http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/litee/malaysia/article/najibs-economic-polici\
es-benefit-cronies-says-anwar/

Najib's economic policies benefit cronies, says Anwar
By Debra Chong January 27, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 - Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has lashed out at
Datuk Seri Najib Razak's bid to reform Malaysia's economy and spur
growth, saying his political rival's ideas regarding corporate deals
would only benefit the well-connected few.

With the Sodomy II trial out of the way, the battle to win voter support in
the next general election between the prime minister and his political
arch-foe appears wholly centred on the economy.

Prime Minister Najib (picture) has been styling himself a reformer and has
also embarked on a series of sales of government assets to spur growth.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/images/uploads/mugshots/najib1-nov11.jpg

Earlier this month, a government state investment fund sold its stake in
carmaker Proton Holdings Bhd to DRB-Hicom Bhd .

Last year government-linked funds swapped shares in state-run Malaysian
Airline System Bhd (MAS) with budget airline AirAsia Bhd.

"The overall principle is that we want the government-linked companies to
sell off their non-core and non-competitive assets," Najib told the Wall
Street Journal (WSJ) two weeks ago.

"We are always looking out for how to add value to the country," he said.

State investment fund Khazanah Nasional said in a statement that it chose
the best suitor for the job and the country, after the Proton deal.

A government official told the WSJ that the administration was "fully
committed to openness and transparency in all privatisations and divestments
of state-owned assets and to tackling corruption wherever and whenever it is
found."

The official added that Malaysia had introduced a new online database of
government contracts so that anybody can alert the authorities to any
potentially improper actions.

In an interview published today, Anwar told the WSJ that Najib's series of
sales of government assets to private entities without open public tenders
would continue to place key companies in the hands of a few well-heeled and
politically-connected individuals.

Privatisation, the former finance minister-turned-opposition leader, said
"looks good, but look again at the procedures". He added that Najib's
economic policies will result in greater cronyism.

"The issue is not about privatisation, it is blatant corruption," Anwar told
the WSJ.

The economic adviser to the Selangor government, the resource-rich country's
wealthiest state, has been drumming up popular support especially from among
the ethnic Chinese and Indians with promises to abolish Najib's affirmative
action policies aimed to give a leg up to the 28 million population's
majority Malays.

The de facto chief of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) bloc told the daily
he will propel privatisation and do more to free up markets to operate more
efficiently by making government contracts more transparent.

In the article, the 64-year-old pushed his series of economic reform
policies to promote transparency and accountability, especially in the award
of government contracts and end widespread corruption under the current
Barisan Nasional (BN) government led by Najib.

Anwar told the WSJ that he was not just "anti-Umno" but wanted to ensure
that Malaysia would emerge on top as it competed with neighbouring countries
like Indonesia and Vietnam that was pulling in foreign investments.

"We must always compare Malaysia to Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan," he
told theWSJ.

He told the daily that he would push for more privatisation programmes and
free up the markets to run business more efficiently.

Malaysia, once among the top economic magnets in Asia, has been criticised
for continuing with economic policies that benefit only one race to get in
the way of trade and investments.
____

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/1/27/nation/20120127201535&sec=n\
ation

Friday January 27, 2012 MYT 8:06:00 PM
Muhyiddin: Don't fall for DAP's trick of protecting Malay interest

PUTRAJAYA: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muyhiddin Yassin has reminded the
Malays not to be easily swayed by the DAP's promise of fielding more Malay
candidates in the general election.

"The Malays should be aware that the DAP, since its inception, had never
considered their interests.

"They are chauvinists and racists and only now did they think of fielding
Malays as candidates and promising them positions.

"It is just an election gimmick and I hope the Malays would not fall for the
trick," he told newsmen after visiting the Putrajaya Umno Division office
here.
____

Pemimpin Umno berjuang untuk diri bukan bangsa
http://bm.harakahdaily.net/index.php/berita-utama/7750-pemimpin-umno-berjuang-un\
tuk-diri-bukan-bangsa

Take a look in the mirror: Has Umno ever kept its promises?
http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=26977:tak\
e-a-look-in-the-mirror-has-umno-ever-kept-its-promises?&Itemid=2
____

Please support Malaysiakini by subscribing for as low
as RM20 per month to RM150 per year. Details at:
http://www.malaysiakini.com/pages/subscription/index.php

Easy way to help - CLICK on the ads [esp.Google/Yahoo ads]
_________________________________________

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/187584

Hornery mocks Kapp: PM's wife wasn't buying T-shirts
10:12AM Jan 27, 2012

http://media1-cdn.malaysiakini.com/434/883a092635726f889c0dc7375078a21c.jpg

The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) columnist Andrew Hornery stood by his report
that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's wife Rosmah Mansor spent lavishly on
designer Carl Kapp's clothing during a private holiday in the city.

"Kapp said she ordered 61 garments. Said it was a "massive" order. His stuff
is expensive. She wasn't buying T-shirts," retorted Hornery on Twitter
yesterday.

In replying to other users, Hornery maintained that his source is "rock
solid", insisting and that Rosmah's purchase amounted to aconsiderable sum.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/187416

After having courted plenty of notoriety for his reports on Rosmah's
'lavish' spending on designer wear, Hornery added that he intends to stay
away from Malaysian shores.

"I won't be holidaying in Malaysia anytime soon. I've been hung, drawn and
quartered in print there.

"Shoot the messenger when the truth hurts?" said the prominent lifestyle
columnist on Twitter.

Yes, no, ping pong game

Last week, Hornery in his 'Private Sydney' column said that Rosmah had spent
A$100,000 (approximately RM325,000) on 61 outfits at Kapp's boutique.

This was dismissed by Rosmah as a "wildly exaggerated" claim, telling
Malaysiakini on Monday that she has "always been the victim".

Kapp had later issued a statement that Rosmah did shop at his boutique but
denied ever saying that she spent A$100,000.

http://media1-cdn.malaysiakini.com/435/6ba1c264f9b7241b20bc722800e10a52.jpg

In his statement to Malaysiakini, Kapp (right) said that Rosmah and her
"sizeable group" during the visit "made various purchases".
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/187454

The A$100,000 was calculated by fashion blogger Frockwriter, on Jan 17, who
was first to report the matter.

"Based on the average prices in his collection - which start at A$400
(RM1,290) and reach several thousand dollars, Frockwriterestimates it could
be approaching A$100,000. Kapp was paid upfront," blogger Patty Huntingon
had written.

Hornery, who then picked up the story, interviewed Kapp and the Malaysian
High Commission to verify facts before calling Rosmah "first lady of
shopping" in his Saturday column.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/187456

Hornery has since become a target for pro-Umno bloggers going all out to
smear his character with provoking statements on his sexuality.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/187461

Nevertheless, Hornery told his Twitter followers that because of Rosmah's
popularity he would be dishing out more in "an exclusive follow up" in
Private Sydney column tomorrow.

"In honour of tomorrow's column I think it is fitting I have a very spicy
laksa for lunch as a tribute to my new friends in Malaysia. Enjoy!" Hornery
tweeted this morning.
____

Rosmah jejas persiapan PRU-13 Najib?
http://bm.harakahdaily.net/index.php/berita-utama/7789-rosmah-jejas-persiapan-pr\
u-13-najib

Launch 'MongolBlast' app and get rich quick
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/187586


'First Lady of Shopping' reported to MACC
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/187515
____

http://www.malaysiandigest.com/news/39240-court-postpones-decision-in-liong-siks\
-pkfz-case-to-march-9.html

Court Postpones Decision in Liong Sik's PKFZ Case to March 9
Friday, 27 January 2012 11:21

KUALA LUMPUR, 27 JANUARY, 2012: The High Court today postponed to
March 9 its decision on whether former Transport Minister Tun Dr Ling Liong
Sik should be ordered to enter his defence or freed on a charge of cheating
the government in the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) project.

Judge Datuk Ahmadi Asnawi apologised for the postponement, saying he
needed more time to arrive at a decision. The court was scheduled to have
announced its decision today.

Dr Ling, 69, who was the transport minister for 17 years from 1986, is
charged with cheating the government by not disclosing to the Cabinet an
additional interest rate of 7.5 per cent per annum on the purchase price of
the land for the PKFZ project, which had been fixed at RM1,088,456,000 by
the Valuation and Property Services Department (JPPH), based on RM25 per sq
ft, inclusive of the coupon/interest rate.

He also faces two alternative (amended) charges, of cheating and
intentionally not disclosing to the Cabinet that the 7.5 per cent per annum
was an additional interest rate on the land price.

Dr Ling, represented by counsel Wong Khian Keong, is charged with
committing the offences at the fourth floor of the Prime Minister's Office,
Perdana Putra building in Putrajaya, between Sept 25 and Nov 6, 2002.

The first charge, under Section 418 of the Penal Code, carries a
penalty of up to seven years jail, or a fine, or both, upon conviction while
the two alternative (amended) charges, under Section 417 of the Penal Code,
carry a penalty of up to five years jail, or a fine, or both, upon
conviction.

The prosecution, led by DPP Datuk Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah, had
adduced the testimony of 25 witnesses, among them Cabinet ministers and
senior officers of the JPPH. - Bernama
____

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/litee/malaysia/article/high-court-postpones-l\
iong-siks-pkfz-decision-to-march/

High Court postpones Liong Sik's PKFZ decision to March
UPDATED @ 10:21:43 AM 27-01-2012
By Clara Chooi January 27, 2012

Dr Ling was charged in July 2010. - File pic
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/images/uploads/2012/january2012/27/ling-jan27\
.jpg

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 - The High Court today delayed its much-awaited
decision on Tun Dr Ling Liong's Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) cheating trial
to March, saying it needed more time to study the case.

"As I discussed with the learned counsel earlier, I need more time to
consider," judge Datuk Ahmadi Asnawi said this morning.

He set March 9 for decision before adding, "I'm sorry for all this thing."

When approached outside the courtroom later, a calm-looking Dr Ling, dressed
in a neatly-pressed suit, merely told reporters that he felt "normal".

He declined further comment, saying it would be merely be speculation at
this juncture.

"Normal feeling... so let's wait for the ninth (of March)... Okay?" the
smiling Dr Ling said, before giving a small wave and leaving, followed
closely by his wife Toh Puan Ena Ling and sons Datuk Ling Hee Leong and Hee
Keat.

Dr Ling was charged in July 2010 with knowingly deceiving the Cabinet into
approving land purchase for the PKFZ, which resulted in wrongful losses for
the government.

The former MCA president also faces two alternative charges of deceiving the
Cabinet into believing that the purchase at RM25 psf and the 7.5 per cent
interest rate were acknowledged and agreed to by the Valuation and Property
Services Department (JPPH) despite knowing that there was no such agreement.

The PKFZ project was mooted during Dr Ling's tenure as transport minister
and the cost of the project, initially estimated at less than RM2 billion,
more than doubled to RM4.6 billion by 2007.

The cost of the project has been further projected to swell to as much as
RM12.5 billion due to interest incurred from deferred payments if the
trans-shipment hub fails to perform.

Though he quit as MCA president in 2003, Dr Ling is still widely perceived
to be influential in the party.

Last month, the prosecution had tried to make its case against Dr Ling by
saying the latter's purported eagerness in pushing for the purchase of land
for the PKFZ arouses suspicion of collusion.

During submission, lead prosecutor Datuk Tun Abdul Majid Hamzah described
the eagerness as "suspicious" and noted that Dr Ling had continued to
encourage an outright purchase of the 1,000-acre land parcel instead of
using the usual land acquisition method, despite being notified by the
JPPH's
valuation of existing encumbrances.

"Based on these objective facts, the court can draw a reasonable inference
that the accused from the very beginning clearly intended to help out KDSB
(Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd) by clearing the latter's debt and enriched it for
reasons best known to him," he had said.

He also pointed out that Dr Ling had issued a letter for the land purchase
to proceed despite the Port Klang Authority (PKA) not being ready to pay at
the time.
____

Court puts off decision on Ling case to March 9
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/187580

'I am sure all of you have nothing to fear'?
http://aliran.com/7973.html
------------------------------------------------------------------
The Berita Malaysia / bmalaysia mailing lists
============================================
Read postings, subscribe/unsubscribe or change settings at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/beritamalaysia
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bmalaysia