1. Laporan-laporan berita bahawa Tan Sri Apandi Ali bertindak sebagai orang tengah untuk Jho Low amatlah mengejutkan.
2. Pertamanya, Apandi ketika menjadi Peguam Negara telah menyatakan tidak berlaku sebarang jenayah berkaitan dengan 1MDB serta menyucikan Perdana Menteri ketika itu Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
3. Pendirian Apandi itu berlaku di waktu beberapa Negara luar telah mengambil tindakan terhadap bank-bank dan orang persendirian yang terbabit dengan jenayah 1MDB.
4. Kerana itu apabila Pakatan Harapan mengambil-alih Kerajaan, perkhidmatan Apandi tidak dilanjutkan kerana sikap dan tindakannya menyucikan 1MDB secara langsung adalah kegagalannya melaksanakan amanah dan tanggungjawab Negara.
5. Selain itu, tindakannya juga secara langsung mempertahankan jenayah-jenayah yang telah dilakukan oleh Najib dan sekutu-sekutunya termasuklah Jho Low.
6. Hari ini hakim-hakim mahkamah tinggi dan mahkamah rayuan telah mendapati perlakuan jenayah tetap berlaku di dalam 1MDB dan menghukum penjara Najib Razak kerana kesalahan-kesalahan berkaitan 1MDB.
7. Sepatutnya Apandi merasa bersalah dan menyesal kerana pendiriannya menyekat jenayah 1MDB dari dihadap ke mahkamah.
8. Sekarang, dia sanggup menjadi orang tengah untuk Jho Low mendapat penyelesaian dan diberitakan dengan membayar Kerajaan Malaysia RM1.5 billion. Ini bermakna Jho Low bersalah. Jika tidak bersalah kenapa menawar wang untuk menyelesaikan tindakan terhadapnya.
9. Sekali lagi Negara dan rakyat Malaysia ingin dianiayai oleh Apandi dan Jho Low dengan tawaran penyelesaian sejumlah wang yang sebegitu kecil berbanding dengan pencurian wang negara berjumlah puluhan billion ringgit.
10. Tindakan Apandi yang sanggup bersekongkol dengan Jho Low amat mencurigakan.
11. Kesediaan Jho Low membayar untuk penyelesaian membukti bahawa Jho Low mengakui kesalahan.
12. Sekali lagi Apandi seharusnya mengambil sikap menyesali kesilapan atau kesalahannya yang dahulu dan bukannya mengambil upah (saya tidak percaya Apandi melakukan kerja orang tengah Jho Low secara percuma) dari penjenayah 1MDB yang Apandi telah bebaskan dahulu.
13. Di sini timbul kecurigaan bahawa kerjasama Apandi dengan Jho Low telah bermula semasa dia Peguam Negara.
14. Satu siasatan perlu dilakukan terhadap Apandi sama ada dia membuat keputusan menyucikan 1MDB dahulu kerana hubungannya dengan Jho Low.
15. Ini bukan sahaja satu conflict of interest. Lebih dari itu, ia adalah satu jenayah terancang untuk mencuri harta rakyat dan Negara dan ini membabitkan bukan sahaja Najib dan Jho Low tetapi juga Apandi.
16. Kerajaan hari ini bertanggungjwab untuk menyiasat kerana terdapat unsur kolusi (collusion) dan subahat (complicity) Apandi di dalam jenayah 1MDB untuk memastikan penyamun-penyamun Negara yang terbabit di dalam jenayah terancang ini diadili dan dihukum.
PLUNDERER’S TWIST
1. It is amazing. Najib is at it again. He is blatantly blaming others for the situation that he himself created.
2. Yes, the country is lagging behind its neighbours. Correct. But it is due to Najib’s corruption of the Government. It is due to the huge amounts of money he borrowed which have now disappeared. It is due to the projects he started which were not only overpriced but favoured the other parties. It is due to the projects being of little benefit to the country. And of course due to having to pay to settle the huge debts incurred by him. There is no money left to develop the country.
3. What does he expect the government which defeated him to do? Overlook all the crimes he has committed?
4. Who is he asking to focus on the economy? It cannot be PH as he has engineered the back door change of government; not once but twice.
5. Obviously the first change was not to his liking. Now he has managed to have his party as the Government. Well ask his party, ask the UMNO PM, why are we lagging behind now that Najib’s party is in power?
6. Big companies are leaving the country in droves. Everyone complains that getting approvals or permission for anything take months if not years. Only when money is paid will the permission be granted. Even meeting the ministers require bribes to make it possible. And frequently the ministers refuse to meet investors. Even the PM is not available.
7. In one project, a statement was made that the project is 90% completed, when even the ground has not been broken.
8. A high-speed train only saves time if it covers a long distance. For short distances the time saved is insignificant. And HSR is very costly.
9. Yes, we have to pay RM320 million to Singapore. That is because Najib made that silly agreement. Carrying on would drain the treasury more, at a time when we need to pay money for Najib’s borrowings.
10. Incidentally I am reading a novel about England a thousand years ago by Ken Follett. He tells of a crooked bishop caught red handed forging coins. The case was tried before an alderman who was his brother.
11. Instead of the sheriff prosecuting, the bishop prosecuted. He declared that he was in the coin workshop because he was going to arrest the counterfeiters.
12. In fact he was gloating over the counterfeit money he was forcing the jeweller to produce when the sheriff and his man at arms arrived. He was furious and was screaming at the sheriff.
13. But in his prosecution he named the counterfeiter as the culprit. The man protested and said he was forced to manufacture the coin by the bishop. Witnesses to the truth were dismissed.
14. The jeweller was declared guilty of counterfeiting and sentenced to be blinded and castrated. And the sentence was carried out immediately in full view of the town people.
15. That was justice in England of 10th century. It sounds like Najib’s twisting of facts and accusing others of the crimes he had committed. He stole billions of Ringgit which affected the development of Malaysia. Yet he puts the blame on PH which he brought down through the back door.
CORRUPTION AND ELECTION
1. There was a time when Malaysia was admired as the best developed of the countries achieving independence after World War II. From a poor British colony, it became an Asian Tiger with GDP growth of 8% plus. It was believed that the growth would continue and Malaysia would become a developed country by 2020.
2. But today Malaysia is behind even Vietnam and Indonesia in terms of economic growth and political stability. A country that had changed Government democratically every five years, is now ruled by Governments which slipped in through the back door.
3. And these Governments are weak and liable to be overthrown by 3 Members of Parliament crossing over. It has happened once and it can happen any time.
4. The backdoor Governments are only concerned with sustaining enough support to remain in power.
5. The people have become apathetic, not caring what happens to the country. The Federal Government is made up of the parties rejected by the people in the 14th General Election because of corruption, stealing money and money laundering. It has no idea about administration. A dominant leader even declared that money borrowed by the Government need not to be paid.
6. Corruption is rampant and bureaucratic hassles deter investors. In the Johor state elections voters admit accepting money from the party that won.
7. One would have thought that the people would reject corrupt politicians. But no. They are winning elections to the point that they could form Governments after state elections. They truly believe that if general elections are held in the near future, they would win with good majorities through bribing the voters.
8. They believe, and apparently, they have good grounds for so believing, that the voters could be corrupted. And they have enough money to offer, because the money they had stolen from the Government is still with them.
9. It is even possible that a convict would be pardoned and be chosen as the Prime Minister of Malaysia. The convict had already admitted that as PM he stole money, abused power, laundered stolen money and live a high life. Will he do it again? The chances are that he will.
10. What will happen to the country? Does not matter. The important thing is the money he is giving out. It may be stolen money. But that is his problem. You did not steal the money. It was given to you. So, take it even if it lasts only a day or two. Give him the vote.
11. That was the thinking in Melaka and in Johore. Will that also be the thinking in the 15th General Election!!
KELUHURAN UNDANG-UNDANG
- Malaysia berbangga dengan dakwaan bahawa kita berpegang kepada keluhuran undang-undang atau “the rule of law”. Tetapi kita diberitahu terdapat juga kedudukan above the law – atau pihak yang tidak tertakluk kepada undang-undang.
- Perlembagaan tidak menyebut adanya keadaan tidak tertakluk kepada undang-undang. Tetapi terdapat beberapa peristiwa yang undang-undang dicabul dengan bebas. Pihak berkuasa bukan sahaja tidak bertindak tetapi mempermudahkan pencabulan berkenaan.
- Rakyat tidak senang dengan keadaan ini. Jika ada peristiwa pencabulan undang-undang bagaimanakah mereka akan dapat perlindungan. Mereka berhak mendapat penjelasan setakat mana undang-undang boleh dicabul. Dan oleh siapa. Tanpa penjelasan berkenaan undang-undang yang tidak perlu dipatuhi, rakyat mungkin melaku sesuatu yang mendedah mereka kepada tindakan tertentu.
- Sesungguhnya rakyat Malaysia amat “timid” atau mudah takut. Hanya jika disoal oleh polis mencukupi untuk menakutkan mereka. Sebab itu mereka tidak pun berani mengadu jika dicabul, atau berdepan dalam arena politik jauh sekali menjadi calon untuk parti lawan. Mereka akan suarakan penentangan mereka secara tersembunyi kerana mungkin akan disoal oleh polis atau sesuatu tekanan akan dikenakan kepada mereka. Ini sering diguna oleh pihak tertentu untuk melumpuh pihak lawan.
- Dalam keadaan ini pihak tertentu bebas berrasuah dan berjenayah, jika mereka berkuasa.
- Hasilnya ialah negara mengalami pentadbiran yang buruk kerana sebenarnya tidak terlaksana the rule of law.
- Akan hancurlah negara tercinta ini.
NATO
1. Immediately after Germany was defeated in the Second World War, the Western Alliance made it clear that the new enemy was Russia, their partner in the war against Germany.
2. A “defence” grouping of the European countries and the United States of America was set up with the obvious exclusion of the Soviet Union. It was equally obvious that the enemy to be defended against was Russia.
3. Not surprisingly Russia set up the Warsaw Pact, an alliance of East European countries to deter the Nato nations from any aggressive acts against the Eastern Bloc and Russia.
4. A costly Cold War resulted with Nato and the Eastern Alliance convening and attempting to get the countries of the world to join the Western countries or the Eastern “Communist” bloc.
5. Proxy wars and regime change were attempted as the European tried to line up the countries of the world in support of the two groups. Eventually the Russians realised the futility of the confrontation between the two blocs. Under the leadership of Gorbachev, the Warsaw Pact was disbanded and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics were allowed to break up. Many communist countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia became independent.
6. Not so Nato. Far from disbanding Nato went all out to gain more members especially among the former Warsaw pact countries. The Russians were not invited. They were apparently still the enemy.
7. The membership drive by Nato came ever closer to Russia.
8. The Russian military had been weakened by the break up of Soviet Union. Nato simply regarded the weakening of the Russian defensive strength as a godsend. This did not affect the Nato countries from recruiting more members especially among those close to Russia. War games were held among Nato countries, again directed at Russia.
9. Russia rearmed as Nato got more members and came closer to Russia.
10. One of the agreements between the Nato countries is that an attack on one would be regarded as an attack against all the Nato countries.
11. What is the implication in the present situation. Ukraine is not yet a member. If Russia attacks, Nato is not obliged to war against Russia. On the other hand if Ukraine is accepted as a member of Nato, an attack by Russia would result in war with Nato.
12. And war between Nato and Russia would escalate into a third world war. And nuclear weapons would be used.
13. Russia is not likely to accept defeat. Nor will Nato. And so again the Europeans will destroy the world.
OUT OF CONTEXT
1. The report on what I said at the meeting with Malays is not accurate. I am not asking Malaysia to claim the land that we had lost. I am trying to point out that we are so concerned over losing a table-size rock but never about bigger parts of Malaysia when they were taken from us. Losing Pulau Batu Puteh is no big deal. It was the mistake of the Johore Government to deny that the rock belonged to Johor. Had that denial not been made, there would be no dispute now.
2. We should be grateful that the world court awarded Pulau Ligitan and Sipadan to us. They are much more valuable than Pulau Batu Puteh – just a rock outcrop. We should be thankful that Indonesia has not disputed the award. Really, we are not grateful for our gains.
THE RULE OF LAW
1. Every country, every society, every organisation needs rules and laws. Without them there would be anarchy, a state of disorder and confusion which would lead to the society eventually disintegrating. In such an anarchy nobody would feel safe. Everyone will be in a state of fear.
2. But for various reasons certain individuals are placed above the rules and the laws. Still to ensure justice and fair treatment for everyone, being above the rules and the laws does not mean that the laws and rules would be totally disregarded.
3. For example, the laws forbid killing or murder. Being above the law does not mean that murder can be committed with impunity. And there are many laws, rules and policies which cannot be breached even by those above the law.
4. Those who are exempted must still avoid breaches which are harmful to society or to individuals. In other words, being above the laws does not mean total disregard for the laws, the rules and regulations.
5. It is fortunate that in Malaysia privileges are not often abused. Even if the privileges are abused, Malaysians are tolerant and forgiving. But of course, we do not know the limit of such tolerance. It is far better to avoid abuses. The privileged must bear this in mind.
PEGGING THE RINGGIT
- Bank Negara knows best about the management of the Ringgit. It should not be pegged.
- However, I am curious about how pegging the Ringgit in 1998 helped in the economic recovery of Malaysia. I say this because even the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank agreed that Malaysia did the right thing.
- Admittedly, the financial situation then was worse than now. And our reserves then was not as big as now. Still, we overcame the financial and economic problems caused by the depreciation of the Ringgit through pegging the Ringgit at RM3.80 per USD.
- When the Ringgit is pegged would it cause the outflow of foreign investments in Malaysia? From the little that I know about finance, outflows of foreign investment is due to the expectation of further depreciation of the Ringgit or shares. When the Ringgit was pegged there would not be further depreciation against the USD. Assured of the value of their investments, the need to divest was removed.
- Let’s say an investor invested 1 million USD at the time when the Ringgit was stronger – say RM 3.80 per 1USD. Effectively his investment would be worth 3.8 million Ringgit in Malaysia. This value would be sustained when the Ringgit is pegged.
- But if the Ringgit depreciates to 4.5 to 1USD, he would get only 844,000 USD from his 1 million Dollar investment should he divest. Fearing further depreciation he would change the Ringgit into USD and get out with 844,000 USD. He would have lost 156,000 USD.
- A merchant importing in USD would have to change RM4,500,000 to get 1 million USD if the Ringgit depreciates to 4.50 Ringgit to 1 USD. Obviously when the Ringgit depreciates, the cost of I million imports in USD would be RM4,500,000.
- On the other hand, if the Ringgit is pegged at 3.80 the cost of import would be only 3.8 million Ringgit per 1 million USD. A pegged Ringgit would save 700,000 Ringgit in the cost of import.
- When the Ringgit depreciates the cost of production would be lower if there is no pay revision upwards. On the other hand, the cost of imported raw materials and components would increase and negate the gain from lower wages. Logistical cost would also increase, again reducing the gain from production cost. A depreciated Ringgit does not necessarily reduce cost of production.
- Assuming that the Ringgit remains pegged at RM3.80 per USD, the cost in Ringgit would not change. Budget estimates would be sustainable.
- Wherever an importer wishes to buy something in U.S. Dollar, the Central Bank should have enough USD to sell at the pegged rate i.e. RM3.80 per USD.
- In 1998 the Central Bank had less reserves. We did not know whether the reserves were held in cash, and if in cash, in what currency. Still, we were able to change Ringgit into USD so as to pay in USD. Now the Central Bank has more reserves in USD, I believe. Earnings in USD should be deposited with the Central Bank, in exchange for Ringgits. There should be no shortage of USD when needed.
- There were problems of course. But we were able to set up subcommittees to deal with them in 1998. This included the recapitalisation of banks and businesses.
- The fact remains that the pegging was successful. As mentioned above the IMF and World Bank admitted that Malaysia did the right thing and helped other countries to overcome the serious devaluation of their currencies also. We were even able to deal with CLOB, the stock market set up by Singapore.
- I am just curious. We have more savings and reserves now compared to 1997- 8. Yet I am told that if we peg, we may go bankrupt?
- And neither have they suggested any possible solutions?
ZAHID PENIPU
1. Saya disaman Dato Seri Zahid Hamidi kononnya saya memfitnah beliau berkaitan beberapa pertemuannya dengan saya semasa saya menjadi Perdana Menteri Kerajaan Pakatan Harapan.
2. Ianya berkisar tentang kenyataan saya bahawa dia minta saya campur tangan dalam urusan perbicaraan kes mahkamah yang beliau hadapi.
3. Oleh kerana perkara ini akan menjadi kes mahkamah, saya tidak bertujuan untuk ulas panjang tentang tuduhan Zahid di sini.
4. Saya akan jumpa dia di mahkamah dan telah arah peguam saya menyampaikan kesediaan saya.
5. Sebenarnya saya bosan dengan sikap Zahid. Tindakan saman yang diambil hanya sebagai usaha untuk tutup penipuannya menerusi proses mahkamah.
6. Zahid ini penipu. Orang putih kata “compulsive liar”, pembohong tegar. Dulu semasa kempen pilihanraya umum ke-14, dia keluar kenyataan kononnya kad pengenalan saya yang asal menamakan saya sebagai Mahathir a/l Iskandar Kutty.
7. Dia dakwa bahawa IC biru saya dengan nama tersebut dihantar kepadanya oleh Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara. https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/390299
8. Dakwaan ini dibuat Zahid kerana hendak tuduh bahawa saya berketurunan India dan telah mempergunakan orang Melayu selama 22 tahun saya jadi Perdana Menteri.
9. Saya tunggu apakah Zahid akan keluar bukti ini pada khalayak ramai. Tetapi sampai habis pilihanraya tidak.
10. Dia nak burukkan saya sedemikian untuk mempamer kepada umum yang saya menipu mengenai status bangsa saya.
11. Dengan itu dia mahu pertikai kelayakan saya pimpin UMNO, parti-parti Melayu yang lain dan seterusnya orang Melayu keseluruhannya.
12. Kononnya saya “anak lelaki” dan bukan “bin”, jadi saya ini bukan Melayu.
13. Ya, saya memang pun ada darah keturunan India dan ini saya nyatakan dalam buku saya. Saya tidak nafi. Tapi hakikatnya sijil lahir dan kad pengenalan saya adalah Mahathir bin Mohamad.
14. Mengikut takrifan perlembagaan Malaysia (Perkara 160) saya Melayu dan perjuangan saya adalah untuk pertahan kepentingan bangsa saya.
15. Ibu dan bapa saya dilahirkan di Tanah Melayu sebelum Merdeka dan kami semua beragama Islam. Sejak kecil, pertuturan keluarga saya di rumah adalah Bahasa Melayu serta adat yang kami amal adalah adat Melayu.
16. Sebelum ini saya tidak gemar mengguna mahkamah walau ramai yang memfitnah saya kerana saya sedar di dalam kempen politik akan ada yang bertindak di luar batas dan had.
17. Tetapi kali ini saya merasa perlu bertindak kerana sikap pembohong Zahid ini amat memualkan dan tidak boleh dibiar begitu sahaja. Ia bukan saja kerana ia merosak reputasi saya tetapi penipuannya kepada penyokong Umno dan orang Melayu lain demi untuk dia mahu kekal berkuasa amat merbahaya.
18. Saya sedang pertimbang untuk ambil tindakan undang-undang kerana pembohongan Zahid yang memfitnah saya.
19. Saya cabar Zahid untuk tunjuk bukti tentang identiti saya yang pertikai diri status bangsa saya sebagai orang Melayu.
20. Jika dia tidak meminta maaf dan menarik balik fitnah itu, saya akan ambil tindakan mahkamah.
MATA WANG
1. Saya takut memberi pandangan saya terhadap nilai Ringgit kerana saya akan diketawa pakar kewangan. Tetapi walaupun saya akan diketawa orang saya memberanikan diri memberi pendapat saya berkenaan duit Ringgit kita yang naik turun nilainya. Pendapat saya didapati semasa menangani krisis mata wang pada 1997-8. Walaupun tindakan Malaysia dikecam hebat tetapi ia berjaya menghentikan ketidaktentuan nilai Ringgit dan kewangan kita dipulih semula. Akhirnya pihak IMF dan World Bank mengakui bahawa tindakan Malaysia berjaya menghentikan ketidaktentuan nilai Ringgit dan kemiskinan yang berlaku kerananya.
2. Semua orang sedar bahawa bank dibenar memberi pinjam duit yang tidak ada pada mereka. Syaratnya apabila hutang dibayar, jumlah wang itu dijadikan sebahagian dari aset bank. Dan berhaklah bank memberi pinjam duit yang telah menjadi aset hari ini. Benar atau tidak pakar boleh godam saya.
3. Demikian juga dengan peniaga mata wang. Mereka boleh beri pinjam atau jual duit yang tidak ada pada mereka. Pinjaman atau penjualan ini menjadi sah apabila duit ini disampaikan kepada peminjam atau pembeli kemudian.
4. Tetapi penjualan Ringgit oleh mereka menyebabkan pasar kewangan dipenuhi dengan Ringgit. Mengikut teori supply and demand, apabila supply bercambah, permintaan akan berkurangan. Apabila tidak ada demand untuk Ringgit, nilai Ringgit akan jatuh.
5. Apabila nilai Ringgit jatuh permintaan akan meningkat. Peniaga mata wang akan beli Ringgit yang sudah jatuh nilai dan akan deliver kepada pembeli yang telah beli Ringgit pada nilai yang tinggi sebelum jatuh nilainya.
6. Maka beruntunglah peniaga kerana menjual Ringgit di masa nilainya tinggi dan membekal kemudian dengan Ringgit yang dibeli semasa nilainya rendah.
7. Malangnya, apabila nilai Ringgit jatuh, pihak yang pinjam atau peniaga akan rugi. Mereka perlu bayar dengan lebih banyak Ringgit yang sudah jatuh nilai. Katakanlah mereka pinjam RM1,000 diwaktu nilainya tinggi, apabila nilai jatuh 50 peratus, mereka mesti bayar hutang atau harga belian asal dengan RM2,000. Maka rugilah peminjam atau peniaga, sementara peniaga mata wang untung RM1,000 kerana di waktu pinjam RM1000 cukup untuk kos tetapi di waktu nilai Ringgit jatuh 50%, lebih banyak Ringgit diperlukan.
8. Inilah yang berlaku pada 1997-8 diwaktu mana nilai Ringgit jatuh kerana peniaga mata wang menjual banyak Ringgit yang bukan pun dimiliki oleh mereka. Harapan mereka ialah apabila nilai Ringgit jatuh, mereka boleh beli Ringgit murah ini untuk dibekal kepada pembeli asal.
9. Apabila kita tetapkan nilai Ringgit pada RM3.80 satu Dollar U.S., dan kita jamin bekalan U.S. Dollar kepada sesiapa yang sanggup membayar RM3.80 untuk 1 Dollar U.S. maka nilai Ringgit tidak lagi akan turun naik. Dan peniaga mata wang pun tidak dapat turunkan nilai Ringgit dengan menjual Ringgit dengan banyaknya untuk jatuhkan nilainya.
10. Sebaliknya jika peminjam hutang Dollar dan nilai Dollar naik, lebih banyak Ringgit diperlukan untuk membayar hutang satu Dollar. Ini merugikan peminjam dan menguntungkan peniaga mata wang.
11. Sekarang kita lihat nilai Ringgit naik turun kerana nilainya tidak ditetap dan dijamin oleh Kerajaan. Dagangan Malaysia melonjak naik yang mana ini menyumbang kepada ekonomi negara. Tetapi di masa wabak Covid-19 nilai Ringgit tidak stabil. Ada masa ia naik dan ada masa ia menurun.
12. Bagi peniaga yang import bahan dengan Dollar America atau meminjam Dollar America, jatuhnya nilai Ringgit berbanding Dollar America meningkatkan Ringgit kos pengeluaran dan harga pasar produk. Kerana kenaikan ini harga baru jualan perlu ambil kira nilai Ringgit berbanding dengan Dollar Amerika.
13. Tetapi jangan cakap berkenaan fixed exchange rate. Ini taboo, haram. Ya. Pada 1997-8 fixed exchange rate selamatkan kita. Tetapi itu kerana orang politik tidak faham sistem kewangan. Jangan ikut mereka.