaging the Malaysian economy.

Free on bail: Chang (left) and Khairuddin are heroes to many

Judge (Datuk) Mohd Azman Husin ruled that the Parliament had never intended the charge under section 124L of the Penal Code to be a security offence.

“As such, procedures under Security Offences (Special Measures) 2012 could not be applied on them," he said.

Mohd Azman said the two could not be denied bail and Sosma procedures could not be used in their trial.

He ordered Khairuddin and Chang to be released on RM10,000-bail and ordered their trial to commence in the Sessions Court.

The decision to charge Khaiuddin and Chang under Sosma 12 was one of two major decisions made by Mohamed Apandi since he became the AG on July 28. The other was rejecting Bank Negara’s recommendation for the 1MDB to be charged for offences under the Exchange Control Act 1953.

Mohamed Apandi flanked by his wife and (Tan Sri) Lee Lam Thye - The Star

These two decisions are seen as reflecting Mohamed Apandi’s biases as an appointee of Mohd Najib. He was widely criticized for refusing to take 1MDB to court.
On October 12, Khairuddin and Chang were charged with attempted sabotage of the Malaysian economy and the country's financial and banking system.

They were accused of committing the offence in France, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Singapore, between June 28 and August 26 this year. Khairuddin had lodged reports against 1MDB in these countries.

Deputy Public Prosecutor, Masri Mohd Daud, said the prosecution would appeal to the Court of Appeal.

Wallahuaklam.

The Red Shirts Way of Preserving Power

Pemenjaraan Dr Khir dan Implikasi Terhadap Skandal 1MDB

Lessons From Zimbabwe, the Philippines and Togo

A Spooked PM Won’t Not Go

Want To Be Like Zimbabwe?

Adakah Mereka Berani Derhaka Titah Raja?

It’s SRCI And Not 1MDB

Criminal Action

A Global Investigation

Charging of 1MDB's Whistleblower and Lawyer Condemned

Tanda Tanya Dakwaan Ke Atas Khairuddin dan Chang

Beware of Rabid Dogs

Remembering My Uncle’s Dogs

Urus Niaga 1MDB Luar Biasa Terus Bebani Malaysia

MULA-mula mohon maaf pasal lama tak siar rencana baru. Maklumlah apabila usia masuk kategori warga kanan (senior citizen) ada saja masalahnya – kalau tak besar, kecil.

Mana Sedakah Arab RM2.6 Bilion?

Bursa Sambut Dingin Belanjawan

Nik Faisal and Suboh: Why Did They Run Away?

Abdul Gani Blinked

The Economy Stalls

Kerbau Berlumpur Biasa, Manusia Berlumpur Bahaya

Kerbau Haiwan Kuasa Ibu

PM Should Clear His Name In Court

My peasant response to Salleh is this. If indeed Dr Mahathir is big on allegations but small on details, he should tell us who is big on details.

Hambat Mohd Najib Seberangi Rubicon

Berfikir Secara Tidak Konvensional

TPPA: Mustapa To Be Held Responsible

Giving AG the Benefit of the Doubt

Budi Tidak Semesti Dibalas Dengan Bahasa

Hooray, Kalah 6-0 Saja!

No Sosma On Khairuddin and Chang, Court Rules