Chinese voter turnout in Mahkota almost 50%, says Johor DAP chief

 

FMT:

Chinese voter turnout in

Mahkota almost 50%, says

Johor DAP chief

FMT Reporters

-01 Oct 2024, 02:50 PM

Liew Chin Tong cites data from a think tank showing the community’s voter turnout rate at 49%, and not a little over 30% as previously reported.

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Johor DAP chairman Liew Chin Tong said PH’s core supporters, regardless of ethnicity, gave their full support to BN in the Mahkota by-election.

PETALING JAYA: 

Johor DAP chairman Liew Chin Tong said the turnout among Chinese voters at the Mahkota by-election on Saturday was higher, at almost 50%, and not slightly over 30% as previously reported.

Liew cited data by think tank Institut Darul Ehsan (IDE), based on all polling stations, showing that the voter turnout rate for the Chinese was at 49%, Indians (48%) and Malays (61%).

More importantly, almost all Pakatan Harapan core supporters, regardless of ethnicity, gave their full support to Barisan Nasional in this by-election,

 he said in a statement.

Previously, FMT quoted a party source as saying the voter turnout for the by-election remained low among Chinese (32%) and Indian voters (34%), while the highest turnout rate (63%) was among Malay voters.

The ethnic turnout rate estimated by IDE is almost the same as the turnout rate for the Johor state elections in March 2022,

 said Liew, who is also the deputy investment, trade and industry minister.

Chinese voters comprise 34% of the 66,318 electorate.

Liew, the Iskandar Puteri MP, also said with 81% Chinese voters, the Bandar Tengah polling station was most representative of the community’s voter turnout.

On average, he said, the voter turnout for Bandar Tengah stood at 49%. However, the average percentage of votes won by Barisan Nasional candidate Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah in each of Bandar Tengah’s six voting streams was 90%.

In comparison, the Kampong Melayu I polling station, which has 95.74% Malay voters, recorded an average turnout of 61% across its five streams.

Liew said the Pakatan Harapan ground campaign team led by Kluang MP Wong Shu Qi knew that it would be difficult to canvass for votes because of various factors, including the spat between Umno’s Dr Akmal Saleh and DAP’s Teresa Kok.

He said PH was confident that with relentless campaigning, they could turn things around and reach about 50% Chinese voter turnout although he was cautioned that the figure would not exceed 55%.

‘We’re on right side of history’: UNRWA chief fends off Israeli claims about hiring Hamas members

‘We’re on right side of history’: UNRWA chief fends off Israeli claims about hiring Hamas members

UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini highlighted the heavy toll his agency had paid as it serves as the 'backbone' of the vast humanitarian operation underway in war-ravaged Gaza. — AFP pic

Tuesday, 01 Oct 2024 9:53 AM MYT


GENEVA, Oct 1 — The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees vehemently defended it yesterday against Israeli charges that it employs “terrorists” in Gaza, insisting the body is “on the right side of history”.

UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini highlighted the heavy toll his agency had paid as it serves as the “backbone” of the vast humanitarian operation underway in war-ravaged Gaza.

At least 223 UNRWA staff have been killed and two-thirds of the agency’s facilities in Gaza have been damaged and destroyed since the start of the Gaza war, he pointed out.

He rejected the harsh criticism the agency has faced from Israel, insisting that its work had been “guided by the UN values” and by international humanitarian law.

“As long it is guided by this, whatever the attack can be, I feel that I am on the right side of history,” he told reporters in Geneva.

UNRWA, which was created in 1949 to support Palestinian refugees across various countries, saw a series of funding cuts earlier this year after Israel accused more than a dozen of its 13,000 Gaza employees of involvement in the October 7 attack by Hamas.

A series of probes, including one led by former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna, found some “neutrality related issues” at UNRWA but stressed that Israel had not provided evidence for its chief allegations.

An internal probe published last month found that nine employees “may have been involved in the armed attacks of 7 October”.

But the barrage of accusations has continued, with Israel charging among other things that the agency employs “hundreds of Hamas members and even military wing operatives” in Gaza.

“The terror organisation Hamas has infiltrated UNRWA-Gaza in a systematic and extensive manner,” Israeli representative Anat Fisher Tsin told a UN meeting in Geneva yesterday.

Israel also slammed UNRWA after announcing yesterday that it had “eliminated” Hamas’s leader in Lebanon, Fatah Sharif, highlighting that he had been employed by the agency.

“He was a teacher in UNRWA school, a principal in UNRWA school—and the head of UNRWA teachers’ association in Lebanon,” Fisher Tsin said.

Lazzarini acknowledged that the agency had received allegations in March that Sharif was “part of the local leadership” of Hamas. He said the agency had immediately opted to suspend him without pay pending an investigation.

The allegation was taken “very seriously”, he said, stressing that the agency respects “due process and the principle of rule of law”.

He said the investigation was “still ongoing”.

Lazzarini alleged there was “a large-scale campaign aimed at undermining the agency”.

That has resulted in a dramatic funding shortage.

Lazzarini said the agency currently had an US$80-million budget shortfall just to the end of this year.

While next year will be a challenge, he said he remained “quite confident that we will find ways to bridge the gap”. — AFP

***

kt comments:

Israel does NOT want UNRWA to exist to help Palestinians.

The clue lies in UNRWA Head Lazzarini saying there was “a large-scale campaign aimed at undermining the agency”, with of course the motive of disrupting funding by several nations. But as usual with Israeli lies,  no evidence was provided.

Israelis have been liars since Abraham told the Pharaoh that his wife Sarah was his sister, and allowed her to be taken away by the Pharaoh as a concubine.

BNM, then-governor were last bastion of financial integrity: Najib's lawyer

BNM, then-governor were last bastion of financial integrity: Najib's lawyer

Hidir Reduan Abdul Rashid
Published: Sep 30, 2024 8:12 PM


1MDB TRIAL | Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), under its then governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz, failed to raise red flags over the suspicious transfer of US$700 million of 1MDB funds, the Kuala Lumpur High Court heard.

Najib Abdul Razak’s lead counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah this afternoon argued that the ex-prime minister has every reason to be dependent on the central bank and Zeti, who were the “last bastion of financial integrity”.

The former premier’s counsel told the criminal court that it was a BNM officer who in 2009 allegedly authorised the money to be transferred out.

Meant for a joint venture between 1MDB and Petrosaudi International Limited (PSI), the US$700 million was in the end diverted to offshore entity Good Star Limited, which was controlled by fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho (Jho Low).

Najib’s defence team previously contended that the former finance minister had no knowledge of wrongdoing at 1MDB and that embezzlement of its funds was solely masterminded by Low and members of its management.

Former Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz


“My client has every reason to be dependent on Bank Negara and its then governor because of what we regard as the last bastion of financial integrity.

“This became the forceful thrust in our cross-examination of Zeti.

“My client got every right to be expecting any red flags to be raised if financial transactions were in any way suspected as being involved in illegal transactions,” Shafee submitted in today’s RM2.27 billion 1MDB abuse of power and money laundering trial against Najib.

The lead defence counsel pointed out that rather than deliberate for a week before making any decision, the central bank had instead within minutes given the authorisation after a call from 1MDB’s then-CEO Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi.

‘Witnesses unreliable, self-serving, lacking credibility’

Earlier in the proceedings, co-defence counsel Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin argued that around half of the 50 witnesses in the trial were unreliable, self-serving, and lacking credibility.

The counsel cited several witnesses in particular, namely Shahrol, 1MDB’s ex-CEO Mohd Hazem Abd Rahman, its former chief financial officer Azmi Tahir, and its former general counsel Jasmine Loo.

Azwan contended that Shahrol’s overall implausible and contradictory testimony showed he was a puppet of Low.

Ex-1MDB CEO Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi


The lawyer argued that Hazem’s claim of being reluctant and forced to join 1MDB lacked credibility as there was a monthly salary bump from RM38,000 (when the witness was with Sime Darby) to RM65,000 (when CEO of 1MDB).

Azwan pointed out that during cross-examination, it was revealed Hazem wanted to remain in his CEO position until Arul Kanda Kandasamy’s then appointment as 1MDB president effectively demoted him (Hazem).

“Hazem was also Low’s lackey. Like Shahrol, if Low asked Hazem to jump, he would reply ‘how high’,” the lawyer told trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah.

Azwan made similar oral submissions over the alleged unreliability of Azmi and Loo, reiterating that 1MDB’s former general counsel was “more than happy” to take instructions from Low, who is at large.

Hearing before Sequerah continues tomorrow and is scheduled until Friday this week.


Najib’s 25 charges

Najib is on trial over 25 counts encompassing abuse of power and money laundering of RM2.27 billion funds from 1MDB.

For the four abuse of power charges, the former Pekan MP allegedly committed the offences at AmIslamic Bank Bhd’s Jalan Raja Chulan branch in Bukit Ceylon, Kuala Lumpur, between Feb 24, 2011, and Dec 19, 2014.

Former 1MDB general counsel Jasmine Loo


On the 21 money laundering counts, the 71-year-old was accused of committing the offences at the same bank between March 22 and Aug 30, 2013.

The accused was first charged on Sept 20, 2018, and his criminal trial began on Aug 28, 2019.

The prosecution closed its case on May 30 this year, six years after the former prime minister was first charged.

The proceedings are now in the oral submissions stage, which involves no witness testimonies, only legal teams summing up whether the oral and documentary evidence implicates or exonerates Najib.

Fifty witnesses took the stand for the prosecution, among them Loo, Shahrol, Hazem, former 1MDB chairperson Mohd Bakke Salleh, and Zeti.

Fugitive businessperson Jho Low


Prosecutors claimed that Najib received RM2.27 billion misappropriated from the troubled sovereign wealth fund between 2011 and 2014.

However, Najib’s defence team contended that the former premier had no knowledge of any wrongdoing at 1MDB and that wrongdoing was solely masterminded by Low and members of the fund’s management.

The former finance minister also previously contended that the late King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia promised the accused financial donation for political purposes.

Deputy public prosecutors Kamal Baharin Omar and Ahmad Akram Gharib prosecuted.

Guest Editorial: Parody Biden and Blinken - Who's the War Criminal?

Murray Hunter


Guest Editorial: Parody Biden and Blinken - Who's the War Criminal?

Lim Teck Ghee
Sep 30, 2024





President Biden told the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday that he thinks “everyday” about the 13 Americans who died in a suicide bombing at Kabul’s airport during the botched pullout from Afghanistan — hours before a House committee moved to hold Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt for failing to give testimony on the attack.

“Thirteen brave Americans lost their lives, along with hundreds of Afghans, in a suicide bomb. I think [of] those lost lives — I think of them every day,” Biden, 81, said in what he promised would be final speech to the UN — stumbling slightly over his script.

https://nypost.com/2024/09/24/us-news/biden-says-he-thinks-every-day-about-13-americans-who-died-in-suicide-bombing-at-kabul-airport-in-likely-final-speech-to-un/

What NYP did not catch on the White House hot microphone

Biden: So what did you think, Blinky of my UN speech.

Blinken: Absolute home run, Boss. In fact, out of the park. One of the greatest speeches in the UN. We are getting it out in all languages. Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, PBS boys are covering it. Also CNN, NBC and ABC. Starmi liked it so too, Modi. It's all over BBC and Indian media.

Biden: Yeah. But nothing for America in Fox News I'm told by Karine. Those Fox b……s

really fight dirty. Dirty!

Blinken: Not to worry. We have our Fox boys in Post put you on their front page. Did you see it?

Biden: Saw that. Love it. Shows Murdoch may be changing his mind on Don the Con. That should bring Karma a million Rep votes at least. Many more. You know, I could have won in Nov. They all let me down. Hilary, Bama, Nancy….

They will be sorry if Con Don wins. You know if Jill had not changed her mind, I would have gone on. And I would have won.

Blinken: Definitely Boss. You are the greatest. I hope Karma doesn't screw up big time.

Biden: Okay, she is younger but she's not smart at all. I really am worried about leaving the country in her hands. Gave her the soft jobs and you know what, she totally f…ed up. On border security, migrants, Mexicans, black voters, women, young. Lost me so much support.

Can you imagine? She and her office kept complaining that I was giving her difficult, impossible assignments. They kept bitching all the time. Come on!

Blinken: Yes I heard a lot. Heard that they claimed you were incompetent and half asleep all the time.

They were jealous of me making the news too. Said I was crowding her out of the front page.

Biden: Frankly, just between you and me. Karine can do a better job. That girl has been fighting on the frontline for us every day while Karma has been pussyfooting.

Blinken: Pussyfooting Karma, Ha, ha. Good one.

You are right. God, I just hope she wins. Trumpi will be giving me a hard time if he wins, you know.

Btw, The House just pushed through 1.6 billion to take down China. That money should be spent on recruiting the best people - you know, us veterans who have been to Beijing and know how to deal with the media to pull Xi down. Will be great if you can put in a good word for me when I leave this office Boss.

Biden: Don't worry Blinky. You have done a helluva job. Even if Don Con, Con Don wins, there's plenty of moolah to go round for everyone. Don't like to blow my trumpet but I worked my ass off to get the 25 anti China bills passed. Record this one. And this will guarantee that all here will do nicely even if Con Con wins.

Blinken: I know. It's money, media and missiles and we call the shots on all of them. Biden: Speaking of the three Ms, Zelly has been pestering me for more money and missiles. A lot more. Greedy really that clown. The money is not a problem. But he wants more ATACM and a couple of LRHM to target Moscow and Putin.

Blinken: Say no to him Boss. We can't afford to push Putin to the edge. There's no way he will not retaliate. That man has been consistent on red lines and we cannot ignore them.

Biden: Yeah. I have to find some way to see that Zelly continues fighting and doesn't go back empty handed.

But it's not looking good at all for Ukraine. Lost a lot of ground. I don't know how much longer they can carry on really. New York Times is telling us to cut a deal with Putin and move on.

Man, that war doesn't look for us. Too many lives lost even if they are not American. Should have left Crimea with Putin. That's all he really wanted you know. Now he will get it all the same and we will be left with a huge bill for years to come. Bloody Europeans and NATO's fault. I was never crazy about pushing the Russians back.

Deep pause

Any way out of this, Blinky? I can't sleep properly thinking of how I could have made the difference.

Blinken: Sorry Boss. You know I haven't been able to give Ukraine much attention because of Gaza. Am going over to Jerusalem again soon. We have to get Nethy to agree to a truce.

He's making the US and all of us Jews look terrible with his endless killing. Practically everyone is calling us war criminals.

Biden: Shit. Don't forget, us Zionists are even called worse. Someone wrote that Zionism has been etched into my political life and consciousness. He's right, you know. I will never live this down. Still a Zionist but the 40,000 dead will always be associated with us.

Deep breath

This massacre of children and women needs to stop, Blinky. I am a Zionist but not a war criminal. You have to push harder, man.

Blinken: I am but Nethy has gone mad. Look, you and I are soon no longer around to deal with the Palestinians and Gaza. You have to make sure CNN tells the world we tried to bring peace and that we don't have bloodied hands.

Biden: Yeah. I'll do it. I have to do it. My final message as Prez will go into the history books and I have to look good. Team is working on it.

Blinken: Make sure you mention the great work I did as Sec.

Biden: Definitely Blinky. Got to go. Jill's paging for me to take my pills.


Note

Sam Altman, founder and CEO of OpenAI, tops the list of this year’s “50 Most Influential Jews,” published yearly by The Jerusalem Post. Altman is followed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. At number 3 is U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken

The most significant change in ranking goes to comedian-turned-President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, who was number one last year but has been dropped from the list completely this year.

Explaining the reasons for Blinken's high ranking, the paper writes: “As someone who is both Jewish and the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken would make this list no matter what. But one can argue that he is the first openly and proudly Jewish U.S. secretary of state in that he always knew he was Jewish, identified as such, and has never tried to downplay his Jewishness to stay in favour

https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/world-int/24380-anthony-blinken-3rd-most-influential-jew-in-the-world-zelensky-dropped-from-the-list.html

ATACM: The MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System is a supersonic tactical ballistic missile designed and manufactured by the US defense company Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV), and later Lockheed Martin through acquisitions.

LRHM: The US Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon also known as Dark Eagle with a reported range of 1,725 miles, consists of a ground-launched missile equipped with a hypersonic glide body and associated transport, support, and fire control equipment

Lim Teck Ghee



Lim Teck Ghee, ANU PhD graduate, is a Malaysian economic historian and policy analyst. He has a regular column, Another Take, in The Sun, a Malaysian daily and Oriental Daily; and is the author of Challenging the Status Quo in Malaysia, and Dark Forces Changing Malaysia (with Murray Hunter).

Lynas - another Madani belakang pusing

 

FMT:

Rafizi tells why PH

changed stance on Lynas

FMT Reporters

-30 Sep 2024, 11:34 PM

The PKR deputy president says the PH government wanted to ensure Malaysia could gain worthwhile returns from Lynas.

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PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli, who is economy minister, speaking in his Yang Bakar Menteri podcast this evening.

PETALING JAYA: 

PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli has sought to explain Pakatan Harapan’s change in stance on Australian rare earths mining firm Lynas Corporation continuing its operations in Malaysia.

Rafizi said PH had opposed Lynas’s presence in the past as Malaysia had been made a dumping ground for waste by-products.

The company would bring in raw materials from Australia to be processed here, with the processed material sent back and waste by-products kept in Malaysia, he said.

We became a dumping ground and there was little added value from Lynas’s investment here,

 he said in the latest episode of his Yang Bakar Menteri podcast.

Before PH came to power as the federal government, there was no mineral mapping on the potential of rare earths nor any demand for the minerals.

At that time, did we want a foreign country to send hazardous minerals to Malaysia and turn (the country) into a dumping ground?

 he said. 

So when PH took over the government, we thought about how to ensure the country could gain worthwhile returns (from Lynas), and it was also around that time that the mineral mapping was being carried out,

 he said.

He was responding to Eric See-To, who questioned PH’s change in stance from the time Najib Razak was in power, when PH as the opposition party had claimed that Lynas’s operations were dangerous.

Rafizi said the PH government in 2019 made the controversial decision to allow Lynas to continue its operations in Malaysia. Its operating licence was renewed again in October last year, allowing the company to continue importing and processing rare earths until March 2026.

However, the extension hinges on Lynas’s compliance with ensuring that the thorium radioactive content in waste residue remains below a set threshold.

In June, science, technology and innovation minister Chang Lih Kang said the construction of Lynas’s permanent disposal facility was expected to be completed by the end of this year.