Following suspension, MACC confirms probe against Annuar

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is investigating allegations of graft and abuse of power involving Umno information chief Annuar Musa, with regard to his positions in Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara).

The commission said it would cooperate with Mara’s internal audit department.

“We would like to stress that our investigations are only focused on issues of graft and abuse of power in relation to his involvement in sponsoring the Kelantan football team.

“Investigations into mismanagement will be conducted by an internal audit team from Mara,” said the commission in a statement this evening.

The commission also urged all quarters to refrain from speculating on the matter, and to provide MACC with space to conduct the probe.

This morning, news reports stated that an emergency board meeting had decided to suspend Annuar as Mara chairperson and head of Pelaburan Mara Bhd (PMB) with immediate effect.

The suspension is reportedly to facilitate investigations into allegations that PMB and Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), which is a Mara subsidiary, sponsored the Kelantan football team, that Annuar is linked to.

This allegation was first raised by Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim on Jan 12.

Tunku Ismail also revealed several documents detailing the said transactions and questioned if the sponsorship was the reason why UniKL was forced to reduce scholarships for its students by RM700 million last year.

Annuar, who is a former Kelantan Football Association (Kafa) president, has denied the allegations.

Meanwhile, Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said Annuar’s position as information chief was up to the party president following his suspension as Mara chairperson.

“His suspension is in a government agency. It does not involve his post in Umno, it is up to the president," Tengku Adnan was quoted as saying by Bernama.

The Federal Territories minister added that the suspension was an investigation procedure and it had yet to be proven if Annuar had committed a wrongdoing.- Mkini

Umno's branch and division AGMs brought forward

Umno president Najib Abdul Razak today announced that Umno branch and divisional annual general meetings have been brought forward and will be held as early as March.

However, Najib said this was not an indication that a general election was around the corner.

Najib, who is also prime minister, said the party's supreme council had decided last Friday that the branches would meet from March 17 to April 30, while the division meetings would be held from July 7 to Aug 26.

"I would like to stress that we should not make assumptions or speculations that the earlier dates for the meetings this year is an indication of the 14th general election.

"There is nothing extraordinary for the annual meetings to be held in the beginning or towards end of the year," said Najib in a post on his blog.

The Umno branches and divisional meetings are usually held in the third quarter of the year, leading up to its annual general assembly in November or December.

Busy third quarter

Najib explained that the meetings were brought forward as there are many scheduled events later in the year, including the Southeast Asian Games in August, which is hosted by Malaysia, and the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations in June.

"However, I want all of Umno and BN's machinery to not be lackadaisical or take our duties lightly.

"We must always remain focused on our delivery, fullfil our promises, spend time to meet and listen to the pulse of the people, what are their wants and needs," he said.

At the same time, Najib also expressed hoped that the meetings would be used as a platform for Umno to resolve any differences which could bring negativity to the party.

The current mandate for Najib's administration would only expire in 2018 but talk of snap polls have been rife since late last year. -Mkini

Kit Siang confusing 'majority rules' with 'consensus', says PAS man

A senior PAS leader today accused DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang of confusing the "consensus principle" adopted by the defunct Pakatan Rakyat coalition with a "majority rules" principle.

PAS Dewan Ulama information chief Khairuddin Aman Razali said Pakatan Rakyat's consensus principle required a unanimous agreement from all three member parties.

On the other hand, he said a majority rules principle would compel one party to follow the other two parties.

"For Lim and his ilk, not agreeing with the majority is tantamount to breaching the consensus. He (Lim) is confused between the majority and consensus principle," he said.

Khairuddin said only matters which had been unanimously agreed upon could be treated as the Pakatan Rakyat agenda.

As such, Khairuddin said Lim had again slandered PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang by claiming that the latter had violated Pakatan Rakyat's consensus principle and caused the coalition's demise.

"(The) DAP and PKR are the ones clearly guilty of breaking up Pakatan Rakyat. (But) they are using the PAS president as an excuse to cover up their mistakes.

"Now, the old story is being repeated. With hope that the people will not be smart enough to understand their dirty political games,” said Khairuddin in a statement today.

The Kajang move

He said the consensus principle did not prevent any party from voicing their disagreement or compel any party to agree with the majority decision.

Recounting the chain of events surrounding PKR's attempts to remove former Selangor menteri besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, Khairuddin said that Abdul Hadi's objections at the time was not tantamount to breaching the consensus principle.

"(And) when PAS disagreed (with PKR and DAP) to submit only one name (to Selangor Sultan) as candidate for MB, that is also not going against the consensus.

"That is the right of every member under the consensus principle. There is no compulsion to follow the majority decision," he said.

In defending Abdul Hadi, Khairuddin said both PKR and DAP were eventually forced to apologise to Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who in a royal decree had expressed unhappiness with both parties.

"This eventually proved that Abdul Hadi had taken the right stand.

"It was proven that both DAP and PKR were too quick and careless in executing their moves, to the point where they were forced to admit their mistakes and apologise," he said in reference to events in 2014 which eventually led to PKR deputy president Azmin Ali replacing Abdul Khalid as menteri besar.

'DAP and PKR will not change'

This episode, said Khairuddin, was proof that DAP and PKR had repeatedly violated Pakatan Rakyat's consensus principle by implementing decisions without accounting for PAS.

"This attitude of not respecting an agreement (consensus) is what had led to Pakatan Rakyat's break up. They (DAP and PKR) will forever be breaking any agreement," he said.

In June 18, 2015, DAP had "announced" that Pakatan Rakyat was no more following PAS' decision to cut ties with DAP.

Recently, Lim had offered to work together with Abdul Hadi should the latter share the same commitment towards combating kleptocracy.

However, Abdul Hadi rejected the offer on grounds that PAS will not be able to work with a party which was "against Islam".- Mkini

Malaysia to buy Multirole Support Ships

Multirole Support Ships (MSS) will soon be helping to safeguard Malaysian waters, said naval chief Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin.

He confirmed the decision of the government to acquire the MRSS after being informed by Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, and referred to his tweet, which read: “#15to5 on track! #LMS (Littoral Mission Ships) ready to go #MRSS next. Thank you Sir! @HishammuddinH2O.”

The Royal Malaysian Navy is reducing its fleet from 15 to five classes of vessels. Old ships which are too expensive to maintain are being retired and sold, with the money used to buy new vessels.

Last Thursday, after a retreat in Subang Jaya to discuss with armed forces brass the future directions of the ministry, Hishammuddin told reporters that new assets must be purchased by 2020.

"I just want the best assets for the country and I want the best assets for the military. That is my duty as the Defence Minister," he said.

Ahmad Kamarulzaman did not say how many MRSS would be bought, but the RMN is to have 18 LMS and six Littoral Combat Ships.

The LCS are equipped with four-dimensional warfare capabilities against electronic, air, surface and underwater threats integrated with state-of-the-art systems.

The LCS, estimated to be worth RM9 billion, will also be equipped with stealth capability which reduces radar reflection to minimise visibility and detection. The ships,
to be built by Malaysia's Boustead Naval Shipyard in Indonesia, will also be capable of rapid launch and recovery of boats.

The LMS will be developed in China in a joint venture between Boustead and China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co Ltd.

The missile-carrying patrol vessels, equipped with a helicopter deck, are usually used in patrolling the coastal lines and search and rescue missions. They are expected to
cost not more than RM250 million each.

- Bernama

Petrol prices up 20 sen by midnight

The retail price for RON95 and RON97 petrol will go up by 20 sen per litre respectively, effective February 2017, several petrol retailers told Malaysiakini.

This means RON95 petrol will cost RM2.30 per litre while RON97 petrol will cost RM2.60 per litre.

As for diesel, the retail price will increase by 10 sen to RM2.15.

The new fuel prices will bring prices to the highest level since January last year.

Monthly fuel price in Malaysia

RON 95

RON 97

Diesel

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The government determines the prices of fuel through a managed float system.global price of crude oil and the country’s currency strength in the previous month.

The price of Brent Crude Oil has steadily increased after the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) struck a deal to cut output in order to curb oversupply and stabilise oil prices last year.

The deal also involved non-Opec members including Malaysia, with Petronas pledging to scale down oil production beginning next year.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian ringgit continued to weaken, falling to the lowest level since the Asian financial crisis in 1998.- Mkini

POWER TUSSLE IN UMNO ERUPTS INTO THE OPEN: ANNUAR MUSA THE FIRST BIG ‘WARLORD’ TO BE SUSPENDED AS MARA CHAIRMAN – ZAHID & ISMAIL SABRI CAMP DRAWS FIRST BLOOD

KUALA LUMPUR, 19 Jun -- Pengerusi Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) Tan Sri Annuar Musa ketika sidang media mengenai dasar baharu pembiayaan pelajaran MARA 2015 di Ibu Pejabat MARA hari ini. --fotoBERNAMA (2015) HAK CIPTA TERPELIHARA

PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Annuar Musa has been suspended as Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) chairman with immediate effect.

In announcing this, Mara committee member Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob said Annuar has also been suspended as the head of Mara Investment Bhd (PMB).

The decision was made during an emergency meeting held at Mara headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday morning.

Dr Yusof will assume all the positions held by Annuar.

When contacted, Annuar said he accepted the decision but refused to elaborate as he had just been informed of the matter.

“I don’t know the details. I just received the phone call from Dr Yusof. I have nothing to say,” he said when asked if he knew the reasons behind the suspension.

Annuar said he was on “official duties” in New Zealand.

More to come.

ANN

NIGHTMARE AHEAD FOR NAJIB & ROSMAH: ALTANTUYA KILLER SIRUL STARTS TO COME TO HIS SENSES AS MONEY & FREEDOM ELUDES HIM. NEXT STEP – TO REVEAL WHO ORDERED HIM TO PULL THE TRIGGER?

Sirul Azhar Umar : He wants his freedom, he wants the millions he thinks he should have for the murder of Altantuya and for making “those” video, he wants his daughter to join him, and he wants all this as soon as possible. And he thinks Najib will do all this for him! Dream on Sirul…dream on!

The law in the Australian Migration Act that prevents a person being sent back to be hanged prevails. Sirul Azhar Umar’s refusal to mitigate to lower his mia culpa is what is obstructing Sirul’s pathway to resolve his detention.

He has the right to engage the full judicial process to assert his claim not to be deported back as per construction of the Migration laws.

 

This is one pathway from which his Malaysian lawyers has sidelined him for reasons best known to them…and that is, that Sirul Azhar Umar  should apply for Bridging Visa E which requires him to mitigate on his inherent criminality under section 501 of the Migration Act. 

 

This will most probably open a Tribunal and the full Judicial process that will hear out his plea to be allowed to be released into the Australian community and begin his life in Australia. 

 

This requires Sirul to come out with the truth and nothing but the truth to plead his Character issue. Robert Chelliah : Australian Migration Agent

  

The above is a quote from Robert Chelliah, an Australian migration agent, fully conversant with the Australian Migration Act under which Sirul Azhar Umar may be able to find his freedom or continue to be held in Villawood Detention Centre indefinitely. 

 

Let me put that in simple English.

 

If Sirul Azhar Umar wants the Australian government to release him from detention and allow him to live in Australia, he must convince the Australian Government that when he murdered Altantuya, he was just doing his job.

 

Why has he not done so?

 

The simple answer is that Sirul wants his freedom. Sirul does not want to go back to Kuala Lumpur. He wants to stay in Australia with the money he thinks he should have for murdering Altantuya.

 

He wants his cake and eat it too. 

 

He wants to stay in Australia, he wants money for murdering Altantuya and he wants to be paid for the videos he made while in Villawood to absolve Najib Razak from blame for Altantuya’s murder and for telling us that Altantuya is not pregnant!

 

Well Sirul, here in Australia they do not release convicted murderers. 

 

Here in Australia they do not release convicted murderers who profits from their crime. 

 

And here in Australia the Migration Act quoted by Robert Chelliah will only consider the release of a murderer if he is able to convince the Courts that he murdered Altantuya because it was his job to do so – that he was only following the orders. That in essence he is of good character and that he deserves to be released into the Australian community.

 

Maybe Sirul does not understand this. Maybe Sirul has been given wrong advice by his Malaysian Lawyers. Maybe Sirul really thinks that somehow he will be released into the Australian Community and also get the money he thinks he deserves to get for murdering Altantuya and for making those videos from within Villawood. Maybe Sirul thinks he will get a pardon from the Malaysian authorities. Maybe Sirul thinks that somehow he or those who are “helping” him will be able to get his daughter to join him and his son, in Australia. Maybe Sirul thinks he thinks that he is a victim of circumstances and that in the end, justice will prevail – that he will go free and go on to live a rich man’s life because he murdered Altantuya.

 

Let me put things in perspective for Sirul.

 

You have now been detained in Villawood for a considerable length of time. What has happened in that time? The only significant thing that has happened is that you illegally made that video while you were in Villawood, had it smuggled out through your Malaysian Lawyers into Malaysia – a video that helped Najib to claim that he is not responsible for Altantuya’s murder. But did that video help your case in anyway? No it did not because you made a fool of the Migration authorities in Villawood by making that video and having it smuggled out of Villawood…..and until today, what ever “rewards” you were promised for making that video has not eventuated.

 

A few months back you have been served papers by Altantuya father’s Lawyers who will be suing you and a number of others for RM 100 million for the murder of Altantuya. This case may be delayed and has been delayed by the powers that be in Malaysia – but sooner or later this case will have it’s day in court…..and should you somehow get your freedom from Villawood and somehow be allowed to stay in Australia and somehow have some money to show for the murdered that you said you did…..all this will be frozen by Altantuya’s father’s Lawyer until their case you is settled on way or the other.

 

From my sources I am informed that Sirul Azhar Umar is beginning to understand that all that is in front of him now is more time to be spent under detention in Villawood. He is bitter that it is so because he is adamant that his murder of Altantuya was just him doing his job. And now all the people that he has been depending upon to secure his release from detention and all the money they have promised was coming his way has all not eventuated.

 

He has plenty of time in detention to work all this out in his head. It serves Najib well that Sirul continues to be detained in Villawood. It is time that Sirul understand that in Australia, Najib does not have a say in the interpretation of the Australian Migration Act. That is the privy of the Australian Courts who can decide if Suril character is good enough to have him release into the Australian community….and the process starts with Sirul applying for Bridging Visa E (as advised of him by Robert Chelliah) and all the attendant process he has to undergo in order to convince the tribal and if necessary the Australian High Court, that he is indeed a person of good character who had murdered Altantuya because he was ordered to do so.

Now from whom those orders come from would be interesting to find out….but while Sirul is in detention in Villawood, we will never find out…would we? So it does not take an Einstein to figure out why some people in Malaysia wants him to remain locked up in Villawood for as long as possible so that they will not be compromised by what Sirul will say to the Australian Court to plead for his freedom.

– http://steadyaku-steadyaku-husseinhamid.blogspot.my/