Malaysia: What is Happening?

You have to be living away from Malaysia to feel the embarrassment I experience living in Phnom Penh and teaching at the University of Cambodia on politics. international relations, governance, corruption and other issues. Our country under Najib is no model to mention to my students.

I can only feel sorry for our diplomats at our mission in Phnom Penh who have to “defend” the conduct and policies of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. I was at the Embassy in Camcarmon (the Embassy Row) last Friday to meet with the Deputy Head of Mission on matters relating the Techo Sen School of Government and International Relations. I could see from his body language that he was not comfortable with what is happening back home. But like the good diplomat talking to an old Wisma Putra hand, he maintained his composure and we discussed embassy’s plans for Merdeka Day celebrations and relations with Cambodia. Our Embassy will be having at Flag raising ceremony and a function on August 31, 2015 to commemorate our day of Independence.

Later that the afternoon, I met our Ambassador at  the doorsteps of the famous Le Royal Hotel and we chatted briefly and promised to meet again. My colleague, the Dean of Techo Sen School, and I were at the hotel to attend a forum organised by The Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace at which the former ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan delivered a keynote address on Cambodia and Responsibility to Protect (R2P) in contemporary geo-politics. Dr. Pitsuwan was articulate and brilliant.

The article below by Che Det sums up very well how we all feel about current developments in Malaysia. There is nothing we can do at this time, but if we keep up the pressure, I beleve the Prime Minister will eventually have to give up and resign from office out of guilt, frustration and sheer exhaustion from loss of sleep. He is not a superman but, as Zunar depicts in his later satirical cartoon, a Sapuman. A Sapuman cannot survive politically because people will throw him out.  He is like an over-inflated balloon waiting to bust.–Din Merican

Malaysia: What is Happening?

Who in the world would donate USD700 million to the Malaysian Prime Minister? Even Obama could not raise this amount for his Presidential bid. It was suggested it was an Arab.

Arabs are generous, but not that generous. I could not raise even a single dollar from them for the Malaysian International Islamic University or for the Oxford Islamic Centre. This claim that Arabs donated billions is what people describe as hogwash or bullshit. Certainly I don’t believe it and neither can the majority of Malaysians if we go by the comments on the social media. The world had a good laugh.–Che Det

by Tun Dr. Mahathir -Che Det

1. I used to enjoy being asked about Malaysia when I am abroad. But not now.

2. The foreigners and Malaysians living abroad ask, “What is happening
to Malaysia?”

3. “It seems to be like one of those African or Arab countries.”

4. “It is totally corrupt. The currency has depreciated”.

5. I cannot answer truthfully. I cannot lie either. It is embarrassing. And all this is because of the 1MDB and Najib.

6. I began to feel there was something wrong with the 1MDB when The Edge published that it had bought power plants above market price and borrowed money paying commissions of 10% and interest rate of 5.9%.

7. I waited for the Government to deny that what was published by The Edge was correct. The Government did not. Then I know there was something very wrong.

8. Subsequently came the stories about a JV with Petrosaudi. It was too quick. Obviously no due diligence was done. Yet 1MDB paid 1 billion U.S. (3.8billion Ringgit) for its 40% share.

9. Then 1MDB paid another US 700 million to settle debts incurred by Petro-Saudi to Petro Saudi International. Why should 1MDB pay. The JV should pay.

10. But within 6 months of setting up the JV, it was dissolved. Had a good due diligence been done, this JV would not have been set up. Clearly it was not a viable proposition!

11. The 1.7 billion US should now be returned to 1MDB. But No! It was converted into a loan (Murabahah) to Petrosaudi. This is extremely unusual. If you could not work with Petrosaudi as a JV partner how could you give it such a huge loan.

12. Then the money seems to have disappeared. It was previously reported to be deposited in banks in Hong Kong and Seychelles, invested in something or other and was supposed to end up in the Cayman Islands.

13. Concerned Malaysians demanded that the money be returned to Malaysia. An announcement was made that a portion had been returned to Malaysia but was used to pay debts and other expenses. Malaysia wanted more information especially as a 2 billion Ringgit interest on loans could not be paid. 1MDB just had no money. So where is the money from the Caymans. Why should Ananda Krishnan offer 2 billion Ringgit to help pay the interest. Government had to provide a stand-by loan of RM900 million.

14. Things did not look right. Then 1MDB announced that the rest of the money from Cayman Islands had been received in cash. Arul, the CEO, claimed he saw the money. The PM said the money was deposited in a Singapore Bank. It was not brought back to Malaysia because Bank Negara would ask too many questions.

15. That seems to be an admission that something was not right with the money.

16. But Singapore is a financial centre. As such it must be even more careful that money brought in and deposited in its banks should be investigated, especially if the sum is large, running into billions.

17. And sure enough the Monetary Authority of Singapore stated publicly that no 1MDB Malaysian money came into the country. The Swiss Bank which was named as the bank where the money was deposited denied 1MDB had deposited money with it.

18. So where were the billions of Ringgits or Dollars that 1MDB claimed it had brought back from the Caymans. Arul Kandasamy had openly claimed he saw the money.

19. Now the PM declared that it was not money. It was units. The bank where it was deposited was not named.

20. What units were these. Not units in Unit Trust Funds certainly. No explanation is forth coming. The billions of dollars have again disappeared.

21. Then the Wall Street Journal reported that Dato Seri Najib has USD700 million in his account in the Arab Malaysian Bank in Kuala Lumpur. That is about 2.6 billion Ringgit. How did this huge sum of money get into Najib’s Private Account. Where did the money come from!! How can the PM of Malaysia whose pay is only RM20,000 per month have so much money in his private account?

22. Unable to deny the Wall Street Journal report which included the account number and other details, Najib claimed that it was a donation.

23. Who in the world would donate USD700 million to the Malaysian Prime Minister? Even Obama could not raise this amount for his Presidential bid. It was suggested it was an Arab.

24. Arabs are generous, but not that generous. I could not raise even a single dollar from them for the Malaysian International Islamic University or for the Oxford Islamic Centre. This claim that Arabs donated billions is what people describe as hogwash or bullshit. Certainly I don’t believe it and neither can the majority of Malaysians if we go by the comments on the social media. The world had a good laugh.

25. When asked, the PM said wait for the report on 1MDB by the Auditor–General and the Public Accounts Committee.

26. To the UMNO divisional leaders and assorted bedfellows the PM in close-door meetings, claimed the billions were for the elections.

27. The 2 billion Ringgit plus for elections is absurd. I needed less than 10 million for each of the five elections I presided over and I won them all with more than 2/3 majority. Why do you need 2.6 billion plus or 2600 million Ringgit. Is it to bribe politicians and civil servants, or to rig the elections. That would not be right , much less legal.

28. Whatever, to me 2 billion plus for elections in Malaysia by any party is wrong even if no limit is put on election expenses.

29. Then there is this lavish life-style which no Malaysian Prime Minister would be able to afford on the RM20,000 per month he receives. Engagement and weddings lavishness far surpassed those of the Rulers even. Several ceremonies were held in Malaysia and also in Kazakhstan. Guests were loaded with gifts from the host. Clearly millions, tens of millions were spent, far beyond what a Malaysian PM can afford.

30. Then there is the son’s investment of hundreds of millions in producing the film The Wolf of Wall Street. It is so pornographic that it cannot be shown in Malaysia. Where did the money come from!

31. The shopping in London, Paris and elsewhere is known to be enormous.

32. Clearly the PM and his wife have more money than the salaries and allowances paid to the PM.

33. After the Wall Street Journal reported on Najib’s 2.6 billion Ringgit in his private account, it was closed. You cannot take all that money to keep with you. It had to be transferred. Apparently it was transferred to a Singapore bank. Then the Singapore authorities froze it.

34. Public clamour about the origin of the money in Najib’s account was so loud that a task force comprising the head of four government institutions was set up. The Attorney General headed this task force and the members were the IGP, the Head of Bank Negara and the Head of MACC, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

35. Najib was clearly uncomfortable with the investigations carried out by the task force. The members seemed to be too independent. Najib could not control them. The task force was apparently determined to seek the truth about the 1MDB and the 2.6 billion Ringgit in Najib’s account. Najib’s claim that it was a donation was not convincing.

36. Then Najib decided to take action to stop all the investigations on 1MDB and his private account.

37. First he announced that people should stop talking about 1MDB. It was not just a hint but an open statement that such talk would be regarded as undermining democracy and an attempt to overthrow an elected leader. This would attract police attention and investigation.

38. Immediately following that the A-G. was sacked. In Malaysia’s legal system the A.G. determines whether a case would be heard in a court or not. The A-G. who seemed to be heading the task force would be in a position to take to the courts if there was evidence of criminality in Najib’s possession of the billions in his account.

39. The A-G’s removal means that he could no longer make any decision over the unprecedented wealth of Najib. A judge was made A-G. and clearly he is not interested in the task force and its investigations. He seemed determined to clear Najib.

40. Then the DPM was dismissed and replaced by the Minister of Home Affairs who unlike Muhyiddin, had never questioned Najib about 1MDB.

41. In the cabinet reshuffle four members of the Public Accounts Committee including its chairman were made deputy ministers. Effectively, the PAC was paralysed and the work of investigating 1MDB stopped.

42. Then the chief and deputy chief of MACC, a member of the task force of four were asked to go on leave. When some members of the staff of MACC continued their investigations and wanted to query Najib on the source of the money in his account, they were harassed by the police who accused them of leaking information. Then they were transferred to the PM’s department. That shut them up.

43. The Governor of the Central Bank, a member of the four-strong Task Force is now rumoured to be investigated for corruption.

44. With the PAC, and the Task Force paralysed and the A-G. sacked, investigation work on the 1MDB and the 2.6 billion in Najib’s private account grounds to a complete halt.

45. Najib is now safe from being charged with illegally amassing funds. His claim that it is to be used for the coming elections is half-true. He had always said that cash is king. With the huge funds at his disposal he would be in a position to bribe his way to victory. He may also use the money to rig the election.

46. What Najib is doing is unprecedented in Malaysia. The people are at a loss as to what to do. The prospect of Najib continuing to rule this country is utterly depressing. The Malaysia where elections can even see opposition parties winning whole states will be no more.

47. Democracy is dead. It is dead because an elected leader chooses to subvert the institutions of Government and make them his instruments for sustaining himself. There is no more democracy for anyone to undermine. Certainly talking about 1MDB will not undermine something that no longer exist. If anyone should be questioned by the Police, it is Najib.

VERSI BM: MALAYSIA-APA SUDAH BERLAKU?

1. Saya selalu berasa gembira apabila ditanya mengenai Malaysia semasa saya berada di luar negera. Tetapi bukan lagi sekarang.

2. Warga asing dan rakyat Malaysia yang tinggal di luar negara bertanya, “Apa yang berlaku kepada Malaysia? ”

3. “Ia seolah-olah telah menjadi seperti salah satu daripada negara-negara Afrika atau Arab.”

4. “Ia benar-benar korup. Nilai wangnya telah susut”, dan lain-lain lagi.

5. Saya tidak dapat menjawab dengan sebenarnya. Saya juga tidak boleh berbohong. Ini adalah memalukan. Dan semua ini adalah kerana 1MDB dan Najib.

6. Saya mula merasai ada sesuatu yang tidak betul dengan 1MDB ketika The Edge terbitkan bahawa ia telah membeli loji-loji jana kuasa dengan harta atas paras harga pasaran dan meminjam wang dengan membayar komisen sebanyak 10% dan kadar faedah sebanyak 5.9%.

7. Saya menunggu Kerajaan untuk menafikan bahawa apa yang disiarkan oleh The Edge itu betul. Kerajaan tidak. Ketika itu saya tahu bahawa ada sesuatu yang tidak betul.

8. Kemudiannya timbul pula cerita tentang JV dengan PetroSaudi. Ianya terlalu pantas. Jelas ketelitian sewajarnya (due diligence) tidak dilakukan. Namun 1MDB membayar 1 billion Dollar Amerika Syarikat (3.8 billion Ringgit) bagi saham 40% itu.

9. Kemudiannya 1MDB membayar sejumlah AS 700 juta lagi untuk menyelesaikan hutang yang ditanggung oleh Petro-Arab kepada Petro Saudi International. Mengapa harus 1MDB membayarnya. JV yang patut membayarnya.

10. Tetapi dalam jangka masa 6 bulan ditubuhkan usaha sama itu, ia telah dibubarkan. Jika sekiranya suatu ketelitian sewajar yang baik telah dilakukan, JV ini tidak akan diwujudkan. Jelas sekali ia bukan suatu cadangan yang berdaya maju!

11. 1.7 bilion AS kini patut dikembalikan kepada 1MDB. Tetapi Tidak! Ianya telah ditukar kepada pinjaman (Murabahah) kepada PetroSaudi. Ini adalah amat luar biasa. Jika anda tidak boleh bekerja dengan PetroSaudi sebagai rakan JV bagaimana pula anda boleh memberinya satu pinjaman yang begitu besar.

12. Selepas itu wang ini nampaknya telah lesap. Sebelum ini dilaporkan ianya disimpan di bank-bank di Hong Kong dan Seychelles, dilabur dalam sesuatu atau lain-lainnya dan sepatut kesudahannya di Kepulauan Cayman.

13. Rakyat Malaysia yang prihatin menuntut supaya wang itu dikembalikan ke Malaysia. Satu pengumuman telah dibuat bahawa sebahagiannya telah dikembalikan ke Malaysia tetapi telah digunakan untuk membayar hutang dan perbelanjaan lain. Malaysia mahu maklumat lanjut terutama sekali apabila faedah RM2 billion atas pinjaman tidak dapat dibayar. 1MDB memang tidak mempunyai wang. Jadi dimanakah wang dari Caymans itu. Mengapa Ananda Krishnan harus menawarkan RM2 billion untuk membantu bayar faedah. Kerajaan terpaksa mengadakan pinjaman stand-by sebanyak RM900 juta.

14. Hal tidak kelihatan betul. Kemudian 1MDB mengumumkan bahawa keseluruhan baki daripada wang dari Kepulauan Cayman telah diterima dalam bentuk wang tunai. Arul, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif, mendakwa dia melihat wang itu. PM berkata wang itu yang disimpan di suatu bank Singapura. Ia tidak dibawa balik ke Malaysia kerana Bank Negara akan bertanya terlalu banyak soalan.

15. Itu semacam satu pengakuan bahawa ada sesuatu yang tidak kena dengan wang itu.

16. Tetapi Singapura ialah pusat kewangan. Oleh itu pasti ia lebih berhati-hati agar wang yang dibawa dan disimpan di bank-banknya disiasat, terutamanya jika melibatkan jumlah wang yang besar, berjumlah berbilion-bilion.

17. Dan sebagai dijangka Pihak Berkuasa Kewangan Singapura dengan terbuka menyatakan bahawa tidak ada 1MDB wang Malaysia masuk ke negara itu. Swiss Bank yang dinamakan sebagai bank di mana wang itu didepositkan menafikan 1MDB telah mendepositkan wang dengannya.

18. Jadi di mana adanya berbilion-bilion Ringgit atau Dolar yang 1MDB mendakwa ia telah membawa kembali dari Caymans. Arul Kandasamy dengan secara terbuka mendakwa dia melihat wang itu.

19. Kini PM mengisytiharkan bahawa ia bukan wang. Ia adalah unit. Bank di mana unit ini disimpan tidak dinamakan.

20. Unit apakah ini? Sudah pasti bukan unit dalam Unit Dana Amanah. Tiada penjelasan dikemukakan. Sekali lagi berbillion-bilion dolar lesap.

21. Kemudian Wall Street Journal melaporkan bahawa Dato Seri Najib mempunyai USD700 juta di dalam akaunnya di Arab Bank Malaysia di Kuala Lumpur. Itu kira-kira 2.6 bilion Ringgit. Bagaimanakah wang sejumlah besar ini masuk ke dalam Akaun Peribadi Najib. Dari mana wang ini datang !! Bagaimana boleh PM Malaysia yang gajinya hanya RM20,000 sebulan mempunyai begitu banyak wang di dalam akaun peribadinya?

22. Tidak dapat menafikan laporan Wall Street Journal yang mengandungi juga nombor akaun dan butiran-butiran lain, Najib mendakwa ia adalah sumbangan.

23. Siapa di dunia akan mendermakan USD700 juta kepada Perdana Menteri Malaysia? Obama sendiri pun tidak dapat mengumpul wang sejumlah ini untuk kempen menjadi presidennya. Telah dinyatakan bahawa penderma itu adalah seorang Arab.

24. Arab adalah murah hati, tetapi tidak semurah hati sebegini. Saya tidak dapat mengutip sedolar pun daripada mereka untuk Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia atau untuk Pusat Islam Oxford. Dakwaan bahawa orang-orang Arab menderma berbilion boleh disifat sebagai sangat mengarut (hogwash and bullshit). Sudah semestinya saya tidak mempercayainya dan juga majoriti rakyat Malaysia, jika dilihat dari komen-komen dalam media sosial. Dunia ketawa kuat.

25. Apabila ditanya, PM berkata tunggulah laporan mengenai 1MDB oleh Ketua Audit Negara dan Jawatankuasa Kira-Kira Awam.

26. Kepada pemimpin bahagian UMNO dan pelbagai kuncu-kuncu, PM, dalam mesyuarat tertutup, mendakwa berbilion-bilion ini adalah untuk pilihan raya.

27. RM2 bilion untuk pilihan raya adalah tidak munasabah. Saya memerlukan kurang daripada 10 juta untuk setiap satu daripada lima pilihan raya yang saya mempengerusikan dan saya memenangi semua dengan lebih daripada 2/3 majoriti. Mengapa anda perlu 2.6 bilion lebih atau 2600 juta Ringgit. Adakah ia untuk merasuah ahli-ahli politik dan kakitangan awam, atau untuk memanupulasi pilihan raya. Ini tidak betul, apatah lagi dari segi undang-undang.

28. Apa pun, bagi saya 2 bilion lebih untuk pilihan raya di Malaysia oleh mana-mana pihak adalah salah walaupun tiada had diletakkan ke atas perbelanjaan pilihan raya.

29. Kemudiannya, terdapat gaya hidup mewah yang tidak ada Perdana Menteri Malaysia mampu dengan RM20,000 yang diterima setiap bulan. Kemewahan pertunangan dan perkahwinan jauh melebihi Raja-Raja. Beberapa majlis telah diadakan di Malaysia dan juga di Kazakhstan. Para tetamu dimuatkan dengan hadiah dari tuan rumah. Jelas berjuta-juta, berpuluh juta telah dibelanjakan, lebih daripada apa yang PM Malaysia mampu.

30. Kemudiannya, terdapat pelaburan anak yang beratus-ratus juta dalam menghasilkan filem The Wolf of Wall Street. Ianya begitu lucah sehingga tidak boleh ditayangkan di Malaysia. Dari mana wang itu datang !

31. Membeli-belah di London, Paris dan di tempat-tempat lain diketahui sebagai sangat besar.

32. Sangat jelas PM dan isteri mempunyai lebih banyak wang daripada gaji dan elaun yang dibayar kepada PM.

33. Selepas Wall Street Journal melaporkan 2.6 bilion Ringgit kepunyaan Najib di dalam akaun peribadinya, ia ditutup. Anda tidak boleh mengambil semua wang itu untuk disimpan dengan anda. Ia perlu dipindahkan. Rupa-rupanya ia telah dipindahkan ke bank di Singapura. Kemudian pihak berkuasa Singapura membekunya.

34. Suara desakan ramai tentang asal-usul wang dalam akaun Najib adalah begitu kuat sehingga satu pasukan petugas yang terdiri daripada ketua empat institusi Kerajaan telah ditubuhkan. Peguam Negara mengetuai pasukan petugas ini dan ahli-ahlinya ialah Ketua Polis Negara, Ketua Bank Negara dan Ketua SPRM, Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia.

35. Najib jelas tidak selesa dengan siasatan yang dijalankan oleh pasukan petugas. Ahli-ahli nampaknya terlalu bebas. Najib tidak boleh mengawal mereka. Pasukan petugas nampaknya bertekad untuk mencari kebenaran tentang 1MDB dan 2.6 bilion ringgit dalam akaun Najib. Dakwaan Najib bahawa ia adalah derma tidak meyakinkan.

36. Najib kemudian memutus untuk mengambil tindakan menghentikan semua siasatan ke atas 1MDB dan akaun peribadinya.

37. Pertama, beliau mengumumkan bahawa rakyat harus berhenti bercakap mengenai 1MDB. Ia bukan hanya satu bayangan tetapi kenyataan terbuka bahawa percakapan mengenainya akan dianggap sebagai usaha melemahkan demokrasi dan satu percubaan untuk menggulingkan seorang pemimpin yang dipilih. Ini akan menarik perhatian polis dan penyiasatan.

38. Selepas ini sahaja Peguam Negara dipecat. Dalam sistem undang-undang Malaysia Peguam Negara menentukan sama ada sesuatu kes itu akan didengar di mahkamah atau tidak. Peguam Negara, yang kelihatan menarajui pasukan petugas itu, berada dalam kedudukan untuk membawa ke mahkamah jika terdapat bukti jenayah dalam Najib memiliki berbilion-bilion dalam akaunnya.

39. Penyingkiran Peguam Negara bermakna bahawa dia tidak lagi boleh membuat apa-apa keputusan atas kekayaan Najib yang luar kebiasaan ini. Seorang hakim telah lantik Peguam Negara dan jelas dia tidak berminat dengan pasukan petugas dan siasatannya. Beliau nampaknya lebih berazam untuk membersihkan Najib.

40. Kemudian TPM telah disingkir dan digantikan oleh Menteri Dalam Negeri yang, tidak seperti Muhyiddin, tidak pernah mempersoalkan Najib mengenai 1MDB.

41. Dalam rombakan kabinet empat anggota Jawatankuasa Kira-Kira Awam termasuk pengerusinya dilantik timbalan menteri. Pada hakikatnya, Jawatankuasa Kira-Kira Awam telah lumpuh dan kerja-kerja menyiasat 1MDB dihentikan.

42. Kemudian ketua dan timbalan ketua SPRM, seorang ahli pasukan daripada empat ahli pasukan petugas diminta pergi bercuti. Apabila beberapa anggota kakitangan SPRM meneruskan siasatan mereka dan mahu menyoal Najib mengenai sumber wang dalam akaunnya mereka telah diganggu oleh pihak polis yang menuduh mereka bocor maklumat. Kemudian mereka telah dipindahkan kepada Jabatan Perdana Menteri. Itu menutup mulut mereka.

43. Gabenor Bank Negara, seorang ahli Empat-Petugas kini dikhabarkan akan disiasat kerana rasuah.

44. Dengan Jawatankuasa Kira-Kira Awam dan Pasukan Petugas lumpuh dan Peguam Negara dipecat, kerja siasatan ke atas 1MDB dan 2.6 bilion dalam akaun peribadi Najib terhenti sama sekali.

45. Najib kini selamat daripada tuduhan mengumpul dana secara haram. Dakwaannya bahawa ia adalah untuk digunakan untuk pilihan raya akan datang adalah separuh benar. Dia selalu berkata bahawa wang tunai adalah raja. Dengan dana yang besar dalam kawalannya, dia berada dalam kedudukan untuk memberi rasuah untuk mencapai kemenangan. Beliau juga boleh menggunakan wang itu untuk manipulasi pilihan raya.

46. ​​Apa yang Najib lakukan adalah belum pernah terjadi sebelum ini (unprecedented) di Malaysia. Orang ramai buntu tentang apa yang perlu dilakukan. Prospek Najib terus memerintah negara ini adalah benar-benar menyedihkan. Malaysia, di mana pilihan raya boleh juga melihat parti-parti pembangkang memenangi negeri-negeri seluruhnya itu tidak ada lagi.

47. Demokrasi sudah mati. Ia mati kerana seorang pemimpin yang dipilih memilih untuk subvert institusi-institusi Kerajaan dan menjadikan mereka alat bagi mengekalkan dirinya. Tidak ada lagi demokrasi untuk sesiapa melemahkan. Sudah tentu bercakap tentang 1MDB tidak akan menjejaskan sesuatu yang tidak lagi wujud. Jika sesiapa perlu dipersoalkan oleh pihak polis, ia adalah Najib.