Tommy Thomas conflicted: He mediated on behalf of Seafield Hindu Temple!

In his explanation to media, The Star reported Tommy Thomas explained his "sacking" of Syazlin Mansor as lawyer for Housing and Local Government Ministry due to her being conflicted.

Thomas said this was one of the reasons he requested Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin revoke Syazlin’s appoint­ment to represent the ministry and the Fire and Rescue Depart­­­ment at the inquest.

Syazlin’s appointment, said Thomas, caused a conflict of interest in the inquest proceedings because apart from representing the ministry and the department, she also stood in for Muhammad Adib’s family.

“The interests of these parties may conflict and it was unacceptable for her to act for all parties.

MyKMU writer Abdul Jalil Backer asked why use the conflicted excuse? Everyone including Tun Dr Mahathir's lawyer, Hanif Khatri is asking why only now?

However, there is no dispute with the particular reasoning. However, if Syazlin is conflicted, Tommy too is conflicted. He should have refrained from getting involved in the Inquest and withdraw from making any decision. Not only the public had forgotten, Tommy may have forgotten.

Tommy Thomas lost his mantle, But Daim... ?

If you take on the mantle of a profession or an important job, you are taking on the responsibilities and duties which must be fulfilled by those in the profession or job.

Taking on the mantle means taking charge or assume role of leadership. Cambridge dictionary described mantle as a position of responsibility or authority.

Malaysiakini reported Attorney General, Tommy Thomas denied social media claim that he "told Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former Council of Eminent Persons chairperson Daim Zainuddin there is no solid proof to convict Najib Abdul Razak on the allegation that funds were embezzled from 1MDB."

This statement confirmed Tommy lost his mantle. It is unthinkable for a supposedly brilliant defense lawyer to assume public could not figure it out. For quite awhile, this blog saw indications he was losing it.

Back in June 2018, this blog posed the question of whether he can prepare the cases on 1MDB, SRC etc. against Dato Najib and Datin Rosmah.

Penang tunnel made "Chickadee" enchained with sorrow to debate Najib

"Chickadee", tell me what's wrong
You're enchained by your own sorrow
In your eyes there is no hope for tomorrow
How I hate to see you like this
There is no way you can deny it
I can see that you're oh so sad, so quiet

"Chickadee", tell me the truth
I'm a shoulder you can cry on
Your best friend, I'm the one you must rely on
You were always sure of yourself
Now I see you've broken a feather
I hope we can patch it up together

Pun from lyric of Chiquitta by ABBA

We thought Lim Kit Siang backed out because Dato Najib would have used the debate to raised issue and exposed his embarassing past, personal and subversive activities, including his fake law degree degree and humbling begnning as a pork seller in Batu Pahat, Johor.

Raja Petra thought Najib would used it to raise issues Kit Siang raised against Tun Dr Mahathir in the past such BMF, BNM Forex, Maminco, Perwaja and the list goes on.

There is also the possibility Dato Najib would use the debate to question on the "kewayangan" (dramatic spin) of his son, Lim Guan Eng on the misleading economic and financial statements and information.

Yesterday, we were told to think further.

LKY's grandson gay marriage and gay PM-in-waiting for Malaysia

The late Lee Kuan Yew's grandson, Lee Huan Wu married his male partner, Hang Yirui in a same sex marriage in Cape Town, South Africa.

On his Instagram, he wrote: "Today I marry my soulmate. Looking forward to a lifetime of moments like this with [Huanwu]."

The father of the bridegroom (or bride, whichever the preference) and younger brother of Singapore Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Yang was asked by South China Morning Post for comment.

He said, "I believed my father would have been thrilled to know this."

Lee Kuan Yew's view on homosexuality was compiled by wikia.org. His answer was legal and scientific. It's a defensive mode to maintain his firm misdemeanour, but remain politically correct with the times.

Restoring GST means PH admitted Guan Eng messed up the economy

Still anti-GST? 

For three years in a row - May 1st 2014  and 2015, and April 2nd 2016, Pakatan Rakyat supporters held an anti-GST rally.

Thoughout the GE 14 campaign, GST was the main and most impactful political weapon of mass destruction for Pakatan Harapan to demolish the then ruling Barisan Nasional.

Few Ministers, including Prime Minister recently admitted rising prices was a result of profiteering along the supply chain, but back then, GST was blamed for price increases. Now that the system has reverted to SST, prices increased even more and rapidly.

Not only Deloitte was raided, PMO too ... Lack of evidence?

In the previous posting on Lim Kit Malam, the pun for him chickening out from a debate with Dato Najib, this blog touched briefly of the Deloitte raid by police on Thursday.

One former 1MDB staff questioned why the raid now when the case is already charged in court? Does it have anything to do with the trial being repeatedly postphoned?

Trial for cases related to 1MDB is supposed to commence May 1st but under guise of public interest, DPP requested for a new date and High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah fixed the date for August 19-29th, whole months of September and October, and early part of November.

It is heard that the 1MDB cases had problems with documentations in addition to problems to corroborate the evidence involving foreign money trails.

In other word, it could mean AG have insufficient evidence.

Kit Siang out-danced, Media just no class

Dato Najib challenged Lim Kit Siang for a free style debate.

Without the usual play hard to get by one side in any typical political debate challenge in Malaysia, Najib went along to agree on all conditions set by Kit Siang.

He only insist on free style debate, and in jest, as long as RSN Rayer is not moderator..

It was most welcoming to see that it could come to an agreement in two days. But Kit Siang choked and withdrew.

Government has new leads on Jho Low: Real or Drama?

At the time public was still in a daze over Jho Low and 1MDB, contrary to the advise of a source close to former PM Dato Najib cautioninh against drawing a conclusion, this blog raised issue on Jho Loh back in early February 2015 with the posting, "Time for Jho Loh to start singing".

It was followed by an April 2015 posting, "Why still no Jho Loh lawsuit against NYT?"

Sources from Penang was saying Tan Sri Larry Low is not as rich as he potrayed himself to be. MWE is not entirely his show, but together with Thai partner. Larry's family moved from Thailand to Penang.

Talk was Jho Loh borrowed money from his father, fathers' friends, and even Ah Long to invest in gifts to win the hearts of potential clients. The Whale book revealed Jho Low modus operandi was buying his way into friendship and access.

The early tip-off on Jho Loh blamed Dato Najib, but 1MDB had many good intentions and CSR, thus it has to be given a chance. More benefit of the doubt as more information received from Terengganu.

An opportunity to meet CEO Dato Shahrol raised suspicion that there are character problem with those running 1MDB and blame should fairly be directed to Jho Low.

Hua Wei to Hawau

Top US tech companies begin to cut off vital Huawei supplies after company is blacklisted by White House

• Chip makers including Intel, Qualcomm, Xilinx and Broadcom are said to have told their employees they will not supply Huawei until further notice

• Also, the US has pressured both allies and foes to avoid using Huawei for 5G networks that will form the backbone of the modern economy

Bloomberg/SCMP

Published: 2:44pm, 20 May, 2019

Top US corporations from chip makers to Google have frozen the supply of critical software and components to Huawei Technologies, complying with a Trump administration crackdown that threatens to choke off China’s largest technology company.

TH's Q1 "profit" for the starry-eyed and gullible to believe

Three strikes and the batter is out in a baseball game.

Allah is great! Currently on the third consecutive strike, but have not let up on fasting. With the neb on and fingers still able to pound away on the keyboard, Bursa Malaysia this week comes to mind.

CI plunged 30 points first hour Monday morning only to recover back in the morning trade. Prior to the event, there was a barrage of negative reports on Malaysian economy, ringgit, stock market, and investors by-passing Malaysia.

It turns out Investment Bankers churning out the negative reports (and foreign media "viraling" as news) went on a "house buy" to go against their own bearish reports. The gullible locals were selling into a bear trap.

Nevertheless, the market did not turned bullish but bearish with one analyst giving a bottom target for CI at 1580 and one BFM mid-morning comment was talking about 1600 as resistance, intended as support perhaps.

The market would not have been this blur had some smartass accountant and their hair splitting standards not handcuffed local institutions from sticking themselves out for the nation's bourse.

With market condition as such, suddenly Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) announced its first quarter profit of RM440 million on the back of RM623 million earning. One can't imagine how many out there will be gullible enough to believe.

Eventually, Justice Nazlan may need to dismiss SRC case

Failure to comply with the rules of discovery may, in more serious cases, result in an action being dismissed, or a defence being struck out and judgment entered accordingly - Shearn Delamore & Co.

Yesterday's SRC trial in court saw the testimony by 37th witness, Ihsan Perdana Sdn Bhd (IPSB) managing director Datuk Dr Shamsul Anwar Sulaiman.

Dr Sam, as he is known in his close circle, did not know the RM42 million IPSB transfered was meant for Dato Najib's personal account. Otherwise, he would not have signed the transfer had he know it is Najib's personal account.

And he told the court the transfer was acting on e-mail instruction from IPSB's fund provider, Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia (YR1M).

In case the public forgotten, Dr Sam was the second person remanded for questioning by MACC in July 2015 and was mentioned to be charged for corruption in the charge sheet leaked by Sarawak Report, which was allegedly prepared by Tan Sri Gani Patail and subsequently denied by MACC.

Dr Sam's statement proved SRC money did not go to Najib's personal account as per the charge made by AG and investigated by MACC. This could certainly throw off the case

Nevertheles, it doubtful High Court Judge Mohd Nazlan Ghazali dare to allow it. It is not due to the open secret among certain lawyers that he is Dato Gopal Sri Ram's "boy".

If he could not make MACC provide document to the defense team's discovery, it is unlikely he could dismiss the case or rule no prima facie.

SRC trail: Negated are the "witness tampered" testimonies

Last week or two saw a chorus of KWAP's witnesses gave testimonies that seemed scripted to pin on Najib.

It started with the wide media coverage to the testimony of the 29th witness, AVP Amirul Imran Ahmat, and confirmed by witnesses #33, Ambalagam Marapan and witness #34, Amirah Muhammad Nor.

However, Amirah was caught by defense lawyer giving testimony similarly worded as Ambalagam. She admitted MACC assisted with the choice of words or as quoted in Malay, "...SPRM telah bantu saya dengan ayatnya saja."

A lawyer cautioned in jest against accusing MACC tampering with the witness, but "assisting with words" was the way to put it when caught being coached.

No political stability insight

DAP is beating their propaganda drum claiming their thumping win in Sandakan means Muslim voters are willing to accept DAP.

MMO's analysis to claimed Malu Apa BossKu is not really factor any more is part of the DAP message.

It is a matter of time the fad will wear off as it loses the spontaneity. Political analyst Dr Abdul Latiff Mohd Ibrahim felt that "developments in Najib’s corruption trial had dented the bossku phenomenon".

Nevertheless, the fact that this Malaya-critical Penampang boy, Phillip Golingai wrote an article to discuss means it will be around for a while. More so, Najib is providing healthy and factual critic of the PH government.

Phillip mentioned the more commonly heard conversation on the ground, in Sandakan at least, was the succession plan to Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

At 54% turnout, no analysis is relevant

From the day PBS announced Datuk Linda Tsuen as candidate for Sandakan by-election, it was a lost cause already and interest is lost on the by-election.

However, at 54% turnout, no analysis of the DAP win is of any relevence. It is neither a win for the people as Dato Shafie Apdal claimed nor snap out of three consecutive losses for PH.

There is no significant message given out by a by-election with 37% voters turnout as at 1:00 PM afternoon.

It is as positive as the only positive poll on PH's anniversary as government which seemed cooked up for Mahathir to claim voters still prefer PH over BN or other parties.

The winner only goes to the side able to bring out voters at that last dash near tea time. In Sabah, lunch hour is 12 PM.

Black Thursday: Face saving for police, More AG drama at SRC trial

Several postings to poke finally brought out a reaction from the police.

Yesterday on the third of Ramadhan, police reacted with a civil forfeiture charge against Dato Najib and Datin Seri Rosmah. There was no criminal charge made, but civil charge instead.

And, it seemed more of face saving from a glaring embarassment to Police CID. It is already an embarassment for PH as they celebrate their one year anniversary in power today.

One hijrah year: Mahathir subtly acknowledged he is wrong

Today is the second day of Ramadhan. Yesterday, after Terawih prayer, it was exactly a hijrah year and one day that Dato Najib's home was raided upon his return from 1MDB-funded Kg Baru Mosque.

It is not to commemmorate the momentous occasion. As of May 7th today, it is 9 days to May 16th midnight and stretching to May 17th, they day it will be exactly one Gregorian year since the raid. Till today, there has been no charges with regard to the seized goods.

The AMLA law allows for the seized goods to be held for six months and any extension will require a court order. Upon reaching a year without any charge, there is no more legal avenue for the police to hold back the properties and money seized.

In March 18th posting, this blog raised the issue of some goods were possibly missing and the seizure done at the condominiums was in absence and without owners' signature to acknowledge the goods seized.

It was done in contravention of the Criminal Procedure Code. The police stands to be liable to any dispute on the goods seized. Dato Najib raised about the UMNO money declared by police was short.

Selamat berpuasa: Japanese researcher on fasting won Nobel Prize

Wishing all Muslim happy Ramadhan. May their Ramadhan be both physically and spiritually fulfilling experience.

For non-Muslim, they could join the festivity for the fasting as a researcher claimed it induce anti-aging health benefit. In 2016, a Japanese scientist, Yoshinori Ohsumi won a Nobel Prize in medicine for autophagy or a process of cell "eating itself" during fasting.

C&EN website reported:

Nuthin' Floydian about Maszlee and Teo Nee Ching, Chun Wai

We don't need no education
We don't need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone…

"Another Brick in the Wall" was Pink Floyd's several parts songs from their 1979 album, The Wall.

It is rock opera, which explores the life of a character facing abuse from his schoolteachers, an overprotective mother, and the breakdown of his marriage contributing to an eventual self-imposed isolation from society, symbolised by a wall.

Critics described it as overblown and pretentious but it is one of greatest rock album or all time and one of the most well known concept album of all time also.

This blog used Another Brick in the Wall to represent one brick or voice of many bricks that make up the wall.

Wong Chun Wai's column of same title in The Star today dealt with the recent issue of opening matriculation entry to other races.

Rome Statute protest tomorrow, Noor Farida bluff called, and bunkum liberal arguments

There will be a Rome Statute protest to be held tomorrow Saturday May 4th at Sogo, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman Kuala Lumpur. It will the begin with a parade after zohor prayers at Masjid Jameq.

Come in WHITE!

The crowd may not be as large as the anti-ICERD gathering several months ago, because similar gatherings are being held throughout the country since last week. In Johor, there were gatherings held district-to-district with regard to both the Rome Statute and Johor Constitution.

Nevertheless, the protest is expected to attract a significantly more sizeable crowd than any gathering by the pro-Rome Statute "elite Bangsar type" liberals.

Even the political party supporters of the current ruling government has insufficient followers and incapable of gathering sufficient number as show of support. They do not have PAS to be exploited anymore.

Mukhriz's "Santa Claus", PPBM's War Room Director convicted by SC

Santa Claus collects toys and distribute it to the children from needy families during festivities. Malaysia's version of Santa Claus collects "toys" and "distribute" it for "raya".

In the news today is about "Santa Claus" for Dato Mukhriz being convicted by Session's Court for offenses under the Securities Industry Act 1983 and Capital Market and Services Act 2007.

The KL Sessions Court convicted two former directors; namely Datuk Norhamzah Nordin and Mohd Azham Mohd Noor and an accounts manager of Kosmo Technology Industrial Bhd for furnishing false statements to Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd.

In a piece entitled, "SC chairman axed, will Ranjit be investigated?" dated October 1, 2018, the blog The New Malaysia Times highlighted that Norhamzah was acquitted for the same charge in 2016,

It is commendable of new SC Chairman, Syed Zaid Albar, brother to now PPBM member Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar, for revisting the case in May 2018 after the departure of the jagah Tan Sri Ranjit Ajit Singh.

Norhamzah was PPBM's War Room Director at the last GE14. Apparently, he switched his political allegiance from UMNO to Parti Pribumi Bersatu.

Removed as Johor PPBM Chairman, Muhyiddin attacked by cybertrooper

The drama played out by PPBM after the emergency MPKT meeting was that everything resolved and all will back Tun Dr Mahathir. Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin claimed ignorance and apologised to Mahathir.

There have been thousands of political quarrels that will have this sort of scene as part of the repertoire but subsequently, the quarrel will continue. More so, one is talking about the quarrelsome Mahathir.

Muhyiddin also has a history of being sneeky to play along, prepare and confront at the last minute to ouster his target.

In the past, his victims include former Johor Menteri Besar and the man who brought him up in UMNO, late Tan Sri Osman Saat, former Deputy PM, Tun Musa Hitam, former PMs, Tun Abdullah Badawi and Dato Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak.

Mahathir does not have much time and it is only expected that his move agaunst Muhyiddin will be soon and swift. The war between Mahathir and Muhyiddin has been declared.

Initially, the rumour was Muhyiddin will resign from the Johor PPBM Chairmanship after Hari Raya, but it does not take long. Mahathir already announced removed exco member, Mazlan Bujang as new state Chairman.

[Correction: The Star reported the then Chairman of PPBM Johor was former MB, Dato Osman Sapuan. Muhyiddin is PPBM President.]