Najib, Zahid lost in translation

GE14: What Najib actually said

28 Sept 2016: In Berlin, contrary to what Reuters reported, Najib Razak did not say he would not call for an early general election. An aide of the PM said Najib was asked, after his meeting with the German Chancellor, if he would be calling for an early election in Malaysia in view of issues surrounding the 1MDB. Najib said the question of election is not due to any single factor.

"It must be predicated on the basis that we have good policies in Malaysia, We are delivering for the benefit of the people and we are the best government to lead Malaysia into the future.

"We have a strong record and we will continue to tell the Malaysian people that our government is still the best choice."

The Reuter's report (PM says Malaysia will cooperate with the US on 1MDB investigations, Channel News Asia) was picked up by The Star (No need for early polls, says Najib) and the Malay Mail Online (Najib: No polls before 2018), among others. 

In conclusion, therefore, Najib may still call for an early general election. If he asks me, I would suggest about this time in 2017 would be a good time to have an election...

A legal alien in New York

Much adoi about nothing over Zahid's English

Reuter's misreporting goes on to prove that the English language is NOT an easy language to use, comprehend let alone master! 

So I read some of the condescending views about Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi's English at the UN General Assembly and I had a good laugh! Some of these critics couldn't even construct a proper, short sentence in English. I imagine many of them speak the language with an American slang, which they picked up from TV. 

We should all work on our English but I wouldn't worry too much about it if I were Zahid. The DPM is one of the most eloquent speakers of the Bahasa Malaysia and his Arabic, I hear, is quite good. And when he speaks Javanese, wadduh wadduh ...! 

Some of the world's major leaders don't even speak the English language. To me, what's more important for Zahid, as a leader, is the content of his message and the wisdom of his words. And most of all, for him to walk his talk.

Tabung Haji's foray into Kazakhstan could hurt PM Najib in the long run, says new blog

And Tong-controlled The Edge goes all out in promoting Reach Energy  

Puchong, 28 Sept: Newcomer  http://nuclearmanbursa.blogspot.com is proving to be quite entertaining, which is rare for a business blog. Maybe it's the selection of stories, or maybe it's the short and sweet writing style. I first read about the son of Malaysian-born billionaire Kuok owning 49 per cent of the iconic Rolling Stone - Now even Robert Kuok can rock like a Rolling Stone - on this site. The blog's productivity is mental, too. Yesterday alone it published 10 new postings (some blogs publish one posting in 10 days!). Most of the articles are light and easy to read, like PM Najib Razak ordering 100 Tesla cars for GLCs, Iran saying "Tak Mau" to Saudi's oil deal, etc.  

But it is its more serious side that makes the blog worth following, in my opinion.  Its focus on Tabung Haji's shareholding in Reach Energy, which is investing in Kazakhstan, is a case in hand. If the investment in Kazakhstan turns bad (as it is, returns are expected to be excruciatingly slow) everybody will accuse the unsuspecting Najib of abusing the national pilgrims' funds for his - or, rather, his wife's - interest, given that their son-in-law is from Kazakhstan! 

"It's political suicide for Tabung Haji to do this," according to someone who knows the anonymous blog's administrators. I would describe it as political assassination because the one who's going to die, if things do go wrong with the Reach Energy deal, is not the management or the Board of Tabung Haji but the PM ...

Read:

Why shareholders of REACH must reject the QA, 25/9

All the more why one should stay away from SPAC like Reach Energy, 26/9

Shahul Hamid, The Edge and Mr Arthur Levit 26/9

Get your extradition order, our IGP tells India [how to do its job]

Is the IGP trying to protect this WANTED man?

27/9/16: For some time now the Indian government has been keen to bring in Ananda Krishnan for questioning over some business deals that may have gone rotten in the sub-continent. Last week, a warrant of arrest for Ananda. The fact that Ananda became one of Malaysia's richest men during Dr Mahathir Mohamad's era got a lot of people very interested to his arrest. 

Naturally, our reporters asked IGP Khalid Abu Bakar if PDRM was going to help their Indian counterparts. This was what Khalid had to say:

“India’s arrest warrant cannot be enforced in Malaysia. India needs to apply for extradition via mutual legal assistance through the [Attorney-General’s] Chambers.” - IGP: India must get extradition order for billionaire Ananda Krishnan, lieutenant, Malay Mail Online 26/9/16

If you're thinking that I'm thinking that Khalid may be protecting the billionaire, you are wrong. I am totally with the IGP on this one. 

Read the last para of the story:

Bloomberg noted that India has previously issued “unrealistic” court orders including in 2014 when its Supreme Court ordered Samsung Electronics Co Chairman Lee Kun-Hee to appear before judges in a still-pending dispute over a US$1.4 million (RM5.7 million) payment. 

However, Bloomberg should have noted that "unrealistic" court orders are not confined to just India. The authorities in so-called developed countries are guilty of such high-handed, bullying conduct against non-citizens, including Malaysians! 

Read the story H E R E

One case that has been brought to my attention involves a Malaysian businessman, who stands to lose every property that he'd invested in Down Under since 2001 after the Australian authorities - and media - accused him of tax evasion (a claim the businessman denies). 

The businessman has filed an unprecedented lawsuit against the Australian government in the Kuala Lumpur courts. The case is up for mention next this Thursday 29/9/16. 

Now that ought to be interesting, don't you think?!

Matthias says he will have the laugh last, yet

Puchong, 24 Sept 2016: 

"We know what we are doing."  

"Don't worry. Laugh last laugh best. Salleh Kruak press statement is counting chicken before it is hatched. All thunder but no rain. We know what we are doing. Watch my video speech again "DOJ Bombshell". Soon he has to eat back all his words. Have faith in God." - Matthias Chang's whatsapp in response to Salleh Said Keruak's comments on the dismissal of a lawsuit against 1MDB filed by, among others, Chang himself.

Salleh, one of PM Najib Razak's more savvy allies, had labelled Chang's lawsuit as "a pure publicity stunt to manipulate public perceptions (and) part of Tun Mahathir’s plan to sabotage 1MDB and damage Malaysia’s economy to unseat the democratically-elected government".

The Communication and Multimedia Minister's press statement in full:

QUIET DISMISSAL OF U.S. LAWSUIT

24 September 2016

1. The class action lawsuit filed in the United States against 1MDB and others by Tun Mahathir Mohamad’s political secretary Matthias Chang and Husam Musa generated global controversy. It was based purely on the allegations in the US Department of Justice civil complaint, and on false smears published by the Wall Street Journal.

2. This lawsuit by Tun Mahathir’s henchmen generated global news and controversy when it was filed on 11 August. But, strangely, the Wall Street Journal and other Western media haven’t reported that yesterday the lawsuit was dismissed.

3. The reality is that it was baseless from the start, a pure publicity stunt to manipulate public perceptions. Part of Tun Mahathir’s plan to sabotage 1MDB and damage Malaysia’s economy to unseat the democratically-elected government. And all this for selfish political reasons, just to benefit his son Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.

4. It must be frustrating for Tun Mahathir that each of his attempts to subvert Malaysia’s democracy has failed. They will continue to fail. One of the hallmarks of a true leader is knowing when to quit quietly.

5. The Prime Minister’s real record has just been stated by UNESCO’s Director-General Irina Bokova. She said that “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, the government of Malaysia has taken a firm stance against violent extremism through inclusion and education, which UNESCO considers the most effective long-term prevention to forces threatening to divide societies”. She also praised Malaysia as “An example to countries of all income levels”; said the country is “Proof that respect for diversity is a source of enrichment”; and that we have taken the lead in encouraging “The teaching of religion to promote tolerance, respect and mutual understanding”.

6. The government won’t be distracted by Tun Mahathir’s increasingly desperate attempts. The Prime Minister will continue to serve the people and prioritise their security, safety and prosperity.