Malaysians applaud Nurul Izzah’s heartwarming gesture to flat residents who lost their bikes in fire

Malaysians applaud Nurul Izzah’s heartwarming gesture to flat residents who lost their bikes in fire





DESPITE her no longer being the Permatang Pauh MP following her 15th general election (GE15) defeat, Nurul Izzah Anwar continues to touch people’s heart by stepping up to help those in need of assistance.

The former MP recently shared a post on Facebook detailing how she had teamed up with Machang Bubok assemblyman Lee Khai Loon to purchase and donate new motorbikes to a number of residents of Flat Tuna in Seberang Jaya who had lost their motorbikes in a fire.

“I received a message from a Seberang Jaya resident asking for help a few days ago. He told me 15 residents of Flat Tuna in Seberang Jaya are in despair after losing their motorbikes in a fire,” Nurul Izzah wrote.


“He also said those motorbikes were the only mode of transportation for the residents to go to work, send their children to school and bring family members who have taken ill to the hospital.”

Nurul Izzah said the people who were affected were those from low-income families and were as such struggling to afford new motorbikes.

“Yes, I am no longer the people’s representative for Permatang Pauh, but many residents came to me for help. They had also met with their local representatives but they came to me for help because they are still awaiting a solution,” she added.

Teaming up with Lee, Nurul Izzah was able to collect RM30,000 in donations to help ease the people’s burden, and in the end the duo had gone on to purchase 15 Modenas Kriss MR3 motorbikes.

“Originally, the price of the motorbike was RM4,000 each but we managed to purchase these motorbikes at RM3,500 each after negotiating. The shop owner is very kind and caring – he gave us a discount after finding out about our joint effort to help low-income families in Seberang Jaya,” she wrote.

(Pic credit: Facebook/Nurul Izzah Anwar)


She shared that she had also managed to settle issues relating to motorbike licenses, road tax, and insurance, and had even fill the motorbikes with a full tank of petrol.

“Hopefully this token will help [the residents] earn and income and continue on with their lives. I realise that I am no longer the Permatang Pauh MP but Permatang Pauh will always be in my heart forever,” she added.

This had earned her praise from netizens who mostly thanked her for her fast action to help the residents of the flat in their time of need.

Zulhafidz Yahaya said:



(Keep up the good work, YB. Although you are no longer Permatang Pauh MP the people there still seek you out and this means that their value of trust is still with you and not just mere sentiments)

Abie Ruslan:



(People in Seberang Jaya see Nurul Izzah around all the time and this is why they are more comfortable with her. Sometimes I don’t understand how she could’ve lost)

Yasmin Arbee:



(Alhamdullilah Nurul Izzah. Although you are no longer Permatang Pauh MP you still lend a hand [to those in need]. Well done, may Allah SWT continue to repay your kindness. The strangest thing is, where is YB Seberang Jaya and the new Permatang Pauh MP…both are from Perikatan Nasional. May the people there think about this)

Zuelida Abdullah:



(When the people there need help, they find YB Nurul Izzah…but when it’s time for them to cast their votes, they vote for someone else. How shameless. Now that somebody has extended their hand in your time of need, don’t bite the hand that feeds you now that you are contented. If it were me, I would’ve told you to just go home and pray and be patient and wait until help comes)

Similarly, Reformasi Rakyat said:



(When it’s time to cast your votes [you pick those who offered you] RM300 and RM400 but when you’re in need of help you go to the person you rejected during election. Why didn’t you seek help from the YB who gave you RM300) – Feb 27, 2023

Education group slams ‘ultranationalist’ call to end DLP

FMT:

Education group slams ‘ultranationalist’ call to end DLP

The dual-language programme in selected schools allows pupils to study science and mathematics in English.

The dual-language programme was introduced in 2016 for pupils in selected schools to study some subjects in English.


PETALING JAYA: Two parent-teacher groups have objected to a call for the abolition of the dual-language programme which allows pupils in selected schools to study some subjects in English.

Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim, head of the Parent Action Group for Education, said those calling for DLP to be abolished were typically “ultranationalists” who believe that students can thrive solely on the national language.

“Being proficient only in the national language limits knowledge and exposure, especially if the nation wants to attract tech companies to set up shop in Malaysia,” Azimah told FMT.

The DLP was started in 2016, after objections to its predecessor, the programme to teach science and mathematics in English (PPSMI) which was introduced in 2002.

Azimah said ending the DLP would be detrimental to the progress of schoolchildren and discredit the Malaysian education blueprint for 2013-2025 which states that English language proficiency needs to be improved.

The call to end the DLP had come from a group called Majlis Perundingan Melayu, which said the programme was not in line with the national education policy.

Other NGOs and language activists have previously called for DLP to be abolished for being similar to the previous programme.

Another education group, Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education, said the education ministry should strengthen the DLP instead of ending it, by providing more training to teachers who are still not proficient in teaching in English.

Another option would be to employ retired science teachers on contract to conduct lessons, said the group’s chairman, Mak Chee Kin.

He questioned the opposition towards the DLP. “Isn’t it good to expose our students to English earlier, rather than a sudden switch when they enter tertiary level?” he said.

He said DLP critics should look at the progressive improvements made in Sarawak by implementing PPSMI at primary levels.

A unionist, Fouzi Singon, said NGOs should view DLP in a positive light. However, he said no school should be forced to implement the DLP because of quotas set by district or state education officials, said Fouzi, who is the secretary-general of the National Union of the Teaching Profession.

“It should be offered to groups of students who are prepared to be the next future leaders and professionals of the country,” he said.

Wan Saiful asks if 'out-of-touch' budget inspired by Communist Manifesto

Wan Saiful asks if 'out-of-touch' budget inspired by Communist Manifesto


PARLIAMENT | Bersatu information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan reached into the right-wing playbook today in launching a broadside against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Budget 2023.

Calling the budget “out of touch”, the Perikatan Nasional (PN) lawmaker also asked if Anwar was inspired by the Communist Manifesto and whether the latter was trying to instigate class warfare.

“Several times in (the Budget 2023) speech, words were used that gave the impression that Tambun (Anwar) was trying to instigate class warfare in our country.

“This is a populist tactic that originates from leftist leaders especially Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in their work, the Communist Manifesto.

“I detected whiffs of such thinking in Tambun’s speech," he said, adding a further query on whether Anwar wanted Malaysians to adopt such leftist thinking.

Class warfare refers to a conflict between social classes, particularly the working class and the elites.

The term was often used by US Republicans to attack any efforts by Barrack Obama to address societal inequality when the latter was in office.

Wan Saiful’s (PN-Tasek Gelugor) remarks today are likely in reference to sections in Anwar’s speech that was critical of the mega-rich (maha kaya) and called on them to contribute more to the nation.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim


The budget would introduce, among others, an income tax hike for those earning more than RM230,000 per annum as well as a tax on luxury goods.

Another key element of Anwar’s budget was the economic upliftment of the poor, with an aim to eliminate hardcore poverty within a year.

Wan Saiful, however, said the budget did not resonate with the people.

In particular, he said the budget ignored pleas by Employees Provident Fund contributors in dire straits for another round of special withdrawals.

“This government is detached from the hardships of the people because they (the government) are in such lofty positions up there.

“They do not feel the people’s sentiments who are struggling evermore. Not because the public has no money, but because that money is stuck in the EPF,” he said.

Anwar had said that the government would find other means to help the people rather than jeapordise their retirement savings.

The prime minister instead said that anyone aged 40 to 54 who had less than RM10,000 in their EPF Account 1, will get an RM500 top-up from the government.

Part 1 : Arrest of School Children? Hello "REFORMASI" @$$holes, is this the @$$hole reformasi you were shouting about ?

OutSyed The Box

Sunday, February 26, 2023


Part 1 : Arrest of School Children? Hello "REFORMASI" @$$holes, is this the @$$hole reformasi you were shouting about ?











Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) criticised arrest of two teens
over video criticising SPM
LFL director Zaid Malek appalled by “heavy-handed” authorities
demanded Fahmi explain use of Sect 233(1)(a) CMA against schoolchildren

boys subjected to police raid in their home
arrested, underwent drug test
video venting frustrations on exam
it does not warrant intervention by police
just teenagers being childish
they were treated like hardened criminals
intimidate, treat (schoolchildren) like criminals
police arrested teens, after receiving reports from teacher


Zaid said CMA bane to freedom of speech
contrary to promises of reform by PH govt
against freedom of expression g'teed under constitution
condemn overzealous, arbitrary actions of police
Criticisms of govt should not be criminalised
childish vents by teenagers even less so

Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii called for all investigations dropped
more important is well-being of students
action cause unnecessary stigma, mental stress, fear
drop all investigations





Sunday, 26 Feb 2023 

two 18-year-olds arrested for dissatisfaction with SPM exam and insulted Singapore (??)


Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) slammed arrest of schoolboys for “ridiculing SPM”
Director Zaid Malek criticised Sect 233(1)(a) CMA to restrict free speech
Even unsavoury comments do not warrant intervention of police

criticised PH for allowing CMA to exist after its calls for reform

PH indiscriminately wields weapon they once opposed vehemently
smacks of George Orwell’s Animal Farm,” he said
explain “unprecedented” use of S233 against students

Zaid condemned police overzealous arrest of students
criticised Sect 233(1)(a) of CMA, restrict free speech
Criticisms of govt should not be criminalised
childish vents by teenagers even less so
Are we to arrest every teenager for simply ranting online?
Is this what we have come to?” he asked.

Article 10(1)(a) of Fed Const freedom of speech, expression
people should be protected from criminal action when exercising free speech


case under Sect 14 of Minor Offences Act 1995, Sect 233 of CMA
Section 14 Minor Offences Act 1995 breach the peace fine RM100
S233 of the CMA criminalises communication deemed offensive
maximum fine RM50,000, jail one year or both


My Comments :

I have a question. What if the gomen takes action deemed stupid, what happens then? Shouldnt that be a crime as well? Shouldnt someone be arrested for being stupid?

What if the gomen takes some stupid action which deprives a person of his freedom - for example arresting school children for making a Tik Tok video? Shouldnt someone in the gomen also be arrested and investigated? Maybe sent to jail?


So they are arresting school children now. They are arresting teenagers who said teenager stuff in some Tik Tok video.


Is this the great "REFORMASI" all you reformasi @$$holes were shouting about all these years? Ini macam kah lu punya REFORMASI? Kepala b_ _ _h kau orang.


Let me tell you this - this increasingly stupid and incompetent gomen is not going to last. Just wait for those SIX State polls that are coming up soon. You will see how long this gomen is going to last. Not long.


And why this pre-occupation with arresting people for what they post on Social Media?
It is Social Media. That is the purpose of Social Media.

You can go to the kedai kopi and condemn anything you want to your friends at the kedai kopi. That is your space.


You can talk to your neighbour across the fence and condemn anything you want to your neighbour. That is also your space.


Or you can go into Social Media and condemn anything you want on Social Media. That is also your space.

Who asked that stupid teacher to intrude into the two boys space on Social Media? It is their space. Just like talking in the kedai kopi or talking to your neighbour across the fence.


Nobody asked that stupid teacher to switch on his phone or computer
surf the Net
click on the Tik Tok website
click on the boys Tik Tok video
and then get offended by what he saw.

Cikgu itu bodoh ke? Who asked you to watch their video?
Did the boys tell you to go and watch their video?

I have a question. Supposing you heard some people at the warong kopi condemning the SPM exam in the same exact manner as the two boys did then can you go and make a Police Report?

Who asked you to go and listen to people talking at the warong kopi?



Supposing you heard your neighbours talking across the fence condemning the SPM exam in the same exact manner as the two boys did then can you go and make a Police Report against your neighbours?

Who asked you to go and listen to your neighbours gossiping across the fence?

Because that is what Social Media really is - it is just neighbours gossipping across the fence or people cakap kosong at the warong kopi.

Tik Tok, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc are also just like the warong kopi where the public can gather and gossip, cakap kosong, debate, argue, say just about anything they want.

If you start listening into every other warong kopi conversation, neighbours gossipping, Social Media video etc and start making Police Reports (and the Police take action) then you just prove to the world that you are stupid. It just shows that you have nothing better to do in your life.

And if you are a government that undertakes such useless action it shows that you do not know what else to do with your time.

I notice this Madani gomen is increasingly venturing down this reckless road. That Madani fellow just sent yet another Legal Notice to someone else over some comment that the other fellow made.

You are the CEO, the No. 1 fellow in charge. Surely you cannot be so childish and touchy. People will say whatever they want to say. It is you who should grow up.

Here I must give credit to Dr Mahathir and that Super Moron who is now in jail. Both of them Dr Mahathir and Super Moron never sent any Legal Notice to anyone for saying things they did not like to hear.

Super Moron never sent me a Legal Notice for calling him a Super Moron. I once called him a 'sewel' and it was even reported in the Malay press. Instead he did reply me through his cyber troopers. Here is one example:







He could have used all the power and might of his position to come after me but he did not. He did not because he should not. Period. He could have really turned out to be someone else. I hope he will ponder things well while in prison. It is never too late to make amends.



To conclude the Reformasi guys are just bullshitting everyone. Just over 100 days in power and you can already see their fangs. But those fangs are not new.








By Syed Akbar Ali at February 26, 2023

Change the rules on arrests, says MP after history students nabbed

FMT:

Change the rules on arrests, says MP after history students nabbed

Teresa Kok says the police action was high-handed and they should have used discretion to only take statements and seize the boys’ phones.

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok said the police should have only seized the students’ phones and taken their statements.


PETALING JAYA: Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has called for rules on police arrests to be revised in the wake of what she called high-handed police action against two secondary school students who criticised a history examination paper.

She said it was unnecessary to arrest the two teenagers. “The offence is not a capital or a serious offence. It would have been enough for the police to seize the mobile phones used, record the teenagers’ statements, and then refer the case to the deputy public prosecutor.

“However, they went further by arresting and detaining (the students) and applying for a two-day remand, which is high-handed. The psychological trauma on the teenagers would have been severe,” said Kok.

She urged the inspector-general of police and the Attorney General’s Chambers to streamline arrest guidelines when dealing with online dissent and criticism. The authorities must allow dissent and criticism as long as it is not defamatory or harmful to society.


The two teenagers were arrested in a police raid on their homes on Friday and held on a two-day remand order over a viral video showing a schoolboy criticising the history paper for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination. They were released on police bail yesterday.

Kok said while the police could “feebly attempt” to justify the arrests by accusing the students of violating the law, such action would not silence them. “On the contrary, it will invite anger and disaffection from them towards the authorities,” she said.

Annuar Musa considers political comeback with ‘right party’

FMT:

Annuar Musa considers political comeback with ‘right party’

The Umno veteran has said he did not know why he was expelled from the party in December.

Former Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa says he is looking for a party that matches his political values of ‘protecting Islam, the Malays and the country’.


PETALING JAYA: Former Umno veteran Annuar Musa is considering joining a new political party three months after he was sacked by the party.

The former Umno secretary-general and Ketereh MP said he is “seriously thinking” about choosing a party that matches his political values of “protecting Islam, the Malays and the country”.

“Hopefully, there is a party that is willing to accept me as a member,” he said in an online posting today.

He said he had spent the past three months evaluating and observing current political developments.


A member of Umno since 1979, Annuar was dropped from Barisan Nasional’s line-up in the November general election.

In December, Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan confirmed that Annuar and two other divisional leaders had been sacked by the party.

Annuar has maintained that he does not know why he was sacked, adding that he had not been accused of any wrongdoing.

Since then, the former minister has been busy leading his NGO Muafakat Nasional.

Uproar in Dewan Rakyat as Guan Eng pans Kedah MB for questioning Penang’s sovereignty

MM:

Uproar in Dewan Rakyat as Guan Eng pans Kedah MB for questioning Penang’s sovereignty

DAP veteran MP Lim Guan Eng today criticised Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor for questioning Penang’s sovereignty. — Picture by Hari Anggara

Monday, 27 Feb 2023 5:03 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 — Pandemonium broke in the Dewan Rakyat today after DAP veteran MP Lim Guan Eng criticised Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor for questioning Penang’s sovereignty.


A few Perikatan Nasional (PN) lawmakers joined the shouting match, including Pendang MP Datuk Awang Hashim, Sik MP Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman and Kubang Pasu MP Datuk Dr Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail questioning Lim’s remark on Penang’s sovereignty.

“Now we are talking discussing the legality of the Federal Constitution, why are we denying a state’s sovereignty?” the Bagan MP animatedly said while holding the Federal Constitution, referring to Penang.


PN lawmakers then continued to interrupt Lim’s speech trying to elaborate on what Muhammad Sanusi said in a video that went viral on a social media platform last month.


Lim also challenged Sanusi to sue him if he felt misrepresented, but insisted that the latter's remark was on public record.

“I have a video clip that shows Kedah MB stated that ‘Penang’s sovereignty is doubtful’, You can’t run from this black and white. It was recorded in a video. I have openly stated this before if he said that I was not telling the truth, please sue me,” Lim said,

Previously, it was reported that Bukit Jelutong MP RSN Rayer lodged a police report over the Kedah MB statement on Penang sovereignty and said that the state “was leased from Kedah”.

The Kedah MB then defended his statement and said that the DAP MP was “blind to history”.

Ismail Sabri to 'retire' from party politics? - report

Ismail Sabri to 'retire' from party politics? - report


Former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is expected to announce his departure from active party politics on March 18.

Citing anonymous sources, Utusan reported that Ismail Sabri, who already announced he will not contest to keep his Umno vice-president post, will also not be defending his position as Bera Umno division head.

However, the source said that Ismail Sabri will continue to serve out his term as the Bera MP.

"He is expected to announce his retirement on March 18. His circle is aware of this. We have to wait for an announcement.

"This is his last term as an MP. He does not wish to run for office again. He wishes to rest," said the source.

Ismail Sabri is in his fifth term as the Bera MP. The 63-year-old was the prime minister between August 2021 and October 2022.

In 2018, he was elected as the Umno vice-president with the most votes.

The upcoming race for three Umno vice-president spots will be a seven-way contest. Incumbents Mohd Khaled Nordin and Mahdzir Khaled are defending their positions.

Five others vying for the posts are Pahang Umno chief Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, former Johor Umno chief Hasni Mohammad, former Umno Youth chief Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Titiwangsa MP Johari Ghani and former supreme council member Azalina Othman Said.

Be patient, Anwar tells Cuepacs on salary increment

MM:

Be patient, Anwar tells Cuepacs on salary increment

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says the government’s financial situation needs to be taken into consideration.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says Budget 2023’s deficit could have risen to 65% if civil servants were given a pay bump.


PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has appealed to civil servants to be patient after the umbrella body for government employees unions voiced disappointment over the lack of salary increases in the national budget.

“If we increase salaries, the budget deficit may rise to 65%,” he said, adding this will deter investors as it would give the impression the government lacked the political will to properly manage the country.

“So be patient for a while,” he told reporters after an event.

Anwar said, in principle, he agreed with demands to increase civil servants’ salaries.

However, civil servants must also consider the state of the country’s finances and the welfare of the people, he said.


He added the country’s debts had risen to RM1.5 trillion and that it had a high budget deficit.

Anwar said the government’s focus right now is on assisting the hardcore poor who are struggling to survive, including fishermen, rubber tappers, and farmers.

“If we look at it from that point of view, we would understand,” he said.

On Friday, Cuepacs president Adnan Mat said the budget did not contain any commitment to raise civil servant salaries to help them cope with the increase in the cost of living.

Adnan said civil servants are now hoping for a better wage system as it has not been revised since November 2002 and it is not suitable given the current economic situation.

On Friday, Anwar tabled Budget 2023, announcing an allocation of RM388.1 billion.

Among the goodies that were announced for civil servants include early redemption of cash in lieu of accumulated leave (GCR) of up to 50% with a maximum of 90 days, as well as the provision of Aidilfitri special financial assistance of RM700 to all civil servants Grade 56 and below, including those on contract.

Zambry withdraws from Umno VP contest

MM:

Zambry withdraws from Umno VP contest

Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir has withdrawn from contesting for the Umno vice-president post in the party election next month. — Picture by Ahmad Zamzahuri

Monday, 27 Feb 2023 11:38 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 — Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir has withdrawn from contesting for the Umno vice-president post in the party election next month.

Zambry announced the decision in a Facebook post last night after taking into consideration his official duty as the foreign minister in the government.


“There are many foreign affairs and matters that have to be managed to uphold Malaysia in the international stage. It also brings the image of Umno which I represent in the unity government,” he said.

According to Zambry, he also wanted to give priority to strengthen inter-party ties within BN and between parties in the unity government.


Nonetheless, Zambry said he is offering to defend his post as a member of Umno Supreme Council in the Umno 2023-2026 Term election.


“I express my gratitude and appreciation to my friends in the divisions which have expressed their support for me,” he said.

On February 24, Zambry announced that he was offering to run for the vice-presidency in the party’s election.

The Umno annual delegates conference at branch level and elections for Wanita, Youth and Puteri branch wings were held from February 1 to 26.

The Wanita, Youth and Puteri division elections will be held nationwide simultaneously on March 11.

The Umno division delegates meetings and elections of Umno Supreme Council members will be held simultaneously throughout the country on March 18. — Bernama

Michelle Yeoh first Asian to win best actress at SAG Awards

MM:

Michelle Yeoh first Asian to win best actress at SAG Awards

Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh wins Outstanding Performance at SAG Awards 2023 in Los Angeles. — Picture via Twitter/highhendhomo

Monday, 27 Feb 2023 11:15 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 — Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh has once again bagged a prestigious international award following her two big wins last month.

The 60-year-old was named the Screen Actors Guild Awards 2023 winner for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role at the awards night in Los Angeles today making her the first Asian actress to take home the top honour.


She picked up the award for her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once.

This is her third win this year after winning best actress awards at the National Board Review Awards and the Golden Globes.


The other nominees for the category were: Cate Blanchett (Tár), Viola Davis (The Woman King), Ana de Armas (Blonde) and Danielle Deadwyler (Till).


Yeoh appeared on the red carpet in a Schiaparelli Haute Couture black one-shoulder gown with yellow sequined fringe running down the length of the dress.

Please grant amnesty to those bloggers who helped you as well as those who did not help you

OutSyed The Box

Sunday, February 26, 2023


Please grant amnesty to those bloggers who helped you as well as those who did not help you


Here is something (edited, truncated) from Murray Hunter:


Please grant amnesty to those bloggers who helped you

By Murray Hunter

I was saddened to read the plea by blogger Hussein Hamid, the legendary Steadyaku47 today on his blog. Hussein was one of the influential bloggers who fought the good fight for Pakatan Harapan. He kept exposing the wrongs of the Barisan Nasional government for 10 years, and exposed issues most others were afraid to talk about.

Under Ismail Sabri’s tenure as prime minister, sedition charges were laid against Hussein for political reasons. Ismail Sabri was the person who started investigations against former attorney general Tommy Thomas for sedition, which was Ismail Sabri’s favorite political tool against his political adversaries.

Hussein, under pending sedition charges would be arrested upon arrival at KLIA, or not even allowed onto the flight to Malaysia by the airline. Hussein is not the only blogger who is in trouble with the authorities. It is believed blogger Mariam Mokhtar, a Malaysian citizen is blacklisted from returning to Malaysia.

These bloggers are Malaysian citizens, who many consider are patriots. The worst punishment ever given to a Malaysian is forbidding them to return to their Tanah Air, their true home.

.. its time to bring these bloggers home freely, so they too can see your government from inside the country. Call an amnesty so they can come home.



My Comments :

One of my books was banned by Najib in 2016. They never spoke to me about my book or gave me a right of reply before they banned it. But at the time of their banning it the book was already OUT OF PRINT for almost 10 years. (The book was published in 2006). In other words they banned a book that was no more in print. Real clowns.

But subsequent to that, after the UMNO/BN was thrown out of power I never appealed the ban. To hell with these donkeys. I already sold over 30,000 copies of that book in about two years - considered a best seller for an English language book written by a Malaysian author.

But banning a human being from his land of birth is not the same as banning a book. Or threatening him with arrest upon his setting foot back in his land of birth. That is cruelty indeed.

It is also a reflection of the IQ levels of the people in power. Why do you want to ban words that are written down on pieces of paper? Are you so stupid that simply reading pieces of paper with words written on them can destroy your society?

What about those who blow up people with C4 explosives? Or those who abduct people in broad daylight and make them disappear ? Or those who steal billions of Ringgit of taxpayers money? Or those who are ISIS terrorists? They are greater threats to our entire society. Shouldnt they be banned or prevented from entering the country? Yet they still walk among us.


So where is your sense of right and wrong? Where is your sense of justice? Let me rephrase : what exactly is your idea of right, wrong, justice and injustice. Or are you in this category as well :





Banning books, blocking off blogs that criticise the gomen of the day, taking action against people just for making a speech or writing some words - cannot even be dignified with intelligent discourse anymore.

We cannot dignify low mentality behaviour like this with any kind of intelligent retort. This is the behaviour of the "cebuk dalam sungai" people. "Cebuk dalam sungai" refers village idiots who have to wash their backsides in the river - because they do not have proper toilets in their homes. The yokels.

noun: yokel; plural noun: yokels
an uneducated and unsophisticated person from the countryside.

The only difference in this country is that many of them are actually educated, some with strings of degrees. But they are still unsophisticated. Cebuk dalam sungai.


Their behaviour is crude, crass, boorish and perhaps uncivilised. So will they grant amnesty to those bloggers "who helped you as well as those who did not help you"?
Will they stop arresting schoolchildren who post TikTok videos?
Will they stop banning words written on paper?
Will they stop arresting people who speak against them?

I think it is a tall order. Cebuk dalam sungai.


By Syed Akbar Ali at February 26, 2023  

Ahmad Maslan sits out Umno veep race, making way for 3 Johor contenders

Ahmad Maslan sits out Umno veep race, making way for 3 Johor contenders


Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan will make way for three Johor candidates, including Pontian Umno chief Hasni Mohammad who is in the running for the vice-presidents’ posts.

While sitting out of the vice-presidency race, Ahmad, however, reportedly said he will be challenging Hasni for the Pontian Umno chief post, aside from having previously confirmed that he would be defending his Umno supreme council seat.

"Yes, I confirm I will run for the Pontian Umno chief post and my nomination form will be handed over to the Pontian Umno office tomorrow (today)," Ahmad (above) was quoted as saying by Utusan Malaysia last night.

The Malay daily also quoted Ahmad as saying that his move will see three Johoreans gunning for the three vice-presidents’ posts - incumbent Mohamed Khaled Nordin; Hasni, who is also Simpang Renggam MP; and the sole woman contender, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Azalina Othman Said.

"If I join that would make four from Johor, even though I am qualified to run based on my experience in Umno, as party information chief and now secretary-general.

"But I must look at the reality, if there's too many from one state, the chances to win will be slim and votes will be split.

"Those from outside will ask why there are so many candidates from Johor," the Pontian MP reportedly said after a function at the Pontian Umno building last night.

Hasni, a former Johor menteri besar, had led Pontian since 2001, while Ahmad held the No 2 post since 2008.

Aside from the three Johor contenders, also in the race for vice-presidency are incumbent Mahdzir Khalid; Titiwangsa Umno chief Johari Abdul Ghani; Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail; Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir and Umno supreme council member Reezal Merican Naina Merican.

China’s lethal aid to Russia would come at real costs, says US

FMT:

China’s lethal aid to Russia would come at real costs, says US

Officials have warned their Chinese counterparts about the consequences of doing so.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan says China has yet to make a final decision about providing military aid to Russia. (AP pic)


WASHINGTON: China has not moved toward providing lethal aid that would help Russia in its invasion of Ukraine and the US has made clear behind closed doors that such a move would have serious consequences, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said today.

kt comments: "... behind closed doors ..."??? but can openly threaten China of consequences - what e;f;f;f;i;n;g 'closed doors???

“Beijing will have to make its own decisions about how it proceeds, whether it provides military assistance, but if it goes down that road, it will come at real costs to China,” Sullivan said in an interview with CNN’s “State of the Union” programme.

China has not moved forward in providing that aid, but neither has Beijing taken that option off the table, Sullivan said in a separate interview on ABC’s “This Week” programme.

US officials have warned their Chinese counterparts behind closed doors about what those costs might be, Sullivan said, but he would not elaborate on those private discussions.


The US and its Nato allies have been scrambling to warn China against such a move in recent days, making public comments on their belief that China is considering providing lethal equipment to Russia.

CIA director William Burns also weighed in regarding China today.

“We’re confident that the Chinese leadership is considering the provision of lethal equipment. We also don’t see that a final decision has been made yet, and we don’t see evidence of actual shipments of lethal equipment,” Burns told the CBS programme “Face the Nation.”

Republican representative Michael McCaul, chairman of the House of Representatives foreign affairs committee, said on “This Week” that the US intelligence shows drones are among the lethal weapons China has considered sending to Russia.

US president Joe Biden visited Kyiv and met with President Volodymyr Zelensky last Monday, promising new military aid for Ukraine worth US$500 million. Last week marked the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion. The US has been by far the largest supplier of military assistance to help Ukraine repel better-equipped Russian forces. Ukraine expects a major new Russian offensive soon.

kt comments: Warning China against aiding Russia whilst in the same breath, providing military aid to Ukraine - speaking about e;f;f;f;i;n;g double standards!!!

Beginning of the end for Ismail, say analysts

FMT:

Beginning of the end for Ismail, say analysts

His decision not to seek re-election is seen as a letdown for the anti-Zahid camp and as a sign that he lacks confidence in himself.

Ismail Sabri Yaakob, 63, has been an Umno vice-president since 2018. He did not seek re-election when nominations closed today for the Umno elections. (Umno Online pic)


PETALING JAYA: Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s decision not to seek re-election as an Umno vice-president could be the beginning of the end of his top-level political career, according to political analysts.

Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said Ismail’s decision was likely to spell the end of his career in Umno. “His action shows that he is either not ready to fight for post, or is prepared to lose,” Azmi told FMT.

By opting out of the race, Ismail had indicated that he neither has confidence in himself nor in his Umno faction which is opposed to party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“If the anti-Zahid group fills up most of the important positions in Umno after the elections, I don’t think they will give Ismail another chance. They will be disappointed with his decision, which is akin to abandoning the anti-Zahid fight,” said Azmi.


While Ismail has never publicly opposed Zahid, he has been critical of recent disciplinary steps taken by the party to sack former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and to suspend Sembrong MP Hishammuddin Hussein and former party information chief Shahril Hamdan.

Khairy and Hishammuddin were both members of Ismail’s Cabinet when he was prime minister from August 2021 to November 2022.

The party also decided to bar contests for the posts of president and deputy president.

Political analyst Ooi Kee Beng of Penang Institute said Ismail appeared to have little motivation to continue his political career, having peaked when he became the accidental prime minister after succeeding Muhyiddin Yassin in August 2021.

Ooi said he also suspects that Ismail has become “hugely diminished” in significance in the new political scenario following the formation of Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition government.

“To stay on in a leadership position, he would have to stand for something inspiring, positive and exciting,” he told FMT. “He does not, and his stepping aside bodes well for younger hopefuls in Umno.”

Ismail, who is 63, has been an Umno vice-president since 2018. He did not file his papers for the Umno leadership elections when nominations closed today. However, he said he would defend his position as Bera division leader.

We followed the law in arresting two schoolboys, say police

FMT:

We followed the law in arresting two schoolboys, say police

Hulu Selangor police chief responds to criticism from Lawyers For Liberty, which described the police as being heavy-handed.

The two teenage students who had made criticisms of the SPM history paper later apologised in a separate video.


PETALING JAYA: Hulu Selangor police said that they were merely following the law when they arrested two teenage schoolboys who had criticised the history paper for this year’s Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examinations.

kt comments: Well, the law has been an @$$, and you follow it?

District police chief Suffian Abdullah, responding to criticism that the police were heavy-handed in their action, said that everyone, including the two youths, are bound by the law.

kt comments: Kerbau lah, some Pak Lebai's are above the law 'coz you cops takut ya?

The criticism were made by the Lawyers For Liberty group whose director Zaid Malek said the two students would have been traumatised by being arrested at home and being subject to drug tests.

Suffian said the police had decided to arrest the students after taking detailed recordings of their statements, conducting fact-checking with relevant parties and on the video clip itself, and obtaining the students’ disciplinary records from their school.


In a widely-shared video, the two students were heard using foul language and mocking questions on Singapore history in the SPM history exam. They later released another video apologising for their actions.

Suffian said after investigations had concluded, the police had granted the two youths an early release on police bail at 11am today, despite having obtained a two-day remand order.

Investigation into the students’ actions is still ongoing, under the Minor Offenses Act and the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA), he said.

Earlier today, Zaid had demanded that home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and communications and digital minister Fahmi Fadzil explain the use of CMA against schoolchildren.

kt comments: WTF Pakatan government?

BN's election petition rejected, Bersatu's Mohd Azizi keeps Gua Musang seat

MM:

BN's election petition rejected, Bersatu's Mohd Azizi keeps Gua Musang seat

Lawyers representing Gua Musang Parliamentary candidate (PAS) Datuk Mohd Azizi Abu Naim, Wan Rohimi Wan Daud (second left) along with a line of lawyers present at the outcome of the preliminary objection proceedings of the Gua Musang Parliamentary petition at the High Court February 26, 2023. — Bernama pic

Sunday, 26 Feb 2023 6:51 PM MYT


KOTA BARU, Feb 26 — The High Court here today quashed an election petition filed by a representative of Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, thus confirming the victory of PAS-Bersatu’s Datuk Mohd Azizi Abu Naim in the Gua Musang parliamentary seat in the 15th general election (GE15).

Judge Datuk Roslan Abu Bakar ordered the petitioner, Mohd Azmi Mahmood, to pay costs of RM25,000.


In his judgment, Justice Roslan said the court accepted the three issues in the preliminary objection raised by Mohd Azizi as the respondent to the election petition.

He said the date the petition was filed was outside the permitted time-frame of 28 days according to the Election Offences Act 1954, and the appointment of the petitioner’s lawyers was not in accordance with the provisions of the same law.


“This third issue is that the petitioner failed to provide details on his bribery allegation like complete information on the agent of the bribe giver, causing the petition to be defective and invalid," he said.


At the proceedings, the petitioner was represented by lawyers Datuk Abu Bakar Isa Rahmat, Mohamed Baharuddin Mohamed Ariff and Norhazira Abu Hayyan while the respondent was represented by Wan Rohimi Wan Daud, Nik Bahrum Nik Abdulllah, Yusfarizal Yusoff and Mohd Faizi Che Abu.

In GE15, Tengku Razaleigh failed to retain the Gua Musang seat for a 12th time when he lost to Mohd Azizi by a majority of just 163 votes.

Mohd Azizi (PAS-Bersatu) obtained 21,826 votes while Tengku Razaleigh (BN-Umno) garnered 21,663 votes.

On Jan 3, Mohd Azmi filed the petition to challenge the Gua Musang election result and Mohd Azizi then submitted his preliminary objection to cancel the election petition. — Bernama

E;F;F;I;N;G; Draconian Police Arrest 2 teens over video rant on SPM paper - LFL condemned action as heavy-handed

LFL: Arrest of 2 teens over video rant on SPM paper heavy-handed


Rights group Lawyers for Liberty has condemned what it described to be a "heavy-handed" approach by police against two Form Five students arrested in connection with a viral video of obscene remarks made against their SPM History paper.

LFL director Zaid Malek said the reported police raid at their homes, followed by arrest and a drug test, would have caused the two 18-year-olds and their family "extreme trauma".

"And all this over a video where they vented their frustrations on their SPM History paper,” said Zaid.

"Even if there were unsavoury comments uttered, it does not warrant the intervention of the police force. It should have been a matter for the school authorities and their parents.

"They were just teenagers who were being childish and they already apologised for the video, yet they were treated like hardened criminals," he added.

The 36-second video on social media showed one of the teenagers in school uniform ranting against the creator of the SPM History paper and showing his middle finger.

He was also heard making disparaging remarks about a neighbouring country.

Yesterday, Hulu Selangor district police chief Suffian Abdullah confirmed the arrests and said the action followed a report lodged by a teacher at their school.

He said the two students were remanded until today for investigations under Section 14 Minor Offences Act 1995 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

Commenting further, Zaid said the continued existence of section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) which is being used against the boys is a bane to freedom of speech, and contrary to promises of reform by the Pakatan Harapan government.

"Though freedom of speech is not unfettered, the right should not be limited lightly.

"Criticisms on the government should not be criminalised, and childish vents by teenagers even less so.

"Are we to subject every teenager to arrest and prosecution for simply ranting online? Is this what we have come to?

"We strongly condemn the overzealous and arbitrary actions of the police in dealing with the arrest of the teenagers and urge that all police action cease and the matter be handed to school authorities," he stressed.

Overreaction

The arrests also attracted criticism from politicians, who regarded what happened in the case as being excessive and could inflict mental trauma on the students.

Undi18 young voters movement, in a statement, said the arrests would indirectly affect the students' focus and emotion when they are still sitting for SPM.

"Furthermore, the investigation under Section 233 of the CMA saw police seizing the students' handphones, which is an overreaction as this also blocks their medium of communication.

"They are sitting for SPM and still need their phones to communicate with their friends and teachers to get important information about the exam.

"The students involved are only school students who do not pose threat to the public safety through their viral video, which was only meant as a joke among friends to release stress after sitting for a paper which they felt was difficult," said the statement.

Undi18 also condemned the teacher who lodged the police report, saying that it was not the right thing to do in such a case.

Instead, the movement said, the teacher could have lodged a complaint directly to the school attended by the students, where its disciplinary board and the counselling unit can take appropriate action to ensure they won't do it again.

On top of this, Undi18 joined the call for the government to repeal CMA to prevent the law from being abused against public members who only want to express their views through social media.

Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii


In a similar tune, Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii said the arrests were "beyond excessive, disproportionate and may possibly create unintended mental stress and infliction on their overall well-being".

According to the Pakatan Harapan representative, the students need to be educated and guided rather than being treated as criminals.

Yii also criticised CMA, which he said was a serious encroachment on the freedom of speech.

"While freedom of speech may have its limitations and restrictions, such restrictions must be reasonable and proportionate.

"The extremely wide and draconian effect of Section 233(1)(a) renders it an impermissible restriction, in as much as it unduly negates the exercise of the right to speech and expression," he said in a statement.

Yii called for authorities to drop their investigation against the students.

Ismail Sabri confirms not defending Umno veep post

Ismail Sabri confirms not defending Umno veep post


As the nomination period for the Umno party election comes close to its deadline, former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has confirmed that he will not defend his vice-president position.

He said this when contacted by Malaysiakini this afternoon.

"Yes," Ismail replied in a text message when asked to confirm that he is not running for another term.

The Bera MP, however, did not want to comment on the reasons - adding he would issue a press statement soon.

Ismail Sabri became an Umno vice-president after he won the position in the 2018 Umno election. He bagged the highest number of votes compared to the other two – Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Mahdzir Khalid.

When Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi decided to go on leave later the same year, Ismail Sabri assumed the party’s deputy president duties, while incumbent Mohamad Hasan stepped up to take over as de facto Umno president.

The position also allowed Ismail Sabri to become Malaysia's ninth prime minister in 2021.

He succeeded Muhyiddin Yassin, who was forced to step down on Aug 16, 2021, after 15 Umno MPs withdrew their support.

The 15 Umno lawmakers then backed Ismail Sabri to lead the country.

At that point in time, despite being Umno president and Bagan Datuk MP, Zahid was not seen as fit to assume the top executive office due to his court cases, while Mohamad was not a member of the Dewan Rakyat.

Umno is holding its internal polls for the vice-presidency, supreme council posts, and divisional committee posts on March 18, and the deadline for nominations had been set at 5pm today.

The party has three vice-president posts. So far, eight party leaders have submitted their nomination forms to run in the race, including two incumbents Khaled and Mahdzir.

Six others running for the posts are Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, BN secretary-general Zambry Abdul Kadir, former Johor menteri besar Hasni Mohammad, former housing and local government minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Titiwangsa MP Johari Ghani, and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said.

The Umno general assembly last month adopted a no-contest resolution for the president and deputy president posts.

Why Bersatu Panicked After Wan Saiful Charged For Corruption – Annuar Musa Could Be Next

Why Bersatu Panicked After Wan Saiful Charged For Corruption – Annuar Musa Could Be Next



When Wan Saiful Wan Jan was charged for receiving RM6.96 million (RM6,962,694.54 to be precise) kickbacks from Nepturis Sdn Bhd in exchange for a lucrative road project – Central Spine Road worth a staggering RM232 million – it has raised eyebrows. The information chief of Bersatu or Malaysian United Indigenous Party has actually been slapped with two charges.



First, he was charged with soliciting bribes from Nepturis. Second, he was charged for receiving the bribe. Why are both charges different? Because in the first charge, he had solicited an “unspecified amount” of kickbacks for the RM232 million project. Meaning the RM6.96 million he had received was not the final amount – the amount solicited and the amount received was different.



Unless Wan Saiful and Nepturis Sdn Bhd were incredibly dumb that they put it in black and white how much bribes must be paid in order to secure the project, the only explanation that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is charging Wan Saiful of soliciting an “unspecified amount” from the company is that the contractor has been singing like a canary.



It wasn’t a very difficult decision for the contractor to spill the beans after interrogation by the MACC. Either it tells everything like a good boy, or it would be charged for offering bribes in April 2022 to get the “pre-approval” road project. No contractor would go to prison in defence of a corrupt politician. Offenders could be sentenced up to 20 years’ of jail and a fine of not less than 5 times the amount of the bribe.



Wan Saiful must be a fool for having received the bribes through his company’s CIMB account under WSA Advisory Group Sdn Bhd from Nepturis. Has he not learned anything from former Prime Minister Najib Razak, whose comical claim that the US$681 million (RM2.6 billion) found in his personal bank accounts was donations from Saudi royal family could not be proven till today?



By crediting the RM6.96 million into his own company’s bank account, it created money trails – proof that the MACC and prosecutors can use to convict and send Wan Saiful to prison. If only Bersatu president Muhyiddin has taught his boy a trick or two about accepting bribes in the form of cash for such small amount of money, Wan Saiful might not have gotten himself into a shithole now.



Unlike Najib’s complicated web of corruption and money laundering in the 1MDB scandal, Wan Saiful’s case is absolutely straightforward. The contractor is willing to reveal how much the corrupt politician was trying to solicit in exchange for the project, and RM6.96 million had changed hands – translating to approximately 3% of the RM232 million project.



After the MACC raided 8 government agencies and 9 companies in December 2022 as part of its investigation into the suspected misappropriation of RM92.5 billion by the Perikatan Nasional government, it was found that at least 5 middlemen of several companies were involved in obtaining projects worth between RM50 million and RM500 million through direct negotiations.



Contractors who had been grilled by the anti-graft agency admitted that they agreed to pay a commission of 3% to 5% to secure projects from those middlemen. So, the burning question is whether Wan Saiful was one of those lucky middlemen who were entrusted to collect bribes on behalf of the disgraced crook – former PM Muhyiddin Yassin.



If the foolish Wan Saiful was one of the middlemen, it means the amount he had solicited would be more than RM6.96 million. Meaning besides his own commission of RM6.96 million, Nepturis had to also pay another chunk of bribes to the big shark – Muhyiddin. Whether the ex-premier had been paid, or how the solicited bribes were paid, will be revealed very soon.



Muhyiddin was cleverer than Najib and Wan Saiful, of course. He only accepts cash as that’s the only way to avoid money trail – and easy to hide. Having learned from Najib’s foolishness of stashing cash and jewelleries in his children’s posh apartments, Muhyiddin might have hidden hundreds of millions of Ringgit in a house rented by third parties for the purpose of stashing the ill-gotten money.



Here’s the proof – former UMNO warlord Annuar Musa proudly told all and sundry in TikTok how Muhyiddin gave him tens of millions during the 2020 Sabah state election. Annuar said – “I flew to Sabah and met Muhyiddin myself. I entered his bedroom and told him UMNO didn’t have enough money and lacked funds. Muhyiddin gave tens of millions to help UMNO when in Sabah.”



If former backdoor PM Muhyiddin could easily give away tens of millions of Ringgit as if the money was loose change, it means there were hundreds of millions more in his bedroom. Annuar thought he was smart when he tried to defend his former boss as a generous man trying to help his party UMNO. He didn’t realize his dumb revelation will eventually haunt Muhyiddin.



In Dec 2022, the MACC recorded testimonies of 5 people, including Annuar in connection with the free flow of money dished out by Muhyiddin. While it’s harder to implicate the former prime minister, it does not mean it’s totally impossible to incriminate him. If the contractor reveals everything, and Wan Saiful agrees to cooperate in exchange for leniency, Muhyiddin is toast.



That’s why opposition Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin, along with top guns like Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainuddin had turned up outside the Session Court where Wan Saiful was charged this week (Feb 21). It might look like a demonstration of strong support for him, but in reality, the big crooks were extremely afraid the small fry will expose everything.



Despite flashing smiles, Wan Saiful was terrified as he knew he would go to jail unless Attorney General Idrus Harun and MACC Chief Commissioner Azam Baki – both political appointees of Muhyiddin – deliberately create loopholes in the case and purposely screw up during the trial to help him. In fact, Bersatu was so panicked that it has launched dozens of half-baked pre-emptive strikes.




From spinning lies that the Anwar-led Unity Government is the most vengeful government in the world to creating false narratives that the government was trying to kill Bersatu through selective prosecution, the corrupt party is throwing everything, including the kitchen sink to hoodwink its gullible supporters. The panic saw Shafiq Abdul Halim, a freelance researcher of Wan Saiful, spread dangerous rumours.



Shafiq had used TikTok to wildly accuse the MACC of offering RM10 million to Wan Saiful to change his story to implicate Muhyiddin, only for the dubious researcher to be arrested by the MACC despite his apology. The anti-graft agency does not need to bribe Wan Saiful, not that it has RM10 million to begin with. The RM92.5 billion Covid-19 Stimulus Packages is a massive scandal.



And Jana Wibawa, a programme to help Bumiputera contractors but conveniently hijacked by Wan Saiful to enrich himself, is just a small part of the Covid-19 Stimulus Packages. The RM92.5 billion scandal is so huge it makes Najib’s RM2.6 billion corruption looks like a child play. There are dozens of contractors willing to talk as prosecution witnesses in order to escape prosecution.



In truth, Muhyiddin has already admitted that his party received bribes when he whined, moaned and bitched that every political party accept funds. He asked why leaders of Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional were not charged in court despite receiving funds from their supporters. He conveniently ignored the fact that his party was caught soliciting kickbacks in exchange for projects.



Pakatan Harapan never offered any projects because they were the Opposition. Barisan Nasional was one of the governing partners of Muhyiddin’s backdoor government. If Barisan had received bribes in exchange for projects, why hadn’t he taken any action in his capacity as the 8th Prime Minister? Like Wan Saiful, another middleman charged was Adam Radlan.



On Jan 5 night, the 42-year-old Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad was detained over his role as “middleman” in brokering government projects related to Covid-19 stimulus packages worth RM92.5 billion (US$21 billion) in exchange for bribes. A former chief executive of Maju Assets Sdn Bhd, Adam is also Segambut divisional leader of Muhyiddin’s political party – Bersatu.



The best part is Adam is the cousin of Muhyiddin’s son-in-law, Muhamad Adlan Berhan, who in turn was involved in several scandals. Mr Adam, Muhyiddin’s money collector, has been slapped with multiple corruption charges, with more coming. It would be interesting to see if he is willing to go to jail alone, or drag Muhyiddin along to make the prison a merrier place for holiday.



In the same breath, Annuar Musa could be next to be charged in the Kuala Lumpur Tower scandal involving the suspicious sale of the KL Tower concession by Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) to a company that was facing bankruptcy. The tower is owned by the Malaysian government, while operations and maintenance of the tower were granted to Telekom in 1996.



Through TM’s subsidiary Menara KL Sdn Bhd, the concession and management rights of Menara KL brought in a cool RM20.9 million “net profit” in 2019 for Telekom Malaysia. A year earlier (2018), Menara KL, also known as KL Tower, generated a net profit of RM25.6 million. Strangely, Telekom had on Oct 31 disposed its 100% interest in Menara KL for merely RM3.8 million.



Worse, the valuable asset was sold to a financially troubled company called Hydroshoppe Sdn Bhd – owned by Abdul Hamid Shaikh bin Abdul Razak Shaikh and Nazarina binti Mohamed Nasir, with 500,000 shares each. Despite the unfamiliar names, sources have claimed that 42-year-old Nazarina is “girlfriend or mistress” of former Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa.



Suspiciously, the ownership of KL Tower was quietly transferred to Shah Alam-based Hydroshoppe on October 31, 2022, just days after then-PM Ismail Sabri dissolved the Parliament on Oct 10, paving the way for the 15th General Election – suggesting that it was done hastily by powerful minister(s) in anticipation of a loss by Muhyiddin’s fragile Perikatan Nasional coalition.



At best, some corrupt TM top guns were bribed not to renew its concession, allowing the ownership of KL Tower to be transferred to Hydroshoppe. At worst, Annuar and powerful crooks linked to Muhyiddin had abused their power by forcefully stripped KL Tower from TM and awarded the cash cow to Hydroshoppe, a company involved in cosmetic products instead of property management.



Like the arrest of middleman Adam Radlan, the MACC has also arrested two individuals believed to be the middlemen who managed the bribery in the KL Tower scandal, as well as the managing director of Hydroshoppe. The MACC has completed its investigations and has submitted the investigation paper to the Attorney General. But Annuar’s involvement might not be limited to KL Tower alone.



MACC Chief Commissioner Azam Baki had hinted that more people would be charged in the Jana Wibawa programme scandal, including top leaders like Muhyiddin. Now, if even small fry like Wan Saiful had both his hands in the cookie jar, it would not be a surprise if Annuar Musa too has his share. After all, he is the biggest cheerleader of Muhyiddin.