Another Brick in the Wall

Happy Wesak to all Buddhist.

It is the day to celebrate the enlightment of Buddha. Sometimes it is described as Buddha's Day.

Two news today were rather shocking or as described in this posting title as "Wesak surprises".

Surprise to some party and perhaps, shocking to another party. For the rest of us, hopefully there is enlightenment.

From the land of the free and the home of the brave, President Donald Trump fired FBI Director, James Comey.

He must be remembered for giving Trump a favour for the Malaysian campaign practise of throwing a last minute bomb on Trump's opponent, Hillary Clinton.

Last minute bombs are difficult to response and can usually cripple political opponents' campaign.

In Hillary's case, she was a goner the moment Comey did a U-turn from absolving her to reinvestigate her e-mail scandal.

Quite a fair enforcement officer he is. Comey then investigate Trump for alleged collaboration with Russians in the Presidential election campaign.

Only this time he is fired by Trump.

Bet Trump will claim it was for his unfair action on Hillary. [Read in NST report here]

The removal has implication to us Malaysians. A friend text below:

AG Loretta Lynch out. Deputy AG Sally Yates out. Now FBI Director Jim Coney also out.

What happened to the 'shocking and explosive' DoJ/FBI announce last July??

Key players out, investigation no where, no monies "recovered and returned to the people of Malaysia"

The Malaysian people will not get a chance to get "their money returned"sob sob sob ...

The claim by former US AG is still puzzling as it means there were extraordinary profit from IMDB investment as alleged by opposition, detractors and DOJ.

Thus far the known returns are quite within expectation.

Blogger Husin Lempoyang here saw the similarity in the events between Malaysia and US.

He calls upon Matthias Chang, Khairuddin, Anina Saabudin, Tony Pua and Tun Mahathir to sue Donald Trump.

More political drama to come from the Donald Trump reality show. Will he be assasinated or impeached?

He he he ...

In the local front today, corporate personality and Mahathir man, Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew had his assets frozen by Inland Revenue Board.

The Edge reported here highlighted taxman froze RM126.million of Lee Kim Yew's fixed deposit.

The Star here highlighted the frozen FD is in a foreign bank.

LSS seized on the moment:

It believe this may be one of the "friends" that Mahathir complained repeatedly in his blog postings and ceramahs that they were being "harassed" by LHDN for being close to Mahathir.

Quick Tun Mahathir, you have to work faster or the govt is going to go after more of your tycoon "friends" who had owed hundreds of millions in unpaid taxes legally and legitimately owed from decades ago!

Hello... you think being close to you means they no need to pay their rightful amount of taxes when you were PM? Make billions from your help but still want to evade taxes? Get you a big banglo there in Country heights and all is fine? Lend you their luxury jets for your personal use frequently and no problem?

Even the Country Heights boss agrees that he owes this and does not dispute!

The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) has seized RM126 million from Country Heights Holdings Bhd (CHHB) executive chairman and major shareholder Lee Kim Yew.

It is believed that the money, which Lee had placed as a fixed deposit in a foreign-owned bank, had been seized in connection with RM22.5 million worth of tax liabilities incurred by Country Heights’ wholly-owned unit, Country Heights Sdn Bhd (CHSB), for the years of assessment 1997 and 1998.

Note: The reason why LHDN seized more than the RM22.5 million owed is because there are penalties and interest when you are caught for tax evasion.

“Notwithstanding the absence of acknowledgement from the IRB, Tan Sri Lee has informed that he is agreeable to allow his fixed deposits seized by the IRB to be used to settle the tax liability, provided that the company acknowledges the sum used to settle the tax liability as an amount due and owing to Tan Sri Lee, and that the company undertakes to settle the amount as soon as the company has sufficient funds to do so.”

LSS.
---
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2017/05/10/income-tax-authorities-seize-rm126-million-from-country-heights-boss/

As the popular American saying, "There is only two things sure in life - death and taxes".

For Malaysians just learning the lesson on responsibility to pay taxes, the enlightenment is the near death experience of paying tax in arrears.

Tonight UMNO will begin it's 71st anniversary.

It's inception in 1946 is synonymous with the struggle for independence and the formation of the new nation of Malaya in 1957 which then enlarged to include Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore (before it was sacked out in 1965) become Malaysia in 1963.

UMNO formed the first coalition called Perikatan and later it was enlarged into Barisan Nasional. Since independence, the coalitions led by UMNO have been ruling the country and majority of the states in Malaysia.

It holds two third majority but has since relinquish that dominance in the 2008 general election. It is believed that BN will never ever get that two third dominance. Not only that, the general election this time around will be more challenging than the previous one.

The sacked UMNO leaders and an influential former Prime Minister was joined the opposition with an resolved to topple Prime Minister, Dato Najib.

Since they failed to topple him from his position in UMNO and in Parliament, they had no choice but to topple UMNO and BN government while in bed with sworn enemy DAP and other opposition parties - old and newly formed.

It is not usual to celebrate 71st anniversary in a big. So the celebration has relevance in preparing for the general election.

The preparation this time around is a tricky bit with the challenges of securing young and Chinese voters.

Then there is also the challenge of appeasing the different expectation of urban and rural voters. And the complain on the public wallet due to rising prices that was blamed on GST and government across the board austerity drive.

There are various challenges with the changing political terrain. But we are not about to raise anything major but something small which can greatly affect UMNO's performance in the next election.

It is about a state assemblyman representing a rural constituency in a state in Semananjong with significant number of seats in Parliament. It is not his real name but lets just refer him as Hamdan.

Hamdan is a local lad, well liked by his kampong kins and constituents. He shows concern for them and is earnest in his community work. In Malaysian politics, the constituents welfare is more important in winning and retaining seats than being participants in debate on policy and annual budget.

Hamdan's problem is he is too vocal and critical.

Naturally, it annoys the Minister-Member of Parliament, the state Menteri Besar and even the UMNO Division Head. The way our third world politics and cultural make-up, that is no way to behave to your superior.

Face means everything in our society. Hamdan could have applied his political skill in expressing his concerns through the "proper channel". Most UMNO politicians are apt at pulling hair out of flour without splattering four all over the place.

But he did not.

Apparently, he became so due to instigation by one leader. The irony is the instigator is close to the MB. What made him fell to the instigation makes one wonders. The instigator has a Keling instigator in his payroll too. Now, who instigated who.

Maybe Hamdan is concerned for his subjects. His superior reacted by applying pressure on him and denying him allocations. The compulsory allocation is likely there for his constituents but the process could be slow and additional request would not be entertained.

In the normal circumstances, Hamdan's days are considered numbered.

However, he is quite popular that he could survive on his own. He is related to a famous nationally reknown religious teacher but a member of PAS. It makes him influential because PAS members liked and voted him.

Despite being denied allocation, Hamdan gets help elsewhere.

But now that there is a plan to replace him with the UMNO Division head, popular request could demand he still run. He has no plans to leave the party.

Party loyalty is everything in UMNO but the decision of the leaders have to be strictly obeyed. That is the glue that keeps the party alive for 71 years.

Words are an opposing party are courting him. His name is being bandied about to jump over either on the day of nomination or upon winning on UMNO ticket. If he is not selected to defend the same seat, he could jump earlier and run on the opposition party ticket. [This plan was discussed here]

He is expected to win the seat again. Whether there is any truth that he is crossing over, it has to be ascertain. If he is hurt, he could do so out of anger.

Nevertheless, he can still be persuaded. His love for the party is still there.

But the odds is against him. He could be removed and the white areas has already turned grey and it is likely to be deep grey.

It is a normal story in politics and the power game. Party discipline will usually take precedent over other factor.

However, this time around UMNO needs every seat that it can hold on to. It is a tight race and it is not just winnable candidate that is needed but a must win candidate. Only candidates wanted by voters should be put up.

It is a non-issue in normal circumstances. But this time around, the answer is clear. Hamdan is the sort of candidates UMNO need to offer to the voters. Internal politics should take a back seat under current citcumstances.

It is a dilemma and an immediate one. It is not just UMNO but other parties too have such situation. Politics involve people and people have feelings, emotions and preferences.

However, can this be an exception where UMNO and its leaders and members could be mature enough after 71 years of age to put party and people interest above personal interest?

Think about it and happy 71st anniversary.

Rhetorics do not eradicate corruption, reads this The Mole column here.

So do manipulating survey and ratings done by TI-M President, Akhbar Satar here to get a negative outcome at a time there were positive serious effort to eradicate corruption.

He should have emulated former DAP MP, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye here, who as Senior Vice-Chairman of The Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation gave moral support to MACC for their three year deadline to move up the Corruption Perception Index.

Lee highlighted the move as a signal to all political parties to not compromise on graft. In this respect, the congratulatory message by MACC Director General Dato Dzulkifli came with a bold reminder to stay away from graft.

Having said that, Akhbar Satar latest article in the business weekly Focus Malaysia, only shows his understanding of corruption eradication is merely academic and impractical, analysis flawed, and lacking with a workable solution.

He may have given one of the most stupid statement to come from a TI-M President but with an opinion like this, he will slowly lose his credibility for being a willing accomplice of a failed former MACC Commissioner and an opinion that lack any depth.

One wonder what is the problem with those named Akbar. It is supposed to mean great in Arabic.

In the article, he highlighted the two year old study, Government Defense Anti-Corruption Index (G2015) done by Transparency International in 2015.

Malaysia was given a rating D (see diagram above).

From the map above, one can see that there are too few countries with the rating A and Malaysia's rating is not considered the exception but the norm. Does it mean TI's study is based on a reasonable expectation?

Does it mean the US with an A rating is free from corruption?

Apparently this link here does not see so. So does all countries with high rating (Google result on "corruption in defense procurement"here).

A nation's defense manifesto (or defense policy) is made known but how it is executed and operationalise is a secret not to be shared. It means the assets, specifications, and technical details will never be made known.

On what basis will transparency and accountability in defense procurement be relevant in a practise, in which nation's security has a higher priority far than other administrative criteria?

His Focus Malaysia article below:

Raising Integrity, Transparency and Accountability in the Defence Sector

Besides the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) which highlights corruption in the public sector, Transparency International also publishes the Government Defence Anti-Corruption Index (GI 2015) which is a measure of corruption risk and corruption vulnerability for security ministries in 140 countries. It offers governments, armed forces, civil society organisations, and citizens detailed knowledge and understanding of the corruption risks in their national defence and security establishments. Armed with this knowledge they can press for change and improvement.

The types of corruption that occurs within the defence sector can range from a small-scale petty corruption, whereby individual soldiers are guilty of extortionist practices or accepting bribes, to the grand scale corruption in which officials are found guilty of embezzlement of military funds or profiteering from procurement.

Defence procurement can be particularly problematic due to the ‘national security exception’, which allows military and security issues to be treated as a special case with special exceptions. ‘National security’ is often used by the relevant parties as a blanket justification for avoiding scrutiny. Secrecy may be used to hide corruption, and inhibits the ability of parliament, civil society and the public to hold the executive to account, and to ensure that funds are being well spent.

There is not enough attention being made to the role of retired senior military personnel in the defence industry and, more particularly, in defence procurement contracts costing huge sums of money. Some of the personnel hold corporate appointments in local conglomerates that have been awarded lucrative support and coordination services.

The (GI 2015) measures levels of corruption risk in national defence establishments, and scores each country from A (the best) to F (the worst). There are the five different areas assessed to determine the corruption risk levels in security and defence ministry namely: (i) Political risk which studies the risk of defense legalisation and laws being influenced or compromised by corruption, (ii) Financial risk meanwhile involves the potential abuse of defense budgets or income being misused, (iii) Personnel risk on the other hand comprises corruption among defense ministry personnel or armed forces, (iv) Operations risk is on the corruption that may occur during military operations both home and abroad and lastly (v) Procurement risk which involves corruption that occurs when purchasing defence equipment.

Based on the 2015 survey results, New Zealand was the only country which was placed in the "A" risk band in the Asia Pacific region, including across three of the five risk areas (finance, personnel and operations)while Singapore, Australia, Taiwan and Japan are grouped in the "B" risk band.

Malaysia scored an overall “D” in the GI Index 2015, doing slightly better than the GI 2013 survey where Malaysia had a “D-”. This score clearly indicates that the nation is at a high risk of corruption in its defense and security sector.

The breakdown of the risk are as follows:

• Operations risk – 25%
• Financial risk – 36%
• Political risk – 42%
• Procurement risk – 43%
• Personnel risk – 63%

In fact, the “Personnel risk” is the highest scoring, lowest risk area in Band C while the highest risk area assessed, with the lowest score is Operations risk in Band E,

This survey appears to indicate that there is no military doctrine in the armed forces which addresses corruption in any way in relation to operations.

The survey also revealed that there is no official or consistent training in corruption issues, beyond ad-hoc integrity talks and awareness raising. We hope that with the formation of the integrity unit at Ministry of Defence Malaysia, trainings will cover corruption issues.

In order to achieve greater transparency, integrity and accountability in the purchase of defence equipment, the Ministry of Defence should practice open tenders, instead of direct negotiations with certain selected parties.

Tenders must be awarded to the most reliable and competent companies. The government should seriously establish a parliamentary committee cross-party committees or oversight committee consisting of groups of external experts to ensure scrutiny and inform their debate of defence matters.

The committee should meet regularly and publish reports on its activity. Countries like Australia, Germany, Norway and United Kingdom which are known for their military superiority can be ranked amongst the lowest in corruption risks. This is a case where strong political will and the integrity of the Government, rather than national security, are in question.

The Malaysian Government has assisted to complete a government review of the GI 2015 research, which shows a willingness to open dialogue with an international civil society on defence corruption issues.

This cooperation will contribute to improve the index in the coming year. The Government should recognize and partner with civil society such as TI-M which is known globally as an advocate for greater accountability and integrity.

A few weeks ago, Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) played an important role to improve the index by conducting a seminar entitled “Integrity in the Defence Sector” seminar. Prominent speakers from MACC, Dr Bernard Loo Fook Weng from the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, S, Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Dr. K.S Balakrishnan, Senior Lecturer from Department of International and Strategic Studies, University of Malaya and from TI-UK, Mr Andrew Watson and TI-Taiwan Dr Ernie Ko, were invited to share issues and concerns of good governance in defence sector.

Last August, TI Malaysia in collaboration with TI-Defence and Security (DSP) has successfully organized a workshop “Integrity and Good Governance in Defence Procurement”, inviting government representatives from Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission and Fact Finding and Investigation Bureau in Philippines to share their efforts in fighting corruption particularly in defence procurement.

This is another role played by the TI-M to assist Malaysian government to improve the corruption risk in the defence ministry.

In order to improve the index, it is recommended that the government publish an annual defence budget that includes detailed information on expenditure across functions including research and design, training, salaries, acquisitions, disposal of assets, maintenance and personnel expenditures and appropriately lengthens the time that budget items can be discussed by the Parliament.

For the next step, the Defence Ministry should look into enhancing anti-corruption measure across operations. With formal regulations governing the actions of military personnel and with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), there is a great possibility to introduce its comprehensive anti-corruption framework in the defence ministry.

Currently, there is no comprehensive anti-corruption training besides from the ad-hoc integrity talks. Even though an Integrity Plan Manual exists, but it is insufficient preparation for commanders on deployment and there is evidence that corruption is a high risk issue for the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSC).

But significant vulnerabilities to corruption persist as a result of a weak legislative scrutiny, opaque budgets, weak whistle-blower protections, and insufficient anti-corruption training.

To sum up, corruption can pave the way to treachery and mistrust and eventually affect the efficiency of the defense and security agency of a nation.

(GI 2015) is an important tool to assess the existence, effectiveness and enforcement of institutional and informal controls to manage the risk of corruption in defence and security institutions.

Akhbar Satar

Noticeably, all his invitees at his seminar and workshops are academics and graft busters. It lacks the presence of those with military credentials for a practical insight in the working of the military.

It is impractical for the military to operate and entertain TI's criticism of "weak legislative scrutiny, opaque budgets, weak whistle-blower protections, and insufficient anti-corruption training", if that is considered the solution.

The Australian have just announced an increase in defense spending in which one of the item in the shopping list is 12 Barracuda class submarine to be purchased from our submarine supplier, DCN of France and built in Australia for the price of A$50 billion. [Read The Diplomat here].

The only description given to the tax-payers is that it is a nuclear submarine but diesel electric powered like ours. The rest is not disclosed i.e. secret.

Even if more details are revealed in the Australian Parliament, it will not be much because no two item are similar. The same class of submarine from DCN purchased by Chile, Malaysia and India will not have the same configuration.

How is the public to know?

Does that mean there is corruption?

Suggest Akhbar learn up on the way the defense industry operate before making any remarks. His solution to prevent corruption must take account the importance of confidentiality and limited acccess to defense information.

As he had done before, his intention is clearly political.

The reason defense procurement is not made public is because it is not for the ill-informed public to discuss something so complex as the defense industry.

Transparency and accountability does not improve integrity in defense procurement but increase unnecessary politically motivated discussion on defense of the realm as done by SUARAM and C4.

Yes, we hope there is no corruption but the priority is security and not procedures.

FMT report on a survey done late last year by those who later joined PPBM was strange.

The media portal that seemed to be the mouthpiece of PPBM reported PPBM supreme council member, Dato Dr Rais Hussin claiming "Survey shows Malaysians want Muhyiddin as PM". An excerpt below:

The survey polled 3,000 people in 30 parliamentary constituencies in Barisan Nasional (BN) and opposition-held states, as well as Sabah and Sarawak. The survey, conducted late last year, was commissioned by a group which has now joined PPBM.

When presented with Muhyiddin, 37.3% said they were agreeable while 25.1% said they were opposed. The rest were unsure.

That is not a conclusive study to show Malaysians want Muhyiddin. Embarassed by Rais's conclusion, party’s information chief Datuk Kamaruddin Md. Noor was reported by The Mole here to deny the survey by claiming it is outdated and inconclusive.

However, such survey could be manipulated and has intention especially when it serve to raise PAS profile as the most popular party in the country, reported MMO here.

True enough, sources from within PPBM claimed there was no such survey conducted. It is fake news game.

It was Muhyiddin's attempt through his trusted lieutenant, Rais to entice PAS.

It is known that Muhyiddin have been in-communicado with PAS Deputy President, Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man. How would Tuan Ibrahim be able to claim Muhyiddin agreed in principle with RUU 355 if Muhyiddin had express his view to him? [Read FMT here]

Muhyiddin made no attempt to deny that he met Tuan Ibrahim when he was reported by FMT here as claiming it is inaccurate to claim that is the position of PPBM. He is not lying as it is his position and not that of PPBM.

Since PAS clearly made its position clear that there will be no cooperation with PPBM at the Muktamar, one can only suspect that it is Muhyiddin's attempt to entice PAS.

Muhyiddin is basically saying, "Look, I am the most wanted by the people to be Prime Minister despite never being popular in UMNO and won the Deputy President position by raiding on Dato Najib's coatail. PAS is the most popular political party in the country.

"Both of us can make beautiful music together".

It is quite a loud message that Muhyiddin is still adamant to work with PAS despite PAS rejecting PPBM due to Tun Mahathir's loud mouth and covorting with sworn enemy PAN and DAP. Deep inside an Islam liberal like him will never agree to traditional Islam PAS.

This is interesting in the like of PAS Majlis Syura's decision to severe tahaluf siyasi with PKR.

(To be continued)

There is something about the Treasury Secretary (the acronym normally referred to as KSP), Tan Sri Dr Irwan Serigar bin Abdullah. KSP could mean anything from Ketua Setiausaha Perbendahraaan to probably a keling shoefetish psychotic.

On a serious note, there have been controlled rumour coming out from Putrajaya from operational people of collusion used to be associated with one politician with an SUB, but apparently has expanded to include the KSP, a TKSU (which could likely be a promoted SUB), and a powerful PA that could determine outcome through assigning of files to the right person.

Have not done research on this so one can't spill the bean yet without the specifics.

However, the sore point with KSP is the manner budget cut was made - mindless 20% across-the-board budget that compromise most basic function of government as police, army, law enforcement (with special attention to graft busters), foreign service, and could extend to include education.

Police sargeants takes 6 months to get their their out-station work claims.

Yet it is heard he still insist to fly first class and stay in his entitled suite without much conscience to pay at least €700 per night with enforcement officers on assignment to Kota Kinabalu staying below their entitlement in budget hotels and flying AirAsia.

But this posting is more about something not quite right with his appointment as Chairman of TRX and Bandar Malaysia.

Confident

Have been under the weather for the past two to three weeks. Nak continue the earlier posting pun tak larat. So throughout these week have been undergoing medical treatment somewhere.

In one of those quick check of the news on the smartphone between the sleep, must have came a cross an opposition media purportedly claiming Arul Kanda contract will not be renewed. Can't find the link so it could be hallucination.

It turned out later that after reading PM's statement that Arul is staying and KSP will be the new Chairman for Bandar Malaysia and TRX.

Devious PTD

It smells of a PTD devious game. It has a signature similar to Tun Musa positioning himself as Chairman of merged Synergy Drive Berhad.

Leak the information and advise PM. Dato Najib operates on advise from his peers and underlings. He behaves in the role of any Chairman of the Board. Decisions are made within his scope of power and based on advise.

He does not pretend to be a know all CEO that ended up with a string of failures that former SJ reporter estimated (and his estate has yet to be sued) to cost taxpayers US$100 billion at a time our foreign exchange reserve could probably be wiped out due to high level approved forex speculation loses.

KSP maybe the Chairman of 1MDB but he is there as government official merely to represent government interest. He has no business of being a Chairman of an operating unit.

Though it is not his role to be involved in operations, it requires someone with past experience in business operation particularly banking or development to chair a development company embarking is tens of billions ringgit project.

Why did he suspiciously play this game to oust Arul Kanda to position himself?

For one, a PTD Mafia is quick to smell a pot of gold as much as Malaysiakini here that was part of the conspiracy to railroad 1MDB by spreading fake news and claims of an insolvent 1MDB and various there irresponsible allegations but claim could now advise on how to make RM90 billion out of Bandar Malaysia.

As much as these PTD have no conscience to spend public money to stay in a €700 per night accomodation for few nights, they do not have the conscience to reap the reward from the effort of others that have toiled and been placed under immense public and opposition pressure through the years.

In the meanwhile, the KSP had been there from the early inception but failed to spot or raised peculiarities in 1MDB dealings. Nothing more dangerous and reckless than a senior government official in his prime and near retirement but feeling unsecured it. KSP could be one.

Suspicion

Raja Petra here suspected KSP double dealed to talk to Wanda and cancelled on CREC and IWH. He displayed a picture of KSP in Chin at a golf shop.

He suspected KSP collaborated with Malaysia Insight to do the fake news on Arul. It is not a bad idea to have Arul as 1MDB CEO to be Chairman of operating unit. It will ensure professionalism and allay barbarians at the gate.

RPK's info is taken into consideration for verification but the CREC-IWH did not deliver on their commitment. The "ghost of Johor" maybe up to his neck in debt and is biting more than he could chew that even pledging his back side could not get a guarantee issued by any Bank.

For 1 year, several highly reliable sources claimed they have postphoned an agreed financial guarantee to be given to 1MDB for something like 11 times. When they were notified of the cancellation in January 2017, there were still given another 3-month leeway.

So, there is no issue of China putting pressure to reconsider CREC as The Star tried to salvage for Tan Sri Lim Kang Ho, the JV failed to deliver. Najib has confirmed no such thing. It means China gave a tacit approval to change to another Chinese shareholder. Dia mahu jaga muka ...

Co-incidently, the renegotiated deal with possible candidate Wanda can reap in the appreciation in value of the land and now have 50% instead of a minority stake. Malaysiakini bad intention is as clear as the sea surrounding Tioman.

Incompetence?

An opposition leader including Tony Pua asked as to why the deposit was returned [read here]. This should the first test on KSP's ability as Chairman of 1MDB.

The practise is never to return the deposit. One can assume it is to appease his Majesty the Sultan of Johor as Lim Kang Ho is his business associate but it is not fair and disrespectful to make such assumption.

The likelihood is KSP decided. Arul will be professional and adhere to normal business practises and as stipulated in agreement. Here lies a conflict of interest because Khazanah Nasional has interest in IWH and KSP is a member of the Board of Khazanah. Johor government position is clear that the state government is not affected.

It is noticeable Tony Pua is doing a copycat and has no new idea. He is now grasping at straws to just criticise everythinng that comes out without any resemblance of consistencies. Undeniably, he is losing the plot on 1MDB as he loses more lawsuits in court [read here].

He should heed the advise of one PPBM Supreme Council to forget the issue. It is waning off and more embarassment could come as PM will be on a Middle East trip soon.

Psychological disorder

Back to the KSP.

According to RPK here, KSP is into fast bikes and fast women. One has to be loaded for such indulgence.

When something suspicious turned up, one must try to understand the person. So one look into the FB for a glimpse of the person. This Indian-convert from Kelantan that married a Malay wife has an FB below:

No he is not thinking about #negaraku Malaysia tercinta but the colour of shoes he has not owned #@*&%*!

Emulating the narcissistic behaviour of a Gen Y, he shows off his shoe fetishism in his Instagram like a hormone loaded adolescent.

Wonder what Singaporeans, China's Chinese, and other interested foreigners and business people etc will exploit of his strange shoe fetish behaviour.

Wikipedia here described shoe fetishism as "the attribution of attractive sexual qualities to shoes or other footwear as a matter of sexual preference, or an alternative or complement to a relationship with a partner".

Psychology Today here attributed it to "paraphilic disorders, which refers to intense sexual attraction to any objects or people outside of genital stimulation with consenting adult partners." Other articles generally do not see any abnormality (typical of orang putih) to such sexual behaviours, but some experts suspect seriously wrong "upstairs" for the more extreme tendencies.

The usual phenomenon is men having shoe fetish for women shoes but what do they make out of a keling with a shoe fetish for men shoe.

Yet he does not keep his dark secret to himself but publish it in his Instagram. He seemed excited as he shows off his orange and black shoes. Extreme narcissist?

Wonder what is bugging him?

Not yet to believe yet of RPK's story on the young gorgeous starlet TMJ gave a pass as wife, but is it a case of unreturned love? Or Fazura did not acquire any taste of shoe fetishism for men shoesor keling with multicolured shoe fetishism?

Young women

Apparently, his affinity for young women has been under the radar. A pro-opposition blogger, SteadyKu here have picked on this far back as 2014.

Look at his FB followers:

Envy?

Are you kidding?

How could one ever be envious of a near 60 year old narcissist keling from Kelantan with a shoe fetishism for men's shoe and does not have a habit of looking at himself into the mirror daily to comb his hair before going to work?

One has to act according to one's own age and social standing.

So be it. The real matter is his appointment raises much concern. He has too many positions in his portfolio that he will not be able to have the time to read the papers and grasp the issues in the strategic development.

And there is that rumour from Putrajaya ....

The pentaksub will be furious and cannot take this kind of denigration of their revered lord.

True enough, having followed him for decades and supported him for more than a decade, he became someone we do not know anymore.

The video of the incident on the night of TN50 townhall style dialog between PM Dato Najib and people from the entertainment-side of the creative industry on May 17th [read MMO here] became the #3 most trending on the Internet.

The mystery behind the series of action remains but Tun Dr Mahathir cannot stand that some member of the public was impressed with Dato Najib's coolness with the situation.

It proves Najib could have handled Nothing2Hide, but out of respect for Mahathir then, he avoided a confrontation.

Desperate

Mahathir just had to make comment like this:

It is as cheap and unbalanced a line as the commentd of pro-opposition filmmaker, Zan Azlee Zainal Abidin known for his "correct, corrrect correct" political You Tube video series fame [read The Star here].

Having known the man -

excited of his elevation to premiership; watched his earlier days political squabbling in UMNO, including splitting the party after cheating to power in the Team A vs Team B fight; witnessed the victory that came with change in the physical appearance of the country - the Peninsular side that is; disappointed with subsequent power abuses, corruption, nepotism and cronyism; impressed with his handling of currency crisis; supported him against foreign-backed reformasi; followed him upon retirement; and to finally grew wary of his sincerity to leave

- one cannot help seeing this statesman reduced to a retired politician at the twilight of his life in desperation for power to save his failing legacies.

Why the need to comment on an event of limited significance in the manner of young politicians like Yeo Bee Yin, Lim Lip Eng, Tony Pua, Rafizi Ramli, Dr Afif, Nik Nazmi, Dato Armand and "Azwanbro" need publicity?

Hell, it could be David Teoh and waccamacallit Suaiman Yassin putting up an act to revive their sagging fortune.

Mahathir does not need to comment and pass aspercions against Najib for an event that continued its useful dialogue and feedback for government.

Liar

Mahathir said such incident never happenned under past Prime Ministers.

What about the attack and blackout singer M Nasir get for making a provocative but ambigous remark, "Siapa Mahathir" then?

What happened at the Kota Baru airport that led to him being pepper sprayed only few feet away from yours truly?

He repeated the same allegations he made towards Tun Abdullah for curbing any criticism against the Prime Minister.

Now he said it is only Najib.

What about the ISA he used repeatedly against the majority opposition leaders, and some UMNO leaders, in which the claimed unrest and security threat were never known?

Was the media free to report any dissent against the Prime Ministers as he had done towards all his successors?

What about the many books banned during his time?

What about the treatment to the reformasi street protestors?

Should we raise about Memali, in which he orchestrated within Malaysia despite claim he was already abroad and passed the responsibility to Tun Musa Hitam?

Justified or not, attributed to him or others, it happened during his time.

Under Najib, democrasy flourished - agree to disagree welcome, criticism is not suppressed, mainstream media could be reporting opposition political news, etc.

Najib never change the rule of the game to suit his political purpose as Mahathir had done.

Principles and institutions are not compromised as Mahathir did to the judiciary and royalty.

Mahathir levelled his criticism at TV3 but this was the same TV3 of his time.

Only this time, there are other channels on Astro and Internet TV giving the other side of the story even how twisted it is.

Immediately after GE12 at a function in Hotel Dayang, Petaling Jaya, Mahathir fanatics was almost ready to beat a Pemuda UMNO from Dato Khir Toyo Division to the pulp for an unfinished question to him that begin with a senario of Anwar taking over as Prime Minister.

He was quickly escorted out for his safety. Mahathir only looked with a smile on stage without even allowing the boy to finish his question.

There was no act in the manner that Najib did to cool things and say "Tak payahlah sampai nak tumbuk".

Legacy of failures

Today, time has proven that his initiatives failed and could not last in the manner of institutions that Najib's father, Tun Abdul Razak could put in place.

Razak's failed initiatives were mostly Mahathir's own doing.

No commercial venture could sustain based purely on protectionism, nationalism and patriotism, but hidden behind a complex web of nepotism, cronyism and proxy-ism to cover up corruption, self interest and power abuse.

Proton failed due to his tendency to interfere in planning and management. It served to protect his family-linked overpriced suppliers.

Many more to uncover behind his vehement opposition to the nationalisation of IPP.

Even his small ideas like his bakery, The Loaf could not sustain.

This is despite our frequent visits. He could not get even the support of his children and grandchildrens, who prefer posh joints at Publika and BSC. [Rocky Bru here].

The real reason for his failures is his politics.

It deviate from good governance, best practise management, and extensive planning to cater to his "political" flavour of the day.

It is not Najib that destroyed his legacy but it is his current U-turns that changed all his views and positions in the past.

Ironically, he claimed the Najib that continued the basic framework from the past with more civil liberty is now not as good as the past that he has U-turned on.

The political genius of Mahathir in applying the levers of power and spinning out propaganda is without any doubt.

The Mahathir we know would ask around for views and opinions. He would go around some 10 people before he finally make his decisions.

Mahathir does not deal with micro issues. He is a macro man, who see the whole matter comprehensively and the various implications.

Quite often as his lietenant used to tell, political.consideration rules the day just as he postphones VAT.

Due to his obsession for power and preserve the wealth of his family, cronies and proxies, he has reduced himself to spinning like any simpleton blogger would have spinned.

Desperate and Suspicious

The need for Mahathir himself to give a political spin revealed something desperate and suspicious.

Immediately after the event, a friend observed You Tube was "pushing" the video.

It means someone paid You Tube or there are paid accounts with the video that You Tube would push up in the pecking order. Who owns Viral Malaysia account here?

The first thing that come to mind when told of this is PPBM. They have been paying to get their news on FMT, Sinar Harian, and up on Google plus You Tube.

Why would a seldom updated journo-blog with not much depth in content and purely copy paste be paying ad to Google?

The only plausible answer is the Mahathirites are paying to promote their materials on the internet.

To some, it looked for real because David Teo was known to be loud and rude. Moderator-actor Rosyam Nor mentioned he was "memang kurang ajar".

That line of commentary can be found here, here, here, here and here

Our sister-in-law was surpised that when David Teo was slapped, he was not stunted but immediately kicked back his attacker.

It is also a mystery that the security details of the PM was quite relaxed.

It was only a month ago that both David Teo and Yassin were seen at a wedding in the main table of a Tan Sri that used to serve Mahathir.

To whom this former Minister pledge his allegiance today will be a mystery as much as the soft spoken man himself is deceptive and difficult to predict.

David Teo is known to have benefited from government outsourcing and accessible to the corridor of power.

Maybe he has become another Wardina and Dato K-Siti Nurhaliza. Or maybe it is an attempt to revive his fortune.

At the end of it, Mahathir has reduced himself into a minnow as his PPBM is falling apart.

Heard something happened today. Nothing happen under this former dictator's watch without his consent. Is it his own doing?

Possible ....

Apart from the case of Dato Ramli Yusof, hardly do this blog criticise the police force.

In appreciation for their contribution to the security of the nation despite personal difficulties, limited resource, pre-war police stations, poor working condition, and lower-than-army pay and perk, it is unfair to burden them more than they should be held for.

The recent wave of arrest for corruption by MACC on law enforcement officials, in which a corporal was caught with RM800,000 in his safekeeping, three cops held for protection racket, two OCPD involvement in illegal gambling money, collusion with drug syndicates, harassment on sub-ordinates, outsider could transfer out officers, dirty loyalist cop retained, demand for sponsorship, etc, is too alarming to be ignored.

It confirms how corrupted the country has turned out. His Majesty Sultan Nazrin of Perak has every right to be concerned.

This is not a source of political ammunition.

Pakatan Harapan leaders' reactions to recent corruption-related arrests in Penang and Selangor [read Utusan column by Dato Zulkifli Hamzah here] were uncustommary for those in public office.

No amount of pacifying of the media or lip service to ensure corrupted cops to be arrested, new rule on sponsorship to be drafted, and lecturing on ethics will appease an ensuing public uproar.

The most revolting statement has to be the commitment given by the Melaka Chief of Police, Dato Abdul Jalil Hassan to tackle those protecting gambling den and vice den [read NST here].

It is pure bullshit as his statement means he is only taking action now.

He cannot not be aware that such activities were thriving immediately within months after the last general election, in which Melaka gained a new Chief Minister.

Jalil was previously Bukit Aman’s D7 (Anti-Vice, Gambling and Secret Societies) Principal Assistant Director.

In Melaka, it is an open secret that these illegal operators have been operating with the cover of police, local authorities, politicians and even suspects are linked to CM office. Blogs have been written to expose such activities.

It is thriving in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor and other states too.

Dato Dzulkifli of MACC have advised political parties to not select candidates suspicious of involvement in corruption.

MACC will not interfere with the process of democrasy but he will deal with the politicians after the general election without fear or favour.

In the meanwhile, it is not believable that the CPO only know about it now.

It reminded of one police high official giving a warning to illegal gambling operators to close up within a week as though signalling them to clear out.

The closure to the incident of Along Taman's musclemen beating up on an innocent lorry driver is also suspicious. He is known to control illegal gambling outlets in few areas in Kuala Lumpur.

Few bad apples have certainly shamed the many good cops that deserve the praise, proper review for advancement, and promotions and rewards.

As Utusan Malaysia's Zul Bakar revealed in his column here, MACC Commissioner had told him of the plan to pursue illegal online gambling involving law enforcement.

MACC has proven that they are unafraid to take on another law enforcement agency to abolish corruption.

But will it lead to an internal war between law enforcement agencies as happen in other country?

There have been cases of one enforcement agency blocking the work of another.

Agency held other law enforcement officials under lock-up to scare them off from carrying out their duties.

Most scary, but unbelievable, bomoh or black magic are casted on good law enforcement officials that could lead to death as yours truly witnessed few happening to close friends in various services.

The exposed happenings of pressure from superior and need for side income to sustain livelihood should not be brushed off by the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Dato Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as poor excuse.

These are serious issues for the Minister to take up.

He cannot not be aware of a long standing quarrel between a former IGP and his former boss cum head of CCID had its roots in the pressure on the underling to conform and accept corruption.

However, that incident has seen many twists and turns that the line between the innocent and guilty is a blurry one.

For Zahid, who was previously with MINDEF, he should have the knowledge and experience to address the significant discrepency in the salary, and perk of police from the top to more importantly, the bottom.

As one low level police listed:

Policemen children goes to school by their own, military children are ferried to chool
Police work 24 hours without overtime, but army are for operations and other days return according to time. They get paid RM300 allowance.
Police barrack is in dilapidated state, and work vehicle overused.
Police had to work till 60 but army have options
Police shoes, cloth and all are paid by themselves and claims takes months but army are provided for.
Salary scale similar but responsibilities and workload differs vastly
Young army personnel attain sargeant at a young age but police could remain corporal till retirement
Army train and be on alert but police officers immediately start work
Police are found at every town and village, but army is selective places
Police should be given critical allowance similar to nurses and other profession
Army return from operation as hero but police not appreciated

Justified or not his grievances, one can summarised that police welfare has been neglected by government or the Police Cooperative (unlike LTAT has turned into a multi-billion conglomorate). All these happening after 207 years of existence.

One former IGP, who always had the welfare of the police force in mind, ended his career in a tragic manner due to politics.

Tan Sri KSP, please get your multi-coloured shoes on and listen up.

However, these cannot be the reason for police to take bribe. If it is not because the law says so, our moral and ethical conscience should the guide.

And, police alone cannot be solely responsible.

Society must take up its fair share for giving business to operators of vice, gambling, narcotics etc. As one former IGP (naturally to remain anonymous) texted this morning:

Its not just about cleaning police, its society as a whole. Who started this negative culture, contribute to it and make it a product of society. Its not an excuse to defend police, but corruption must be looked fr a very broad prospective.

In my years of public service, hundreds of public servants, not to mention police officers, who had been sent to jail or reprimanded but the rot in corruption continues. Lets look at some very 'clean' country. Perhaps Malaysia can learn from there.

Sadly, we had abandon the Islamic way of life.

Cannot agree more.

The big story on the "von" Trump family visit to the Middle East yesterday was the visit by surrogate first lady, "Ivana Bint" Trump, as the local Arab News refer her as, to the Jewish holy site of the western wailing wall [read CNN here].

The Jews claimed the wall is the remnant of King David (Nabi Daud to Muslims) temple taken down and build over the Masjidil Aqsa.

Slate magazine was shocked with the sight of Ivana in tears coming out of an important site to her Judaism faith. They expected her to be the forefront of avant garde feminism. Religion may not run concurrent to liberal leaning thought according to the orang putih thinking.

The issue that will likely be raised is the US$100 million donation pledge received from Saudi Arabia and Ivana's intiative, Women's Empowerment Fund [read CNN here]. In her show, Oprah Winfrey was not comfortable with Ivana's praise women's right effort by the Saudi.

The Independent headlined it as "Ivanka Trump praises Saudi Arabia on women's rights after country donates $100 million to her cause."

Ah! The mere mention of donation from the Saudi will re-ignite memory of RM2.6 billion Saudi's political donation into Dato Najib's personally named trust account.

The public may have forgotten by now that the money that was speculated to be given for other role than UMNO's election fund and was returned back. They could only remember that the RM2.6 billiion tagline the Mahathirite propagandist promoted.

Till today, it is not proven yet as to whether the money was from the Petrosaudi JV with 1MDB but detoured to a Jho Loh-owned offshore company account, Good Star Ltd.

Mahathir's dedak-deprived cybertrooper could only quote DOJ and WSJ but most likely not read the court application in full and understood the legal relevance. This blog did say it is still a long way from home.

If some detractor are questioning why MACC charge corruption suspects under AMLA and not MACC Act or Penal Code, then the same goes as to why under Kleptocrasy and not a criminal charge. Same goes with no criminal charges made out in Singapore.

The 1MDB issue is losing steam now, thus one can see Rafizi trying hard without getting much attention on SRC.

Still, it was said Najib took all the money for shopping, buy paintings, New York uptown penthouse other luxuries but now he claimed it is for donations to social and politcal operatios, in which few have denied it as true.

The donation received by Ivana will be played out as an issue because the Donald campaigned to attack Hillary for receiving donation into the Clinton Foundation from foreign state and accused she could be swayed in her role as Secretary of State.

Already, Trump is in a deephole for firing FBI Director, James Comey. In the US, there is no specific law enforcement agencyto eradicate corruption. It falls under the FBI. It replicates transfering Tan Sri Abu Kassim out of MACC to UiTM and maybe part-time at Akhbar Satar's HELP?

The loss of Hillary Clinton saw US Attorney General on the DOJ Kleptocrasy, Loretta Lynch replaced by Republican appointed Jeff Session. There is no "other women" in the US version. That is unless Loretta was a hunk.

The police and special branch replica is a bit difficult. The US have no national level IGP and national level investigation involves FBI. There is already Comey.

The earlier DG for Special Branch, Dato Akhil was due for retirement but the controversy involves the transfer of Deputy DG, Dato Hamid Bador. Hamid is known among law enforcement officials and his underlings in the police force as a man of integrity, responsibility and pleasant personality.

It does not jive that he could lose control to reveal intelligence information without approval of his boss. And, it is unthinkable and unjustifiable for intelligence officer to let their guard down. He must be under a spell or it could a peculiar behaviour of a Negeri Sembilan-der's worse enemy is another Negeri Sembilan-der.

He should have stayed at the new outfit at the Prime Minister's Department - Thames House of Putrajaya and build the outfit from scratch, even if it means from only a table and chair. Anyway, he is heard to be enjoying a "healthy" returement.

The US replica for SB will naturally be the CIA. And, the new CIA boss appointed by Donald was Mike Pompeo to replace outgoing John Bennan. The controversy is not John but Mike.

Mike was asked by Donald to help it out on Comey's FBI probe. So Najib's messed was 1MDB and Arabs, while Donald's in the making is Russian-gate. Not even Ivana's donation.

He rest of the characters; Muhyidin, Mukhriz, Shafie Apdal, Xavier Justo, Matthias Chang, Khairuddin, Anina, and Hanif Khatri, is left to readers' imagination to identify the US clone. Quite sure there are many to choose.

The difficult one to pick will be the fatboy Jho Loh. Not many Chinese with similar background as him in the US, and more so, associated with a bevy of Hollywood young starlets.

As for Clare Brown, please not associate her with Barbara Walter or Diane Sawyers or Connie Chung. And, she remotely have the look or brain or spunk of Megyn Kelly.

The US have many living former Presidents to choose from. Off course none reached beyond the age of 90, but Bill Clinton would have been the best replica.

He fit in the description of a man with similar checkered past with a personal interest at stake, you know what we mean, but now eschewing virtues of good governance, democrasy and opposition against corruption.

By the way, Clare, here is a good spin you sloppy-conniving-lying Brit. Najib and Donald were together at the US-Islamic Summit in Riyadh hosted by King Salman. Bet you didn't think about spinning Najib met Donald to sort out together the DOJ case and FBI probe.

Suggest you spin Donald's favourite PM changed the SB top personnel to help Donald win the US election with intelligence sharing but Russian get the blame. Who knows you might be able to drive a wedge between Malaysia vis-a-vis US and Russia.

You are already looking awfully stupid as her cover blown bit by bit, but this time, it will be for real!

Ha ha ha ...:)

Was alerted last night of TIME magazine report dated May 22nd 2017 entitled "5 World Leaders Less Popular than President Donald Trump".

It must be from the last issue dated May 22nd because the May 29th issue is about Kremlin spy ring [read here].

The original sender, likely a PPBM sympathier who forwarded to a former state UMNO officio, must have took notice this FMT report here.

Frankly, who gives a damn?

It is most likely another George Soros handy work in deception to assist his arch enemy turned destroyer of his nation.

If WSJ could be misled, what is stopping WMD propagandist, TIME magazine?

Quite sure, they are brainless ones reading without any critical or analytical eye.

More so, it is good propaganda material to use internationally known news magazine source.

The point about ranking or rating is that it is based on purely the personal opinion or judgement of the author.

He could get away with murder without any scrutiny on his data, and statistical and survey methodology.

WSJ, Bloomberg, Straits Times, etc. could be swayed by Sarawak Report discredited work and insidious intentions.

TIME, whose hardly given much coverage on 1MDB, would have used similar third party or fourth party sources.

The TIME reporter sure know helluva a lot on Malaysia and 1MDB. He had to correct a basic mistake of referring to Dato Najib as President:

The description on Najib is glaringly simplistic, one sided, and judgemental, far from objectivity and based on proven fact.

It is somewhat similar to a British newspaper middle page placing of an investigative report that accused Tun Dr Mahathir as Mr 10% two decades ago.

Since the subject of Britain is touched, the attack on Manchester has far more serious implication and relevance than a TIME article that could not get their basic fact right.

It could even be more serious than the Charles Hebdo murder and other terrorist attack in France. The french incidents had suspicion of being "planned".

Bombing kids returning from a concert in Manchester is no laughing matter. It signalled not just the likelihood of another attack but an imminent one.

Bigdog had a good coverage of the Operation Temperer announced by Prime Minister Theresa May here.

It was made after two PM-chaired Cobra security meeting within 24 hours.

This came about after the US-Arab-Islamic Summit:

Never mind Donald Trump's behaviour, antics and foul mouth. The summit could be seen as a turning point in West-Islamic relationship.

That was how NST see it:

At the Summit, all countries unanimously denounced ISIS or also known as DAESH. or ISIL Utusan reported:

Bigdog, who has an eye for such international relation and security issues, had written about the Summit here.

What he did not write explicitly is the implication towards the terrorist. ISIS may have read it right and acted to send a message.

Though having popularity concern despite just winning the US President and under barrage of media attack daily, more need be read into Donald Trump statement in Riyadh.

Taken from Utusan frontpage:

Malaysia have expressed their dismay and condemn the Manchester incident.

As a country in the forefront on the fight against terrorism, it has serious implications to Malaysia.

ISIS has cells that have covertly been growing in numbers in Malaysia.

Many Malaysians have slipped to Syria to join ISIS under the dellusion of jihad against kafir but it include other Muslims.

Some of these Malaysians have been known and still thick in their belief and ideology of ISIS. They may yet be converted from their extreme understanding for Islamic jihad.

There is reported bases in Southern Philipines.

The Manchester attack could be sending signal to cell operators around the world at strategic locations to implode.

In Britain, all political parties have stopped campaigning for the general election. The matter in hand is more serious than politics.

Doubt our political parties will stop. They will enjoy to play up and defend the TIME magazine last issue.

Perhaps, they will stop but it is too late after among them gets blown up at a political campaign rally.

That is the more pressing issue, but the government have shielded the public from knowing how serious this threat is to not create panic.

But, it is time they need to be made aware off.

Last we need is some Islamist groups getting the wrong understanding of the current security situation globally and think it is a war on Islam.

Possibly too, without Israel being reprimanded or disciplined.

But there is no serious quarrel among us that could lead to civil unrest or war among Malaysians. Only political debate or usual common disputes.

Why should ISIS do attack on Malaysian soil, which their targets are usually aimed at civilians in public places.

ISIS is not Islam.

Defending one's life is an obligation. But their actions do not constitute jihad (sacrifice) or syahid (matyrdom). It is not in accordance with Islam.

Those, who participated in ISIS and committimg murder and cruelty at will, have deviated from the true peaceful teachings of Islam.

No religion advocate violence.

They are no more and no less than the Ergun gang and Israeli army.

Peaceful reminder for Malaysians as we begin Ramadhan this Friday.

May we seek and find that inner peace that will guide us through a peaceful existence.

* Edited 6 AM 25//2017

It is unlikely war would be break out in this region this Ramadhan. But a development yesterday could make those aware of the situation nervous.

The Manchester incident was followed up by an Indonesian threat and suspected to be a reaction to the US-Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh which signal a show of force to fight against ISIS. However, that may not be the critical issue to result in a war.

ISIS is a war against an invisible threat. It is just difficult.

In The Mole on Monday, columnist Salahuddin bin Hisham wrote of attempt to "slow the boat to China". He viewed the fear on sovereignty as excessive and dumbfounded.

For one, it cannot be after US President Donald Trump received China President Xi Jian Peng at his Mar-a-Largo resort in Florida in late April and announced to the world of the lucrative deal done with China (including for his own daughter) from China. [Read Vice.com blog here]

Interestingly, he wrote:

In Malaysia, the fear mongers intensified (attack) to the possibility of compromised sovereignty, and South China Sea territorial dispute to neutralise good news from the BRF.

China’s nine, and then ten dash line policy has no legitimacy under any international law. And, Malaysia has not been taking it lying down. It made preparations and alliances but it is just not talking about it loudly.

If a superpower decides to wage war on our soil and sea, Malaysia is not in the position to militarily hold it back from as far back as the days the Portuguese conquered Melaka. It will be mutual interest that could allay such prospect.

There was a positive development at Guiyang, China over the weekend.

Read on here in The Mole, because there was an overnight development:

A US warship has sailed close to an artificial island built by China in the South China Sea, the first challenge to Beijing's claim to the waters since President Donald Trump took office.

According to unnamed sources cited by US media, the USS Dewey passed within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef.

China said the US vessel had entered its waters "without permission" and its navy had warned it to leave.

The US insists it can conduct operations in any international waters.

It says it does not take sides in territorial disputes, but has sent military ships and planes near disputed islands in the past, calling them "freedom of navigation" operations to ensure access to key shipping and air routes.

It has also repeatedly criticised what it sees as Beijing's efforts to limit freedom of navigation in the strategic waters.

South China Sea: US warship sails close to disputed Mischief Reef
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-40040231

The message

The operation may tamp down concerns among allies of the United States that the Trump administration has been unwilling to confront China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea as it seeks Beijing’s cooperation on issues like halting North Korea’s nuclear program.

Until the operation on Wednesday, the Pentagon had turned down requests from the United States Pacific Command in Hawaii, under the command of Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr., for such maneuvers. It was the first freedom of navigation operation since President Trump took office.

The United States does not recognize China’s claims of sovereignty over the 12 nautical miles surrounding the artificial islands, the conventional limit for territorial waters.

A Pentagon official involved in the operation said the American warship did a “man overboard” rescue drill while passing by the island. The particular exercise was intended to show China that the United States would operate anywhere on the high seas in accordance with international law, the official said.

U.S. Warship Sails Near Island Claimed by Beijing in South China Sea
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/24/world/asia/south-china-sea-us-navy-warship-spratly-islands.html?_r=0

China reaction

Naturally, China opposed:

China says US ‘mistaken’ moves in S.China Sea will militarize region

China on Thursday expressed strong opposition to recent US military maneuvers near the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea and urged the country to desist from taking actions that undermine China's sovereignty and security interests.

Defense ministry spokesperson Ren Guoqiang said at a press conference on Thursday that the USS Dewey guided missile destroyer entered waters near reefs that form part of China's Nansha Islands, and the People's Liberation Army Navy’s Luzhou and Liuzhou missile frigates identified the US vessel, sent a warning to the destroyer and drove it from the area.

"China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and the neighboring sea area, and the Chinese military firmly opposes the US military's behavior which will militarize the region and increase the possibility of accidents in both sea and air. China has made solemn representations to the US," Ren said.

"Due to the joint efforts made by China and ASEAN countries, the situation in the South China Sea is stabilizing but the US' mistaken behavior will worsen the situation. We demand the US correct its mistakes," and "The US' mistaken behavior will make the Chinese military further strengthen its ability to guard China's national security and sovereignty," Ren stressed.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said at a daily press conference on Thursday that China has expressed strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to the US' latest move.

China firmly opposes US Navy maneuvers near Nansha Islands in S. China Sea
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1048641.shtml

"Statement to China"

https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/national/us-launches-first-south-china-sea-patrol-under-trump/2017/05/25/cefec748-4111-11e7-b29f-f40ffced2ddb_video.html

swissinfo.ch analysed the incident as:

Greg Poling of Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank said that under international law, Mischief Reef was not entitled to a territorial sea as it was underwater at high tide before it was built up by China.

"This was a statement to the Chinese," he said.

"The previous two freedom-of-navigation operations only challenged China's demand for prior notification for innocent passage through the territorial sea; this one asserted that there is no territorial sea at all."

The Trump administration vowed to conduct more robust South China Sea operations after President Barack Obama was criticized for potentially reinforcing China's claims by sticking to innocent passage.

Even so, this was the first freedom-of-navigation operation since October and since Trump took office in January.

It comes ahead of a visit to Singapore next week by U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to discuss security with regional counterparts.

U.S. warship drill meant to defy China's claim over artificial island - officials
https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/u-s--drill-designed-to-reject-china-s-claim-around-artificial-island---officials/43208732

Ah! Singapore .... slow(ing) the boat to China. Or the demise of it's control on port and trade in the region ?

Should we nervous if China or the US or both? Can we do anything?

According to Raja Petra's latest Malaysia Today posting, the late BNM Governor, Tan Sri Jaafar Hussein was made a scapegoat
for the BNM foreign exchange speculation losses.

It partly explains why the Special Task Force enquiry on Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop yesterday was unusually short.

"(Tan Sri) Nor Mohamed, who is Khazanah Nasional Berhad deputy chairman, arrived at the finance ministry here at 3.25 pm today. He was seen leaving the compound about 45 minutes later."

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2017/05/26/forex-scandal-nor-mohamed-gives-statement-to-task-force/

As star witness or the supposed accused in the case, there should be lengthy questions presented to him.

In two Mole columns in February 2017, the issue was touched:

The BNM annual report did not reflect the forex losses as an item but hidden in the balance sheet under deferred expenditure. The note explained:

“This represents the net deficiency arising from foreign exchange transaction in 1993. The government has undertaken to make good this deficiency as and when required to do so by the Bank.

Nevertheless, the Bank will amortised the amount outstanding over a period of 10 years commencing 1994.”

Deferred expenditure is a cost that has already been incurred, but which has not yet been consumed. The cost is recorded as an asset until such time as the underlying goods or services are consumed; at that point, the cost was charged to expense.
In currency speculation, the purchase of one currency as asset means liability in another currency. The net asset is practically zero.

Central bank accounts are different from regular banks and companies. Could the “net deficiency arising from foreign exchange transaction” mean losses from forex trading?

If that was the case, how could the loss be considered as assets not yet to be consumed?

Is this a misrepresentation of the true state of the accounts?

http://mole.my/the-cover-up-of-bnms-forex-loss/

There RPK-alleged cover-up only confirm that Special Taskforce should not let up but recommend a major investigation into the matter.

BNM admitted to the losses in 1994. But who is supposed to be responsible?

(Dato) Murad claimed that there was no investigation done. Governor (Tan Sri) Jaafar (Hussein) took responsibility and resigned but he remained silent till his death.

Son-in-law, Dato Nurjazlan Mohamed claimed that Jaafar took the fall for the mistakes of others.

There was a news report claiming Jaafar was aware of the losses.

So why did Jaafar not act upon the initial losses and allow it to turn into a colossal loss?

Who was Jaafar covering for?

Dr Mahathir was asked before but he evaded the questions.

The mystery remain as to why he protected and promoted the rogue trader as he protected and awarded contracts to businessmen alleged to be his cronies.

http://mole.my/mystery-surrounds-bank-negaras-forex-loss/

Nor Yakcop should be suspended with immediate effect from all position in government!

Reliable high level sources claimed the country's foreign exchange reserves were then virtually wiped out.

George Soros was just doing his job. He interpreted the books well. Who is really responsible?

Mahathir made a big deal out of the yet-to- lose 1MDB but is awfully quiet on the forex loss.

The gut feel says he gave an open license to gamble that by pass BNM Governor and MOF.

Sources said laws were amended so that no one prosecuted for this reckless act on public fund.

Advise is never trust a Keling. And a Keling should not be allowed to return as Prime Minister.

They are irresponsible, dishonest and manipulative. Full of lies and auta.

For quite sometime a while, the social media and blogs had revealed Tun Dr Mahathir relative's interest in Proton vendor and alleged the Taiwanese that brought Mitsubishi idea for a Malaysia car, Rin Kin Mei as Mahathir's proxy in Proton.

In TV3 news this evening, Tunku Aziz asked the outright question: Is Mahathir the real owner of Proton?

He posed the question in view of the reaction of Mahathir to Syed Mokhtar's decision to sell 49.9% shares in Proton to Geely.

Mahathir have been "crying" and pretending not to know of the discussion with Geely and earlier, Volkswagen in which he was willing to have them as shareholders. The deal Volkswagen deal did not go through because they insist on majority control.

Apparently, Mahathir agreed on some terms with Geely that would have been worse than the "jual negara" accusation he made against Dato Najib.

He agreed that Geely could come in as shareholder and set-up a factory in China with the condition for China to order 200,000 cars a year.

It has a familiar ring of a China brand car, but built by Malaysian company with protection from Chinese government. But that is just speulation.

Mahathir can always deny.

By setting up a plant n China, what happen to his nationalist economic idea of creating job in Malaysia and condemning China investment that allegedly brought in labours from China?

There is more questions to Mahathir's emotional or pretending reaction to Geely investment in Proton. Rocky Bru here has few interesting links to various questions.

Among others, Proton caused tax payers RM385 billion albeit it more than the "dreaded" GST. By disagreeing to the deal, is Mahathir out to kill yet another corporate Bumiputera entrepreneur of his creation?

None of the Bumiputera corporate entrrepreneurs remain players today. While, Mahathir's open secret Chinese and Keling proxies continue to flourish under his protection including sabotaging a government initiative called 1MDB.

His tantrum is getting increasingly revolting.

It happened before with one mode of public transportation when undercutting existing regulated services and low price is a priority over other considerations. It is a matter of time before it happen to Uber or Grab or any of this new innovation ride-sharing mode of public transportation by part-timers.

In January, the complain is Uber, Grab drivers becoming ulat at KLIA and KLIA2 to encroach into designated areas meant for taxis.

In the latest incident, a pregnant lady riding an Uber last week was robbed and suffered a miscarriage. That will put any women into a long depression and into a state of fear. She claimed the driver had an accomplice seating in the front seat

Malaysians being Malaysians, their automatic reaction is to blame the government. They conveniently forget it was public pressure that contributed to the incident. And public's insistent made it necessary to allow such services.

So it is unfair to blame SPAD now because the public refused to accept the safety concerns of criminals infiltrating as part-time UBER driver.

So do not claim SPAD is only now looking at safety concern.

SPAD wanted to vet drivers before but Uber, Grab etc used every possible legal loophole to bypass laws and regulations.

Lawyers are of the view that the Uber victim will not win any lawsuit with Uber. Exclusion clauses and clauses and contractual obligation with drivers exclude liabilities to Uber. Their so-called air tight hiring policy is now questionable.

For the like of Dato Nazri Aziz that supported Uber because it is good for tourist and could not await for a reform of the taxi services, Singapore is already taking opportunity to badmouth Malaysia.

Dato Raimi Unggai, Sabah LPKP Chairman

For Sabah LPKP, they made the right decision last October to not be basty and insist Uber drivers be licensed just like taxi drivers.

It is unfair for job needed-Sabah to have part-timers encroached into the livelihood taxi drivers.

The latest incident is followed closely in Sabah because Uber driver have getting the attention for various incidents - sad and embarassing ones.

Tourism is an important source of income for the local economy. Sabah cannot afford such incidents.

Uber was a hot issue in Sabah and it was populist opposition leader and consumer groups that urged LPKP to allow Uber. Darrell Leiking is campaigning on Sabah rights and interest, but do not care for Sabah taxi drivers?

In reaction, taxi drivers was ready to take the legal course of action to stop Uber. Uber fought back through a lawsuit by a Uber passenger. In Europe, EU court made a decision that it is falls under transportation services thus can be regulated. So regulate them!

The commercially driven Uber have not give-up. They have gone into partnership with Mahathir aligned Ananda's Maxis for promotion.

LPKP have been supportive of taxi. Heard over the grapevine that they have appointed an IT company to design a similar system, or if not better than Uber, to assist and level the playing field.

It would be something SPAD could emulate in Semananjong after the various measures taken to level the playing field including allowing private permit for taxis. Frankly, the Blue Taxi effort is not trusted. The Dato owner is a conman.

Be it in Semenanjong or in Sabah, taxi drivers must up-grade and improve their services with the times to take on Uber. As one letter that reached us (trying to locate source) complained:

Stubborn taxi drivers suffer from their own choosing

The number of protests by taxi drivers staged in the Klang Valley probably exceeded that of all self-employed groups in the country combined.

The reasons for their protests were always the same but have yet to offer valid arguments to further their cause.

In the past, they have targeted taxi companies for charging high rentals and no EPF and Socso benefits, forgetting that they are customers and not employees of taxi companies.

They chose to forget that no one forced them to pay several thousand ringgit and signed the rental-purchase agreement to rent the permit and purchase the vehicle, which they get to own upon full settlement of the loan.

Instead, they accused taxi companies for charging high rental when they should be grateful for being given the opportunity to drive taxi for a living.

Many of these taxi drivers do not qualify for taxi permit or bank loan. Many taxi drivers with own permits obtained their loans from taxi companies and do not complain of interests higher than banks.

After EPF has allowed the self-employed to participate in the retirement fund several years ago, their grouses turned to lack of safety net.

From June 1, all e-hailing and taxi drivers must be registered with Socso and covered under the Employment Injury Scheme, and will be required to pay between RM157.20 and RM592.80 a year for it.

It is certain there would be another round of protest, as what they have wished for will turn into their worst nightmare.

This time, the protest outside Parliament was against Grab and Uber for flouting the law and carrying out “illegal activities.”

But last August, the Cabinet had already decided to regulate e-hailing services and amendments to various laws are scheduled to be tabled in Parliament this month, making the protest superfluous.

Moreover, large number of taxi drivers had already switched to driving under Grab and Uber, and they are busy with many trips and earned more, even though rates are lower.

However, stubborn taxi drivers who wish to maintain the old ways when they monopolised services and passengers were at their mercy are unhappy with their change of fortunes.

They could easily switch to driving e-hailing services or buses earning higher income instead of taxis, but chose not to for various reasons.

They are aware that they will be bumped off by Grab or Uber should they continue with their antics. Their numbers are small but highly vocal, with 50 of them carrying placards and chanting slogans near Parliament House.

Members of Parliament pandering to them would be making a fool of themselves. It is time for politicians from both side of the political divide tell off recalcitrant taxi drivers.

Such an action would help to exonerate the majority of taxi drivers that have been treated with scorn by the general public because of the action of rotten apples in their midst.

They can often be seen ganging up to exchange heroics with one another on their success in ripping off passengers or to stage another protest.

Nearly all taxi drivers do not belong to any association and have no time for such activities. They work like ‘lone rangers’ and have no idea or interest on what others are doing.

After e-hailing apps are regulated, drivers will be required to obtain a “Public Driver Licence” or “Public Service Driver” licence similar to the current Public Service Vehicle licence and Driver Card, there would be less part time drivers.

This will benefit many metered taxi drivers in the Klang Valley, as many are elderly and do not use taxi apps. But they use the meter and deserve our support.

CY Ming
Ampang

One can complain on these 'bad apple' among taxi drivers. However, the enforcement authorities need to buck-up and be brave enough to implement the regulations.

Apparently, observers claimed hooligan taxis preying on innocent tourists in front of KLCC is still large. Enforcement officials are too afraid to take action and could only watch the cheating and harassment on other law abiding taxi drivers. This is unfair!

The call to quicken the amendment to regulate Uber and Grab was made by the Minister of Transport back in November. Hope it will happen soon.

This is a sneak review of the Merdeka MRT station.

Saw this on Dato Najmuddin Abdullah of MRT Facebook few days ago. The clipping is not on You Tube so got a hacker to download from his FB to be uploaded here.

Work is still being done so MRT is not releasing the full video clipping.

It is also a sneak preview of one of the themed stations. For this one, it is Rukunegara, an important nation building statement.

By July, this station will be operational.

Below an official You Tube on the construction of the station:

Since the Warisan is mentioned, see below the Warisan Merdeka Menara Merdeka PNB 118 You Tube:

Menara Merdeka is 33 in the top 9 tallest building in the world under construction:

It will certainly change the whole area surrounding area including Chinatown. But we are wondering what will happen to historical Stadium Merdeka and Negara.

Too many fond memories and historical event, especially the declaration of Independence. Hope they will preserve it and maintain it in its original form.

Since concerts are difficult to be held at Stadium Bukit Jalil, why not turn it into a place for concerts and musical events. No worry about disturbing the grasses.

The MRT station will allow attendees to come and return. There are 12 parking spaces for people to park at MRT stations and let them come by MRT. If event manager planned properly, MRT can extend service and just pay overtime for the workers.

In the meanwhile, allow the stadium to be used for local rakyat football use and public jogging track. The seating areas will remain as seating for events but is also a living museum on Merdeka and formation of Malaysia (none in Semenanjong side).

The Rukunegara mural gave us that idea.

Merdeka is about independence and freedom, why not have our own Hyde Park?

Use it to showcase free speech, freedom of the press, human rights, aboriginal rights of native people and orang Asli, religious right, public right, tolerance and acceptance, peace and harmony among various race and religion, morality and ethics, environment, etc.

Nearby the area is an old temple, Masjid Negara, etc, is it symbolic of peace?

Remind ourselves not to ever repeat May 13 1969.

And, PNB building is a reminder of the result of May 13 to rebalance society. Let it be a powerful message to all Bumiputera that their cause were heard but they must also put effort and buck up to live up to the expectation.

From Coronation Park, it was turned into Merdeka Park by Tunku Abdul Rahman. Maybe revive it and add the elements of the time.

Quite sure, they will be other property development in the area and maybe government has a plan of its own. Just thinking and sharing aloud.

Indonesian President, Joko Widodo made another visit to the Natuna Island recently to witness a military exercise after a visit last year that sent a strong message to China of their opposition to their 9 dash line claim.

Jokowi told newspaper in November last year, "There is no compromise on sovereignty."

Last year, he visited Natuna on an Indonesian warship and held cabinet meeting on the warship that clashed with Chinese fishing vessels last year. Comment by senior Chinese officials on right of access made them nervous.

However, Natuna does not fall within the 9-dash line claim by China. Nevertheless, analysts see public view of China interest as a national security threat.

An FB here highlighted Indonesia had recently closed a Malaysian company telco installation on the island. Malaysia never made any claim on Natuna. Is the Indonesian now being unfriendly ever since China made large investment in Malaysia and there received paltry investment in a recent visit by President Xi Jianpeng?

Or ini semua wayang kulit Jowo, as the FB commented?

Singapore's The Straits Times here reported, below:

Indonesia shuts Malaysian firm's station

Published: Apr 12, 2017, 5:00 am SGT

It deems landing station, part of sub-marine cable project, a threat that violates sea law

JAKARTA • Indonesia has shut down what it believes is an illegal landing station built by a Malaysian company as part of a sub-marine cable project linking Peninsular Malaysia to Sarawak.

Indonesia's Foreign Ministry has confirmed that a landing station for a large underwater optic cable with 400GB bandwidth owned by Sacofa, a Malaysia-based communications company, in Anambas, Riau Islands, violates international maritime law.

Indonesia and Malaysia have had an agreement for sub-marine cable placement since 1982, Foreign Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir told The Jakarta Post.

"According to the agreement in 1982 and also the Unclos (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), only the right to put a cable under the sea for the sake of communication between East and West Malaysia is given. It does not include the establishment of a landing station for the cable on Indonesian land," he said.

The ministry, he added, had demanded that the facility remain completely underwater, as stipulated in the 1982 agreement.

Sacofa managing director Zaid Zaini said in a written statement that its cable had only "connection points" on the islands of Anambas and Natuna, "which should then exempt it from requiring a landing rights permit".

The company was earlier quoted by The Borneo Post as saying that it "abided by all the rules of Unclos through an MOU (memorandum of understanding) with the Indonesian government for the laying down of the sub-marine optic cable passing through its island".

An unnamed company official told Malaysian media: "Why they (the Indonesia military) decided to take action now is the big question."

The landing station was completed in 2004, with permission from the Indonesian Communications and Information Ministry.

Indonesian military chief Gatot Nurmantyo believes that the station and fibre-optic cables are a threat to national security.

"The fibre-optic cables and servers could directly connect to satellites. If more devices are added to the system, the technology could sense all vibrations from the surface of the sea or submarines," General Gatot said.

The waters surrounding the Riau Islands have been the scene of stand-offs between Indonesian and Chinese security forces, as Chinese fishermen sail farther south, backed by their coast guard.

In response, President Joko Widodo has reinforced Indonesia's base on Natuna and seized vessels fishing illegally.

JAKARTA POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

Yes, why?

Blanket response? Jealousy? Wayangkulit Jowo?

Quite sure saudara serumpun can discuss and resolve issue. There is mutual benefit to derive from bilateral cooperation between government and investment from Malaysia to help Indonesia build it's physical and economic infrastructure.

Lets not mistake of saying the our friends' enemy can be our friend. We want all to be friends and live together in peace and harmony.

The point is a politician, a Jowo and happen to be related, could be quick to make unnecessary comment on recent incident involving MH128. It should have been left to Malaysia Airlines and DCA. Hardly considered policy matter.

Something like this is hush hush ... Perhaps they do not know. Look see, look see and join chorus when it is politically safe?

The inevitable came yesterday and it is certainly sad.

After 10 years effort by the NGO Borneo Rhino Alliance to save and breed the Sumatra rhino species - last three Sumatra Rhino in captivity, at the sanctuary in the Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Puntong the only female rhino left died yesterday.

Borneo Post online reported the sad news yesterday:

Puntung the rhino dies, euthanised to end her suffering

June 4, 2017, Sunday Nancy Lai

Puntung’s initial abscess had a more serious origin, and this photo before she was euthanised shows how large the carcinoma had become.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has lost Puntung, the Sumatran Rhino who touched the hearts of many.

Sabah Wildlife Department Director Augustine Tuuga said Puntung was euthanised this morning at Tabin Wildlife Reserve.

A week ago, Augustine broke the news that Puntung could no longer breathe through her left nostril and was no longer able to vocalise, was in pain and her condition was declining fast due to squamous cell cancer.

Puntung had been suffering since mid-March from an abscess inside her upper jaw that would not heal despite treatment.

Initially captured on Dec 18, 2011, the rhino attracted global attention in April 2017 through dental surgery performed by a multi-national team in the Tabin Wildlife Reserve [read in The Star here.

She was one of the last three Sumatran rhinos in the country; now, they are only two left.

Augustine in a statement issued to the media said that Puntung’s keepers Wilson Kuntil, Hassan Sani and Samad Gubin had been sleeping for the past week with Puntung in her forest paddock, to ensure that she was under 24-hour observation.

They were very attuned to subtle changes in her behaviour and reported periodic bleeding from the nostrils, he said.

“The carcinoma had been growing rapidly in size and there were clear signs that Puntung was experiencing significant breathing difficulties. In consultation with our rhino reproduction advisers at Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin, and others, the decision was taken to end her growing discomfort, and bring forward the planned date of the procedure.

“Previously, we planned to euthanise her on June 15. In pursuit of the aim to allow Puntung to contribute to the survival of her species, her ovaries were rushed to the Agro-Biotechnology Institute, Serdang,” added Augustine.

Simultaneously, Indonesian reproductive specialist Professor Arief Boediono was flown in from Jakarta, ready to recover any egg cells that might be present.

“If any oocytes can be retrieved and matured, frozen sperm from the male rhino Tam will be thawed for intracytoplasmic sperm injection by Professor Arief. We will know the outcome within a few days,” Augustine said.

In addition, tissue samples from Puntung are being provided to Malaysian institutions so that her genome can be preserved through cell cultures.

Other keepers who have attended to Puntung in recent months are Rasaman Jaya, Marikus Suyat, Justine Sagunting, Joseph Stimon, Ronald Jummy, Davidson Kuntil and Alvin Erut, with Dr Zainal Zahari Zainuddin in charge.

-------------------------

Endangered

An extract from The Star report summed up the desperate situation in the last ditch attempt to breed Sabah rhino in captivity:

Sumatran rhinos are considered extinct in Malaysia because they have not been seen in the wild for over a decade.

-------------------------
.

Tabin Wildlife Reserve

Information on the home of the three rhinos at Tabin Wildlife Reserve near Lahad Datu.

Tabin "was gazetted in 1984 under the Forest Enactment, 1968 and classified as a Class VII Forest Reserve. The reserve has an area of 120.521 hectares and is a protected area which is the largest in the state of Sabah. This reserve is a Tropical Rainforest that is rich with biodiversity."

It was "declared a wildlife reserve primarily on account of the large number of animals inhabiting its forests, some of which are highly endangered. The three largest mammals of Sabah – the Borneo elephant, Bornean rhinoceros and tembadau (Bos javanicus), are all found within the reserve. The elephant population has been estimated to 120-300 animals in 1993. Other ungulate species include sambar, muntjac and mouse deer. In addition seven of Sabah´s eight primate species are present, among them orangutan and proboscis monkey. However, these two species occur in relatively low numbers in the reserve. The biggest predator in the reserve is the Sunda clouded leopard. There are also several other smaller carnivores in the reserve. Of bird species, 42 families representing 220 species have been recorded."

"The existence of Tabin Wildlife Reserve is part of the State Government's efforts to protect and preserve wildlife, especially large mammals such as the Sumatran Rhinoceros. Among other objectives, Tabin Wildlife Reserve is created to ensure high quality protection for highly endangered species such as the Sumatran Rhino."

More in Wikipedia here and Sabah Forest Department here.

It is funded by the Sabah government and corporate bodies like Sime Darby, who was believed to have spent RM13 million over time. BORA received support from World Wildlife Fund and technical assistance from scientific institutions, NGOs and public abroad.

Unfortunately, not much is known of this effort initiative supported by Sabah Chief Minister, Dato Seri Panglima Musa Aman since his appointment in 2003.

Forest conservation

Contrary to the slander threw by opposition, Musa has quietly started program for the conservation of Sabah forest and reviving from the devastation of the past. An overview of the changes in policy on forest land use and management in Sabah can be found in this academic paper by here.

According to cleanmalaysia.com here, much progress have been done:

“Totally Protected Areas in Sabah now cover 1.8 million hectares,” said Sam Mannan, the director of the Sabah Forestry Department, in a recent interview with Mongabay. His aim is to increase that number to 2.8 million hectares, or 30% of Sabah’s land area, in the next decade.

It sounds like a big goal, but Sabah is already well on its way. Even now, Sabah is drawing up an ambitious plan to protect another 260,000 hectares of forest. Meanwhile, Sabah’s income from forestry dropped 97 percent from 1973 to 2014. The trend of protection has been present for some time – since 1990, the extent of protected forests in Sabah roughly tripled between 1990 and 2015.

Sabah have done far better than Sarawak, which though is known from its forrest management but still suffer from widespread illegal logging activities.

Sabah effort received acknowledgement from scientists at the Royal Society of Britain in as far back as 2010 and commendation from WWF in 2014.

Hope?

Retruning back to the Sabah rhino, let us all pray that the last ditch effort could still make it:

May all of us be protected from wrath of god from the evil and corruption of others:

"Corruption doth appear on land and sea because of (the evil) which men's hands have done, that He may make them taste a part of that which they have done, in order that they may return."

Al Quran: Surah 30 Ar Rum Ayah 41

(Pickhall translation)

The last words of a Tan Sri very close to Tun Dr Mahathir, meaning really close, after that morning breakfast in KLCC two years ago to correct the wrongful RM42 billion lesap figure of 1MDB is still fresh in the mind.

"You watch out Azmin."

It was not long before that someone close to Mahathir, or it could be even Mahathir himself said, "Mukhriz is a weak leader".

So, as we see it, the current claim Mahathir is trying to place Mukhriz is just a political game.

"Boboi" is only doing a face saving after losing the Kedah MB post. And off course, fillial son helping and defending the father.

His indifference to the Kedah MB post is indicative he is only interested to remain politely aloof and maintain his lifestyle to ensure his Ericson fiber optic supply monopoly remain.

Unless the 92 year old person one see as Mahathir is not Mahathir, then it is unlikely he could be Prime Minister again.

It is all a red herring.

Red herring are herring, which turned red when smoked.

It is a figure of speech to mean "something intended to divert attention from the real problem or matter at hand; a misleading clue".

For that matter, Anwar too was doing a red herring with his statement from inside through his lawyers.

How could Anwar response from prison, if he had not given a set of statements for his lawyers to release at their discretion as it suits the situation.

So it is all Wayang Tinggi Production Sdn Bhd to divert attention from the intended person.

The real Mahathir said already he is not running and not interested for the position:

This is to show he really said so. And he did say:

Why suddenly the discussion on next PM?

Partly they are under pressure to name a PM since removing Dato Najib is their only their crying call.

It all started from Mahathir's reaction to the Reformasi pressure:

Its just him telling, "You can't push me to do something I do not want".

But he did sign the Bebas Anwar petition which is meaningless. The demand for Anwar's pardon is a long way to go and has yet to start.

The only way feasible for pardon is for Mahathir to return as PM and abuse his powers as he did before to force on Agong to pardon Anwar.

Not today he can.

He can ask the pardon board to consider but they will decide on their own reasons. Will the pious Agong pardon a sodomite to enable him to be PM?

Nah ... unlikely to happen.

It sparked a debate and exchanges between PKR and PPBM supporters on whether Anwar can get a pardon

Suddenly Rafizi forced the issue with another of his long string of questionable allegations and findings:

And Mahathir played along or he wants to save face from losing the Proton debate.

He was just made PH Chairman and announced there will be a unified logo for PH. He wanted to show who's the boss:

As he repented for his past:

... he said:

It serves to reinvigorate the PPBM supporters suffering a setback with 1,000 PPBM Perak members quitting the party. More could be leaving.

Reporters being nosy made him say below:

It is only natural for Anwar's response albeit a bit of over acting.

So do PAN:

It is only politics.

Such political statement will only invite expected political responses towards Mahathir:

A good one from PM:

And some should just butt out:

Off course, some could not resist pokimg at Anwar and Muhyiddin.

Naturally, the opposition need be colored in a certain manner:

It is unthinkable that a 92 year old can still stand on a podium to speak for 45 minute to 1 hour day in, day out.

Impossible he could be riding a bicycle or riding a horse as even 80 year old have trouble walking.

Sometimes it is suspicious why he could not pray inside Masjid Negara on Friday as he use to as PM, but only outside the Masjid and along the corridor.

Refraining from claiming it is a hantu praying. It is disrespectful.

The reality is no 92 year old can withstand the pressure of the position. So it begs the question:

Naturally, this is politics. I use you and you use me. Still ...

Thus far, Wan Azizah has been tossed as the interim PM by Anwar and Reformasi diehards in PKR with the wishful thinking it will eventually be Anwar.

That will not be an acceptable solution.

More so after she failed miserably to articulate intelligently and evading all the questions posed in the interview with BBC Hardtalk:

Neither an MB Selangor material nor remotely a PM. One cannot take such chances.

There is also DAP candidate for PM.

But Mahathir have been knocking into Lim Kit Siang head and he uttered it out that this is a Malay majority country.

So he accepted the fact that the PM must be Malay.

Smart move and one up over MCA who seem to want to get the acknwoledgement that a Chinese can be PM one day.

Maybe one day but it is dumb politics to say so.

Kit Siang could be seeing as it is not PM or President post that matters as Singapore use to have and currently having a Malay President.

The power is with who has the most kerusi!

For all likelihood, DAP will win the highest number of seats among opposition.

To some ex-UMNO now reciting DAP is good as a PPBM member or pentaksub (which we know inside they do not meant so), they are only in-denial that DAP will not control PH government.

Through all this, did anyone notice Azmin is not in the fray?

He seemed insulated by all the various happenings and evaded controversies. He will not comment on anything that will put him in a spotlight, a negative spotlight.

When Rafizi and Zuraidah was exchanged barbs on car import AP, Azmin just kept quiet. He has been importing cars with AP.

In the midst of the exchanges between Adam Rusly, the charged for AMLA AMK leader for Ampang and popularly believed is Zuraidah Kamaruddin's proxy and runner, Nurul Izzah told to ignore Adam.

One possible reason it is Azmin is simply because he has the political ability Mahathir look for. The Pak Ali family is an extended family to the Mahathirs:

Anwar courted the ambitous Azwin when he was studying at the University of Wisconsin.

When he returned and Anwar was ready to DPM, Azmin joined Mahathir's office and then moved to Anwar's office. The rest is history:

But people tend to forget about old ties:

The source is not just Ummi Hafilda but also extended members of Pak Ali, Hulu Klang family.

In politics, there is no permanent enemy and permanent friends. Personal relations carry a long way. Of all the person, Mahathir need someone that is willing to listen to him and protect his legacy, interest and wealth. He has no one but Azmin.

That is why he is willing to kneel to Anwar, the man he imprisonned. He needs Azmin and to do so, he need to get Anwar blessing. Without the blessing, it is tough battle for Azmin to dislodge Wan Azizah.

He believed Azmin can handle DAP as he handled them in Selangor and balance it with PAS and istana. But Azmin has skeletons and enemies.

It is not so simple.

There was outcry by the public on the big corruption case in Sabah regarding the Sabah Water Department.

To show court firmness on this matter of public concern, a huge bail sum on the accused former Sabah Water Department director Ag Mohd Tahir Ag Talib was set

Initially, it was set at RM10 million. It was then appealed and reduced drastically to RM2 million.

Despite that, the judge seemed to allow somewhat of a "layway plan".

The Malay Mail Online reported:

Ex-Sabah Water Department director applies to use RM2m land title as bail

By JULIA CHAN

Published: June 9, 2017 11:24 AM GMT+8

Former Sabah Water Department director Ag Mohd Tahir Ag Talib (in blue) being led away from court. ― Picture by Julia Chan

KOTA KINABALU, June 9 ― Unable to raise the RM2 million bail, former Sabah Water Department director Ag Mohd Tahir Ag Talib attempted today to put up land titles in lieu of cash in his money laundering case.

In a rare turn of events, his counsel Mohd Nor Yusof told High Court judge Datuk Nurchaya Arshad that family members have only managed to raise RM500,000 in cash and are applying for the balance to be deposited via land title deeds worth at least RM2 million.

“We are not asking for a reduction in bail amount, just a variation in terms of mode of payment,” he said.

Last January, the Sessions Court reduced his bail from RM10 million to RM5 million, with RM2 million to be fully deposited with one local surety.

To allow time for the deputy public prosecutor Rozanna Abdul Hadi to submit a written response, Nurchaya set 3pm to hear her argument and to make a decision.

When Rozanna asked for the court to give more time to prepare a submission in reply to the application, Nurchaya said that the application was only a variation to the terms, and should not take long too reply to provided they had a licensed valuer, as the principles of bail were not meant to penalise the accused, but to ensure they showed up in court.

According to Mohd Nor, such cases of land titles used in lieu of cash were rare but not unheard of.

“There has been four such cases in Malaysia, but none in Sabah so far,” he said.

On December 29, Ag Mohd Tahir, 54 and his wife Fauziah Piut, 51, along with former SWD deputy director Lim Lam Peng were charged with a total of 37 counts of misappropriating infrastructure funds worth more than RM60 million under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act.

All three pleaded not guilty.

The high profile case involved the largest cash seizure in the country by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commision, worth some RM114 million.

Bail was initially set at RM10 million for Ag Mohd Tahir and RM2 million for Fauziah but was reduced by half in January. Fauziah was released shortly after while Ag Mohd Tahir remained behind bars.

- See more at:

http://m.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/ex-sabah-water-department-director-applies-to-use-rm2-million-land-title-as#sthash.wHfZrM6F.dpuf

-----------

The court cannot be seen as bending backward on it's own decision to be firm on corruption in Sabah.

The judge may have her own legal reason but she will be seen as taking her own decision lightly.

Why make the decisions in the first place?

Her flexibility is not serving the public interest to see the eradication of corruption that denied the poor and interior folks of Sabah the much deserved and over due basic amebities.

Talking about public interest, the Malaysian public is aware that more than 35 people including 23 district engineers were arrested for questioning.

But why is only 3 were charged?

The Deputy Director was arrested and some RM100 million of assets believed to be confiscated and frozen.

Thus he is deemed to have basis tobe charged. Again, why is he not charged?

The buck stopped at the former KKLW Minister, Dato Shafie Apdal.

Despite his attempt to divert blame to Dato Musa Aman, Tan Sri Pairin Kitingan and KETTHA Minister, Dato Maximus Ongkili, the fact is the ultimate authority falls on the former SUBs and KSU of KKLW in collusion with Shafie.

Sabahans could not accept that proofs cannot be found and these officials and Minister at KKLW could get away scott free.

It cannot be hidden from public eye in Sabah that some of the allegedly corrupt 23 people have been buying hotels from their ill-gotten gains.

All parties must be serious about eradicating corruption. What is publicly known cannot be left hanging and unanswered.

This blog had once expressed worry before that a "war" could break out between enforcement agencies. Following MACC campaign against enforcement agencies, particularly police, the suspicion is it will be soon.

Police did responded with the arrest of MACC officer, Rommy bin Ma'aruf. (Read in Harian Metro here.)

According to the blog Captain M here, the police-arrested officer was a problematic one and had a history. His errand ways for the past two years have now come to light.

MACC made it clear they will not compromise with officers taking bribes. (Read FMT here) They are willing to cooperate (Read M'kini here). An open and positive attutide exhibited by MACC (Read Bernama here).

Dato Azam Baki statement in Malay in full below:

SPRM ALU-ALUJKAN TINDAKAN PDRM AMBIL TINDAKAN TERHADAP PEGAWAI SPRM TERLIBAT RASUAH DAN SALAHGUNA KUASA

Susulan penahan seorang pegawai Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) kerana disyaki memeras ugut dan meminta wang daripada anggota polis di Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang, semalam, SPRM ingin menegaskan bahawa tidak akan berkompromi dengan kesalahan yang dilakukan pegawai terbabit serta bersedia untuk bekerjasama dengan pihak Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM).

Perbuatan seumpama itu sama sekali tidak mewakili suruhanjaya yang sentiasa mendukung prinsip undang-undang dan perlembagaan negara dalam melaksanakan setiap tanggungjawab yang diamanahkan.

SPRM amat mengalu-alukan tindakan tegas pihak polis dalam melaksanakan penahanan itu dan tidak akan mencampuri siasatan yang dijalankan.

Ekoran kejadian tersebut, SPRM akan melakukan pemeriksaan dalaman yang tegas terhadap semua pegawai bagi mengelakkan kejadian sama berulang pada masa akan datang.

Pendirian SPRM tidak akan berganjak walaupun seinci sekira terdapat pegawai sendiri melakukan jenayah sedemikian dan tindakan tegas akan diambil terhadap mereka yang melakukan kesalahan yang mencemarkan reputasi dan nama baik SPRM.

SURUHANJAYA PENCEGAHAN RASUAH MALAYSIA
PUTRAJAYA
10 JUN 2017

--------------

According to Berita Harian report here, MACC will be checking up and scrutinising on their officers. It would be an opportune time to begin doing the much discussed polygraph test on their own people.

It shows a positive and open attitude by MACC management.

In the Sunday Times today (see above, online not available), Penang Deputy Police Chief Dato Roslee Chik was reported defending 8 police officers arresyed by MACC. he claimed they were victims and blackmailed by MACC officers, in which 4 are from D7 unit.

Rommy was apprehended by officers from D7, the unit in charge of underworld, gambling and vices. It is one unit widely claimed by police officers themselves as notorious for corruption

Roslee said further several MACC officers are being monitored for suspicion of blackmailing policemen and officers.

Last month, MACC did a crackdown on D7. However, police did not show as positive and open attitude as exhibited by MACC.

Corruption is more rampant in the police force. If MACC continue to pursue, what will it lead to?

Is the police going for a war against MACC?

Hope not because war among enforcement agencies have occurred abroad. Experience shows no side wins but everyone loses, especially the public and citizens.

The bosses must have table talk and take a positive attitude. Honest cops and MACC officers should not defend their errand colleagues. It is for the good of their respective organisation and all hard working, honest and dedicated officers.

Still advocating (read here) that police top management and treasury re-look the police pay package to reduce temptation of corruption. Police welfare need be looked after.

The frontpage of Utusan Malaaysia today highlighted statement by Inspector General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim reiterating plan to revamp the top management of police. It will be due soon after Hari Raya and many officers will awating the news with bated breath.

This is in response to recent arrest by MACC on the involvement of top officers in Melaka, D7 and Narcotic Division in money laundering and corruption. One or few of the arrests could also be the handy work of problematic MACC officers (read previous posting here).

The general response by the few lower rung police officers contacted has been welcoming. It is good to revive the image of police. However, one reservation received is that the revamp done should be transparent and genuine.

Utusan Malaysia report below:

[VIDEO] Rombakan semua jabatan PDRM

Melibatkan setiap peringkat di Bukit Aman selepas Aidilfitri

IPOH 11 Jun - Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) akan membuat rombakan melibatkan peringkat atasan di semua jabatan di Bukit Aman dalam masa terdekat.

Ketua Polis Negara, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar berkata, setakat ini pertukaran telah pun dilakukan di Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Narkotik (JSJN) Bukit Aman yang melibatkan anggota di peringkat bawahan.

Menurut beliau, pertukaran di jabatan berkenaan melibatkan tidak kurang daripada 20 anggota.

“Pertukaran di bahagian narkotik ini sudah pun bermula melibatkan anggota di peringkat bawahan dan ada sedikit lagi pertukaran akan dibuat. Setakat ini, ia membabitkan tidak kurang daripada 20 anggota.

“Bagaimanapun, suka saya nyatakan bahawa dalam tempoh terdekat ini, PDRM akan membuat rombakan di peringkat atasan, mungkin selepas raya,” katanya ketika ditemui selepas Program Nur Ramadan Singgah Sahur Warga PDRM Perak bersama Ketua Polis Negara di Balai Polis Pekan Baru di sini hari ini.

Mengulas lanjut Khalid berkata, pertukaran melibatkan jabatan di PDRM adalah perkara biasa dan hanya sesekali pertukaran luar biasa dilakukan.

“Sebenarnya pertukaran dan perubahan dalam jabatan polis adalah perkara biasa tetapi sesekali ada juga yang luar biasa.

“Bagaimanapun, bagi bahagian yang mustahak, rombakan telah pun dibuat dan selepas ini akan ada lagi pertukaran lain,” katanya.

Akhbar pada 20 Mei lalu melaporkan Timbalan Ketua Polis Negara, Tan Sri Noor Rashid Ibrahim mengumumkan bahawa PDRM akan melakukan rombakan besar-besaran bagi mengekang masalah integriti agar tidak terus menular dalam kalangan pegawai dan anggotanya pada masa hadapan.

Langkah itu berikutan kenyataan Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yang mengarahkan 'pembersihan' PDRM dilakukan terutamanya melibatkan jawatan dan jabatan yang dianggap sensitif.

The video can be seen here.

One concern with the revamp is the shuffling will only move the problematic top officials from one problem unit or division to another problematic outfit. The expectation on IGP is to create a sufficiently spacious "freezer" to rehabilitate the problematic ones.

Usually, the problematic ones have issues but insufficient evidence or no direct link to suspected problem of corruption or money laundering or smart partnership collaborations.

Among police, they usually know the whose who. And, it is important that the majority of good, hardworking and honest cop has confidence with the revamping as it affects their morale. Problems in any organisation usually begin at the head of the fish before spreading to other areas leading to the tail.

Much talked about problematic areas is in D7 relating to underworld, gambling, and vices, Narcotic and internal grouses with logistics. Speculation is rife on invisible hands dictating actions. Negative perception is certainly not good for police image, thus the revamp.

The revamping may need some restructuring of the police organisation to enable it to be more efficient. It is perceived that there is overlapping of work and authority that attributed to ineffectiveness in certain aspect of police operations. Partly, it contributed to less than expected success in eradicating the menace of drugs and other crimes.

If there is a restructuring, it should be performance driven and based on deliverables. It enable lower level officers to be promoted to replace problematic ones. And, it should also reduce the internal politicking in pursuit for position and power.

Of ultimate importantance and urgency, the welfare of the police, working environment and living quarters need be taken care of.

As an example, at one one where police quarters is grouped together with immigration and customs, the living condition is in such a delapidated state (daif) that it is described as "other agencies living quarters is 100% better than the police's".

There is speculation that the revamping will be to position the Director for Management, Dato Seri Zulkifli bin Abdullah as the future IGP. The present IGP is due to retire in September. Deputy Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Noor Rashid Ibrahim could be earlier.

Unless PM renew any contracts, Zulkifli is a likely successor.

Zulkifli is a former Chief of Police for Kelantan, Perak and Kuala Lumpur. he was subsequently appointed to be Director of Logistics before the present position as Director of Management since August 2015.

He is known to be friendly and close to the media.

Zulkifli was the police official that expressed concern last year that 10,000 policemen are overweight and a trim and fit monitoring by 2018 put into place.

He is concerned with police performance and advocated to cull non performing men. Identified poor performer will be given a year to improve or get the boot.

At the same time, he had been involved to pre-launch the Police Heritage Trust Fund (TAWP).

He has been promoting the services of auxillary police, use of App, community work, community and youth engagement to fight crime, and upgrading of police vehicle.

Current police vehicle and equipment is in dire need of upgrading as vehicle with license plate WBC can still be seen roaming the streets.

If he is appointed IGP, one immediate order of business is to revamp the Logistics Department as it is a source of leakage of resources that have affected police operations and morale.

Zulkiflie has the experience in these various efforts and position. A position as IGP will allow him the privilage to finish off any unfinished business in the past.

It is important to deliver on the launched program because a major grouse down there is it has yet to reach the ground. A tall order of expectations lies ahead for Zulkifli.

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