Malaysiakini:
Najib hits back at Dr M with veiled swipe at sons' business deals
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listen baik2 lu lau olang, ai cakap sekali saje |
Ex-premier Najib Abdul Razak has hit back at Dr Mahathir Mohamad for saying that he was “confused and concerned” over the plea bargain for his stepson Riza Abdul Aziz’s money laundering charges.
In a sarcastic and hard-hitting post that is likely to escalate the war of words between the two former prime ministers, Najib defended Riza's track record and took a veiled swipe at corporate deals which involved Mahathir's sons.
"Since you are confused, I am going to type this slowly and in simple language," said Najib in his Facebook post.
He said that Riza had movie projects that were successful and attracted the interest of wealthy investors including the Abu Dhabi royal family who promised to invest in Riza's movies.
"Those who promised at that time included the crown prince of Abu Dhabi (Sheikh Mohammed Zayed Al Nahyan) and the deputy prime minister of the UAE [...] who also owns the Manchester City club," said Najib in an apparent reference to Sheikh Mansour Zayed Al Nahyan.
"They even directed the CEO of Aabar to invest in Riza's film project and there are investment agreements available," added Najib.
He said that Riza's films are quite successful.
"The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) generated US$392 million (RM1.7 billion) ticket sales compared to a production cost of US$100 million (RM430 million).
"The movie ‘Dumb and Dumber To’ (2014) generated US$169.8 million (RM730 million) in ticket sales with a US$50 million (RM215 million) production cost.
"Daddy's Home (2015) movie generated US$242.8 million (RM1.04 billion) in sales compared to a cost of US$69 million (RM297 million)."
Under the plea bargain deal, Riza was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) for charges of money laundering involving US$248 million (RM1.08 billion) linked to 1MDB funds.
In exchange, Riza is to return foreign assets estimated to be worth US$107.3 million (RM465.3 million).
Mahathir repeatedly stressed that he does not question the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court’s decision to grant the DNAA, but said that as a lawmaker, this indicates the law may need to be changed.
He went on to question whether this means that other "thieves" could be let off the hook as long as they agree to return the money they were accused of stealing.
“I don’t question the judge’s decision. Surely it is in accordance with the law, but I’m concerned that there are many other thieves in this country.
“If we go on this basis, the thief would be set free […] They steal billions and then they bring back billions by the truckload to the government and they say, ‘Here’s the money I stole, so don’t take action against me’.”
Najib hit back saying "This is not a Petronas bail-out for someone's eldest child nor the case of Vincent Tan selling the Pantai Group of hospitals to a second child who was aged 35 years old at the time.
"These are also not Fomema concessions or contracts to supply all government hospitals provided to the Pantai Group after a particular child has purchased them.
"This is also not the appointment of Petron as the official company to supply oil to the government as soon as (the Mahathir-led Pakatan Harapan) won GE14."
Najib also highlighted an Opcom Bhd National Optical Fiber and Connectivity (NFCP) project worth RM21.1 billion which he claimed was created, approved and implemented by the Harapan government in less than a year and led to Opcom's share price jumping 50 percent.
"Ketiga-tiga anak pun ada (All three children are there)" said Najib, in apparent reference to Mahathir's three sons Mokhzani, Mirzan and Mukhriz.
He also claimed it was strange that other Harapan projects moved slowly but the RM21.6 billion mega project moved so fast.
Najib went on to claim that after the success of the movies, Riza began repaying the Abu Dhabi family's original investments.
He referred to the audio recording of his phone conversation with the crown prince of Abu Dhabi which was revealed by former MACC chief Latheefa Koya, saying that Riza was innocent and the money was unfairly linked to 1MDB.
Najib went on to sarcastically thank Latheefa and the Harapan government for providing the audio recording evidence to help him and Riza.
"All transactions, bank accounts, use of funds, profits generated from funds, agreements and witnesses are abroad, especially in the United States.
"However, the US DOJ has never charged Riza with a criminal case. It's just a civil suit that was settled there last year," said Najib.
"But strangely enough, even though not one of Riza's transactions happened in Malaysia, he is charged with criminal charges in Malaysia."
He ended by saying that it was Harapan-appointed prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram and attorney-general Tommy Thomas who initiated the settlement process with Riza.
Thomas has already denied such a claim.
"If ‘he’ still does not understand, he can call Gopal Sri Ram or Tommy Thomas to explain to him," said Najib, who also cited an MACC statement on the plea bargain, saying the MACC has no problem with the resolution of Riza's case and it was still Thomas’ decision.
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Mahathir's amazing brilliant sons - all billionaires at such young age |
Jibby and Badawi had FIFTEEN YEARS (2003-2018) to put Toonsie away, but what did they do......????
ReplyDeleteNOTHING
Semua sama sama lah.
they lacked his vile vindictive viciousness
DeleteThey lacked INTEGRITY.
Deletethis is genetic, u see the second n third generation of ccp leaders r mostly millionaire n billionaire, that work very hard n smart since young to amass millions, solely bec they inherit their dad brain. hmmm another biology with both malay n chinese characteristics.
ReplyDelete马云/马化腾 r billionaires by their own right. Their children would most likely millionaires & billionaires. Anything to do with their dads' brain?
DeleteDid u inherit yr dad's brain?
No millions or billions, RIGHT?
Hmmmm… Maybe u have no brain at all - judging from all the diarrhea coming out from u.
Perhaps that's the biology u have cocooned with both nonchinese & 台毒 characteristics that mess up yr dad's genome.
MCA also same DNA...President's son became billionaire in his 20s...
ReplyDeleteQUOTE
Ling Hee Leong – what has happened to my 11-year-old ACA report over his RM1.2 billion corporate wealth?
(Media Statement by Lim Kit Siang in Ipoh on the eve of nomination day for 12th general election on 23rd February 2008)
The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said on Thursday that he would present a progress report on the government’s performance from 2004 to 2007.
When he took over as the fifth Prime Minister more than four years ago, he took the country by storm with his pledge to be “Justice Bao” to eradicate corruption and all forms of abuses of power, culminating in a National Integrity Plan in May 2004 after Abdullah’s unprecedented 2004 general election victory, crushing the Opposition and commanding over 91 per cent of the parliamentary seats.
A few days ago, the Police and the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) announced that they have cleared all the prospective candidates for the Barisan Nasional for the forthcoming 12th general election, formally beginning on Nomination Day tomorrow, presenting a slate of BN candidates which symbolizes integrity and incorruptibility.
If the Barisan Nasional slate of candidates for the 2008 general election all stand for integrity and incorruptibility, then let Abdullah and the MCA President, Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting explain what has happened to my 11-year-old ACA report in June 1997 calling for investigations as to how the announced MCA Parliamentary Candidate for Gopeng, Ling Hee Leong could at the age of 27 embark on corporate acquisitions exceeding RM1.2 billion in a matter of months and whether there had been improper use and influence of his father, Liong Sik’s political and Ministerial position.
Liong Sik was at the time the MCA President and the predecessor of Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy as Transport Minister – with Kong Choy now mysteriously announcing that he would not be seeking re-election citing health as reason, although “political and good governance” health connected with the RM4.6 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) bailout scandal appeared to be a greater “health” consideration.
The RM4.6 billion PKFZ bailout scandal, the first biggest financial scandal of the Abdullah premiership which is greater than the first financial scandal of the 22-year Mahathir era – the RM2.5 billion Bumiputra Malaysia Finance (BMF) scandal 25 years ago will be a major subject concerning corruption and integrity in the 12th general election campaign, which I will dwell another time.
In July 2003, the ACA announced a new policy of transparency to be more responsive towards public demand for information about its investigations, viz:
• The ACA will keep all complainants informed on the status of investigations into their reports if they want it.
• Heads of government departments will be informed of the decision of the Attorney-General on investigations involving their subordinates.
• The ACA will issue statements about cases that are still under investigation if it feels necessary, including those already decided by the Attorney-General.
However, after 11 years, I have still to get a proper report on the status of ACA investigations into my June 1997 report to the ACA as to how Ling Hee Leong, son of Liong Sik, could at the age of 27 embark on corporate acquisitions exceeding RM1.2 billion in a matter of months and whether there had been improper use and influence of his father’s political and Ministerial position.
This is the first double test – not only of the four-year Report Card of Prime Minister Abdullah but also the integrity and character of the Barisan Nasional slate of candidates.
UNQUOTE
Even Toonsie could not mastermind one of his sons to be a BILLIONAIRE at the age of 27 like MCA President Ling Liong Sik did. And what did subsequent MCA Presidents do about it...?
ReplyDeleteNOTHING
ALL these UMNOs ( including ex UMNOs ) from the top to the lowest, semua curi la
ReplyDeleteThat's why Old Man wept and lamented : rotten to the core
Bagus la tu...when thieves start to fall out, all the details which were kept from the public, semua di bongkar, wa ka ka ka
It's a matter of scale...so Khairy is clean, coz he ONLY stole a few hundred millions. The big buayas or sharks or whatever we want to call them...kalau bukan berbileon bileon, tak akan sentuh.
60 years of stealing, pillaging, plundering
60 years of cheating
60 years of bold-face lying
60 years of scheming and betraying and backstabbing
60 years of scapegoating and blaming
60 years of blatant racism and ketuanan and islamic supremacist
Malaysia Tanah Darah Tumpah Ku
Stop being a (paid?) Bossku propagandist.
ReplyDeleteWe must not listen to Jibby, he also said we must revive mega projects to contain the economic fallout.
ReplyDelete(https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/525555).
On the contrary, post Covid-19 we should be ever so grateful the PH government under the leadership of Guanee (heh heh) delayed the HSR project, re-negotiated the ECRL, Bandar Malaysia, TRX, MRT2, MRT3 projects and cancelled a few more like the Malacca Gateway.
Who in his right mind will now invest in factories along the East Coast that would justify a full blown ECRL? Why don't we just upgrade the East Coast ports and ship to Port Klang? And BTW ECRL is not a Chinese investment. We have to borrow money from the Chinese bank to build it and we have to pay it back.
Post Covid-19 the economics of HSR has been upended. Fortunately the PH government delayed it by 2 years. Now we can ask the question. Do we really need a very costly high speed train when the trend now will be Work-From-Home? Even Singapore may want to pull out from this stupid idea.
TRX and Bandar Malaysia are mostly office, lifestyle, retail and condo builds. The demand for offices will collapse after Covid-19 and with the two towers in TRX and PNB already committed KL has more than enough office space for the forseeable future.
Demand for Retail has collapsed. And so-called high-end condos usually turn out to be nothing more than Urban Slums.
MRT projects were scaled down, saving tens of billions. This will prove to be the right decision, considering the very nature of a 9-5 workday at the office will be re-defined.
So what Jibby is talking about is rubbish. Instead we should all be so grateful the PH government, despite being in power for only 22 months) what they accomplished will have long lasting positive effect. Not to mention (but I will ha ha ha) Guanee got rid of that GST.
The people deserve it.
ReplyDeleteThey voted & continued to vote for them.