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Showing posts with label corruption. Show all posts
Showing posts with label corruption. Show all posts

Wednesday 27 December 2023

More may follow for Daim


PUTRAJAYA: Menara Ilham belonging to Tun Daim Zainuddin and his family may not be their only asset to be seized. Several of their other assets may also be confiscated, following what graft investigators claim is a failure to explain the source of funds to buy the real estate.

“This (more seizures) is a possibility. If it is necessary for assets to be seized, investigators will proceed to apply for seizure,” said a source.

Other sources with knowledge of the investigation said officers from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had sought an explanation from the former finance minister on the source of funds but had received no response.

MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, when asked about the investigations on Daim, said his officers were probing allegations of corruption and money laundering – but declined to reveal details of the cases.

He said the seizure of Menara Ilham was a normal process and was meant to prevent the building from being sold while the investigation was ongoing.

ALSO READ: Daim’s Ilham Tower seized by MACC

Azam said the seizure would not affect operations and that companies, shops and offices in the building could continue operating.

“When we investigate allegations of corruption and power abuse and there are non-movable assets involved, we are allowed under the MACC Act to submit to the Deputy Public Prosecutor for the asset to be seized.

“This is what happened. We used the power of the DPP to instruct the Land Office to place a caveat on the land,” he explained.

Azam said the same process had been done on numerous occasions during MACC’s course of investigation.

“This (Menara Ilham seizure) is not the only case,” said Azam.

ALSO READ: MACC seizes Daim's Menara Ilham

He said that in early 2000, the agency had seized several plots of land belonging to a former senior government officer who was believed to have obtained the property through corrupt means.

According to a notice published in a newspaper, the 60-storey Menara Ilham, built at a estimated cost of RM2.7bil, was seized after it was found to be involved in an offence under the MACC Act 2009.

“Take notice that according to Section 38(5) of the MACC Act 2009, whereby anyone that goes against this notice, has committed an offence that could be fined no more than twice the amount of said value, or RM50,000, or whichever higher amount, and can be jailed for a period no longer than two years,” read the notice.

The MACC had placed the notice, dated Dec 18, in a local newspaper.

Reports quoted financial executives close to Daim as saying that the seizure was effected on Thursday after Daim’s refusal to submit to MACC’s petition to declare his and his family’s financial holdings.


Related stories:

Daim’s Ilham Tower seized by MACC

MACC seizes Daim's Menara Ilham

Business as usual at Menara Ilham after MACC seizure

Life goes on at tower despite seizure

TUN DAIM_former MERBOK_KEDAH PARLIAMENTARY MENTRI cum 2 times FINANCE MINISTER (When Anwar was in Jail in 1998) , Wan Zaleha_former TV3 famous Newscaster-is one of his Wife.fyi

His mansion already be confiscated (DISITA), by Government now.

Notes:-
1.Anwar &SPRM(MACC), doo a marvellous job!👍👍👍

2. His wealth spread over more than 20country globally. This news MUCH MUCH MUCH BIGGER than 1MDB.

Relates posts:



Robert Quok, Richest Malaysian Back Home



How Malaysia is finding its way out of the middle-income trap

It has taken the slow but steady route while addressing an ethnic incongruity




Thursday 12 October 2023

Crooked cops under the spotlight; Bukit Aman CID chief pleased with public reception to his stern address to his personnel

 

   

ppointed new KL top cop as Bukit Aman CID director followed rigorous selection proc process



Newly- appointed CID director who exposed the state of decay in the ranks has given a clear warning to cops on the payroll of criminal syndicates.

THE rot in our police force is far worse than imagined but there is a glimmer of hope: It is no longer being swept under the carpet.

The head of Bukit Aman’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, has pledged this in no uncertain terms.

At a meeting in Penang on Friday, which was supposed to be a welcoming mandate ceremony for him as the newly promoted director, he stunned the 130 state and district CID chiefs with the brutal expose of the decay in the system.

Comm Shuhaily, the former KL police chief, was blunt in his warning to corrupt officers working in cahoots with criminal rackets. His notice to them: “Change or be changed.”

“You’re willing to sacrifice the lives of your comrades because of the money you get from syndicates. In other words, there are some here who are willing to kill each other for money,” the CID director said during the closeddoor conference.

The video footage of his speech was posted online and has since gone viral.

Comm Shuhaily said the venality and corruption in the system has remained unchecked because there is no supervision, especially in monitoring the lifestyles of officers and lower ranking police personnel.

For example, he questioned how it is possible for a sergeant to buy a Toyota Alphard, Vellfire, or a Mercedes with money earned only from his salary.

(A police sergeant comes under Grade YA5, for which the minimum salary is RM1,824 with the maximum of RM5,801. The base model of Toyota Alphard costs RM464,000. With a year’s insurance of RM14,366 and road tax of RM4,182, the on-the-road price of the vehicle is a whopping RM482,548. Reconditioned models a few years older cost about RM40,000 to RM50,000 less.)

“Have their superiors ever asked how they could afford such luxury vehicles based on the salaries they earn, or whether they have declared their assets? This is all part of existing police task force directives,” he said.

Comm Shuhaily said the supervising officers were not just negligent in motoring junior officers but were also directly involved by being on the criminal syndicates’ payroll.

“Some are equally bad. They go and buy these luxury cars together with their sergeants and even pick out the registration plate numbers together. Isn’t this what’s happening?” he said, underscoring the state of corruption in the force.

Addressing those in the meeting who had not met the basic requirements of their responsibilities, he said they would be removed from the CID and barred from holding any higher rank.

Citing the observation of the late former IGP Tan Sri Mohd Bakri Omar, who served from 2003 to 2006, he said most officers were “promoted to the level of incompetence”.

“They make wrong decisions or dare not decide nor give directives when needed. They play safe all the time to get their positions. They are only clever at PR.”

Describing irresponsible officers and those who work with criminal rackets for monthly payments as “traitors”, he said they were not fit to talk about defending the country, race or religion.

Comm Shuhaily said he expected everyone in the CID, from officers in the Bukit Aman HQ to personnel in stations across the country, to stop associating with criminal syndicates.

Although there is cynicism in the ranks over the CID director’s admonition, likening it to the adage of “A new broom sweeps clean”, Malaysians have largely welcomed the man’s trenchant warning against police misconduct.

But in all honesty, what are the chances of our police force being cleansed under the existing laws to check abuses and accountability?

It won’t happen with the Independent Police Conduct

Commission (IPCC) Act 2020, which has been described as “toothless” by human rights and civil society groups.

The IPCC, which only came into force this July after being passed three years ago, does not have the key ingredient for it to be effective: authority to discipline.

This lame piece of legislation has also weakened the scant police oversight provided under the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC). The IPCC does not even include search and investigation powers provided under the EAIC.

The IPCC has no powers to act against police officers found guilty of wrongdoing. It can only recommend proposed actions to the Police Force Commission or other appropriate authorities.

It is a poor substitute for the original Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), first mooted in 2005 as part of 125 recommendations by the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysia Police.

Members of the commission included prominent figures such as a former IGP, representatives of the police force and the Retired Senior Police Officers’ Association of Malaysia, among others.

The establishment of the IPCMC to probe cases of police abuse and to discipline culprits responsible was among the commission’s main recommendations.

Although a proposed Bill was drafted as part of the report, resistance from within the police force was too strong for it to make any headway.

In July 2019, the then ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition, tabled its IPCMC Bill, which was criticised as a gross disappointment from what was initially proposed by the commission.

But the IPCMC Act was stymied when the Pakatan government collapsed in February 2020 with the crossing over of many of its MPS in the wake of the “Sheraton Move”.

Among all forms of corruption, it is graft within the police force which hurts a country the most. In Malaysia, it has come to a level where corrupt officers are in the pockets of criminal rackets.

Meaningful reform cannot take place if the cops are allowed to continue investigating misconduct cases involving their own. Or if corrupt officers are only given slaps on wrists by being transferred out or barred from promotion.

The only viable solution to cleanse the much-marred image of our police force is to set up the IPCMC as it was first proposed 18 years ago. It is still not too late to do so.

- Media consultant M. Veera Pandiyan likes this quote by a US Chief Justice, Earl Warren: “The police must obey the law while enforcing the law.” The views expressed here are entirely the writer’s own.




KUALA LUMPUR: Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain says he was pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming response from the public following the video of his recent address to CID officers.

The Bukit Aman CID director said it showed that the public knew about the state of the police, and that it was an "open secret".

"I firmly believe if we are plagued by disease, we must first admit it.

"If we don't, then the doctor could not administer the right cure or medicine," he told a press conference in Bukit Aman on Wednesday (Oct 11).

He was commenting on the recent videos of his address to CID officers, where he was hard hitting, including highlighting wrongdoings of some officers.

"What I did is just amplifying what the IGP and Deputy IGP have been saying in wanting to clean up the police force.

"They have been saying it, I merely amplify it," he lamented.

Comm Mohd Shuhaily said as an initial move, all CID officers holding sensitive positions, including district CID chiefs and D7 (Secret Societies, Gambling and Vice Division), have to declare their assets, and must be transparent and comprehensive.

"If someone is able and can afford a certain lifestyle, they must show they have legitimate sources of income.

"We will conduct continuous auditing to ensure high integrity among CID officers," he said.

Comm Mohd Shuhaily also said applications for sensitive positions in the department were also open.

"We will issue the offer to any officer or personnel.

"They must send their application letter along with forms declaring their assets," he said, emphasising that his address was a call for his officers to change.

"Whatever we do, it will have a reaction, be it positive or negative.

"However, the overall reaction by the public has been positive, but we need the public to help us.

"Change belongs to you," said Comm Mohd Shuhaily, who added the reason the video was disseminated was so that it could reach a wider audience.

"During the address, I could only address 140 officers present at the venue, whereas I have 10,000 officers and personnel in the department," he said.


Related posts:



Literal Combat Ships (LCS) Project and Leakages; Vessels expected only in 2029

The LCS affair has been described variously as a scandal and a fiasco. It is both. - NSTP file pic

 NST Leader: Of LCS and leakages


It may just take six littoral combat ships (LCS) to question the unity government's zero tolerance for corruption.

When the first of the LCS was supposed to be delivered in April 2019 but wasn't, the nation was alerted to brewing problems with the RM9.13 billion contract awarded to Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS) in 2011.

BNS was supposed to build the LCS with the help of French naval company DCNS in 2015. All six vessels remain undelivered despite an early payment of RM6.08 billion. So do answers. Muar member of parliament Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman tried persuading the Dewan Rakyat to get the members of parliament to debate the issue on Friday, but failed.

He failed to convince Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, who said a debate was unnecessary at this stage because the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was on it and it was being briefed regularly by the Defence Ministry.

While this is true, a four-year wait for answers is a long time. Besides, it is not clear if the PAC is on the hunt for those responsible for the leakages. A debate in the Dewan Rakyat would have clarified this.

The LCS affair has been described variously as a scandal and a fiasco. It is both. The LCS, all six of them, should have been delivered this year, which is halfway through. Do not get us wrong. We are not questioning the need for the Royal Malaysian Navy to have them. But the people need to know why BNS, which was awarded the contract in 2011, didn't deliver as agreed.

Today, the cost is said to be RM11.2 billion. The contract has turned out to be a bad deal for BNS. It has been worse for the government.

It is not that nothing has been done by the government then and the government now. There have been a forensic audit, a suspension and a resumption of the contract. On Aug 16 last year, this newspaper quoted the PAC findings as revealing that there have been discrepancies and delays in the construction of the LCS since 2017.

What is worse, when the first LCS was launched in 2017, it was less than 44 per cent complete. Although several high-profile people were said to have played a role in the scandal, only one person has been charged with criminal breach of trust.

The LCS scandal is a bank of questions in search of answers. Parliament would have done well to debate this rather than allow the people to speculate. Was the one charged acting alone? Unlikely, given the high value and the twists and turns in the deal. Why weren't the high-profile personalities charged? Why was the first LCS launched when it was only 44 per cent complete? And more.

Corruption is robbing the country of billions of ringgit annually. In a recent finding, EMIR Research, a local think tank, disclosed that Malaysia lost RM4.5 trillion to corruption and leakages over the last 26 years. We could have paid our national debt four times over.

EMIR Research is right. Malaysia is designed to succeed, but some plunderers in leadership positions fail us.

Zero tolerance for corruption, if it is to have any meaning, must catch the plunderers in their greed. Telling it all, inside and outside Parliament, will help.


Vessels expected only in 2029


PAC: Costs expected to balloon as LCS project facing delays again


THE littoral combat ship (LCS) project is facing delays again, and the vessels will only be ready by 2029, says the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

In its report published on the official Parliament website yesterday, the committee said the delay had caused the construction cost to balloon to RM11.22bil.

“The LCS construction period has been extended for 83 months,” it said, adding that following the delay, the Navy would only be able to obtain all five ships in 2029, not 2022 as stated in the original contract.

The report also said that there had been no progress on the construction of the first ship between Dec 11, 2021, and June 10, 2023.

Although the number of LCS has been reduced (from six) to five, the report said the cost of the vessels increased from RM9.128bil to RM11.22bil.

The additional cost came from the rise in equipment prices (RM1.214bil), cost of design (RM0.211bil), insurance and risk (RM0.466bil), financial costs (RM0.143bil), project management (RM0.066bil).

PAC also said that the main issue of the LCS detailed design had yet to be resolved, with only 84% having gone through the confirmation, verification and approval stage by the ship’s design supervisor, Naval Group from France.

“However, the contractor has assured that the detailed design will be completed before August 2024.”

According to the committee, the ministry had signed the sixth supplementary agreement (SA 6) on May 26 without getting approval from the Attorney General’s Chamber (AGC), despite being advised to do so.

“Mindef’s decision to turn its back on the AGC in signing SA 6 is an inappropriate action because it can lead to legal implications against the government, and this (action) must not be repeated,” it said.

Due to this, PAC has urged the ministry to ensure the implementation of the mobilisation plan is in accordance with the conditions that have been set, with the first LCS ship being completed by May 2024 and handed over to the Navy by August 2026.

PAC has also suggested the government ensure the acquisition of Boustead Naval Shipyard by Ocean Sunshine achieves the intended goal.

“Mindef and the Navy are responsible for ensuring that the entire construction project of five LCS is completed and handed over to the Navy according to the agreed period and cost in SA 6.

“The ministries and government agencies (involved) must ensure that the draft contract negotiated with the company has been consulted, reviewed, and approved by the AGC first before signing.

“The Auditor General’s Department needs to carry out an audit before LCS 1 is handed over to the Navy and presented in Parliament,” the report added.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan expressed confidence that the construction of the five vessels would be done according to the new schedule, adding that the delay would not cause any significant issues.

“Building a ship is not easy, especially since this is concerning combat ships, which means there would be weapons installed on the vessels.

“Even a mere 0.01% error could cause a big problem. After the construction is completed, we have to do a harbour test, which takes six months, and after that, we need to go for an open sea test, and that is another few months,” he told a press conference at Parliament here yesterday.


Related posts:


Monday 10 July 2023

MACC going after foreign agent in ruckus, who received RM18,000 bring in the Chinese national through KLIA

 MACC hunt agent who 'assists' Chinese tourists held up by Immigration


 

‘Man charged Chinese visitor RM18k’


KUALA LUMPUR: Graft busters are tracking down an individual who is believed to have an acted as an agent or middleman to a Chinese woman whose entry into Malaysia via Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) last month caused a ruckus.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki (pic) said the individual is believed to be a foreigner.

Initial investigations revealed that the individual received RM18,000 to bring in the Chinese national through KLIA, and he is not a Malaysian citizen.

“We have already identified the individual and we are tracking him down,” he said when contacted, adding that the MACC was still attempting to ascertain whether the individual was still in the country.

“We obtained the information on the individual based on our initial investigation (into the matter).

“Give us space to investigate the matter thoroughly,” he added.

On June 29, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing caused a stir after he confronted Immigration Department officers at KLIA for detaining a female employee of a China-based media company. 

 Eee post:

KLIA, a corruption gateway?

 
Tiong said he was coming to the rescue of the employee after she was barred from entering Malaysia.

He alleged then that she was being pressured into paying several thousand ringgit in order to enter Malaysia.

The incident led to calls for the department to be investigated over alleged corruption at KLIA.

Besides the MACC, the police are also investigating the matter.

Last Wednesday, Azam said that the statements of 14 individuals had been recorded so far, including that of two Chinese nationals, Tiong, eight Immigration Department officers and several other witnesses.

On Saturday, he also urged the media not to sensationalise the allegations of corruption taking place at the country’s entry points.

Azam made the comment in reference to a news portal’s report claiming that the MACC had found no elements of bribery in its investigation.

“It’s too early to conclude the case, it is the sixth day of investigation.

“There are still witnesses to be called, so we advise the media not to sensationalise the issue by quoting unidentified sources.

“We want a thorough investigation and once completed, we will refer it to the public prosecutor or the Attorney General.

“Then it can be determined if there was an element of bribery or not,” he said.

He added that the MACC would also investigate those involved in handling foreigners issued with Not to Land (NTL) notices. 

 Source link

 

Related posts:

KLIA, a corruption gateway?


Wednesday 22 February 2023

Heavily corrupt Washington cannot produce resonating anti-graft dramas: The Knockout 狂飙; Muhyiddin's right hand man arrested

 

 

 最近《狂飙》很火,大家都看了吗?这部剧主要从2000年、2006年、2021年三个时期展开,讲述了高启强从下岗工人到黑社会老大的故事,为什么是这三个时间点?剧中有很多情节突兀的地方又该如何解释?结合原著小说和当时的社会状况来看,这些问题就清晰多了

 《狂飙》这部剧确实是难得一见的好,怎么说呢,它完全让我感受到了那种国产老剧的细致、认真与有格调! ✨ 主要内容 ✨ 00:34 剧情介绍 01:37 细节1-3 03:00 细节4-6 04:25 细节7-9 06:32 细节10-12

 


The Knockout Photo: VCG The Knockout Photo: VCG

No matter how some US media outlets use malicious labels to describe Chinese anti-corruption dramas, one thing is indisputable: The US, under the current corrupt political system and toxic political environment, will never be able to produce a similar drama that can resonate strongly with the public.

A February 18 article in Foreign Policy, entitled "China's Newest Action TV Show Is a Propaganda Hit," laid its eyes on the recent hit Chinese TV series The Knockout. It argues that "at base, The Knockout is a tribute to Chinese leader Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign," adding that the TV drama is "part of a broader campaign to popularize propaganda in Chinese film and TV."

The Knockout is among a number of Chinese dramas under the theme of anti-corruption that have received positive reviews and high ratings in China in recent years. The popularity of these series reflects the Chinese public's particular interest in the country's campaign against corruption.

Chinese officials often play a pioneering role in society. As China has a massive officialdom system, how these people behave is closely linked to the ethos of the whole country. It can even be said that, to a large extent, the fight against corruption in China determines the future of the Chinese system.

The Chinese anti-corruption hit dramas are a projection of the country's anti-corruption achievements under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in the cultural field. It also demonstrates that China's anti-corruption efforts have been well-acknowledged by the Chinese people.

The success of China's anti-corruption campaign has purified the country's political system, making the society healthier and more vibrant. It has earned more prestige among the people for the Chinese government and the CPC, enhancing the cohesion of the society.

Yet, based on ideological judgments, some Western media have labeled China's anti-corruption dramas as "propaganda." They obviously view China's political environment through tinted glasses as usual and nitpick China's achievements. This only exposes their extreme strategic selfishness and dark mind.

If we take a look at the popular US series that focus on their politics, such as House of Cards, what we will see is the exchange of political interests and the struggle for power in the US. This mirrors the dirty, dark and degenerate side of the US game for power. However, unlike the celebration of anti-corruption achievements in Chinese dramas, these series give viewers only a strong sense of powerlessness.

Fan Peng, a research fellow at the Institute of Political Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that the relationship between individual officials and the official system is like the one between trees and forests. The one who fights corruption is exactly the "owner" of the forest, the CPC. Aiming at the whole forest, it tries to eliminate all the rotten trees. Such a dynamic force is the core of China's anti-corruption effort.

But that's not the case in the US, a country plagued by systemic corruption. Their ideology leaves no space for self-correction or self-revolution, Fan noted. This makes it impossible for Washington and its politicians to handle corruption the way Beijing has been doing.

Showing no hope of change or improvement, series like House of Cards can only strengthen the US public's perception that their government and politicians are terrible in nature, continuing to lower their trust in Washington and US politics.

Just look at how US politicians reacted in several recent series in the US. In the dispute over a "wandering balloon" with China, some of these people displayed extreme hysteria and unreasonableness. In the Ohio train derailment, some were either indifferent to the health and safety of the people, while some started their playacting only after the incident had made headlines, acting as if they valued the public's interest. Which type of these politicians cannot be found in House of Cards? How can Americans believe in the US system in light of this?

Fan says that another major premise for China to produce anti-corruption dramas is that the literary and art circles in China create cultural products from a position of righteousness. The US can celebrate individuality and rights, but no one dares to challenge corruption from a social justice perspective.

"The US is so torn up that all of its narratives come from only parts of its society. There is always otherness in such a narrow perspective. Therefore, one should not expect the US to produce a drama like The Knockout," Fan noted. 

Source link 

 

RELATED ARTICLES
 

 

Muhyiddin's right hand man arrested - The True Net

The True Net

https://www.thetruenet.com/


How The Ex-PM Solicited RM4.5 Billion Bribes In RM92.5 Billion Covid-19 Stimulus Scandal..


https://www.thetruenet.com/opinion/perspective/muhyiddins-right-hand-man-arrested/


Why was Muhyiddin Yassin so power-crazy that he willingly betrayed friends and allies in Pakatan Harapan, leading to the collapse of the democratically-elected government after j……

How The Ex-PM Solicited RM4.5 Billion Bribes In RM92.5 Billion Covid-19 Stimulus Scandal..

Why was Muhyiddin Yassin so power-crazy that he willingly betrayed friends and allies in Pakatan Harapan, leading to the collapse of the democratically-elected government after just 22 months? Why was he so obsessed with power that he didn’t mind being laughed as the first backdoor prime minister? Why was he so daringly ignored multiple royal decrees, just to cling to power during his 17-month regime?

Why was the former premier so afraid of sharing power with Pakatan Harapan leader Anwar Ibrahim despite a royal decree by the King to form a unity government following the 15th General Election that produced a hung Parliament? More importantly, why is Muhyiddin’s Perikatan Nasional still desperately and shamelessly wants to snatch power through backdoor again?

All the answer can be found after the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) arrested a chief executive officer of a private company on Thursday (Jan 5) night. The 42-year-old man was detained over his role as “middleman” in brokering government projects related to Covid-19 stimulus packages worth RM92.5 billion (US$21 billion) in exchange for bribes.

The suspect – Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad – turns out to be Muhyiddin’s right-hand man. A former chief executive of Maju Assets Sdn Bhd, Adam is also Segambut divisional leader of Muhyiddin’s political party – Bersatu (Malaysian United Indigenous Party). The best part is Adam is the cousin of Muhyiddin’s son-in-law, Muhamad Adlan Berhan, who in turn was involved in several scandals.

Adlan married to Muhyiddin’s daughter, Nabilah, who is a shareholder of Agathistwo Jia Sdn Bhd, a company involved in the scandalous RM1.2 billion NIIS (National Integrated Immigration System) concession. The NIIS was hatched by Muhyiddin (then-Home Minister under the Pakatan Harapan government) after cancelling its predecessor Sistem Kawalan Imigresen Nasional (SKIN).

Muhamad Adlan was also linked to 1BestariNet, a 15-year project worth RM4.47 billion introduced by then-Education Minister Muhyiddin in March 2011 to provide 4G broadband connectivity and virtual learning environment (VLE) to 10,000 government schools nationwide. However, the “failed project”, awarded to YTL Communications, has been plagued with slow internet access and problematic Frog VLE, which could easily be replaced with Google Classroom.

Adam Radlan’s involvement in Muhyiddin’s web of cronyism, nepotism and corruption was exposed after Muhyiddin-led Perikatan Nasional coalition failed to form a government post 15th General Election. And this is precisely why the former backdoor prime minister desperately wanted to return to power by hook or by crook – to “cover up” the skeleton in the closet.

So, how did Mr Mahiaddin (Muhyiddin) become billionaire during his 17-month short stint as 8th Prime Minister? From the beginning, he saw the golden opportunity to make tons of money from the Covid-19 pandemic. Unlike his former boss Najib Razak, he did not need a complicated project like 1MDB to steal and plunder the national coffers. He just needed to rule with absolute power under a State of Emergency.

It was Muhyiddin himself who bragged in April 2021 that the Perikatan Nasional backdoor government under his leadership has splashed more than RM600 billion (RM340 billion in economic stimulus packages and RM322.5 billion for the 2021 Budget to fight the Covid-19 pandemic). The scam was to boastfully create a narrative that massive of funds were used to help people and rescue the economy.

But when opposition Pakatan Harapan return to power after the Nov 2022 national election, all his lies and corruptions are exposed. Newly crowned PM Anwar revealed at a media conference on Dec 5 last year that the Finance Ministry had informed that there had been several breaches involving the Covid-19 funds. Panicked, Muhyiddin screamed that he did not steal any money.

Suddenly, Muhyiddin admits there was no such thing as RM600 billion, contradicting his previous claims. He said it was only RM530 billion. Even then, he played down the numbers. Spilling the beans, he said his administration had only spent RM83 billion in fiscal injections. This means Muhyiddin’s government did not actually help the people to the tune of RM530 billion as shamelessly trumpeted.

However, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has confirmed it will now focus its investigation on the RM92.5 billion directly funded by the Muhyiddin regime after it was established that RM437.5 billion was not from the government. Still, the difference between MACC’s RM92.5 billion and Muhyiddin’s RM83 billion means about RM10 billion might have gone “missing”.

But there are already problems with the dubious spending of RM92.5 billion funds. Unlike Najib’s 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal, Muhyiddin used traditional low-tech tactic to enrich himself and his families. Adam Radlan was sent out as his representative to connect contractors with high-ranking government officials before projects were distributed.

After the MACC raided 8 government agencies and 9 companies in December 2022 as part of its investigation into the suspected misappropriation of RM92.5 billion by the Perikatan Nasional government during its 33-month rule, it was found that at least 5 middlemen of several companies were involved in obtaining projects worth between RM50 million and RM500 million through direct negotiations.

Contractors who have been questioned by the anti-graft agency admitted that they agreed to pay a commission of 3% to 5% to secure projects from those middlemen. But the fact that only Adam was arrested so far suggests that the Muhyiddin’s proxy could be the key man on top of the food chain. It would be interesting to see if other middlemen would turn witness against the corrupt ex-PM.

The commission means more than RM4.5 billion had been paid to Adam and his band of middlemen, who clearly collected the bribes on behalf of Muhyiddin between 2020 and 2022. But get your popcorn because the fun has just begun. About 90% of the projects obtained via direct negotiations had not been executed as no acceptance letters (P.O. or Purchase Order) were issued. What does this mean?

This means about RM4 billion had already been paid by contractors to Muhyiddin and his gang of crooks, but all the 90% projects cannot take off. The dirty money had been deposited into the account of a political party, believed to be Bersatu. Hence, Muhyiddin is in deep shit as the furious contractors might turn witness, not to mention the money trail leading to his party.

Perikatan Nasional, comprising mainly Bersatu and PAS Islamist party, had bet the wrong horse. It thought at worst case scenario, the same Malay-centric political parties – UMNO, Bersatu and PAS – would form a government again after election, the same way they did in March 2020 (Muhyiddin became the 8th Prime Minister) and in August 2021 (Ismail Sabri elevated as the 9th Prime Minister).

The contractors similarly had bet the wrong horse that Perikatan Nasional would be part of the federal government. Now, not only they won’t get the projects, the money they had paid disguised as “political funding” to Muhyiddin to fund his lavish election campaign, including buying Malay votes at RM350 per pop, have gone up in smoke. Muhyiddin has already pocketed RM4 billion – in offshore accounts.

While 3%-5% commission was solicited for Muhyiddin, the middlemen and government officials demanded at least RM200,000 for themselves just to grant a meeting with every contractor – “without guarantee” that they will get projects linked to the RM92.5 billion stimulus programmes. This is how everyone benefited from the gravy train during the backdoor regime.

A good example that leakages occurred was the RM7 billion contracts approved under the RM15 billion flood mitigation project that were awarded through direct negotiations (in exchange for kickbacks) to dubious companies like Mangkubumi Sdn Bhd. Exactly how could Mangkubumi won the deal when it has been involved in a court case for illegal money laundering as much as RM139 million?

Adam Radlan, who has since disabled his Instagram, is also a council member of the Tan Sri Muhyiddin Charity Golf Foundation. Without Muhyiddin’s protection, he was dressed in the MACC’s iconic orange suit and will be charged under Section 16(a) of the MACC Act 2009, which provides imprisonment for up to 20 years and a fine of up to 5 times the amount of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

When Muhyiddin claimed that he was not afraid to be investigated, he lied. He was incredibly terrified, but as usual, trying to play poker with the new premier. Thinking PM Anwar was bluffing, he has even challenged the prime minister to prove it. The PM warned Muhyiddin not to challenge him as he has all the files and evidence. A month later, Muhyiddin son-in-law’s cousin has been nabbed.

The new unity government has not even started exposing how Muhyiddin obtained proceeds from gambling companies to help finance the 15th General Election campaign. Under Muhyiddin government, special lottery draws were increased from 8 to 22, despite the anti-gambling stance of Islamist party Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), which is part of the ruling Perikatan Nasional coalition.

The special draws, designed to boost the government’s revenue, contributed RM80 million in extra revenue for the government in 1999 (the year it was first introduced during the premiership of Mahathir). Revenue reached as high as RM238 million in 2017, and averaged RM200 million a year in recent years – money that enabled Bersatu and PAS spent lavishly.

Another dumb person who kept shooting his own foot is former finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz. Trying to protect his former boss, he said there was nothing suspicious in the Perikatan Nasional-led government’s management of funds when it was in power. The clueless and incompetent Zafrul might have signed some documents that could come back to haunt him. 

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