FMT -- Lawyers warn of Public Outcry if High-profile Corruption Cases Dropped

You could have read bits and pieces here and there. The article below from FMT would probably let you have the whole picture..

Lawyers warn of public outcry if high-profile corruption cases dropped

PETALING JAYA: There will be public outcry against the government if the attorney-general (AG) decides to withdraw serious criminal charges against six Umno MPs, a lawyer warned.

Mohamed Rafique Rashid Ali said some of the cases were in the midst of trials and the public have been following them and learning about some damning evidence from various prosecution witnesses.

“There will also be a trust deficit in the leadership should charges be withdrawn in exchange for political support,” he said.

Rafique said this in response to an interview with Malaysiakini by PKR founding member Syed Husin Ali who believes Port Dickson MP Anwar Ibrahim would abide by a Pakatan Harapan decision not to cooperate with the Umno MPs to form a new government.

There is concern that the PKR president has to cut deals with Pekan MP Najib Razak, who was facing three corruption and money laundering related trials, to muster sufficient numbers in the Dewan Rakyat to become prime minister.

The belief was intensified by reports that Najib and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also facing graft charges, had allegedly written to the King to throw their support for Anwar.

However, Anwar on Tuesday maintains that no deals have been made with any MP facing charges in exchange for their support.

“What I assured them is that there is no political vendetta, but you must accept the due process, the rule of law and independence of the judiciary,” he said at a press conference today.

Apart from Najib and Zahid, who is Bagan Datoh MP, others facing charges are Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan, Putrajaya MP Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Baling MP Abdul Azeez Rahim and Kinabatangan MP Bung Mokhtar Radin.

Lawyer Syed Iskandar Syed Jaafar al-Mahdzar said under Article 145 (3) of the Federal Constitution, the AG, who is also the public prosecutor, had the discretion to institute and withdraw charges.

He said the integrity of the AG’s office would also be called into question and discredited if high profile prosecutions were discontinued following a change in the country’s leadership.

Lawyer A Srimurugan said a public backlash was imminent if two recent decisions made by the public prosecutor were used as indicators.

“The public and civil society were up in arms when the prosecution withdrew 46 corruption and money laundering charges against former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman in June.

“The month before that, a Sessions Court granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal to Hollywood producer Riza Aziz, who was facing five counts of money laundering amounting to US$248 million,” Srimurugan said, referring to Najib’s stepson, who had allegedly used funds linked to 1MDB.

He added that even the dropping of a corruption case against former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng when PH was in power in 2018 gave the impression that all prosecutorial decisions were dictated by the powers that be.

In the 1MDB audit report trial, Najib is charged with abuse of power in order to obtain immunity from legal action and causing amendments to the finalised 1MDB audit report prior to it being tabled before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

Najib is also facing 25 charges of abuse of power and money laundering over alleged 1MDB funds amounting to RM2.28 billion deposited in his persona bank accounts.

Najib and former Treasury secretary-general Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah are also facing six charges of CBT involving RM6.6 billion of government funds but the trial will begin next year.

Zahid is currently facing 12 charges of criminal breach of trust, eight for corruption and 27 for money laundering, totalling RM117 million in the High Court.

Meanwhile, he is facing another 40 graft charges in relation to the foreign visa system (VLN) though the trial for that case has yet to begin.

Tengku Adnan, who is Umno treasurer, will know on Nov 17 whether he will be acquitted or convicted over a RM2 million corruption case.

On Nov 23, Tengku Adnan’s second corruption case involving RM1 million will begin.

The trial of former Tabung Haji chairman Azeez and his brother, Latif, started in August and three witnesses have been called.

Azeez was charged with three counts of bribery involving RM5.2 million linked to road projects in Perak and Kedah, and nine counts of money laundering involving nearly RM140 million.

Ahmad Maslan was charged with money laundering by not stating his real income on the RM2 million he received from Najib in his 2013 income tax return form.

The Umno secretary-general is also charged with giving false statements to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Bung Moktar, a former non-executive chairman of Felcra was charged with three counts of taking a bribe amounting to RM3 million from public mutual investment agents through his wife Zizie Ezette.

Flooding at Kuala Lumpur today

 Kuala Lumpur was in a watery mess today after incessant rain the whole day. Downtown at the Masjid Jamek/Ampang area was like a sea. Traffic was at a standstill, naturally. Check out pictures below (received via WhatsApp - source unknown):

Mandatory mask-up in Malaysia starts today

Today marks the first day that Malaysia is making it mandatory for people to wear a mask in crowded places and on public transportation. 

From The Star..

The mandatory use of face masks from Aug 1 will be for crowded public places where social distancing cannot be practised, says Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He said this rule, already implemented for public transport, would now be enforced for those frequenting crowded public areas.

However, Dr Noor Hisham did not specify the kind of crowded public place where the use of face masks among patrons were mandatory.

"If you are walking alone, there is no need to wear a face mask.

"If you are in public and the place is crowded and social distancing cannot be created, the use of face masks is mandatory," he said at a media engagement session on Wednesday (July 29).

The plan is to eventually get everyone to adorn face masks once they step out of the house.

The World Health Organisation now recommends that you wear a three-layer fabric face mask every time you go in public where social distancing is impossible. The use of masks is to help slow the spread of Covid-19 as many who are positive with the virus are asymptomatic.

You can make your own fabric masks. You Tube has many tutorials on how to make face masks, even hand-stitching methods.

WHO has indicated that the mask must be of three layers of fabric each made of a different material to serve a different protective role.

The recommendation is for an inner layer of an absorbent material like cotton (for example from a t-shirt), a middle layer of a non-woven material such as polypropylene (for a filter, such as like the polypropylene used in reusable grocery bags). Synthetic, non-woven materials are smoother and less porous than pure cotton as a filter. And an outer layer of a non-absorbent material such as polyester or a polyester blend.

Here are the basic Do's and Don'ts of mask wearing courtesy of The Star..

Najib Razak, former PM, found guilty - more information and reactions

More updates on Former premier Najib Abdul Razak found guilty of all seven charges - SRC trial..

- Najib is first ex-PM to be convicted - The Star

It took two and a half hours for Justice Nazlan to read his decision.

Justice Nazlan sentenced Najib to 12 years’ jail and RM210mil fine for one court of power abuse.

For three counts of criminal breach of trust, Najib was sentenced to 10 years’ jail for each of the charges.

For three counts of money laundering, another 10 years’ jail each.

The court ordered for the jail time to run concurrently.

Shafee applied for a stay of execution on both jail time and fine, which was allowed by the court.

Najib’s bail, originally set at RM1mil, was increased by another RM1mil in two sureties to be paid today.

Najib was also ordered to report to the nearest police station twice a month.

Pakatan leaders say ‘justice served’ after Najib convicted of all counts in SRC trial - Malay Mail

Pakatan Harapan leaders described former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s conviction in his SRC International trial today as justice for the country and vindication for themselves.

Among them were former energy, science, technology, environment and climate change minister Yeo Bee Yin who said the decision demonstrated the power Malaysians possessed via the ballot box.

“To all who went all out, worked and voted for change in 2018, it is not in vain, remember, it is not in vain,” she said on Facebook.

PKR vice president Rafizi Ramli also broke his recent silence on politics to comment that today’s unprecedented conviction of a former prime minister in Malaysia was momentous for the country.

Rafizi had been among those who led the criticism of the Najib administratio over the 1MDB scandal.

“I very rarely commented on anything political nowadays. But I did spend many years on the front-line dealing with 1MDB and SRC scandals as an MP.

“I never expected much from those years, but I did feel that all the heartbreaks were well worth it today.

“Well done Malaysia” he said.

'Najib conviction a victory for justice' - New Straits Times

Najib was today sentenced to 12 years' jail and fined RM210 million after he was found guilty of all seven charges related to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) subsidiary's funds.

"The prosecution's case has been proven beyond reasonable doubt, and all witnesses who testified have been found credible.

"We are pleased that justice has been served in this case and that the judge has accepted the truth of the prosecution's case. The outcome is actually a victory for justice," he said at a press conference after judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali passed sentence on the former prime minister.

He added that he had estimated that the case would be finally disposed of in a year.

Judge: Najib's lack of action to recover SRC funds 'very puzzling' - New Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak's lack of action to recover funds linked to SRC International which were frozen by the Swiss authorities in 2015 was deemed as something very puzzling by the High Court Judge who convicted him of power abuse charges yesterday.

Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali said this in his judgment in the SRC International case which saw the former prime minister convicted of all seven charges of power abuse, criminal breach of trust and money laundering before jailing 12 years and fining him RM210 million.

In his judgment, Nazlan said Najib's action was much more consistent with the conduct of one who did not want the problem to be resolved given his own complicity in the unlawful transfer of the funds in the first place.

The judge found evidence of this in the shareholder minutes of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOF Inc).

He said it was clear by the end of 2015 that SRC was facing financial difficulties.

Former premier Najib Abdul Razak found guilty of all seven charges - SRC trial

Breaking news.  Najib found guilty of all charges - SRC Trial. 

From The Edge.. 

Datuk Seri Najib Razak (in brown coat). (Photo: Izwan Mohd Nazam/The Edge)

KUALA LUMPUR (July 28): Former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak has today been found guilty by the High Court here of all seven charges of abuse of power, criminal breach of trustand money-laundering in relation to RM42 million belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd.

In delivering his verdict, High Court judge Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali said the case had been proven beyond reasonable doubt as the defence failed to rebut the prosecution's case.

The former premier is the most senior member of the executive branch of the previous Barisan Nasional government to be charged in court. 

Continue reading.. SRC Trial: Najib found guilty of all charges

Update: 

- After found guilty, Najib's lawyers ask to delay bid to postpone sentencing but court unconvinced

- Najib in court custody pending mitigation hearing for SRC case

- SRC trial judge who convicted Najib says all roads led to proverbial Rome

Spitting at the rakyat’s face

Here's an article written by Manjit Bhatia in relation to the recent event of the new government.

He starts with, "Malaysia’s people have been kicked in the groin."

Read on:

Installing Muhyiddin Yassin’s so-called Perikatan Nasional (PN) through the backdoor as the “new government” is majorly troubling in anybody’s book. Not in Muhyiddin’s, it seems, or his backers’.

To back Muhyiddin’s government is to back an illegitimacy.

PN hasn’t won the popular mandate through open and fair elections. It doesn’t enjoy voter legitimacy. Therefore, it has neither the business nor the right to rule.

To carry on would be a gross travesty of justice perpetrated on the people of Malaysia.

Effectively, PN and its backers have spat in the faces of, to use an ancient Roman political term, the publics.

Yet again the people of Malaysia have been taken for granted.

Continue reading Spitting at the rakyat’s face


You may be interested to read:

It hurts when friends backstab you, says Dr M
What would Muhyiddin do?
Ambiga hails Idrus Harun’s appointment, says he has the experience
Perikatan Nasional just an illusion, says PPBM man
Khalid tells of his texts to Muhyiddin and DAP’s readiness to sacrifice
Vote of no-confidence is democratic, not showing distrust of Agong, Patriot tells PAS chief
No confidence motion against PM not an act of disloyalty to king, say lawyers


Disclaimer:
-- Any political news posted on this blog is from the media. It is not the opinion of the blog-owner.

Latheefa resigns as MACC chief and other updates

If you are still keeping up with the Malaysian saga of the new government taking over, the following are some updates..

Malay Mail reported that "The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Latheefa Koya has resigned from her position, a source privy to the agency's developments said tonight."

Selangor MB: Bersatu booted out of state administration

All 13 BN Melaka assemblymen pull out of coalition with two Bersatu reps

Muhyiddin in charge of all federal govt departments until appointment of Cabinet ministers

Source: Malay Mail

Syed Saddiq urges Umno, PAS leaders to declare wealth after Ku Nan's RM900m asset revelation

After change of government, whistleblower Justo returns to Switzerland

And lastly for now see if you agree with the last bit, the last two sentences of this article..
The Guardian view on a royal coup: a king overturns a historic election

What's happening in Malaysia - with updates

It's hard not to be keeping up on what's happening to the country with the swearing in of the new PM and his team.

If you too are still interested, here's the latest..

Ahmad Zahid's trial vacated as he needs to discuss new govt formation with Muhyiddin

From the New Straits Times..
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has allowed Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's corruption trial involving millions of ringgit in Yayasan Akalbudi funds and passport chip supply contracts with several companies to be vacated.

This was after the Umno president's lawyer said that his client needs to meet with newly-appointed Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to discuss the formation of a new government.

Ahmad Zahid, 67, is facing 47 charges, with 12 of them involving criminal breach of trust, eight for corruption and 27 for money laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit of funds belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi.

The trial before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues tomorrow.

I want to clear my name in court, says Zahid
Prosecution applies to cite Zahid for contempt over ‘meeting’ with Muhyiddin

Who will be the next AG?
Let ongoing court cases continue, says Kadir Jasin

Now we know who the traitors are
The whole world knows it was a coup, says Anwar
Don’t derail PH reform efforts, LFL tells cops on social media probe

No, wait, these are related too..
UDA chairman tests positive for Covid-19
PKR's Wong Chen goes into isolation over Covid-19
UDA director confirmed for Covid-19 was in close contact with ex-minister, officials
EXCLUSIVE - Health Rules Demand PM8 And All Co-Conspirators Must Immediately Self-Isolate For 14 Days?

UPDATES:
Anwar says new coalition won’t be able to manage economy
Ambiga: Vital for new PM to convene Parliament meet and end doubt about support
Muhyiddin clocks in at Perdana Putra
'To my driver, you will be greatly missed,' says ex-Transport minister

© Provided by New Straits Times Former Transport Minister Anthony Loke has penned a tribute to his driver named Hazril (without disclosing his full name). -Pic source Anthony Loke Siew Fook FB

Disclaimer:
-- Any political news posted on this blog is from the media. It is not the opinion of the blog-owner.