Greetings and Congratulation

Trouble brewing in PKR

PKR's political bureau is due for a meeting at 3 PM.

It is expected to be an explosive one with Dato Seri Azmin openly planning to ally themselves with PAS and Rafizi is leading the charge against it. 

It is expected to be the beginning of the much awaited quarrel between the Wan Azizah faction versus Azmin faction. In the past few days, open exchanges between Azmin camp against Rafizi is heard.

The line is drawn between both the factions with each claiming their side is carrying out the instruction of imprisoned leader Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

LSS Facebook summarised the squabble:

Kit Siang's Malay tsunami psywar, Lethargic Chinese surprise

Since picture of Dato Seri Azmin Ali and Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah visiting Dato Seri Haji Hadi Awang viraled on social media few weeks ago, there were speculation that PKR is trying to appease PAS.

Azmin denied but it is not convincing. It is nothing new since PAS and PKR are still together in what is left of the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat government.

The question is whether PAS will go together with PH with Tun Dr Mahathir around.

PAS Selangor announced they will run in 40 seats in Selangor, including taking on Azmin and Azizah. Is PAS Selangor for real?

Part of the act is the current public quarrel between PKR and PAN. If it is for real, it is a proxy quarrel between PKR and DAP. 

PAS's game is still tricky.

Did KPDNKK officials accepted bribe from MBI's Teddy Teow to release frozen money?

In early June, Teddy Teow, the schemer behind the MBI International (MBI) virtual money game Ponzi scheme scam, was arrested by the Ministry for Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism (the Malay acronym KPDNKK).

Words are Teddy Teow was arrested at a condo in Penang in the midst of shagging someone's wife. To know Teddy Teow, read Malaysian Digest here.

The-called quick money investment scheme extended to finance corrupt ventures. MBI was behind the royal-linked tax evasion and corruption cases involving two or more Tan Sris in March 2017 (read ABITW here).

Their scheme is described in the slideshare in here.

The Unspinners, in their late April posting here, suspected MBI is funding political slash fund for Lim Guan Eng and DAP Penang. It is the suspected conduit to channel the money abroad to a "safe house" in a money money centre, which could be Hong Kong.

Back when MBI and the owner were raided , RM177 million was frozen by KPDNKK. (read about it in MLM website here and The Star here).

Bank Negara forex loss RM130 billion?

The official versions of BNM forex losses by government during the hey days of Tun Dr Mahathir was less than RM10 million.

However, the government position changed from not true, to only paper loss, and finally Raja Petra raised the point that the then Prime Minister and Minister of Finance lied to the public, Parliament, and cabinet.

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah used to claim the losses could be at least RM16 billion derived from the negative capital position of BNM. Dato Murad have been talking of US$10 billion. The exchange rate then would mean it could range from RM30 to RM40 billion. 

The Mole columnist, Salahuddin bin Hisham, who debunked the current claim on the slide of ringgit, posed the question: Did BNM forex wipe out the country’s reserve? The foreign reserve then was less than RM100 billion, thus the losses could be in that ball park.

Now, Raja Petra's posting over the weekend here is more alarming:

The real losses were more than US$13 billion or RM130 billion at today’s value. The monthly turnover was RM700 billion, while the total forward position was US$150 billion.

More FDIs in Najib’s 8 years than Mahathir’s 22

IN another ceremony in Kuantan recently, work to start the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) was launched, an event that was aimed at bringing a sense of awareness to the people of Pahang of an economic initiative that would be a game changer to the state.

Transportation and logistics improve accessibility and it is sure fire to raise economic activities and bring development to areas outside the major urban centres. Nitpicking on the corporate banners and signs in Chinese meant for officials from China has no significance.

The China-bashing arguments on compromised sovereignty, the fear China dominance, high national debt and questioning the project’s viability may have run its course.

Foreign direct investments

Penang JC, DAP government disgraced campaign against corruption

Sunday was a working day in Kedah.

A judge at the Alor Setar court rejected DAP lawyers appeal against the 5 day remand of Penang exco member, Phee Boon Pah. Come Monday, a lower rank judiciary official in the Penang Court could override a judge decision.

This send certain reputable anonymous blogger, Captain M into suspicion that there is more than midst the letter and spirit of the law in the decision of the Judicial Commissioner, Yang Arif Dato Abdul Wahab Mohamed. (read here).

Words among legal professionals is that Wahab's decision is personal. Apparently, he was rejected out of a certain office and had to take a difficult career path. The reason is not known but the reason could be office politics or any other reason.

God forbid it is not corruption.

Khairuddin confused or confusing Khairuddin

Yesterday, there was a court filing in Shah Alam by Dato Khairuddin Abu Hassan against Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Jho Loh with the circus to seek the return of the much talked about pink diamond [read Mkini here].

The filing could be to divert the adverse attention from the failed Nothing To Hide 2.0 effort by PPBM Armada in Shah Alam

It could also be to divert attention from the arrest of Penang DAP exco, Phee Boon Pah for corruption. He failed to get release from the 5-day remand in Alor Setar on Sunday, but successfully secured release at Penang Court on Monday.

Suddenly a statement from Khairuddin is circulating this evening.

Jho Loh: CIA spy made state witness for immunity?

We received a tip-off in the middle of the week before last that Jho Loh is "cooperating" with the US Department of Justice (DOJ).

The source speculated that he could implicate Dato Mohd Najib to save his skin. Yes, the source is not from the Anti-Najib Campaigners, but pro-Najib. It sounded rather protective.

A check with an ANC side source found there is some truth to it but the extent of the "cooperation" is not known.

Another source speculated that Jho Loh could be a "crown witness" and that way, get let off with a slap in the hand. They called it state witness in the States.

Me no lauyar, but our logic, based on some understanding and opinion of law practitioners, limited access to certain people, and years of following 1MDB before the public is aware of such a thing, tells me that something does not feel right.

Something2Hide behind Mahathir's two judicial reviews

The pro-Tun vehemently denied Tun Dr Mahathir was in a state of panic when the Special Taskforce announced the formation of a RCI on BNM forex loss.

Mahathir detractors claimed he left for London to celebrate Hari Raya to consult with Clare Brown on their next course for diversion and new offensive. He could afford to bring his grandchildren back for Hari Raya so it was no excuse to celebrate with them.

Before that, in June, Mahathir put up a front to claim he is not afraid of RCI. His lawyer then told the media that Mahathir is ready to testify to the RCI. Sometime in early July, he dared Dato Najib to "tangkap" (imprisoned) him. However, things went a little different.

During the Special Task Force, Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Tan Sri Nor Mohaamed Yakcop talked too much. For Nor, he need to save his skin because Mahathir, Anwar and Lim Kit Siang looked to gang up to accuse the late Bank Negara Governor and himself.

In London, Mahathir made another of his frequent U turn to endorse Anwar as next PM. Words are he had sent people, Minister-level, to lobby with the Task Force members to save him.

Today, it is confirmed that he is not as brave as he seemed as he filed for a judicial review to remove the RCI panel. (Read MMO here).

Mahathir's Buenos Aires-Montevideo hideout

No writer's block. Just malas mood to sit and type away on a table.

That is till a friend complained of looking at Abu Juling face on the blog. Whichever way he give his political support, he is too tarnished to be of political value.

The legal discussion on the CJ appointment is an interesting subject to write. But Tan Sri Johan Jaafar's column in The Star here on Tun Dr Mahathir's 1997 trip to South America in the midst of the currency crisis storm is a window of opportunity not to be missed.

It is the awaited lead to uncover more of Buenos Aires to Mahathir in the scheme of things today. It answers why certain things happen in a certain way.

Is Abu "Juling" for real?

Tan Sri Abu Sahid, or popularly referred as Abu Juling among Muarians, attracted quite the attention for his intention to take over PLUS's highways for RM30 billion.

He claimed to have the "blessing of the highest level in the country" but Works Minister, Dato Fadillah Yusoff denied  (read Malaysia Reserve here).

Abu himself admitted he is still trying to get hold off Khazanah Nasional managing director, Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar.

Is he for real?

Zuraidah denied involvement in UNISEL

Zuraidah Kamaruddin, the MP for Ampang denied involvement in Universiti Selangor (UNISEL) at a political campaign in Bukit Indah recently.

It sounded strange to come from this long believed member of the Azmin faction within PKR.

Zuraidah's name crashed in the political market ever since her underling, an AMK member in her PKR Cabang, Adam Rosly was charged in court for corruption-related cases and money laundering. 

There was open criticism by Adam towards Dato Seri Azmin Ali. It was followed by war of words between Zuraidah and Rafizi Ramli.

Zuraidah is suspected as one of the four channels used by Azmin to raise political funding through local council contracts. Both Zuraidah and Adam are sore with Azmin for washing his hands.

On UNISEL, Zuraidah is neither accused nor implicated in any alleged wrongdoings. Also, she is not a member of the Board of Trustee of UNISEL or state exco member in charge of education.

Her denials indicate she is washing her hands from Azmin. Denial of "involvement' could only raise suspicion of something not right happening in UNISEL.

During Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim's days as Menteri Besar, UNISEL was an issue linked to the bigger issue of Talam Corporation Berhad (now Trinity Corporation Berhad).