After acquittal, Najib grateful as it uplifts his spirit, 'vindicated' Arul Kanda to update CV

MM:

After acquittal, Najib grateful as it uplifts his spirit, 'vindicated' Arul Kanda to update CV

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex March 3, 2023. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin

Friday, 03 Mar 2023 11:31 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 — Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is grateful that the High Court acquitted him today for a power abuse charge over the removal of key information from the auditor-general’s 2016 report on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), his lawyer said today.

Najib’s lead defence lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah shared his client’s response to the High Court’s decision today, as his client is currently a prisoner and cannot give press conferences.


“He is grateful to Allah for this decision today because it really uplifts his spirit and the desire to fight his cases,” Shafee told the media when met at the lobby of the Kuala Lumpur court complex.

Listing the many criminal cases that Najib has, Shafee remarked the High Court’s decision today is the first where his client has obtained a good outcome.


“In this case, this is the first case out of all those politically-charged cases that we got a very good result.


“I’m hoping the Attorney General’s Chambers will not appeal on this because the finding of the judge is completely supportable and has corroborated his findings. We hope this is the beginning of many good things that should come,” he said.

Shafee said Najib was “so relieved” over the High Court’s decision today, and went on to say that the judge had found that there was no element of gratification or corruption in the case against Najib.

“And this, Datuk Seri Najib, wants to communicate to the members of the media, that he is very grateful because that is what hurts him most if ever there is a finding of gratification,” the lawyer said.

In this case, Najib was accused of instructing for the amendments to the audit report, to seek “gratification” for himself by seeking to protect himself from civil or criminal action over his role in handling 1MDB’s operations.

Earlier, judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan said there was no connection shown between the removal of the information from the 1MDB audit report and the alleged gratification of avoiding civil or criminal action, and found that the prosecution could not prove gratification.

Shafee also took the opportunity to praise former auditor-general Tan Sri Ambrin Buang who had testified as a prosecution witness in this case.

“I think I owe a duty to the former auditor-general who I’ve always thought throughout my cross-examination of that gentleman, I thought he was a pride of Malaysia because he was a person of credible means and very credible character to have held that position.

“And he didn’t buckle under pressure be it in the parliamentary inquiry, he gave evidence there and he stood fast throughout and he gave similar evidence in court despite this being such a publicly-charged case, so I think if you have characters like that in the public service, this country has got hope,” he said.

While Najib has been acquitted today, he is still facing other criminal cases including the ongoing trial over the misappropriation of RM2.28 billion of 1MDB’s funds, as well as two cases that have yet to begin trial — — a money-laundering case involving SRC International Sdn Bhd’s RM27 million and his joint trial with former Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah involving six criminal breach of trust charges over RM6.6 billion of government funds.

Najib is also still challenging his conviction and 12-year jail sentence and RM210 million fine over the misappropriation of RM42 million of SRC’s funds.

When met by reporters at the lobby of the court complex, Najib’s wife Datin Rosmah Mansor said her husband feels grateful.

“Today’s decision is a victory for my husband, for our family, thank you very much,” she said, and later said “Insya-Allah (God willing), better things to come”.

Former 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy, who was also an accused person in this joint trial with Najib, expressed relief at being acquitted.

Explaining what he had spoken with Najib in their brief exchange in the courtroom immediately after they were acquitted, Arul Kanda said: “Both of us felt a sense of vindication and a sense of relief that this ordeal is now over.”

As for what he plans to do next now that he has been released from this trial, Arul Kanda said: “I think the immediate next step is to update my CV”.

Today, the judge had highlighted that Arul Kanda had been publicly vilified for 1MDB affairs and how such vilification were “perhaps unfairly” done as many of 1MDB problems happened before he joined the company, and had also said there was no evidence in trial to suggest Arul Kanda was complicit or responsible for 1MDB problems.

Asked for what he thought about the judge’s highlighting of how he had been vilified, Arul Kanda said he was grateful.

“Well I think the facts speak for themselves and I feel that throughout, I’ve been honest and I’ve been straightforward in terms of what I’ve done, why I took the job and what I did in the job. And I think some of the achievements from the performance of the role is there to be seen in terms of reduction of 1MDB’s debts.

“You have all seen TRX, how that project is coming along really well, so I feel my record stands for itself. I’m grateful for the learned judge for highlighting some of these important facts,” he said.

Besides being thankful for the court’s decision today, Arul Kanda also expressed his thanks for the support he had received, especially his family and also his “very good friends” who had stood by him in the past few years while he was facing trial.

He also thanked his lawyers Sivananthan and Jasmine Cheong for “their tireless efforts and hard work in ensuring justice has been served”.

Arul Kanda’s lead defence lawyer Datuk N. Sivananthan expressed happiness over the High Court’s decision to acquit his client and over the judge’s findings.

“My client Mr Arul Kanda has not only been acquitted and discharged, the trial judge in his judgment made it very clear that as far as he was concerned, Mr Arul Kanda had absolutely no involvement in any of the matters pertaining to 1MDB.

“He found him to be an honest witness, he was being very forthright in his evidence, so not only we are happy with the decision of the court, but we are very happy with the findings by the court which in my mind clearly showed that he should not have been charged in the first place,” the lawyer said.

Later Sivananthan also remarked about his client: “Probably after the testimony, he is now very eligible for employment.”

Previously, Arul Kanda had told the High Court that he is currently a director in a company that he owns.

In this trial, Najib is accused of having abused his position as prime minister and finance minister between February 22 and February 26, 2016, by allegedly instructing for amendments to the 1MDB audit report — which was already ready to be presented to the PAC — before it was finally presented to the PAC.

Najib is accused of having done so to protect himself from civil or criminal action over his role in the handling of 1MDB operations.

In this trial, Arul Kanda was accused of having abetted Najib, but he had also testified as the 15th prosecution witness.

When met after the High Court’s decision today, deputy public prosecutor Kamal Baharin Omar confirmed to reporters that the prosecution will study the grounds of judgment and will refer this matter to the attorney-general to decide on whether an appeal would be filed.

The prosecution will have 14 days to file an appeal to the Court of Appeal, if it does decide to file one.

Lim Guan Eng gets temporary passport release to attend uncle’s funeral

MM:

Lim Guan Eng gets temporary passport release to attend uncle’s funeral

The Sessions Court here today allowed the temporary release of former Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s passport to enable him to travel to Singapore to attend his uncle’s funeral. — Picture by Hari Anggara

Friday, 03 Mar 2023 1:23 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 — The Sessions Court here today allowed the temporary release of former Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s passport to enable him to travel to Singapore to attend his uncle’s funeral.

Judge Azura Alwi allowed the application after hearing the arguments of lawyer Syafiqah Sofian who represented Guan Eng and deputy public prosecutor Farah Yasmin Salleh.


“The court allowed the applicant’s (Guan Eng) application to obtain a passport release, however the applicant must return the passport within five days from March 5,” said the judge.

Earlier, Syafiqah in her argument said her client needed the passport to go to Singapore and he would leave for the country at 4.30pm tomorrow and would return on Sunday (March 5).


“On March 1, the applicant (Guan Eng) was informed by his family members that his uncle, Lim Kit Hee had passed away. Therefore, my client would like to attend the funeral service of the deceased at Orchid Hall, Singapore, tomorrow to pay his last respects to the deceased.


“My client is not a ‘flight risk’ because his family members live in Malaysia, and he (Guan Eng) is also well-known because of his career as Bagan MP and DAP chairman. Besides, he is also subject to a high bail of RM1 million and has never failed to attend trial proceedings unless he is sick or needs to attend a Parliament session,” she said.

Farah Yasmin did not object to the application, but Guan Eng has to return the passport before the hearing of his case on March 17.

Lim, 62, is currently being tried on an amended charge of using his position as the Chief Minister of Penang to accept a bribe of RM3.3 million in helping a company owned by Zarul Ahmad to obtain a construction project worth RM6,341,383,702 at the Office of the Chief Minister of Penang, Floor 28, Komtar, George Town between January 2011 to August 2017.

For the second amended charge, Lim is accused of asking Zarul Ahmad for a bribe of 10 per cent of the company’s profits, as an appreciation for getting the project and is accused of committing the act near The Garden Hotels, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City here in March 2011.

Lim is also facing two charges for causing two land lots worth RM208.8 million owned by the Penang government to be disposed of to two companies allegedly linked to the undersea tunnel project. — Bernama

DR MAHATHIR LISTEN UP : "MELAYU IS IN THEIR PATHETIC STATE BECAUSE OF THE LIKES OF YOU. PERIOD."

As a recent rule I won't give media oxygen to you-know-who, but Syed has written another good piece which I feel I want to share with you all:

OutSyed The Box

Friday, March 3, 2023


DR MAHATHIR LISTEN UP : "MELAYU IS IN THEIR PATHETIC STATE BECAUSE OF THE LIKES OF YOU. PERIOD."

By Syed Akbar Ali at March 03, 2023

Dr Mahathir Moves Comfortably Into Third Class, Back Row

As a recent rule I won't give media oxygen to you-know-who, but Syed has written a good piece which I feel I want to share with you all:

OutSyed The Box

Friday, March 3, 2023


Dr Mahathir Moves Comfortably Into Third Class, Back Row


Here is some really sad news:

• Dr M played race card moments after officially joining katak
• Explaining his decision to join katak's party
• joined katak after quitting Pejuang, withdrew from Gerakan Tanah Air
• Dr M said Malays left behind after giving way to foreigners
• claiming Malays no longer dominating economy, “others” taken over
• former PM claimed Malays taking back seat in politics
• predicted bleak future if Malays not dominant force

My Comments:

Dr M jumped from Bersatu to Petai (Pejuang tanah air).
From Petai he jumped to Getah (Gerakan tanah air).
Now from Getah he has jumped to katak's party.


Of all the low life, third class, bottom feeders he has joined katak. You cannot go more third class than this.





Without a doubt Dr Mahathir built the country. I still say that airport and that highway should be named after him. I have said this before.

Almost all the billionaires that we know today appeared under the tenure of Dr Mahathir. The first 22 years. The word billion and billionaire was typical Dr Mahathir era. Billions and billionaires were his pet project. And they were of all races. Chinese, Indians and Malays. 

Sadly almost all the Malay billionaires he created have disappeared. Only two remain - one of whom is the largest licensed-monopoly crony on permanent drips. Remove the drips and he dies. The other is a lot more cleverer. But iconic buildings can be a millstone hanging around the neck. There are simpler and also profitable solutions.

The Indian and Chinese billionaires have also gone on to other things. The Chinese billionaires have made more billions and have become global players. Congratulations to them and I hope they will help pull the country forward even more. Never forget the country that raised you and gave you life. We are Malaysians ok. One of the Indian billionaires has earned arrest warrants somewhere. Wrong neighbourhood.

The multiple races in the country also prospered under Dr Mahathir's 22 years - but we did not achieve the best. We could have done much better. Nevertheless we all prospered.

But not all. The Malays have generally failed.

Hence that rant by Dr Mahathir. It is an acknowledgement of his failure. And that is all Dr Mahathir's fault. He simply treated Malays like handicapped retards. He never pushed them in the right direction. Truth is he pushed them in the completely opposite direction. And yes he still uses the 'others' boogeyman to frighten the Malays.

He even destroyed the party that he led for 22 years and which had made him prime minister. He killed his own party. There is a theory that Dr Mahathir never forgave UMNO for kicking him out of the party in 1970. That he really felt slighted when the "old men" at that time questioned his Indian ancestry.


Post PM7 he began jumping from party to party. Finally now he has moved into third class, back row with that katak fellow. This is a very sad ending for Dr Mahathir.

I actually wanted to talk about teh tarik today. But there was a glitch. Maybe another day. Here are two short videos.


In the first one (I think in Penang?) this guy is haranguing some Rohingyas for setting up their own surau and for not attending or joining the other Muslims in the local surau. From the video some of the Rohingyas have been there for 20 years yet they isolate themselves from the local Malays. They do not want to have anything to do with the Malays.

In the second video here this is a news report by Berita Harian about the huge Rohingya township (yes it is a town) in Bukit Malut in Langkawi. There are now over 10,000 people living in this township. Lets listen:

The question is who let them in? Dr Mahathir was the member of Parliament for Langkawi.

When the British were in power the British brought in Chinese, Indians and other races in larger numbers. This does not mean that there were no Chinese and Indians in the land before the British. The Indians were a major power in Melaka during the Melaka Sultanate. The Chinese have been here for hundreds of years. That Cheng Hoon Teng Temple in Melaka was built circa 1645 (378 years ago) during Dutch rule. But the Dutch did not bring in the Chinese. The Chinese came on their own.

But these Rohingya folks in Penang and Langkawi came in just yesterday. Obviously Dr Mahathir let them in. There are no more British to be blamed.

There was a general feeling among UMNO politicians that it was ok to bring in foreign migrants so long as they were 'Muslim'. A late Tan Sri told me 'Takpa. Anak depa nanti akan jadi Melayu'.

So Rohingyas, Afghans, Banglas, Indonesians, Pakistanis, Arabs were all ok. Their kids would all become Melayu and vote for UMNO and live happily ever after. 'Melayu takkan hilang di dunia selagi bagi IC kat Rohingya.'

This is a completely wrong approach. It is an acknowledgement of failure by UMNO to develop the Malays - that they need "imported football players" from Rohingyaland, Afghanistan, Banglas, Indonesians, Pakistanis and Arabs to bring up the Malay side.

And not all of them voted UMNO. I knew a Pakistani guy with an acquired blue IC who told me 'Kita undi aalim'. He voted for PAS. There were Arab fellows who made fun of the Malays.

And for 20 years the Rohingyas in that video above have their own surau and they dont want to mix with the Malays.

Wee stands by his words after receiving fresh letter of demand from egg importer

Wee stands by his words after receiving fresh letter of demand from egg importer





AFTER receiving a second letter of demand from a lawyer alleging that his client, an egg importer, has seen his business negatively impacted by his opinions on the matter, Ayer Hitam MP Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong maintains that he remains undeterred.


“[I am] totally unfazed by this and I stand by my words in Parliament. I’ll leave it to my lawyers to take action. Nothing will stop me from voicing out in the interest of the Malaysian public,” Wee said in a Facebook post.




Wee’s viewpoint that eggs from India take between three and four weeks to reach Port Klang and are therefore “not fresh for consumption” has allegedly led to “confusion and doubt among consumers as to the quality of the eggs, and thereby indirectly affecting our client’s business” according to the second demand letter sent yesterday by attorney S. Ravichandaran.

Ravichandaran said that J&E Advance Tech Sdn Bhd, the “sole importer of eggs from India” is represented by his firm.

Additionally, he claimed that Wee’s repeated claim that imported eggs are being sold for 50 sen apiece is “designed to create misconception and confusion” adding that the price is regulated to a maximum of 44 sen.

“The net effect of your statement in the minds of right thinking members of society is to completely avoid purchasing imported eggs, thereby resulting in financial losses,” Ravichandaran said.

He stated that his company has received “strict instructions to do the needful in the circumstances without further reference to you” unless Wee issued relevant corrective statements in Parliament and on social media within 72 hours.

As a result of his “unwarranted statements” Ravichandaran indicated in his first letter to Wee, dated Feb 23, that his client was suffering losses and a sullied reputation.

Wee, who has constantly brought up the topic of the availability of eggs in the nation, last week brought an egg from India, one produced locally, and an omega egg to the Dewan Rakyat to compare their sizes and costs.

On Feb 15, he wrote on Facebook that imported eggs from India are priced at 50 sen each, compared to local eggs’ 41 sen.

“If local farmers are allowed to sell their eggs at 50 sen each, I believe many of them will be more encouraged to produce eggs,” he was quoted as saying.

Wee also stated in a Facebook post from January 9 that it would take “three to four weeks” for eggs to make the journey by ship from India to Malaysia.

“Are they still as fresh as local eggs?” he asked. – March 2, 2023

Moscow mulls possible use of nuclear arms to fend off US attack

Moscow mulls possible use of nuclear arms to fend off US attack -report


A Russian defence ministry journal says Moscow is developing a new type of military strategy using nuclear weapons to protect against possible US aggression, RIA news agency reported today.

The article is the latest in a series of combative remarks by Russian politicians and commentators after the invasion of Ukraine on Feb 24 last year, suggesting Moscow would, if necessary, be prepared to deploy its vast nuclear arsenal.

RIA said the article, published in the Voennaya Mysl (Military Thought) magazine, concluded Washington was worried it might be losing dominance over the world and had, therefore, "apparently" prepared plans to strike Russia to neutralise it.

In response, Russian specialists were "actively developing a promising form of the strategic use of the Russian armed forces - an operation of strategic deterrence forces", RIA said.

This, it continued, "presupposes the use of modern strategic offensive and defensive, nuclear and non-nuclear weapons, taking into account the latest military technologies".

Moscow, the article said, needed to be able to show the US that it could not cripple Russia's nuclear missile system and would not be able to fend off a retaliatory strike.

Russia's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a query asking for confirmation of the RIA story.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (above) last week suspended a landmark nuclear arms control treaty, announced new strategic systems had been put on combat duty, and threatened to resume nuclear tests.

Although Moscow says it would only use nuclear weapons in case Russia's territorial integrity were threatened, Putin’s allies have regularly suggested calamity could be close.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev this week said the West's continued supply of weaponry to Kyiv risked a global catastrophe, repeating a threat of nuclear war over Ukraine.

- Reuters

AG Idrus Harun’s contract extended 6 months

FMT:

AG Idrus Harun’s contract extended 6 months

It was previously reported that three serving judges were under consideration to be appointed as the next attorney-general.

Idrus Harun was appointed attorney-general on a two-year contract on March 6, 2020, shortly after the fall of the Pakatan Harapan government.


PETALING JAYA: Idrus Harun’s tenure as the attorney-general (AG) has been extended for another six months.

“In accordance with Clause (1) Article 145 of the Federal Constitution, the Yang diPertuan Agong has approved the reappointment of Idrus Harun as attorney-general for a period of six months effective from March 6, 2023,” chief secretary Zuki Ali said in a Facebook post.

It was previously reported that three serving judges were under consideration to be appointed as the next attorney-general.

A former Federal Court judge, Idrus was initially appointed to the position on a two-year contract on March 6, 2020, shortly after the fall of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.


His contract, which initially expired on March 5, 2022, was renewed for another year on March 8, 2022.

Idrus took over from Tommy Thomas, who was appointed by the PH government after it swept to power in the May 2018 general election (GE14).

Najib, Arul Kanda acquitted in 1MDB audit report tampering case

MM:

Najib, Arul Kanda acquitted in 1MDB audit report tampering case

A motorcade transporting Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak arrives at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex March 3, 2023. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

Friday, 03 Mar 2023 10:34 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 — The High Court today acquitted former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak from his trial over the removal of key information from the auditor-general’s 2016 report on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case for Najib to answer.


This means the former finance minister will no longer have to face the charge under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.

In this trial, Najib is accused of having abused his position as prime minister and finance minister between February 22 and February 26, 2016, by allegedly instructing for amendments to the 1MDB audit report — which was already ready to be presented to the PAC — before it was finally presented to the PAC.


Najib is accused of having done so to protect himself from civil or criminal action over his role in the handling of 1MDB operations.


Former 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy, who was also on trial as he was accused of abetting Najib, had however also testified as the 15th prosecution witness.

The High Court also acquitted Arul Kanda.

MORE TO COME

Kepala Batas MP under fire for listing attending funerals, weddings as KPI

Kepala Batas MP under fire for listing attending funerals, weddings as KPI


A Perikatan Nasional MP today came under fire from netizens after she listed attending weddings and funerals as part of her achievements as a parliamentarian.

Siti Mastura Muhammad (above), who is in her first term as Kepala Batas MP, uploaded a list of things she had carried out during her first 100 days as a people’s representative to her social media accounts on Tuesday.

The 33-year-old stated in her "100 days report card" that, among others, she has attended a total of 58 weddings and thanksgiving ceremonies; and visited 58 funerals in the constituency.

She also listed other businesses she completed as an MP, including holding meetings with seven government agencies, being involved in programmes with NGOs and the community (21 times), extending assistance to 16 victims of disasters, and visiting 64 senior citizens and the less fortunate.

While some praised the Penang PAS Women deputy chief for her accomplishments, the social activities she included did not sit well with others.

"If attending weddings is part of your KPI (key performance indicators), you have such an easy job.

"I still remember what my ex-boss said. When setting the KPI, it must be things that we challenge ourselves to achieve more. Not something that we should do daily," said a Facebook user who shared Mastura's post.

Another user also criticised Mastura’s supporters for commending the MP for a job well done, saying that they should have not lauded such a "less than bare minimum effort".

On Twitter, some netizens shared a similar sentiment.

"You don't even have to be an MP to attend weddings and funerals. Please show real achievements," said the netizen, in reply to Mastura’s tweet.

Another person tweeted: "If being at funerals can also be considered an achievement, then Kepala Batas constituents might as well appoint an undertaker as their MP."

Mastura was dubbed as a 'giant killer' after she managed to swoop the Kepala Batas seat in her first run during the recent 15th general election, where she defeated incumbent Reezal Merican Naina Merican.

She received a total of 28,604 votes to defeat the former BN’s cabinet minister, with a majority of 2,867 votes.

Ex-deputy minister wants higher damages against DAP duo for libel

FMT:

Ex-deputy minister wants higher damages against DAP duo for libel

Chew Mei Fun’s lawyer says the former MCA vice-president will file a cross-appeal after being defamed in four articles.

(From left) Tony Pua and Yeo Bee Yin are appealing a High Court judgment entered on Nov 30 requiring them to pay Chew Mei Fun a total sum of RM350,000.


PUTRAJAYA: Former deputy minister Chew Mei Fun will appeal to raise the quantum of damages awarded to her by a High Court in a defamation suit against two DAP leaders over allegations she approved the sale of land at a lower value to MCA.

Her lawyer, Rueben Mathiavaranam, said the former MCA vice-president has given instructions to file a cross-appeal after having read the appeal records filed by former Damansara MP Tony Pua and current Puchong MP Yeo Bee Yin.

“We feel she deserves a higher quantum of damages as she was defamed in four articles,” the lawyer told FMT after the DAP duo’s appeal was called up for case management before Court of Appeal deputy registrar Radzilawatee Abdul Rahman.

Mathiavaranam said he received the five-volume appeal records yesterday.

He said the cross-appeal will be filed within 10 days.

The appeal has been scheduled for further case management on April 4.

On Nov 30, Justice Roslan Abu Bakar ordered Pua and Yeo to pay Chew damages of RM200,000 and RM150,000, respectively.

Chew had sued Pua in respect of publications which appeared in Malay Mail and Nanyang Siang Pau as well as on FMT in September 2017.

Yeo was sued in respect of a video published on Facebook and by Nanyang Siang Pau in the same month.

Pua and Yeo had alleged that Chew, who sat on a district land committee, had approved the sale of a piece of land to Selangor MCA below its market price.

Chew, a former deputy women, family and community development minister, and a senator from 2014 to 2017, filed her suit in March 2018.

At the time the offending statements were made, Pua was the Petaling Jaya Utara MP, and Yeo the Damansara Utama assemblyman.

The statements claimed Chew had abused her power and put herself in a position of conflict of interest.

However, Chew said she did not sit on the land committee, as land matters were outside her purview.

She also said Yeo had alleged that the land in question was being used by squatters for dragon fruit farming at the time it was sold to MCA.

Ukraine says its forces may pull out of key strategic city of Bakhmut

ABC:

Ukraine says its forces may pull out of key strategic city of Bakhmut

Ukrainian forces have been defending against intensifying Russian attacks in the Donbas region.(AP: Vadim Ghirda)


The Ukrainian military might pull its forces back from the key stronghold of Bakhmut, an adviser to Ukraine's president has said in remarks that suggest Russia may capture the city that has become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance.

Kremlin forces have waged a bloody, months-long offensive to take Bakhmut, a city of salt and gypsum mines in eastern Ukraine that has become a ghost town.

"Our military is obviously going to weigh all of the options. So far they've held the city but, if need be, they will strategically pull back," Alexander Rodnyansky, an economic adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, told CNN.

"We're not going to sacrifice all of our people just for nothing."

The battle for Bakhmut has come to embody Ukraine's determination, with the city's defenders holding out against relentless shelling and Russian forces suffering heavy casualties.

Bakhmut lies in Donetsk province, one of four provinces Russia illegally annexed.

Moscow controls half of Donetsk province.
Battles around Bakhmut 'increasingly bloody'

To take the remaining half of Donetsk province, Russian forces must go through Bakhmut, the only approach to larger, Ukrainian-held cities since Ukrainian troops took back Izium in Kharkiv province in September.

Mr Rodnyansky said Russia was using the Wagner Group's best troops to try to encircle the city.

Bakhmut has been the site of the heaviest battles in recent days.(AP: Yevhen Titov)


The private military company known for brutal tactics is led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a rogue millionaire with long-time links to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Mr Prigozhin said on Wednesday he had seen no signs of a Ukrainian withdrawal and Kyiv had, in fact, been reinforcing its positions.

"The Ukrainian army is deploying additional troops and is doing what it can to retain control of the city," Mr Prigozhin said.

"Tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers are offering fierce resistance, and the fighting is getting increasingly bloody by day."

Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said earlier this week that reinforcements had been dispatched to Bakhmut.


Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov told The Associated Press the reinforcements might have been sent "to gain time" for strengthening Ukrainian firing lines on a hill in Chasiv Yar, 15 kilometres west of Bakhmut.

Mr Zhdanov said the possible withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Bakhmut would "not affect the course of the war in any way" because of the firing positions in Chasiv Yar.

He said Bakhmut had been partly encircled, and all roads, including the main supply route, were within range of Russian fire.

The city lies in ruins and "no longer has strategic or operational significance", he said.

"In Bakhmut, the Russians lost so many forces — soldiers and equipment — that this city has already fulfilled its function," Mr Zhdanov said.

Recent drone footage has shown the scale of devastation in the city, which Mr Zelenskyy has described as "destroyed".


Intense Russian shelling continues

Since invading Ukraine a year ago, Russia has bombarded various cities and towns it has wanted to occupy.

It also targeted Ukraine's power supply with missile strikes ahead of winter in an apparent attempt to weaken residents' morale.



While Western analysts have warned warmer weather might give Moscow an opportunity to renew an offensive, Ukrainian officials have nonetheless celebrated their traditional first day of spring.

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba announced his country had emerged from Putin's "winter terror".

"We survived the most difficult winter in our history," Mr Kuleba wrote on Facebook.

Mr Zelenskyy added in his nightly video address: "This winter is over. It was very difficult, and every Ukrainian felt this difficulty without exaggeration. But still, we were able to provide Ukraine with energy and heat."

In other developments, the Ukrainian president's office reported that at least nine civilians were killed and 12 others wounded.

Three people, including a one-year-old boy, were wounded in Russian shelling of Ukraine's southern Kherson province on Wednesday, regional officials reported.

Fierce fighting also continued in Donetsk province, with Bakhmut, the cities of Avdiivka and Vuhledar, and 17 towns and villages, coming under intense Russian shelling.

Ukraine denies attacking inside Russia with drones

If the war becomes a protracted conflict, Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Kariņs said that would demand a response from Kyiv's Western allies.

"This is potentially, for many years to come, where we will have to readapt our militaries, our military industry, to be able to step up to a much, much bigger challenge," Mr Karins said after talks in Berlin with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Ukrainian soldiers have been launching drones from the front lines.(AP: Evgeniy Maloletka)


Meanwhile, one of Mr Zelenskyy's top advisers, Mykhailo Podolyak, denied on Wednesday that Ukraine had used drones to attack Russian territory following official Russian statements that Ukraine had targeted infrastructure deep inside Russia.



"Ukraine does not strike on the territory of the Russian Federation," Mr Podolyak wrote on Twitter.

"Ukraine is waging a defensive war with the aim of de-occupying all its territories."

He suggested the Russian infrastructure was the target of "internal attacks".

Ukraine's Western allies have discouraged Ukraine from attacking targets in Russia to avoid escalation of the conflict, and Mr Podolyak's statement may reflect an attempt by Kyiv to maintain a degree of deniability in view of those Western concerns.

In the past, Ukrainian officials have stopped short of claiming responsibility for attacks in Russia, but have also insisted they have the right to strike any target in Russian territory in response to its aggression.

Asked about Mr Podolyak's denial, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "We don't believe it."

China on track to dominate development of critical future technologies, ASPI report says

ABC:

China on track to dominate development of critical future technologies, ASPI report says

The report says China is particularly dominant in the defence, security and space sectors.(AP: Zhang Gaoxiang via Xinhua)


A ground-breaking new report has warned Western governments that China is in a prime position to dominate critical future technologies in a vast array of fields after establishing a "sometimes stunning" lead in research and development.

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) "critical tech tracker" found China is beating the United States in 37 of 44 technologies which are likely to propel innovation, growth and military power in coming decades, including artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, and quantum technology.

The report says the US is the leading innovator in only seven technologies — including quantum computing and vaccines — and ranks second to China in most other categories.

While a "second tier" of countries — including India, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Germany and Australia — have also developed advanced research capabilities, they still lag far behind the two great powers.

ASPI's Jamie Gaida, who co-authored the report, said while China's research edge did not translate into technological superiority right now, Beijing had built the foundations to position itself as the world's leading science and technology power.

The report found China was generating just under half of the top research papers into advanced aircraft engines and hypersonics.(Reuters: Thomas Peter/File photo)


"We were pretty surprised by how dramatic the lead is in some of these technologies," Dr Gaida told the ABC.

"In some of these technologies we are seeing China is publishing approximately 65 per cent of the world's top research within that technology area.

"It's striking. It's really profound.

"Current research doesn't directly translate to current defence capability or manufacturing capability, but surely if you want to be in the best position to be in the lead in say five years' time — well, of course you want to be in the forefront of innovation and breakthrough research."

China attracts top level scientists, report finds

The report shows China is particularly dominant when it comes to research for the defence, security and space sectors, often producing more than five times as much high-impact research as its closest competitor — which is almost always the US.

For example, China generated just under half of the top research papers into advanced aircraft engines and hypersonics, and hosts most of the institutions leading development of the technology.

US microchip ban limits China's technical advances

By tightening controls on China's developing advanced microchip industry, the US might be pushing allies to work against its interests as both countries spend vast amounts of money chasing technological supremacy.

Read more

Last year, China surprised US intelligence agencies when it tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile which circled the globe, demonstrating advanced capabilities in the technology.

Chinese institutions also dominate research into drones, autonomous systems, advanced optical systems, artificial technology and machine learning.

Dr Gaida stressed that the tech tracker did not capture classified research conducted by governments in private, or research conducted behind closed doors by private companies.

The Biden Administration has also moved to ramp up expenditure in advanced manufacturing, and last year passed the CHIPS act which will plunge more than $US200 billion ($296 billion) into trying to ensure the United States regains its lead in manufacturing semiconductor chips.

How China became a scientific powerhouse

Australia and the United States have taken tough measures to counter technology theft and economic espionage from China. But prominent scientists are warning some of the measures are "killing the sector", and Beijing is taking advantage of it.

But the report warns that China's clear lead in public research provides evidence that Beijing could establish a "stranglehold" on global supply chains for critical technologies in the future, handing it powerful leverage and a clear technical edge.

It also says China's government has successfully attracted top scientists specialising in critical technologies, and that Australia and its allies need to rapidly scale up research and development in order to catch up.

"Now is the time to move, essentially, and we don't shy away from the fact this will be expensive," Dr Gaida told the ABC.

"This will require a very significant step up in our research and development capability."

MACC nabs Bersatu treasurer

MACC nabs Bersatu treasurer, gets 2 days remand


The MACC has arrested Bersatu treasurer Mohamed Salleh Bajuri in relation to the use of the party funds.

A source close to Bersatu’s leadership confirmed Salleh’s reported arrest and two days remand.

“Yes, it’s true that he (Salleh) is being detained,” the source told Malaysiakini.

The Star earlier quoted a MACC source who said Salleh (above) was arrested on Tuesday and his two-day remand is expected to end tomorrow.

The daily also quoted the source as claiming that the MACC is trying to apply for an extension to Salleh's remand.

When contacted, a MACC source, who also confirmed Salleh's arrest, did not respond to further queries on the possible extension.


Crackdown continues

Salleh's arrest and remand came amid corruption charges against Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan, who stepped down as Bersatu information chief pending an acquittal.

Wan Saiful previously said he regretted the government's actions, which he deemed to be selective prosecution aimed at diverting attention from the failure of the unity government.

Last month, the MACC also recorded a statement from Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin pertaining to a probe into Bersatu’s bank accounts, which have been frozen.

Penang reps fail to stop motion to vacate state assembly seats

FMT:

Penang reps fail to stop motion to vacate state assembly seats

High Court says it has no power to interfere with the internal management of Parliament or any state legislative assembly.

The motion to vacate the seats held by (from left) Dr Afif Bahardin, Zulkifli Ibrahim, Khaliq Mehtab Ishaq and Zolkifly Lazim is expected to be tabled on March 6.


PETALING JAYA: The Penang High Court has denied four assemblyman an interim injunction to stop the state’s legislative assembly from tabling a motion to vacate their seats.

Judicial commissioner Azizan Arshad said the courts have no power to interfere with the internal management of Parliament or any state legislative assembly.

“The court must always give recognition to the doctrine of separation of powers,” he said.

Azizan, who delivered his ruling through email to the lawyers of the parties in the suit, said the immunity arose from a long-standing doctrine which separates the functions of the three principal organs of government – the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary.

He said interference by the court in the affairs of the executive or the legislature would “affect the freedom of the three to act according to their respective jurisdictions” and give rise to “a clash which will destroy the doctrine”.

Azizan said the plaintiffs – Dr Afif Bahardin (Seberang Jaya), Zulkifli Ibrahim (Sungai Acheh), Khaliq Mehtab Ishaq (Bertam) and Zolkifly Lazim (Telok Bahang) – had failed to show that an Erinford injunction ought to be granted in their favour.

“The court hereby dismisses the plaintiffs’ application,” he said.

The motion to vacate the seats is expected to be tabled before the state assembly on March 6.

On Jan 20, Azizan dismissed a suit by the same assemblymen against the state’s legislative assembly and Speaker Law Choo Kiang over a motion compelling them to vacate their seats.

In that decision, Azizan said he was bound by a Federal Court ruling last year which affirmed the constitutionality of the state’s anti-hopping provision as set out under Article 14A of the state constitution.

Azizan also ruled that he did not have power to invalidate a motion by the legislative assembly and the speaker against the four.

The assemblymen have filed an appeal to the Court of Appeal against that decision.

They also filed an application seeking an Erinford injunction to restrain the defendants from tabling the motion.

The four filed three writs of summons in 2020 against the state legislative assembly and the speaker to challenge a motion introduced in October 2020 for them to vacate their seats and for by-elections to be held.

Lawyer Chetan Jethwani represented the assemblymen, while A Surendra Ananth appeared for the state assembly and the speaker.

A Bersatu leader spurned Mukhriz application to join PN - aiyoh, loses mucho 'water face' liao lah, wakakaka

FMT:

Don’t accept Pejuang, Bersatu leader tells PN

Faiz Na’aman says the party’s application to join the coalition is a ‘desperate, opportunistic and unprincipled’ move to maintain its political clout.

Faiz Na’aman (left) said Mukhriz Mahathir had rebuffed his suggestion for Pejuang and PN to work together during the last general election.


PETALING JAYA: A Bersatu leader has protested against Pejuang’s application to join Perikatan Nasional (PN), training his guns on Pejuang president Mukhriz Mahathir.

Bersatu Supreme Council member Faiz Na’aman said he personally objected to Pejuang joining PN as it was a “desperate, opportunistic and unprincipled” move to maintain the party’s political clout after its dismal performance in the recent general election (GE15).

All of Pejuang’s candidates, including Mukhriz and its former chairman, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, lost their deposits in GE15.

In a Facebook post, Faiz said he had messaged Mukhriz before GE15 about Pejuang forming an alliance with PN to face Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan.

However, he said, Mukhriz’s response infuriated him as the former Kedah menteri besar replied: “Only now you’re thinking about your ego”.

Faiz had also attached a screenshot of his conversation with Mukhriz in his posting.

Earlier today, Mukhriz said Pejuang’s central executive council had decided that the party should apply to join the Muhyiddin Yassin-led coalition.

He said the council decided that it was not sufficient for Pejuang to only form an electoral pact with other parties or coalitions to avoid seat clashes.

Meanwhile, Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu said he has yet to receive any information about Pejuang’s application.

“However, the matter will certainly be discussed with the other component parties before a decision is made,” he told FMT.

Ukraine War – China’s Military Support For Russia Would Be Really Bad News For U.S. & Allies

Ukraine War – China’s Military Support For Russia Would Be Really Bad News For U.S. & Allies



China has so far refused to be dragged into the Ukraine War. However, the economic powerhouse has been accused by the West of supporting the Russian simply because Beijing repeatedly declines to condemn Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. and Western logic is that “you are either with us – or against us”. You can’t choose the middle ground.



After one year of war, Vladimir Putin is still alive and kicking, despite Western media’s hard work to build the narrative that the Russian supremo was dying of cancer, hiding in caves and whatnot. And after months of spreading lies that the Kremlin was running out of missiles, ammunitions, fighter jets, tanks and soldiers, Russia continues to rain missiles and suicide drones on Ukraine.



At the Munich Security Conference, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Chinese top diplomat Wang Yi that Washington believed China is seriously considering supplying arms to Russia. Mr Blinken has warned Mr Wang that such assistance – weapons and ammunition – would invite serious consequences on the relationship between both nations.



According to Russian trade data reported by the Wall Street Journal, China has already provided military aid to Russia. Chinese defence companies were said to have shipped navigation equipment and parts essential to fighter jets as well as other military technology equipment to Russia. But goods like semiconductors can also be used on both civilian and military equipment.



Since the start of the Ukraine War, more than 84,000 shipments from China to Russia have been conducted. Other parts included radar, infrared cameras, jammers and high-tech parts for Russian Su-35 fighter jets and MIL Mi-17 helicopters. Beijing, however, said its exports to Russia are always in compliance with its domestic laws and regulations.



At the same time, China has also hit back at the U.S., telling Washington to stay out of its relationship with Moscow. Foreign Ministry Wang Wenbin said – “The U.S. is not qualified to give orders to China. We will never accept U.S. criticism, even coercion and pressure to China-Russia relationships. China’s position on Ukraine can be simply put as promoting peace talks.”



Even if Beijing is providing “lethal” military assistance, there’s nothing wrong, not that Washington can do anything about it. Exactly why can’t China sells “parts” to Russia when the U.S. and its NATO allies have been openly sending billions of dollars of ammunitions, missiles, defence systems, tanks and even potentially fighter jets to Ukraine in the Americans’ proxy war against Russia?



The funny thing is that the U.S. actually categorizes the assistance as “non-lethal” military aid. If such non-lethal equipment could change the outcome of Ukraine War, then something is terribly wrong with the military superpower’s strategy to defeat Putin. The U.S. should go back to the drawing board instead of lecturing China who it can and cannot befriend and what it can and cannot sell, as if China is the American colony.



The fact that the United States was furiously mad over China’s rhetorical support for Russia with its refusal to condemn Putin, only to go ballistic now over China’s physical support for Russia with provision of military assistance shows not only the U.S.’ desperation, but also the lack of confidence in winning the Ukraine War. And it’s not hard to understand why the U.S. is so upset.



Days after the invasion of Ukraine, the White House and Pentagon thought Putin could be easily brought down if the U.S. froze its US$630 billion of foreign reserves – effectively emptying its coffers critical to support the rubles, which would trigger the collapse of the Russian currency. The economic and financial sanctions on the Kremlin would banish big Russian banks from SWIFT and cripple its economy.



But the Washington-led economic war on Moscow has failed spectacularly. The ruble has become the world’s best performing currency. Russia’s economy contracted by 2.1% last year, shrinking less than the World Bank’s prediction of a contraction of 11.2%. Net exports jumped to 12.8% from 9.3% thanks to prices of exported fuel and energy products. Its account surplus actually hit a record high in 2022.



While the Russian government estimated the 2023 economy would decline 0.8%, the IMF (International Monetary Fund) believes the economy could grow by 0.3%. Crucially, the economic war unleashed by Biden administration has boomeranged and hit the Western nations (and the world) instead. Energy prices have skyrocketed in Europe, while Americans have struggled with the decades-high inflation.



Because the U.S. was afraid to send its troops to fight the Russians, it depends on sanctions to give the impression that the American government – the Sheriff of planet Earth – is doing something between war and nothing. But how could the sanctions work in Russia if history has shown similar embargoes slapped on North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and Syria had failed to work?



According to Scott Ritter, former U.S. Marine Corps intelligence officer, Ukraine cannot win this war and it’s purely “fantasy” to think it could. Despite Western media reports that Russia was losing the war and had to withdraw from its positions such as Kherson, the truth is Moscow was strategically trading territories for Russian lives, holding to the strong points to defend it to the last man.



Russians were more than happy to withdraw, trade territory, save lives, consolidate their defensive positions while inflicting maximum damage to the Ukrainian forces. While consolidating, Putin reinforces its troops with reservists and reorganizes fresh combat units to optimize operational capacity. The U.S. has underestimated Russian’s soft approach as weakness.




Moscow has the firepower, but wanted to reduce civilian casualties and minimize damages to civilian infrastructure. But the objective of minimizing civilian infrastructure was over after the West sent more lethal weapons to Ukraine. The raining missiles on Ukraine’s strategic infrastructures such as the power plants was just a demonstration that Russia can easily crush Ukraine if it wanted to.



The Russians aren’t suffering as much as the U.S. had hoped. On the contrary, the Americans, Europeans and Ukrainians are suffering more – both economically and financially. Running out of diesel fuel was a humiliation that none of the rich and powerful G7 nations should face. Putin has shown that he knew more than the West about weaponizing energy.



The U.S. has given away taxpayers’ money to the tune of US$113 billion in weaponry and financial aid to Ukraine, approaching the US$146 billion spent in 20 years for military and humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. Yet, the results are nowhere near Washington’s objective of defeating the Russians, let alone the boastful goal of overthrowing Vladimir Putin.



An Associated Press poll in late January 2023 showed that only 48% of U.S. adults say they favour the U.S. providing weapons to Ukraine, a drop from 60% back in May 2022. If China decides to supply non-lethal and lethal weapons to Russia, it will certainly be a “game changer”. That’s why Washington pre-emptively told the world how China is planning to join the evil Russia.



If indeed the Kremlin was losing the war as fantasized by the West, Washington should not be excessively worried about the Chinese weapons. Are you saying the entire U.S. and NATO is no match for the so-called inferior Chinese military and weapons? Beijing knew the risks of arming Moscow. But it also understood the bigger risk if Russia is to lose in Ukraine – politically or militarily.



Once Russia is defeated, the U.S.’ next target would be China. But if the Chinese help the Russians to win the war decisively, it will inflict a strategic defeat on the United States. There are many ways to skin a cat. To prevent sanctions, China can always insist it would not send arms, but at the same time says political, trade and military cooperation between Moscow and Beijing will continue.



In the event the U.S. hastily imposed economic and financial sanctions on China, it would trigger a bigger problem than the current inflation and recession, which the U.S. would get the blames. Even if the senile President Joe Biden proceeds with the sanctions, do you think the European Union, after suffering excruciating energy and economic pains, will blindly support the idea of adding fuel to the fire?



China could supply weapons and drones to Russia via state-controlled companies or North Korea or Belarus or even to the Wagner Group rather than directly to the Kremlin. The U.S. has to prove that those weapons were for Putin. Beijing can always deny, which American allies like the European Union would gladly accept in order not to escalate the existing conflicts.



It’s not coincidence that Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus and a close ally of Putin, will visit Beijing this week. Belarus has allowed its territory to be used as a staging ground for Putin’s “special military operation” against Ukraine on Feb 24, 2022. His visit comes at a time when Washington warns Beijing against providing military aid to Russia.



But here’s the biggest headache for the U.S. – it risks pushing China and Russia to an official military partnership. China, a superpower, is hungry for raw commodities and resources like oil and gas to power its economic engines – Russia has tonnes of them. Russia, a military prowess, is hungry for investments to keep its economy running – China has tonnes of money.



Now, if Russia and China joined forces, they will be incredibly powerful. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA), lacking major combat experience, can depend on Russian. Last December, both nations stepped up military cooperation in yet another joint exercise in the East China Sea. Heck, they have even started “sharing a toolkit” of approaches and strategies to undermine NATO.



More importantly, like the U.S., China too is eager to test its military technologies in real war. Thanks to comedian Zelensky, Ukraine provides a perfect testing ground for Chinese new weapons. Iranian too was testing its capability when it gladly agreed to supply drones to Russia. Ukraine is the guinea pig for weapon manufacturers to test, tweak, enhance, and upgrade untested weapon technology.



The clueless U.S. has no idea that it sabotaged its own interests by declaring a trade war with China and provoking the Chinese by sending weapons, troops and warmongers to Taiwan. Now, Joe Biden, proud of shooting down a harmless balloon with a US$400,000 missile, has the cheek to tell Xi Jinping to severe his friendship with Vladimir Putin – even ordering Beijing not to sell any weapons to Moscow.



If you think Iran’s supply of Shahed-136 kamikaze drones to Russia was bad enough to Ukraine, wait till you see the Chinese drones and precision missiles. The arrogant U.S., Ukraine and NATO should seriously consider the peace plan proposed by China. The war is horrible. The average life expectancy of a front-line soldier in eastern Ukraine is just “4 hours”, according to a former U.S. marine fighting there.

Pejuang applies to join PN

FMT:

Pejuang applies to join PN

The party led by Mukhriz Mahathir is seeking a ‘long-term partnership’ with Perikatan Nasional and not just for the upcoming state elections.

Pejuang president Mukhriz Mahathir says the party’s central executive council has decided to apply to join the Muhyiddin Yassin-led coalition. (Bernama pic)


PETALING JAYA: Pejuang has applied to join Perikatan Nasional (PN) as a component party, party president Mukhriz Mahathir has announced.

In a statement, Mukhriz said the party’s central executive council had decided to apply to join the Muhyiddin Yassin-led coalition.

He said the council decided that it was not sufficient for Pejuang to only form an electoral pact with other parties or coalitions to avoid seat clashes.

“It would be more beneficial for all parties involved if Pejuang joins PN and contests under the PN logo.


“This also means that Pejuang’s partnership with PN would be for the long-term rather than only for the state elections which are expected to be held in the middle of the year,” he said.

Mukhriz, a former Kedah menteri besar and Jerlun MP, said joining PN would prevent a split in Malay votes in the state elections.

“We hope the PN leadership will consider Pejuang’s application and give a positive response,” he said.

This comes just a day after former Pejuang chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad – Mukhriz’s father – joined Putra, a party led by long-time ally Ibrahim Ali, as a member and adviser.

Mahathir and 12 other party leaders had quit Pejuang, the party he founded in 2020, following its decision to withdraw from the Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) coalition.

Mukhriz had been holding meetings with component parties from both Pakatan Harapan (PH) and PN in the past month.

PAS election director Sanusi Nor said Mukhriz had recently met the party’s top leadership, including its president, Abdul Hadi Awang, his deputy and the three vice-presidents.

However, Sanusi said the details of the discussions were not disclosed.

Kedah PH chairman Mahfuz Omar had also confirmed meeting Mukhriz two months ago to discuss a “partnership” for the state elections in Kedah, though he said the final decision would be made by PH’s presidential council.

Bersatu more relevant than Umno? Not necessarily, says analyst

FMT:

Bersatu more relevant than Umno? Not necessarily, says analyst

Council of Professors fellow Jeniri Amir claims the party derives its support from its association with PAS.

Perikatan Nasional leaders Muhyiddin Yassin of Bersatu (left) and Abdul Hadi Awang of PAS.


PETALING JAYA: An analyst has dismissed a claim that the younger generation finds Bersatu more relevant than Umno.

Council of Professors fellow Jeniri Amir said Bersatu was dependent for its appeal on its association with PAS, its Perikatan Nasional ally. Without PAS, “Bersatu would be nowhere”, he said.

The claim of relevance was made recently by former Bersatu information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan.

Jeniri told FMT, Bersatu might even lose some supporters now because of the court cases against its leaders.

“With the slew of cases affecting the party’s leadership, including Wan Saiful, I think Malay voters will change their perception of the party,” he said.

Wan Saiful was recently charged with accepting a RM6.9 million bribe and soliciting an unspecified amount over a RM232 million road project under the Jana Wibawa initiative. He pleaded not guilty.

Segambut Bersatu deputy chief Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad was also charged with corruption in relation to the initiative, aimed at helping Bumiputera contractors during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Party chief Muhyiddin Yassin is currently under investigation in a case related to Jana Wibawa.

Jeniri alleged that the cases had tarnished Bersatu’s image of being a clean party.

“It claims to be the cleaner party compared to Umno, but if the charges turn out to be true, then it’s no different from Umno,” he said.

Another analyst, James Chin of the University of Tasmania, said only the results of the coming state elections would prove Wan Saiful’s claim, but he conceded that Bersatu appeared to be stronger than Umno given the last general election’s voting pattern.

However, he said, the Malay vote was still “up for grabs”.

“It’s true that PAS is Bersatu’s main source of strength, but in areas where PAS isn’t strong, Bersatu has its own support as well,” he said.

“We should not take for granted that the Malay vote remains in one place. It does move. That’s why so many people were surprised by the rise of PAS, which attracted Malay votes in GE15.”

In the last general election, Perikatan Nasional secured 54% of the Malay votes.

Unlike Jeniri, Chin did not think the current court cases involving Bersatu leaders would greatly affect the party.

“This simply means Bersatu will find it a lot more difficult to accuse Umno, or its president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, of corruption because its own people are also on trial,” he said.

US seeks allies’ backing for possible China sanctions over Ukraine war if she aids Russia, whilst US-NATO supply Ukraine with military aid

MM:

Sources: US seeks allies’ backing for possible China sanctions over Ukraine war

The United States is sounding out close allies about the possibility of imposing new sanctions on China if Beijing provides military support to Russia for its war in Ukraine, according to four US officials and other sources. — Reuters pic

Thursday, 02 Mar 2023 7:31 AM MYT


WASHINGTON, March 2 — The United States is sounding out close allies about the possibility of imposing new sanctions on China if Beijing provides military support to Russia for its war in Ukraine, according to four US officials and other sources.

The consultations, which are still at a preliminary stage, are intended to drum up support from a range of countries, especially those in the wealthy Group of 7 (G7), to coordinate support for any possible restrictions.


It was not clear what specific sanctions Washington will propose. The conversations have not been previously disclosed.


The US Treasury Department, a lead agency on the imposition of sanctions, declined to comment.

Washington and its allies have said in recent weeks that China was considering providing weapons to Russia, which Beijing denies. Aides to US President Joe Biden have not publicly provided evidence.

They have also warned China directly against doing so, including in meetings between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping as well as during a Feb. 18 in-person meeting between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on the sidelines of a global security conference in Munich.

The Biden administration’s initial steps to counter Chinese support for Russia have included informal outreach at the staff and diplomatic levels, including the Treasury Department, sources familiar with the matter said.

They said officials were laying the groundwork for potential action against Beijing with the core group of countries that were most supportive of sanctions imposed on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine a year ago.

Asked about the consultations, a White House National Security Council spokesperson said Russia’s war made it difficult for China with Europe and others.

“It’s a distraction for China and a potential blow to their international relationships they do not need nor should they want,” the spokesperson said.

Intelligence

One official from a country consulted by Washington said that they had only seen scant intelligence backing up the claims about China considering possible military assistance to Russia. A US official, however, said they were providing detailed accounts of the intelligence to allies.

China’s role in the Russia-Ukraine war is expected to be among the topics when Biden meets with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House on Friday. Before that in New Delhi on Wednesday and Thursday, the war will be discussed by foreign ministers from dozens of countries, including Russia, China and the United States.

Last week China issued a 12-point paper calling for a comprehensive ceasefire that was met with scepticism in the West.

The initial outreach by Washington on sanctions has not yet led to broad agreement on any specific measures, the sources said.

One source said the administration wanted to first raise the idea of coordinated sanctions and “take pulses” in the event that any shipments are detected to Russia from China, which declared a “no limits” partnership shortly before the invasion on Feb. 24 last year.

“On the G7 front, I think there is real awareness,” a second source said, but added that detailed measures focused on China were not yet in place.

Could China tilt conflict?

The Ukraine conflict has settled into grinding trench warfare. With Russia running low on munitions, Ukraine and its supporters fear that supplies from China could tilt the conflict to Russia’s advantage.

As part of a related diplomatic push, Washington won language in a Feb. 24 G7 statement to mark the war’s first anniversary that called on “third-countries” to “cease providing material support to Russia’s war, or face severe costs.”

Though the statement did not mention China by name, the US imposed new penalties on people and companies accused of helping Russia evade sanctions. The measures included export curbs on companies in China and elsewhere that will block them from buying items, such as semiconductors.

“We’ve tried to signal very clearly, both in private in Munich, and then publicly, our concerns,” Daniel Kritenbrink, the top US diplomat for East Asia, told Congress this week. “We’ve talked about the implications and the consequences if they were to do so. And we also know that many of our like-minded partners share those concerns.”

Among the challenges the United States faces in putting sanctions on China, the world’s second-biggest economy, is its thorough integration in the major economies of Europe and Asia, complicating the talks. US allies from Germany to South Korea are reticent to alienate China.

Anthony Ruggiero, a sanctions expert under former President Donald Trump, said the Biden administration does have scope for economically restricting private actors within China and that doing so could deter the government and banks from providing further support.

“Then the administration can send messages to China in public and in private, with the latter being more explicit, that the US will escalate the sanctions to include targeting Chinese banks with the full range of available options,” said Ruggiero, now with the Foundation for Defence of Democracies group.

Washington should make China choose between access to the US financial system or aiding Russia’s war, Ruggiero said, citing the sanctions approach to Iran and North Korea. — Reuters

MUST WATCH : US AND WEST COMMITTING SUICIDE

OutSyed The Box

Wednesday, March 1, 2023


MUST WATCH : US AND WEST COMMITTING SUICIDE

This video is 23 minutes. Full of figures, charts and facts about the weak economies in the US and Europe.

There is now a clear divide in the world. The US, UK and Europe plus their crony countries are facing economic threats versus Russia, China and countries that still do business with them who are doing alright or not suffering as much as the west. The two clear examples are Russia and China themselves. China is facing robust growth and Russia is holding up quite well.

The Americans and the West are just being foolish.


By Syed Akbar Ali at March 01, 2023