I DON't use the weather vane; I use the socio-political events of the past six months to predict what follows in the next six months. REMEMER THAT ONE DAY IN POLITICS IS A LONG< LONG TIME> SO WHEN DESI EMBARKS OF What goe down the line from now till year-end, I am sticking my neck out, hence if my predictions aren't that accurate, don't shoot me OK! IYOU can take over my job -- START YOUR OWN BLOG!
LET me start at the very beginning, not "ONCE upon a time"> IT all started with the PM's pet hobby of NAMING ALMOST EVERY NEW INITIATIVE BEGINNNG with the prefix 1M>for 1MALAYSIA.
I've written maybe about 30 to 50 articles centred on, or revolving around 1MDB. LET me check and get back to you.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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DESI-YLCHONG TOOK A HARiRAYA B R E A K to give my mind a R&R&R< WHICh translates as REST, RECReation & RUMInation.
I went into the woods -- Sungai DE MIANG POnd, knot as famous as WALDEN LAH! --like all THINKERS DID, DO and WILL DO; hopefull now I Write better; if you like HEY JUDe influence on me, I Write BADder!
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UPDATED 21 JULY 2015
THE holy month of RAMAdan had hardly finished before the first THUNDER CLAP BOOMED in on the day before HARi RAya AIdilfitri started last FRiday. ALl the way whooshing in wit' LONdoneryy Air. HERe's from THe STAr ONline:~~
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Screenshot of Lester in the video
In a three-minute video, Lester Melanyi, a former editor of Sarawak Tribune, claimed that he had met Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his Latino friend in London after the Sarawak elections.
Lester claimed that Sarawak Report founder and editor Clare Rewcastle Brown arranged for the meeting with the opposition leader at a hotel after the Sarawak elections.
He alleged the next day they met Anwar and his Latino friend again for breakfast at a halal restaurant.
Lester also said that Sarawak Report first focused on former Sarawak chief minister Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud before changing focus to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
He claimed that he was employed by the Bruno Manser Foundation (BMF) who were his paymasters in 2011 and was paid cash by Brown while he was in London for one year three months from 2012 to 2013.
Lester claimed that part of his job was to gather information for the Sarawak Report and to write reports for Radio Free Sarawak and they communicated through emails but if urgent Brown would call him.
When he returned to Sarawak, Lester claimed that his salary was wired via Western Union under his brother-in-law's name.
Lester also claimed that Brown informed him about the “1MDB plan” in January this year.
He said that Brown told him that they had an important mission for the opposition leader and that he had do it according to what two other opposition MPs wanted.
“But what they showed me was some of the fakes I had to get from London like emails and everything because all these are created. I told her I don’t want to be part of this scheme," he claimed in Part 1 of the uploaded video.
On Wednesday, Barisan Nasional strategic communications director Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan had stated that he had seen a video confession by a former Sarawak Report editor allegedly involved in forging documents to smear the prime minister and 1MDB.
Rahman said a police report had been lodged and the video handed over to the police.
In response to Rahman's statement, Brown dismissed the claims by Rahman saying that Lester had never worked for them.
She said that Lester had never written a single word for Sarawak Report.
"Let us confirm. Lester Melanyi has never ever written a word of Sarawak Report - sorry Lester, but we are out of your league.
"We are surprised these types are teaming up with the man who got sacked from Sarawak Tribune for publishing the Allah cartoons," she said.
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ANd IN QUICK SUCCESSION another LONderry-aired THUNDER CLAP STRUCK!
, via straitstimes.com:~~~
Sarawak Report founder refutes claims by man claiming site
had forged 1MDB info
Published
Jul 16, 2015, 8:48 pm SGT
2 0 0
PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Former newspaper editor
Lester Melyani only worked for Radio Free Sarawak until mid-2011 and never for
the Sarawak Report whistleblower website, said the site's editor Clare
Rewcastle Brown.
"He did briefly come to London
after writing to ask me if he could join the Radio Free Sarawak team. He was a
former editor of the Sarawak Tribune before he was sacked for publishing an
Allah cartoon, so I assumed he had skills. However, he was not very active and
I had to sadly drop him from the team back in mid-2011," said the Sarawak
Report founder.
Lester had emerged in a video recording recently where he alleged he was
aware that the Sarawak Report website had falsified information on debt-laden
state fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) in order to topple Prime Minister
Najib Razak.
In an email response to The Star, Rewcastle Brown said Lester had never
worked for Sarawak Report, and refuted his allegation that he, Datuk Seri Anwar
Ibrahim, a Latino friend and herself had met in London
after the Sarawak elections.
"Lester certainly never met Anwar in London with me. I have only met Anwar on his
official visits to London
and he was always accompanied by his wife," said Brown.
She added that Lester was not paid by the Bruno Manser Fund, refuting
allegations that he was employed by them in 2011, but said she did pay Lester
in cash for 15 months from 2012 to 2013.
"He was paid living expenses by a separate donor through me, and he
shacked up with a friend of mine to save money. He was not hired for more than
about five months and this was terminated after the Sarawak
elections, when the record shows the radio station went off-air for a few
months," said Brown.
When asked about forged documents and the "1MDB plan" allegations,
Brown dismissed them, saying that Lester "makes it sound like Star
Trek".
"I have not watched the video, but according to the reports he has
brought everyone and pulled them all together into one fantastic plot without a
shred of truth or evidence to back it all up," said Brown.
Meanwhile Lester on Thursday said he was standing by allegations towards
the website. "My conscience told me to act and speak up," he told The
Star in reiterating the allegations that Sarawak Report had worked with
opposition leaders in a mission to bring down Najib.
- See more at:
http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/sarawak-report-founder-refutes-claims-by-man-claiming-site-had-forged-1mdb-info#sthash.UseY2M4z.dpuf
DESIDERATA: I"VE WRIT a few times, this 1MDB EPICsode is turning our to be like a movie; then it can be reviwed at imdb.com!
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AND the FIRST LIGHTNING STRIKE FRom the LIKE-HIM-or-HATE-HIm ex-PM DR MAhathir MOHAmad.
AGain3, from the STAr ONline:~~~
Nation
Published:
Monday July 20, 2015 MYT 7:49:00 PM
Updated: Monday July 20, 2015 MYT 7:58:39 PM
Updated: Monday July 20, 2015 MYT 7:58:39 PM
Dr M: Plot to oust Najib 'known to everyone'
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Dr Mahathir
"I had openly called for his stepping down. No conspiracy. Just open declaration to the whole nation that I would like to see Najib cease to be Prime Minister.
"It is all in the open. There is no need to conspire. There is open campaigning for his ceasing to be Prime Minister," Dr Mahathir said on his Chedet.cc blog on Monday.
Dr Mahathir said there would be no need to call for an investigation,
or call detectives or special agents to uncover any conspiracy as the
call for Najib to step down "is known to everyone."
He also referred to allegations levelled at the government investment arm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
"There is no denial that money was deposited in the private account. The explanation to Umno is that it was for the elections. Umno seems satisfied.
"Don’t they know that Government money cannot be used to help a political party to win elections? But the money was from donation. Who donated two billion ringgit? No answer," said Dr Mahathir.
He also said government money was used to help (Barisan Nasional) win in the previous general election through BR1M.
"But what about BR1M? Isn’t it Government money, all seven billion ringgit and more. That was clever.
"It is not for elections but given before any election, with the promise of more if the party wins, isn’t it about using Government money to win elections?" he said.
Dr Mahathir continued his criticisms of Najib by claiming that he had amended Umno's election rules to make it easier to stay in power.
"Effectively this means the real electors have been reduced from 2,000 to about 190 Umno divisions. The number of members voting for a candidate is nullified.
"Far from making Umno elections more democratic, Najib has actually restricted the right to vote from ordinary members to just the divisions. And Najib has a strangle-hold over most of the division heads," he said.
He also referred to allegations levelled at the government investment arm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
"There is no denial that money was deposited in the private account. The explanation to Umno is that it was for the elections. Umno seems satisfied.
"Don’t they know that Government money cannot be used to help a political party to win elections? But the money was from donation. Who donated two billion ringgit? No answer," said Dr Mahathir.
He also said government money was used to help (Barisan Nasional) win in the previous general election through BR1M.
"But what about BR1M? Isn’t it Government money, all seven billion ringgit and more. That was clever.
"It is not for elections but given before any election, with the promise of more if the party wins, isn’t it about using Government money to win elections?" he said.
Dr Mahathir continued his criticisms of Najib by claiming that he had amended Umno's election rules to make it easier to stay in power.
"Effectively this means the real electors have been reduced from 2,000 to about 190 Umno divisions. The number of members voting for a candidate is nullified.
"Far from making Umno elections more democratic, Najib has actually restricted the right to vote from ordinary members to just the divisions. And Najib has a strangle-hold over most of the division heads," he said.
DESIDERATA: thank GOd DR MAhathir is alive and kicking, and in the PURSUIT OF THE TRUTH, HE"S Seen as OPPOSITION-FRIENDLY! AS they say, there are no permanent friends or foes in politics, only permanent interests. AND DESi has also writ, we in the OPPosition -- YEs, I Am a card-carrying PKR member in FURong! -- will adopt the CHInese saying, translated as closely as possible "BORROWING somebody's (once your enemy) dagger to kill another (current and bigger Enemy)" (IN KANTOnis reads: ZEI DOH Sakk Yen:)
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SOMe minor flashes sighted by DESi in some funny horizon:(~~~
Via malaysiakini.com:(~~~
AG not part of probe team, says task force
Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail
was never part of the investigators in the special task force probing
the allegations surrounding 1MDB, including RM2.6 billion being
deposited into the prime minister's private bank accounts.The special task force said this in a joint press statement today signed by Bank Negara governor Zeti Akthar Aziz, inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Abu Kassim Mohamed.
"The special task force would like to clarify that the investigation is handled by the MACC, police and Bank Negara as the investigating agencies.
"The issue of Abdul Gani (photo) as attorney-general interfering and influencing the investigations does not arise."Instead, Abdul Gani is only referred to for guidance and legal advice to ensure the investigation is holistic and according to law," said the task force.
It was responding to reports which called for Abdul Gani to be excluded from the special task force.
This was the first statement by the task force which was only signed by the three investigating chiefs.
All previous task force statements included the attorney-general's signature.
The three agencies have different scope of investigation with Zeti, Khalid and Abu Kassim in charge at their investigation levels respectively, said the task force.
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DESIDERATA: NOW TWO OLDE thunder claps and lightning flashes, one from within PArliament HOUse, NO WONDER DESI did not hear/sight damned earlier; MAAf ia, badder later than never!
FROm thestaronline:~~
Published:
Wednesday June 10, 2015 MYT 2:48:00 PM
Updated: Wednesday June 10, 2015 MYT 2:50:06 PM
Updated: Wednesday June 10, 2015 MYT 2:50:06 PM
Parliament: 1MDB 'appropriately' paid Goldman Sachs fees
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In a written reply to Tony Pua (DAP-Petaling Jaya Utara), the Finance Ministry said this was based on the answer provided by 1MDB's management.
“Based on the information, negotiations and the determination of the yield followed standard market procedures between the issuer and the investor for the sale and purchase of fixed income security,” it said.
“Goldman Sachs acts as the principal and not in the capacity of the agency for the transaction,” said the reply.
The bonds were for 1MDB Global Investment, 1MDB Energy and 1MDB Energy (Langat) Limited.
In an immediate response, Pua said the ministry was merely repeating the answer it gave him in the last parliamentary in March without providing any new details.
The reply did not specify the exact amount paid to the US-based investment firm, despite his repeated requests, Pua said.
“This question refers to my query in the last sitting. However, because the minister had refused to provide the details of the breakdown to my question, I had asked the reason for his refusal,” he told reporters at Parliament lobby on Wednesday.
He said the detailed breakdown was important to dispel allegations that commissions paid to Goldman Sachs were above the market rate.
“I needed to obtain the facts to evaluate if 1MDB overpaid Goldman Sachs for the three bond issue exercises as the latter received more than 10% in certain commissions, fees and expenses, which was abnormally high.
“However, 1MDB claimed that the above had included ‘discounts’ to the bond investors and hence, I had asked for the breakdown of the figures,” he said.
____________________________________________
FROM themalaymail.com.my:)~~~
Heads must roll in 1MDB for being ‘fleeced’ by Goldman Sachs, claims MP
Thursday October 30, 2014
01:55 PM GMT+8
01:55 PM GMT+8
ICYMI
60
12 Google +0 1
Tools
Tony Pua said it was
scandalous that 1MDB agreed to pay a 10 per cent fee to American investment
bank Goldman Sachs to secure two 10-year loans. — Picture by Choo Choy MayKUALA
LUMPUR, Oct 30 — The entire top management of 1Malaysia Development Berhad
(1MDB) must be sacked for agreeing to what he said was a cutthroat fee for
raising funds from an international investment bank, DAP’s Tony Pua said today.The Petaling Jaya Utara MP said it was “scandalous” that 1MDB agreed to pay a 10 per cent fee to American investment bank Goldman Sachs to secure two 10-year loans amounting to US$4.75 billion (RM15.2 billion), when fees typically do not exceed two per cent.
“Tenaga Nasional, for example, raised US$350 million by paying only two per cent in fees and expenses. For larger fund-raising exercises such as by Penerbangan Malaysia Bhd, US$1 billion was raised with only 0.5 per cent in fees and expenses,” he said at a news conference at the Parliament lobby.
“The Mexican and Uruguayan governments on the other hand, issued bonds amounting to US$3.9 billion and US$2.0 billion by deducting only 0.2 per cent and 0.1 per cent for fees and expenses respectively. Therefore, the logical question I had asked was, who were paid these ‘certain commissions’ as stated in the bond offer documents?” he said.
Earlier this week, The Edge financial weekly reported that 1MDB took a 10-year-loan of US$1.75 billion (RM5.6 billion) in 2012 and another for US$3 billion in 2013, for which it allegedly paid US$196 million (RM627 million) and US$283 million (RM906 million) in commissions, respectively.
The Edge Financial Daily ran a report yesterday quoting Goldman Sachs’ Asia Pacific corporate communications chief, Edward Naylor, as saying that the 10 per cent commission covered “certain commissions, fees and expenses” and did not involve any payment to third parties beyond legal and accounting services.
Pua today queried why the bank avoided explaining why the fees for 1MDB’s two loans were so high, when they charged no higher than 1.3 per cent when handling similar fund-raising exercises by Sarawak’s Equisar International Incorporated, Silicon Valley giant Apple Inc and the Mexican government, among others.
“Hence by taking the bank’s response at face value, and their refusal to give reasons for the cutthroat 10 per cent fees charged, Malaysians can only come to a single conclusion - the top management of 1MDB must have been comprised of idiotic desperadoes to be fleeced naked by an unscrupulous and unethical Goldman Sachs,” said the DAP National Publicity Secretary.
Aside from sacking the sovereign wealth fund’s top management, Pua said 1MDB’s entire Board of Directors must also be penalised for failing to make sure the management performed its tasks responsibly in the interests of the Malaysian government as a shareholder.
“The chairman of the Board, Tan Sri Lodin Wok Kamaruddin, who is also the chief executive of the Armed Forces Fund, must account for why the 1MDB Board has been negligent to check on such incompetence and idiocy,” Pua said.
- See more at:
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/heads-must-roll-in-1mdb-for-being-fleeced-by-goldman-sachs-claims-mp#sthash.PiZNveEP.dpuf
Thursday October 30, 2014
01:55 PM GMT+8
01:55 PM GMT+8
The Edit: US basketball star Dwyane Wade debuts wine label
Rooney aims to beat Bobby Charlton’s highest scoring record
The Edit: Bieber pictured with ‘drug pipe’ in LA
The Edit: Study links TV viewing with bullying
Tony
Pua said it was scandalous that 1MDB agreed to pay a 10 per cent fee to
American investment bank Goldman Sachs to secure two 10-year loans. —
Picture by Choo Choy MayKUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 — The entire
top management of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) must be sacked for
agreeing to what he said was a cutthroat fee for raising funds from an
international investment bank, DAP’s Tony Pua said today.The Petaling Jaya Utara MP said it was “scandalous” that 1MDB agreed to pay a 10 per cent fee to American investment bank Goldman Sachs to secure two 10-year loans amounting to US$4.75 billion (RM15.2 billion), when fees typically do not exceed two per cent.
“Tenaga Nasional, for example, raised US$350 million by paying only two per cent in fees and expenses. For larger fund-raising exercises such as by Penerbangan Malaysia Bhd, US$1 billion was raised with only 0.5 per cent in fees and expenses,” he said at a news conference at the Parliament lobby.
“The Mexican and Uruguayan governments on the other hand, issued bonds amounting to US$3.9 billion and US$2.0 billion by deducting only 0.2 per cent and 0.1 per cent for fees and expenses respectively. Therefore, the logical question I had asked was, who were paid these ‘certain commissions’ as stated in the bond offer documents?” he said.
Earlier this week, The Edge financial weekly reported that 1MDB took a 10-year-loan of US$1.75 billion (RM5.6 billion) in 2012 and another for US$3 billion in 2013, for which it allegedly paid US$196 million (RM627 million) and US$283 million (RM906 million) in commissions, respectively.
The Edge Financial Daily ran a report yesterday quoting Goldman Sachs’ Asia Pacific corporate communications chief, Edward Naylor, as saying that the 10 per cent commission covered “certain commissions, fees and expenses” and did not involve any payment to third parties beyond legal and accounting services.
Pua today queried why the bank avoided explaining why the fees for 1MDB’s two loans were so high, when they charged no higher than 1.3 per cent when handling similar fund-raising exercises by Sarawak’s Equisar International Incorporated, Silicon Valley giant Apple Inc and the Mexican government, among others.
“Hence by taking the bank’s response at face value, and their refusal to give reasons for the cutthroat 10 per cent fees charged, Malaysians can only come to a single conclusion - the top management of 1MDB must have been comprised of idiotic desperadoes to be fleeced naked by an unscrupulous and unethical Goldman Sachs,” said the DAP National Publicity Secretary.
Aside from sacking the sovereign wealth fund’s top management, Pua said 1MDB’s entire Board of Directors must also be penalised for failing to make sure the management performed its tasks responsibly in the interests of the Malaysian government as a shareholder.
“The chairman of the Board, Tan Sri Lodin Wok Kamaruddin, who is also the chief executive of the Armed Forces Fund, must account for why the 1MDB Board has been negligent to check on such incompetence and idiocy,” Pua said.
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