This is laughable. Where are the 300,000 he promised that will paint the city red?

He said it with total confidence, and arrogance, I might add, that he would have 300,000 red shirts to confront the Bersih 5 protesters in the city this afternoon.  However, it turned out that only 20-30 red shirts were present for the event and it ended up as a timid affair with the protesters joining in the weekend shopping crowd.  Jamal Yunos must have a fit to see only the few hanging around at the entrance of Sogo.

Read news article HERE.

Will Najib do (what John Kennedy did) by ensuring non-Malay students to study in UiTM?

This is a moral issue, no more no less.

Former NST Editor Asks Malaysian Journalists, 'Where Are We To Hide Our Shamed Souls Now?'

• Social media in Malaysia is buzzing with the news about the US Government's action against 1MDB. Mainstream media, however, chose to not run the story in their print versions, despite reporting about it on their web portals, Free Malaysia Today reported.
  

  • A check by FMT revealed that all Bahasa Malaysia (BM) and English mainstream dailies did not report on the matter, despite a foreign news wire sending out the report before 8pm last night.
    
    Umno-owned New Straits Times front-paged a story on vaccination while MCA’s The Star, and The Malay Mail chose to go with a story on the possible snap elections in Penang, as did BM daily, Utusan Malaysia.
    
    The only daily which reported the news was the vernacular publication, China Press.
    freemalaysiatoday.com

• Mustapha Kamil, the former group editor of the New Straits Times (NST) who quit his job at the newspaper in April after working there for over 25 years, wrote on his Facebook profile how the editors at mainstream Malaysian media "have missed a very big story"
  

  • The former NST editor, while speaking to the WSJ, had said that Najib cracked down on Free Speech to limit 1MDB fallout and has an "authoritarian" stand toward media.
    
    Mustapha, in his Facebook post earlier today, while addressing "all mainstream media editors, especially those who for the past couple of years have unashamedly called their international counterparts 'liars'," wrote how the International media have "scooped" the Malaysian mainstream editors right under their noses.
    
    He asked them, albeit mockingly, as to how are they going to face their reporters, their advertisers and ultimately the public? "Who is lying now?," he poked.
    

    says.com

• Mustapha, who has claimed that before 1MDB, there was more freedom for media to do their job, in a separate post on his Facebook profile, asked his former colleagues in the mainstream media as to "where are we to hide our shamed souls now?"
  

  • Explaining the reason behind using 'we', Mustapha writes, "because I feel ashamed of myself too as for a long 28 years, like you, I failed to play my role as the public's watchdog." A journalist’s responsibility is "first to the truth," he had said in past.
    
    He attributes his failure to play his role as the reason for leaving his job, adding "I take no pride in leaving the profession but I wasn't strong enough to go against the tide."
    

    says.com

• In his post, which has been shared by LGE and Global Bersih pages, Mustapha says that while Malaysian journalists knew what has been laid bare by the US DOJ for the world to see, they said nothing.
  
  

  

  Noting that his time is over, he made an impassioned plea to all those still in the profession to "turn back and put journalism in order", adding that they "owe that to the society you serve"
  

  "Journalism is not about rubbing shoulders with the powerful, being driven around by a driver and with a few honorific titles to show. It is about how we help society master their world by helping them make the best decisions on matters that affects their lives. Lying and the suppression of the truth is not journalism." - Mustapha Kamil.
  

OMG, this can't be happening and it is in New York Times Square ..,.. what a shame !!!

There are many ways to become famous, but this is certainly not one of them.

If Najib is innocent, this type of displayed news is downright slanderous and libellous.  Damage is already done and the only option left for the man is to call up the President of United States to tell his people to cease and desist or he will sue, or whatever.  Remaining silent is no longer an option.

The DOJ finally makes it's move - U.S. Targets $1 Billion in Assets in Malaysian Embezzlement Case

The United States government moved Wednesday to seize more than $1 billion in assets purchased with money that it believes was stolen from a Malaysian sovereign wealth fund by people close to the country’s embattled prime minister.

Hidden in the United States in real estate, art and other luxury goods, the money was embezzled from the fund and moved around the world using secretive shell companies that masked its trail, the Justice Department said.

The $1 billion that prosecutors say was laundered in the United States is but a portion of the billions that international investigators suspect was siphoned off by high-level officials at the fund and their associates. The fund — called 1Malaysia Development Berhad, or 1MDB — is overseen by the prime minister, Najib Razak, and has become a focus of rising popular discontent with Mr. Najib’s government amid several investigations at home and abroad.

Read rest of news article HERE.

Please click HERE for video report :

Mr PM, you are challenged and dared. Will you sue?

There seems to be no stopping Sarawak Report from exposing an avalanche of news about 1MDB that allegedly accuses the prime minister in a sinister manner and disparages and discredits his character and integrity.

Without let-up, Sarawak Report has come up with new disclosures successively on a daily basis over the last four days.

Sarawak Report seemingly possesses a wealth of damaging information about 1MDB that exposes the concerted efforts by the authorities to conceal and cover up the many wrongs and the mind-boggling blatant corruption that shrouds the 1MDB controversy. 

It does no credit to the country or its leaders to constantly deny and condemn as false every time such disturbing news is made public by Sarawak Report. Mere denials without concrete evidence to nail the so-called lies and concoctions do not in any way enhance the government’s claimed version of their truth. 

The government’s credibility is absolutely zero as far as 1MDB is concerned. Except for the government leaders and their lackeys, nobody seems to accept the clarification provided to counter Sarawak Report. 

To make matters worse, the Sarawak Report publisher Clare Rewcastle-Brown has challenged Prime Minister Najib Razak to initiate extradition proceedings against her so that she can face trial in Malaysia. 

“He should get on with it in the most publicly possible way so that all can judge his motives and justifications in an objective court of law – away from judges whom he appointed and controls.  

“It is time the world started to learn what has happened to the once largely respectable and law-abiding government of Malaysia,” she said.  

She is daring because she claims to have authentic information that will convict Najib in a court of law. She seems to be quoting heavily from the auditor general’s report which has been classified under the Official Secrets Act, thus making it unavailable not only to the general public but also putting it beyond the scrutiny of members of Parliament as well.  

Unless the auditor general’s report is declassified, there is no way to verify or refute what Sarawak Report claims. As long as the auditor general’s report is sealed in secrecy, the suspicion that the government is determined to cover up corruption will persist.  

But if the government wants Malaysians to believe that Sarawak Report is full of lies and slander and a fabrication by Clare Rewcastle-Brown to denigrate Najib, then here is an excellent opportunity to denounce all the allegedly false reporting of Sarawak Report: declassify the auditor general’s report so that Malaysians can judge for themselves. This is the only way to establish the truth – in the court of public opinion.  

If the declassified report does not confirm the so-called false claims of Sarawak Report, then the entire country will rally around the prime minister and roundly condemn Clare Rewcastle-Brown. This will shut her up and bring to an end all the so-called lies and falsehoods concocted by her. If the truth is on the side of the government, there is nothing to fear.  

But as long as the auditor general’s report is withheld from the public, Malaysians will continue to disbelieve and doubt the government’s story. The government is morally bound to establish the truth beyond any doubt.  

Many Malaysians are wondering why the auditor general’s report is classified under the OSA. What justification is there for it? What incriminating revelation does it contain that the government is so determined to prevent the Malaysian public from knowing?  

The question arises: can the government legally prevent this report from being tabled in Parliament for discussion? Has the government the constitutional authority to withhold this report from the elected representatives of the people?  

It has been pointed out that the government does not have any such authority to do this. According to Article 107 (1) of the Federal Constitution, “The Auditor General shall submit his reports to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who shall cause them to be laid before the House of Representatives.”  

It is, therefore, a constitutional mandate for the Agong to cause the report “to be laid before the House of Representatives.” It cannot be ignored or set aside. It is a mandatory provision which cannot be subverted or interfered with. It has to be honoured.  

By merely classifying it under the OSA, the report cannot be prevented from being tabled in Parliament. The government has no lawful authority or basis to do so. Parliamentary convention dictates that members of Parliament have a right of access to this report.  

Clare Rewcastle-Brown has thrown down the gauntlet. The only honourable thing for the prime minister to do is to pick it up and respond like a gentleman. He cannot be evasive or remain indifferent to this challenge. His credibility and integrity are at stake. He is our prime minister, and he shouldn’t shame us by refusing to sue Clare Rewcastle-Brown.  

Let the attorney general, who has cleared the PM from any wrongdoing in the 1MDB saga, lead the charge to secure her extradition from Britain to face trial in Malaysia. The honour of the nation is at stake. He must not fail us.

 

Be careful Salleh Said Keruak. Remember the saying, "Hell knoweth no fury like a woman scorned".

 Marina slams Salleh and ‘idiots running countries’

 Marina Mahathir has fired back at federal minister Salleh Said Keruak for mentioning an old rumour about her “eloping with an Indian man” and how it affected the stock market.

In a Twitter response yesterday to Salleh’s blog article, Marina, the only daughter of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, said:

“Dear Salleh, people eloping, especially when untrue, don’t affect the market. VIPs stealing billions do. Idiots running countries, even more so.”

In another Twitter remark later, she clarified that she meant “rich politicians” when she said “VIPs”.
Sabah Umno leader Salleh Said Keruak had sniped at Dr Mahathir by saying that the rumour had caused a fall on stock markets in Malaysia and Singapore.

On his blog, Salleh, who is communications minister, has been defending Umno president and Prime Minister Najib Razak against Dr Mahathir’s year-long campaign to unseat the prime minister, using reports about the financial affairs and massive debts of the government’s investment arm 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

Dr Mahathir left Umno in February to lead a “Save Malaysia” campaign to force Najib out of office and has in turn faced a barrage of criticism about his actions and policies in his 22 years in office.
Salleh said political rhetoric and rumours, and not financial analyses, could spark Doomsday speculation, and said most of these “soothsayers” were Malaysians opposed to Najib.

Among other critics, the DAP’s Lim Kit Siang has kept up a stream of comments that Malaysia was on a slippery slope headed towards a “failed state”, using falls on the stock exchange and the weakened state of the ringgit as examples.

Salleh, in his article “Malaysia’s economy: Facts never lie” said time and again Malaysians had reacted to rumours and panicked even if the rumour had no bearing on the economy. “If fundamentals were taken into consideration, share prices would be within single-digit PE ratios (or at the most less than 20) and not in the triple digit or close to triple digit ratio,” he had said.

[Source: FMT]

3 reasons why foreigners find it difficult to learn Mandarin Chinese

Foreigners are not the only ones who find it difficult to learn Mandarin Chinese.  Even me, a person of Chinese origin, seem to be suffering from a mental block on the language.

I spent the first two years of my primary schooling in a Chinese school.  The results were a zilch, and a big one at that.  I was so relieved that when it came to my third year, I was sent to an English school.  Later on, in Form 4, I decided to enrol myself in a Mandarin class under the POL system.  After four months, I was told by my 'lao tzu' not to attend class anymore.  I admit, I am totally hopeless and I simply can't seem to remove the mental block in my head.  Strangely, I don't find it difficult to learn Japanese.  After all they use almost the same characters as Mandarin which is known as 'Kanji'.  Thank God, at least I am able to write my Chinese name in Mandarin.  I can see now my ancestors shaking their heads in Heaven.

So, Michael (Phelps), you are not alone.

It is time this Joceline Tan is shown the door. She has gone one article too far and deserves a slap on the face.

The following is an email despatched by the Chief Minister of Penang, YB Lim Guan Eng, to The Star Publications.
 
In the past 4 months, the BN-controlled print and broadcasting media had gone into overdrive with their systematic campaign of character assassination against me by hurling unfounded allegations of corruption involving the sale by open tender of 1 acre of Taman Manggis land. Despite nightly TV reports and acres of newsprint on Taman Manggis land, no corruption charge was filed against me relating to Taman Manggis.

Instead corruption charges were filed against me on another unrelated matter where Ms Phang, the seller of my house, was alleged to benefit from having her land rezoned from agriculture to housing. To date Ms Phang’s land remained zoned as agriculture, following the rejection of her application by the local authority. Clearly, BN intends to create history by finding me guilty of corruption even though Ms Phang did not gain any benefit. On the other hand, BN considers those who have benefited with billions of US dollars in their personal bank accounts innocent and not guilty of corruption.

Such dirty tricks continue with more false allegations on other matters. I have instructed my lawyers to send a legal notice of demand for defamation against “The Star” and its columnist Joceline Tan for its false and misleading report today, “Snap Election for Penang?”. BN-controlled media like The Star had persistently demonised and continued their character assassination against me after 2 trumped-up charges of corruption were filed against me by the Attorney-General on 30 June 2016.

Whilst there is nothing new with these repeated attempts to disrupt party unity and the Penang state government with serial lies, this column by Joceline Tan clearly “crossed the red line” and was made in bad faith to smear my reputation and image with fresh and baseless allegations of impropriety.

This is not the first time that Joceline Tan and The Star had defamed me. I had filed a defamation suit against her and The Star in 2012, which was finally resolved when an apology was published in The Star on 27 October 2013 that states, “The Star fully and unconditionally withdraws the false contents and extends to YAB Lim Guan Eng unreservedly its sincere apologies for any embarrassment caused to him.”

Lim Guan Eng is secretary-general of the DAP and chief minister of Penang.

Uh oh, this is not good, not good at all.

FINALLY: US NAVY DEPLOYS STRIKE GROUP TO SOUTH CHINA SEA TO CONFRONT CHINA

The United States Navy has deployed a naval fleet equipped with most advanced weapons in South China Sea in what is considered a show of force as tensions rise over China's construction of artificial lands  and militarization of the area.

Quoting US military officials, the Navy Times reported that the aircraft carrier, John C Stennis; the destroyers, Chung-Hoon and Stockdale; cruisers Antietam and Mobile Bay along with the Blue Ridge, command ship of the Japan-based 7th fleet, set off recently for the South China Sea, where Beijing has installed surface-to-air missiles and built an airstrip on reclaimed area.

For rest of article, read HERE.

By the way, Malaysia has also lay claim to these islands.  Why the deafening silence?

The Netherlands take a stand on Islamisation in the country. Closing the gates now after the horses have bolted?

Shahrir Samad to quit poltics. A loss to us???

After more than 40 years in politics, Umno veteran Shahrir Samad is thinking of calling it quits.

Asked if he will contest in the next elections and stay active in politics, Shahrir said: “I hope not.”

“You think this is my only life?” he added when asked what he would do if he wasn’t a politician.

“I cannot be like Lim Kit Siang, go on and on,” he quipped.

Speaking to reporters in the Parliament lobby today, the Johor Baru MP said he wants to make way for young leaders.

“My pledge is that you must trust the young. If you cannot show that, then what’s the point of talking,” he said.

Shahrir said the fact that his former political secretary Khaled Nordin is now the Johor menteri besar is a testament of his own track record and what the young can achieve.

The 66-year-old first notable role in politics was when he became former deputy prime minister Musa Hitam’s political secretary in 1973.

Shahrir then contested and won the Johor Baru parliamentary seat in 1978.

He briefly served as Domestic Trade and Consumerism Minister from 2008, but resigned in 2009 after failing to get a spot on Umno’s supreme council.

Zakir Naik on the run?

Listen to this video about this preacher as India dares him to return to his home country for a showdown.


View video.

Broad opposition bloc most important thing now, says Saifuddin.

 Pakatan Harapan chief secretary Saifuddin Abdullah said that the most important issue, following yesterday's announcement of a new party, is the need for a wide platform that would be able to unite anyone who is against BN.

This, he said, should be the main takeaway from the meeting yesterday between opposition leaders, former Umno leaders and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"The real shape of the platform can be borne in several ways. What should be prioritised is creating a huge opposition bloc that is united and strong so that we can achieve what the rakyat wants, which is one-on-one fights between the opposition and BN," Saifuddin said in a statement today.

Those who are against BN are many, such as Pakatan Harapan, other opposition parties like PAS, PSM and Saksama, NGOs as well as individuals like former Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin, former Kedah menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir and former Umno vice-president Mohd Shafie Apdal, he said.

Saifuddin also noted that even though Pakatan Harapan had hoped that "certain individuals who are now without a party" would join them, they also understood that a new party might be needed due to certain dynamics.

Citing the example of Sabah which has a political dynamic which is unique, he said they would understand if Shafie, who is from Sabah, wanted to form a new party.
"What is important is that Pakatan Harapan work together with him (Shafie) in Sabah," he added.
Saifuddin also stressed that yesterday's meeting was not a statement or attack against any opposition party.

"This is the kind of spirit that's important.

"Opposition parties do not necessarily have to agree today to form a new coalition or expand Pakatan Harapan.

"Let's stop attacking each other first. Let us discuss to (our) heart's content," he said.

Saifuddin also noted that the main goal – a broad opposition bloc that is united and strong – does not necessarily have to exist formally.

It could also, he said, be in the form of "Pakatan Harapan consists of more than just the three parties", "Pakatan Harapan Plus", "Pakatan Harapan & Co" or others.

Yesterday, after the meeting, Mahathir had confirmed there are talks to form a new party to be part of the Save Malaysia movement where he will be "first among equals", though not necessarily the president, arguing that this is necessary as existing opposition parties are "sometimes not attractive" to others.

[Source: Mkini]