Day: August 4, 2016

Ambiga: We expect Paul Low to act on memorandum

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Source: FMT News

Human rights and civil society groups stand together after submitting memorandum to minister in charge of Governance, Integrity and Human Rights, in the PM's Dept. Pic taken from FMT News

Human rights and civil society groups stand together after submitting memorandum to minister in charge of Governance, Integrity and Human Rights, in the PM’s Dept. Pic taken from FMT News

PUTRAJAYA: There is much expectation on the shoulders of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Paul Low to take action against “Malaysian Official 1”, says Ambiga Sreenevasan.

The National Human Rights Society (Hakam) Chairperson said this in Putrajaya today after handing a memorandum to Low, demanding for such action.

Ambiga, who was accompanied by Bersih 2.0 Chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah and Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) Executive Director Sevan Doraisamy, met Low in the Prime Minister’s Office here.

Ambiga later said that Low had agreed to raise the issue in the Cabinet.

“We expect some outcome from today. At the very least, Datuk Low puts the memorandum before the Cabinet and at least they know that Malaysians are not going to take this lying down.

“We are like a broken record going on and on about this issue. But they need to know that we are not forgetting it. We are not going to stop,” said Ambiga. Read more →

Paul Low says will bring up NGOs’ 1MDB memo to Cabinet

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Source: The Malay Mail Online

Civil society groups hand Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Paul Low (third from left) a memorandum on 1MDB in Putrajaya on August 4, 2016. — Picture courtesy of Datuk Paul Low’s office

Civil society groups hand Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Paul Low (third from left) a memorandum on 1MDB in Putrajaya on August 4, 2016. — Picture courtesy of Datuk Paul Low’s office

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 4 — Minister Datuk Paul Low assured civil society groups that he would raise their concerns with the Cabinet about the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) controversy after they presented him a memorandum today.

In the memorandum handed by representatives from human rights groups Suaram, the National Human Rights Society (Hakam), and electoral reform group Bersih 2.0, six demands were made including asking the government to establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry into 1MDB and to declassify the Auditor-General’s report on the state investment firm.

“I duly took note of their views and assured them that I will bring their concerns to the attention of the Cabinet,” Low, who is Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of governance, integrity and human rights, said in a statement.

Hakam president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, who had led the group, told reporters outside the Prime Minister’s Office that they have “made demands of the ministers, cabinet ministers and all MPs that they must immediately do something about the 1MDB scandal”. Read more →

MEMORANDUM: Masyarakat Sivil menuntut ketelusan dan akauntabiliti mengenai 1MDB

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pdf

Ahli-ahli Kabinet
Pejabat Perdana Menteri
Putrajaya, Malaysia

 

4 Ogos 2016

>>Versi Inggeris

MEMORANDUM

Masyarakat Sivil menuntut
ketelusan dan akauntabiliti mengenai 1MDB

 

1. Kami, anggota NGO (badan bukan kerajaan seperti yang disenaraikan di bawah), berasa amat bimbang akan perkembangan terkini mengenai isu 1 Malaysian Development Berhad (1MDB).

2. Permohonan untuk menyita aset yang dilakukan oleh Jabatan Kehakiman Amerika Syarikat (US DoJ) dan rampasan aset oleh pihak berkuasa di Switzerland dan Singapura telah mendedahkan magnitud dan skala penyelewengan berperingkat antarabangsa terhadap rakyat Malaysia akibat kemunculan isu 1MDB. Oleh sebab ini, kedudukan, reputasi dan ekonomi Malaysia terjejas teruk. Dengan itu, keyakinan pelabur-pelabur Malaysia dijangka akan semakin berkurangan. Profil Malaysia di persada antarabangsa sekarang dijejas oleh gara-gara sifat tamak beberapa pegawai Malaysia yang telah membawa kepada penyitaan asset yang terbesar dilakukan dibawah Inisiatif Pemulihan Aset Kleptokrasi (“Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative“) Amerika Syarikat.

3. Rakyat Malaysia amat terkejut dengan tindakan DoJ apabila pegawai tertinggi yang terlibat dalam kemelut ini tidak dinamakan, tatapi hanya diberikan kod “Malaysian Official 1”. Hal ini lebih menghairankan memandangkan kerajaan Malaysia bersifat bisu walaupun isu ini terbongkar diseluruh dunia. Menteri-menteri yang bertutur mengenai isu ini hanya berniat untuk mempertahankan 1MDB dan individu yang tersabit yang hanya dikenali sebagai “Malaysian Official 1”. Selain itu, sebarang perbincangan berkenaan penyelewengan terbesar dana rakyat tidak dilakukan.

4. Keadaan ini jelas tidak memuaskan dan mesti ditangani dengan segara. Isu kronik ini patut diberi kepentingan dan harus ditangani secara adil, telus dan bertanggungjawab. Skandal 1MDB yang berpanjangan ini telah dan akan terus menjejaskan kebajikan rakyat Malaysia dan mendatangkan ketidakstabilan politik dan ekonomi di Malaysia. Read more →

MEMORANDUM: Civil Society demands transparency and accountability on 1MDB

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pdf

Members of Cabinet
Office of the Prime Minister
Putrajaya, Malaysia

4th August 2016

>>Versi Bahasa Malaysia

MEMORANDUM

Civil Society demands
transparency and accountability on 1MDB

 

1. We, members of Civil Society (represented by the Organizations listed below) are greatly concerned by the recent developments pertaining to the 1 Malaysian Development Berhad (1MDB).

2. The recent application to seize assets by the United States Department of Justice (US DoJ) and the seizure of assets by authorities in Switzerland and Singapore have brought to the fore the magnitude and international scale of the fraud perpetrated upon the people of Malaysia through 1MDB. Malaysia’s international standing, reputation and our economy have been badly affected. Investor confidence in Malaysia will wane. Malaysia’s profile abroad is now one where the acts of greedy officials in Malaysia have caused in the U.S., the “largest single action ever brought under the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative”.

3. Malaysians were deeply shocked by the US DoJ action where top officials of the country have been code-named. This has never been seen before in our country. Yet the response by the government has been muted. Ministers who spoke merely defended 1MDB and the person described as Malaysian Official 1. The silence about the massive looting of the rakyat’s funds is deafening.

4. This unsatisfactory state of affairs must cease. It is now of paramount importance for the matter to be addressed immediately in a fair, transparent and accountable manner as the prolonged 1MDB saga has led to political and economic instability in Malaysia and has jeopardized the welfare of the Malaysian people. Read more →

Now even new Suhakam chief is doing a somersault

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Source: Malaysiakini

Defend our rights instead, Bersih tells Suhakam

Kim Quek: New Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) chief Razali Ismail’s remarks signifies an accelerated pace of Malaysia’s fall from grace in the world community of respectable nations.

First the cabinet – a series of replacements, with each new one said to be dumber than the previous. Then, the attorney-general (AG) – an allegedly covert political partisan is replaced by an allegedly unabashed political henchman.

Then, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) – all the top three officers who refused to be completely subjugated to political coercion are swept aside to make way for a new chief who is of the same calibre as the new AG.

Now, Suhakam – new chief Razali’s disparaging remarks against election reform advocate Bersih’s proposed rally betrays his hostility towards human right advocates and his disregard for constitutionally-guaranteed fundamental rights.

With Razali heading Suhakam, the body mandated by law to protect human rights will soon be found to be doing the opposite. Read more →

No Break for Worst Asian Currency as Clouds Gather Over Malaysia

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Source: Bloomberg

The bad news just doesn’t stop for Asia’s worst-performing currency.

Already reeling from a renewed slump in oil prices and a political scandal that just won’t go away, the Malaysian ringgit is now facing the prospect of another cut in interest rates. It’s the region’s biggest loser in the past month and analysts still see scope for it to drop more than 2 percent by year-end.

The currency’s slide highlights all is not well as the nation’s economy heads for its worst performance this decade. Crude oil’s plunge to a four-month low this week undermines the finances of net oil exporter Malaysia, while the appeal of its relatively high bond yields is being tempered by the scandals surrounding a troubled state investment fund. Rabobank Group and UBS Group AG both predict Bank Negara Malaysia will add to its first rate cut in seven years in coming months. Read more →