My Anthem

Tuesday, July 07, 2015

WHEN the WAll STreet JOUrnal reports on 1MDB...PART II

THIS is a continuation of the post of JULY 5 as I sighted some gems related to the ongoing saga which are REVEALING TO a journo-blogger's eyes and ears like DESi's.

FIrst from the extreme bodeker minister -- wow, a lawyer2! -- NAzri AZiz, as reported by theSTAR ONLINE:)~~~

Nation

Published: Sunday July 5, 2015 MYT 8:50:00 PM
Updated: Sunday July 5, 2015 MYT 9:56:42 PM

Nazri: I will tell Najib not to sue WSJ

Nazri
Nazri
PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz wants the Prime Minister to re-consider his move to sue The Wall Street Journal  saying what the daily had published was only an allegation against him.

Nazri, the Culture and Tourism Minister, said the right procedure would be for WSJ to lodge a report with the police on the allegation of RM2.6bil of 1Malaysia Development Bhd funds being transferred to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's bank accounts.
“WSJ should provide the authorities with the evidence, proof and facts. That is the procedure.
“If Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak takes action only against WSJ, it looks like he is being selective.
"The Prime Minister must be consistent. You must be consistent… You must sue all the parties,” Nazri said.
"I am going to urge him not to. I will inform him as soon as possible,” Nazri added.
On the special taskforce raiding the premises of SRC International Sdn Bhd, Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd and Ihsan Perdana Sdn Bhd, Nazri said: “It does not matter. They (WSJ) still have to make a police report. If they have given it to the taskforce, then there is no need for the PM to sue them."
“Just allow the taskforce to complete their work and investigation, and we can take it from there.

"In circumstances like this, it is the party alleging wrongdoing who must report to the police not the Prime Minister suing them," he said.

Najib said he has referred the allegation to his lawyers and would decide on the course of action next week.

WSJ and Sarawak Report published an article on Friday quoting an "unnamed investigator", claiming that almost US$700mil (RM2.63bil) of 1MDB funds went into Najib's personal accounts.

The Prime Minister's Office responded by saying that the articles were "political sabotage” while the 1MDB insisted that no funds had been transferred to Najib's accounts.

Najib has also refuted the claims, maintaining that the allegations are a political ploy engineered by his opponents in an attempt to topple him, among them former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The New York-based publication however insisted that their investigation was based on solid documentation.

DESIDERATA: DESI as a journalist will tell this miniSTER That he's ill-informed as to the role of journalists -- they report (NEWSY STUFF) BY using sources, QUOTE THEM on the HIGHLIGHTS< ANd when it's breaking news INVOLVING INTERNATIONAL LEADERS LIKE MALAYSIA"S PM< THE NEWs staff would check the accuracy of the information provided, double or triple check by verifying with OTHER INDEPENDENT SOURCES. US PAPERS LIKE THE WSJ HAVE a high international reputation to protect -- unlike UMNO-CONtrolled organs like UM which often just take orders from the PMO to run down the OPPOisition, and the EDITORS WERE REWARDED WITH DATUKSHIPS:(.

JUST sharing some background on NAZri, his perspective must be seen from an ANTI_MAHATHIR CAMP AS NAZRi was NOT IN THE GOOD BOOKS OF THE THEN PM DR M< love or hate him leaders who ruled MALAysia for 22 years and could easily put NAZri into his pocket/s.

ANyway, to eduacte bodekers like him -- NAZri, knot MAhathir -- let me REPRODUCE A COLUMN BY ONE Of my face MSM NEWSdogs, CITIZEN NADES,WHO honoured me as ORGAnising CHAIrman as featured speakers of the BUM Outings held for four consecutive years, 2008 to 2011, to mark WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY.


IN The cpolumn that follows, PLS note the HIGHLIGHTS IN RED THUS are all done by YL,DESI

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Citizen Nades - We don’t assume anything

Posted on 5 July 2015 - 06:11pm
Last updated on 5 July 2015 - 11:23pm
R. Nadeswaran
ON the outset, a qualification has to be made. I have worked with the owner of The Edge, Tong Kooi Ong, when he was briefly the executive vice-chairman of the Sun Media Group. Ho Kay Tat, the publisher of The Edge, and I honed our skills as journalists in Balai Berita in the eighties.
Both these men were involved in the transition of this publication from a subscription-based one to a free newspaper in 2004. Both men had news sense and the business acumen to go with it. They were professional and took a hands-on approach but never micro-managed. They gave journalists the freedom to write with one caveat – get your facts before even attempting to write the story.
Over the years, the many big stories that theSun broke including the PKFZ fiasco, Zakaria's Palace and Paya Indah Wetlands went through several layers of scrutiny before they were published.
But today's column is not on them or personalities. It is on an issue close to the hearts of all who identify themselves as media people – reporters, journalists, columnists, editors and above all – owners and publishers.
To one who has been following the 1MDB saga over the past few months and occasionally commenting on it in passing, so many facts and figures have emerged.
Many news reports have emanated from documents obtained from various sources. As I have always maintained, the newspaper presents these and perhaps, asks questions and allows the readers to make an educated judgment and separate the wheat from the chaff.
No journalist or publication worth their salt will want to deliberately present false figures or information. Many have learnt the hard way that publishing half-truths and hearsay has its pitfalls – financially and reputation-wise.
The numerous lawsuits against newspapers including theSun is evidence of a thriving, robust and vibrant publishing arena which reveals that anything published is scrutinised, word by word, for anything that injures the reputation of individuals or corporate bodies.
Last week, the brouhaha over 1MDB took a different turn with the arrest of Xavier Justo, the former director of PetroSaudi International , who is alleged to have tampered and doctored documents in the company's deals.
It would have been a routine arrest in Thailand and even before the facts have been revealed in an open court, the word "alleged" has lost its meaning and replaced with the phrase "assumption of guilt".
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar was quoted in this newspaper last week that the Thai Police will not make any speculation on the case as it will jeopardise the credibility of the investigations.
Then came his telling words. "It is very simple, the person arrested was Justo and the document seems to be from him, we cannot assume anything else other than (that) he had tampered with the documents."
I have to dispute him. Journalists are trained to observe the golden rule that "you don't assume anything".
For example, if a minister leads a lifestyle that is not commensurate with his normal income, can it be assumed that he is on the take?
By training, journalists are made to undertake investigations into the source of the minister's wealth and then confront him with the ultimate question: "Sir, you live in a mansion, have eight cars and your children are studying in the UK and they own properties in posh areas in London. Can you please explain for the benefit of the public who may have misconceptions about you?"
That's the way it is done and ought to be done – not assume guilt by association.
This highly dangerous and open-ended statement by Wan Junaidi will be no defence when the offended parties cite the writer and the publication for defamation.
That is why the show-cause letter sent to The Edge by his ministry makes little sense. Without citing specific instances where there has been "false reporting", his boss, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi now says that the publication "should know which articles they published were inaccurate."
This is like arresting someone and accusing him of corruption.
"Tuan, from whom did I take a bribe? Can you be specific – date, time and the quantum?"
"You should know what you took and how much you took. So own up and be punished."
(Imagine applying this principle to some of our politicians and civil servants.)
No editor will publish anything if he knows it is false because the consequences are dire indeed. Having been in such a role, facts are checked, verified, authenticated and validated before they go to print. In some cases, lawyers are consulted.
In between, as part of the regime, the journalist is trained to present two sides of the story. He or she is required to contact all parties to respond to the facts. Some are done via phone, others by email and in many instances, there is a personal interview.
But this whole thing is about "knowing". It's akin to pulling me up for "false reporting" and telling me that I should know which one is false.
Over the past years, I have written and theSun has published more than 1,000 commentaries and news reports. From the bottom of my heart, I can say that there have been no instances of fabrication of news or making false statements.
That's why many of us consider and craft our words in our minds before even putting them on paper. There's no such thing as "publish and be damned".
We, journalists cannot be made to prove our innocence or know which report was false. We write based on evidence and documents which we check and counter-check.
The Sword of Damocles hangs over our heads every day. The writer knows he has nothing else but to rely on facts he has gathered; the editor asks questions as to the accuracy and truthfulness; and the publisher trusts that all these had been done before the newspaper hits the stands or reaches your doorstep.
This is not a matter of a show-cause letter to one publication. It is the principle. The media expects no favours. It merely wants to do its job and have unfettered access to information which it wants to share with the masses. Nothing more, nothing less.
R. Nadeswaran is editor (special and investigative reporting) at theSun. Comments: citizen-nades@thesundaily.com

Related articles

- See more at: http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1480673#sthash.Q1GnJb3K.dpuf

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AFTER  the mystery of ALTANTUYA -- whose ghost still hovers constantly over PUTRAJATA, I HEAR! -- cometh yet another mystery that requires SHYLOCK HOLMES-DR WHAT"SON following the trail....


NEWS break from the malaysian-chronicle.com:)~~~




Tuesday, 07 July 2015 19:50

Son of slain AmBank founder talks of 'KARMA' & Najib's RM2.6 bil 'private Ambank account'

Written by Pascal Najadi
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Son of slain AmBank founder talks of 'KARMA' & Najib's RM2.6 bil 'private Ambank account'
Who could have thought that the crisp news on US$700 million that went missing in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s private bank accounts could present itself as a real chance for Malaysia and all Malaysians?
More precisely, according to the Sarawak Report and Wall Street Journal, US$681,999,976 (RM2.6 billion) was separately wire-transferred from the Singapore branch of the private bank owned by the Abu Dhabi fund Aabar into the prime minister’s private AmBank account in Kuala Lumpur, on March 2013, just in advance of the calling of the general election.
This is a tall order of an alleged now made public super heist well worth a few questions to be raised.
Where we leave now Justice to do a thorough diligent forensic on the US$700 million which allegedly, according to reports from the Wall Street Journal, were literally stolen from Malaysian coffers, one can or should take a broader look at the Malaysian state of affairs of today.
Will Umno finally purge itself of corrupt leaders
A chance for necessary renewal and multi-layered cleansing out of a 58 years Umno-grown corruption presents itself uniquely and perhaps most timely on July 3, 2015.
Malaysia today is no longer a champion of natural resources. Petronas is no longer a bulge bracket global oil company, it never really was.
Education standards in Malaysia are nearing those of established Third World countries and Vision 2020 is not an agenda but a pipe dream that will never come through

.
Malaysia never offered equality to all of her citizens. My late father Hussain Najadi, the founder of AM Bank Group, Malaysia's fifth largest bank, was brutally assassinated on July 29, 2013 in Kuala Lumpur in broad daylight, the investigation and police work on finding the masterminds stopped long time ago back in 2013.
We, as a family in fear of our wellbeing, left Malaysia early 2014 for good, sold all our assets and now feel safe in Switzerland and the Russian Federation. And so on and so forth.
The list of shortcomings of Malaysia or better of a failed state, an inherently corrupt Umno and unresolved assassinations in Malaysia is far too long for this short op-ed here.
KARMA? Ironic that the bank my father founded is where Najib's alleged corrupt money has been uncovered
We take a look in to the core and history of Malaysian politics. The dominating Umno is exclusively run by Malays and has never allowed all Malaysians, with the Chinese Malaysians and the Indian Malaysians, to part take.
Consequently, since independence, each of Malaysia's six prime ministers have been Malay Umno members, starting with the late Tunku Abdul Rahman becoming the first chief minister of Malaya on August 1, 1955 under Queen Elizabeth II and later becoming the first prime minister on August 31, 1957, the day of independence from British rule.
Today, Najib assumes the office of the prime minister, like his good late father Tun Abdul Razak Hussein did brilliantly so as the second prime minister from 1970 to 1976.
Pic above shows the late Hussain Najadi: The author of this article Pascal Najadi is the son of the late Hussain Najadi, who was shot dead in broad daylight in July 2013. The assassination had shocked Malaysia. Hussain was the founder of the AmBank group, where PM Najib Razak is alleged to have opened a personal bank account, into which some RM2.6 billion was illicitly channeled, according to the WSJ. Najib has denied the allegation and threatened to sue the paper, which in turn has insisted its report was not political sabotage but based on 'solid info'. - Malaysia Chronicle
Razak is regarded widely as been a thorough honest man, died not rich and my late father dealt with him when helping to develop post-British ruled Malaysia back then by founding the Arab-Malaysian Development Bank in 1974 – today's fifth largest bank, AmBank Group.
Ironic, epic, is the fact that my late father founded that bank with the blessings of Tun Razak in 1974. Bank Negara then being the majority shareholder with my father bringing it in the early 1980s to the public via the Kuala Lumpur stock exchange and today, the corruption money of Najib being uncovered in the media on private accounts held by him with AmBank. Karma was at heavy duty work.
Race, religion branded politics
This seriously corrupt Umno system has morphed from preferring the Malay race to the most unfortunate of all capital mistakes that one can do, to playing the religious card.
To get religion out of a system of government, history has taught us plenty of examples over the past centuries, blood was the ink used to protocol barbaric events now printed with black ink in our history books.
Those religion-based government system-reset-events were cataclysm spiked epic battles and armed conflicts with human casualties accounted for in large numbers.
All Malaysians are now tested not to let this happen and the government, if serious about being a responsible government, must now use this latest headline of a massive corruption as a unique chance to readjust its course.
Epic irony: Najib's dad Tun Razak at a meeting with the young Hussain Najadi
Another irony: Najib's greatest foe is now former mentor Mahathir Mohamad (above, right), whom Najib's father allowed to re-enter Umno after being sacked by first PM Tunku Abdul Rahman. Mahathir has been a staunch Najib critic, demanding explanations for 1MDB's rambling deals and the mysterious Altantuya (inset) murder. - Malaysia Chronicle
Political systems and institutions in history never went a step backwards, they only moved and move forward. The question is the heading, more to the left, centre or to the right.
But when the carriage is in full speed and inertia races it forward too close and 90 degrees towards a concrete wall, a crash can no longer be prevented, the crash will occur. Simple laws of physics can be translated on many occasions into systemic government risks.
Systemic risk & Najib's 'theft'
Risk is omnipresent for humans. We have to understand and manage risks 24 hours 7 days a week 365 days year on year, permanently perpetually.
Risk management was never in the book of the Malay-ruled Umno-dominated landscape, corruption took care of not exposing those risks, no one cared and now this risk has bitten Malaysians with a vengeance.
Too late to avert but not too late to manage, although the time is running out faster than Malaysia will be able to cope with.
Malaysia and all Malaysian passport holders of all walks of life, all religions now have the last call, the last remaining chance to take charge, to peacefully unite and to reset Malaysia, to manage the risks that become more and more visible as a serious threat to its raison d'etre its credibility its existence.
To make the system better, to learn from all the decades of mistakes and corruption that now bring Malaysia to her knees, certified now a failed state by my personal opinion. It will take many future generations to mend, to rebuild but a start is a start even when starting from the rubbles of corruption.

Pic of Hussain's funeral. The banker was murdered over a purported property deal that his son reportedly disclaimed knowledge of. Pascal, who was also reported as saying he feared for his own safety, did not attend the KL funeral.
The US$700 million fraud allegations, theft of Najib presented to the world via Wall Street Journal, CNBC et al based on bank accounts and documents surfaced to see the light of the day by the Sarawak Report present perhaps for the first time since 1957 a serious question that is worth more than US$700 million. Can Malaysia survive this?
The answer is, maybe just, but only if it can clean the out itself from the rot that has been fermenting since the day independence. Umno must refurbish drastically, change its charter, must allow all Malaysians to participate.
Who wins will write Malaysia's history
One Malaysian citizen being one vote to count, regardless of race and religion. The simple answer to this most complicated question relates to common sense.
Malaysians time to lead their nation has come and it will be at a hefty cost of the Malays, them losing their preferred status through race, handouts, pocket linings, their posh London mansions, their Ferraris, Bentleys, private jets, Hermes bags and what not. This is the cost to avert a perhaps much more serious conflict. It probably is a cost well worth every penny of it.
Quo vadis Malaysia?
History will tell and the winners will write history. Peace is the preferred winner over all other candidates.
Pascal Najadi is the founder president of the international private Swiss merchant banking advisory firm A.S. Najadi & Partners.
This article was originally published under the title of Quo vadis Malaysia on July 4, 2015.
Related Story: Murdered banker’s son keen to help police, fears coming to KL
- TMI
Last modified on Tuesday, 07 July 2015 17:38

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DDESIDERATA:
I GUESS BY This wickedend I MAY write the LAST CHAPTER TO "THE "UNRAVELLING OF 1MDB...And the concurrent unravelling of najib razak's administration", with a little help from DR MAHAThir MOhamad lah!
 __ YL, DESI, knottyaSSusual

Tuesday, 07 July 2015 20:02

DR M SHAMES UMNO: In other countries, Najib would have to RESIGN & BEG FOR FORGIVENESS

Written by Mahathir Mohamad
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I was reprimanded by Anifah Aman, the Foreign Affairs Minister for embarrassing the country in an interview by an American newspaper "The New York Times".
2. Maybe Anifah never read American newspapers before his attempt to discredit me so as to defend Prime Minister Najib. But the whole world knows about Dato Seri Najib, Jho Low and 1MDB. This is because the famous newspapers in Washington, New York and London have already published a 4-page long article about the 1MDB scandal about the 1MDB scandal, Najib's luxurious lifestyle, close friend Jho Low who financed stepson Riza Aziz's pornographic film "The Wolf of Wall Street".
3. A study by Western experts claim that Malaysia is one of ten countries with the highest levels of corruption in the world.
4. But Anifah not embarrassed by this report at all. There is not a single word coming out from him.
5. All those reports tarnishing Malaysia were made before I began to criticize Dato Seri Najib.
6. If Anifah knows the meaning of shame, then when those news reports came out, he should have been embarrassed. He should have asked Dato Seri Najib about those scandals and the foreign press reports. He should advise Dato Seri Najib not to be so unfriendly (should read "friendLY"? desi) to Jho Low and to stop his stepson from posturing himself as a wealthy tycoon.
The meaning of shame - a word not in Umno's vocabulary

The stunning WSJ expose is being investigated by a special task force but few Malaysians have faith the probe will reveal the truth. Most expect 'another' mega cover-up.
7. In other countries, with a scandal such as this involving a leader, he would surely have to resign and beg for forgiveness. But in Malaysia, there are people who defend the leader for no reason, just because of job security.
8. Indeed, what is shaming the country is Dato Seri Najib and his 1MDB. Before this, the country was never ridiculed like this, with such allegations that remain unanswered until now. - chedet.cc
CLICK TO READ THE ORIGINAL VERSION IN MALAY NAJIB MEMALUKAN NEGARA

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