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The infamous “It’s A Bird … It’s A Plane … It’s Superman” tag, referring to the superhero who wears his red underwear outside, is here again. However, since this is a Malaysian version, the superhero’s adventure would undergo a total re-engineering. It would be a blockbuster. It could even wake Christopher Reeve up from his grave. It would most likely thriller than Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Of course the new superhero is Shahrizat (instead of Superman), Minister of Women, Family and Community Development.

Uzbekistan Connection !

World’s worst daughter? – Gulnara Karimova

Corrupt Barisan Nasional l As the saga of Taib and Najib’s global image-building continues to unravel, we can reveal that they not only shared their PR advisors with the notorious dictator of Kazakhstan, but also with the even more horrendous regime of Uzbekistan, where dissidents are boiled alive!

FBC Media’s Italian branch concluded a contract with Gulnara Karimova, the notoriously grasping eldest daughter of the country’s savage dictator, to boost her public image as she attempted to launch a global fashion and pop star career.

Ku Li: Reforms first, polls later

Corrupt Barisan Nasional l by: Teoh El Sen - KUALA LUMPUR: The government should reform the electoral system first before calling for the general election, Umno stalwart and Angkatan Amanah Merdeka (Amanah) president Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said today.

“We welcome the government’s decision to set up the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC). The government must take in all views, including those before Bersih and after, to ensure a free and fair election,” Razaleigh told a press conference at his residence here.

He said that the PSC should be allowed to complete its task expeditiously and all relevant laws amended appropriately and put in place before the general election is called.

Razaleigh, or better known as Ku Li, said that the Bersih 2.0 mass rally on July 9 need not have happened if the government had responded properly.

“I had passed a message to the government asking them to meet with the organisers. What happened was unfortunate; people came out in the thousands despite threats, and it was a mixed crowd too…,” Razaleigh said.

Malaysian companies among the worst ‘bribers’

Corrupt Barisan Nasional l LONDON: Malaysia is ranked 15th when it comes to companies most likely to pay bribes when doing business abroad, a survey suggests.

Malaysia, Hong Kong, Italy and  South Africa were in 15th place out of 28 countries in a poll of 3,000 business executives conducted by anti-corruption group Transparency International (TI).

Companies from Russia and China are the most likely to pay bribes and were the top two ‘bribers’.

The Netherlands and Switzerland came top, while the UK ranked eighth, just ahead of the US and France.

Bribery was reportedly most common to win public sector works and construction contracts.

“It is of particular concern that China and Russia are at the bottom of the index,” said TI in its report.

Bengoh natives still blur about compensation package

Corrupt Barisan Nasional l KUCHING: The Sarawak government must pay the families and villagers who are affected by the construction of the Bengoh Dam adequate compensation that takes into account their immediate and long term needs.

Making this call, a former diplomat John Tenewi Nuek said the villagers had made a “tremendous and invaluable sacrifice” in leaving their ancestral sites.

“The affected villagers are making tremendous and invaluable sacrifices for the construction of the dam and it is only fair and just that they be given a comprehensive, adequate and fair package of compensation that takes into account their short-term as well as their long-term interests.

“All efforts must be taken to ensure that they don’t end up poorer and more marginalised.

‘Monument of Corruption’ still gets flak

Corrupt Barisan Nasional l by M Jegathesan

BAKUN DAM: The first turbine is spinning, electricity is pulsing out, and the water level is climbing in the Borneo jungle behind Malaysia’s huge US$2.2 billion Bakun hydroelectric dam.

But questions continue to swirl around the viability of a project described by critics as a graft-plagued human and ecological disaster – and as opposition mounts against a dozen other planned dams in Sarawak.

The first turbine from French giant Alstom began producing electricity in August and the dam’s reservoir has swelled to the size of Singapore since impoundment began a year ago.

After years of warnings about the impact on Sarawak’s pristine jungles and the forced removal of thousands of local tribespeople, the dam’s head Zulkifle Osman sees light at the end of the tunnel.

During a tour of the facility, the managing director of Sarawak Hidro, who has overseen construction since 2000, defended the dam despite an electricity surplus in the state and the lack of a market for its power.

BYE BYE SARAWAK REPORTS!

Corrupt Barisan Nasional l Taib Mahmud’s $5million dollar a year ‘Cyber-war Campaign’ has conceded a humiliating defeat, with the final demise of the site ‘Sarawak Reports’.

Sarawak Reports was part of a vicious network of internet sites, set up by the crooked UK-based production FBC Media, in a hired attempt to undermine this blog and to attack the opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

By adopting a virtually identical name to our own, FBC clearly hoped they could confuse web-surfers into reading their pro-Taib propaganda, instead of our research into Taib’s 30 years of corrupt government.

However, there is little evidence that readers were in fact fooled but this costly exercise.  The site never dared to publish the handful of comments it received for its stories, which were little more than dreary ‘puff pieces’ praising Taib’s ‘progress and development’ policies.

RAZIAH GRABS MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR FOREST FOR JUST RM 250!

Victims of the Land Grab - Ibans of Kampong Ensika

Corrupt Barisan Nasional l In an act of breathtaking meanness and greed the multi-billionaire Taib family are seeking to deprive impoverished Ibans of one of Sarawak’s last remaining hardwood forests, for a paltry compensation of just RM250 per family.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Report has received exclusive new leaks which indicate that the Chief Minister himself stands to personally profit by a million times that amount (an estimated RM250,000,00) in corrupt backhanders from the deal.

‘Let’s discuss Taib’s wealth’

Corrupt Barisan Nasional l KUALA LUMPUR: Sarawak’s two sole opposition MPs today filed an emergency motion with the Speaker’s Office for Parliament to be adjourned to discuss the ongoing global investigations into Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s wealth.

Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen and Sibu parliamentarian Wong Ho Leng are seeking to discuss the matter tomorrow.

Taib’s business links and wealth is currently under probe in Switzerland, Germany and Australia. There have also been moves to urge the Canadian and British governments to do the same.

Authorities ignore Taib-linked company’s faults

Corrupt Barisan Nasional l KUCHING: The contractors of a RM50 million flyover project here is flouting the law but the authorities appear reluctant to act, according to Sarawak DAP.

The party is now questioning the manner in which the construction of the Jalan Tun Jugah flyover is being carried out.

The contract was awarded to a company which is allegedly connected to family of Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Not surprising because the bulk of major contracts here are handed out to either Cahaya Mata Sarawak (CMS) or Naim Holdings which in turn subcontract it out to other Taib family or crony linked companies. Both CMS are Naim are directly linked to Taib.

TAIB NAMED IN UK PARLIAMENT

Corrupt Barisan Nasional l Knowledge and concern about the timber corruption associated with Sarawak’s Chief Minister is now spreading to the UK.

Last week his name was raised in the UK Parliament’s upper chamber, The House of Lords, after a question had been asked of the Government to give an assessment of the impact of logging on indigenous people, plants and animal life. 

Present to answer the question was one of the Government Ministers from the Department for International Development (DFID), Baroness Verma.

SEPAWI’S GRUBBY DEAL EXPOSED!

Ta Ann's Annual Report of 2002 stated its ownership
of 30% of Grand Perfect Sdn Bhd.

Corrupt Barisan Nasional l Prompted by the outburst of his own lawyers, Sarawak Report has now dug up further details about Hamid Sepawi’s dubious dealings over the plantation company Grand Perfect Sdn Bhd.

They raise questions of potential criminality on the part of the Chief Minister’s cousin and negligence of the rules of disclosure by two companies he runs, Ta Ann Bhd and Grand Perfect.

It was earlier this week that Ta Ann, the logging and oil palm conglomerate of which Sepawi is Executive Chairman, created a great fuss because the Sarawak PKR leader, Baru Bian, had allegedly said it owned 30% of Grand Perfect.

The lawyers threatened to sue Baru Bian, because they clearly implied such an association was damaging to Ta Ann’s reputation!  They demanded he apologise ”for making a gross error in my statement and for any embarrassment, damage to their [Ta Ann's] reputation and credibility caused“.

Canada alerted to Taib’s ‘dirty’ assets

Corrupt Barisan Nasional l KUALA LUMPUR: Swiss-based NGO, Bruno Manser Fund (BMF), claimed that the Canadian government is taking a keen interest in complaints raised by BMF about Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s alleged money-laundering activities in Canada.

The BMF, however, could not confirm if a formal investigation had been initiated on Taib-family-founded Sakto Corporation for the alleged offence, but said Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is well aware of the allegation.

Sakto owns and administers properties in Ottawa, Ontario, estimated to be worth well over US$100 million. It is also the centre of a Taib family-linked property empire with significant holdings in the UK, the US and Australia.

‘Billionaire’ son steps in to save Taib

Corrupt Barisan Nasional l KUCHING: Alleged billionaire Mahmud Abu Bekir, who has decided to step into the political fray to safeguard his father Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s political and financial dynasty, must be prepared to fend off attacks by an opposition which is raring to have a go at him.

Abu Bekir, like his father, carries excessive baggage which is good fodder for the opposition.

Already Sarawak DAP is demanding that Abu Bekir make a full disclosure of his earnings from government contracts and land alienation before contesting in the coming general election.

“How much has he gained from government contracts awarded to his companies where he is the major shareholder?” asked state DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen.

‘US government knew about corrupt Taib’

Corrupt Barisan Nasional l KUCHING: The US government, it appears, has been fully aware of Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s allegedly corrupt ways, according to a US diplomatic confidential cable leaked by WikiLeaks.

The cable said the US authorities have been in know “for years” about his abuses.

Most of Taib’s wealth allegedly stemmed from the destructive logging of Sarawak’s rainforests.

Disclosing the cable to the State Department in Washington dated Oct 13, 2006, the whistleblower website said the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur had noted that “Taib and his relatives are widely thought to extract a percentage from most major commercial contracts – including those for logging – awarded in the state (Sarawak)…”

Pak Lah’s fishing trip to the Caribbean

Corrupt Barisan Nasional - KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s four-day “working visit” to two Caribbean islands in 2006 was the subject of a confidential US cable which raised questions over the purpose and the potential achievements for the countries involved.

The cable by US diplomats based in the Caribbean to the State Department in Washington DC came about two weeks after Abdullah completed his visit to St Vincent and the Grenadines from April 29 to May 2 in 2006.

The cable noted that Abdullah’s visit was more of a vacation rather than a working visit, in which the Malaysian premier had spend a day on a fishing trip with St Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves.

Baram Dam: Lying govt and big companies

Joseph Tawie

 | Corrupt Barisan Nasional

KUCHING: The deceitful and insidious manner by which the state government is going about with the construction of the Baram Dam has angered the Orang Ulu communities in the dam project vicinity.

Orang Ulu National Association Miri (OUNA) chairman Pete Kallang said: “As one of those affected I just can’t understand this injustice and this outrageous and abusive exploitation.

“Why, it could be seen as an act in complete disregard for our well-being and opinion.

“This could be proven by the priority given to the preparatory construction activities done even before the proper Social Impact Assessment (SIA) and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) are completed or perhaps not even started and made accessible to affected and interested parties.

MACC must show independence, not impotence

From Robert Phang, via e-mail

AG Gani Patail is again courting controversy by the revelation in Malaysia Today, which appeared on the Aug 24, 2011. If the allegation is not thoroughly investigated, it will be perceived badly by the Rakyat.

Malaysia Today produced documentary evidence of what appears to be AG Gani Patail receiving gratification to take sides in a corporate boardroom tussle in Ho Hup Construction Berhad.

Previously, photographs had already surfaced in various blogs of AG Gani Patail with that company’s previous managing director, Vincent Lye.

Sarawak govt ‘constantly’ ignoring court rulings

KUCHING: State opposition PKR has accused the Sarawak government of “abusing and misusing” the office of the state Attorney-General’s Chambers (A-G) to defend the wrong-doings of a few who continue grabbing native customary rights (NCR) land.

According to PKR vice-chairman See Chee How, the state government is “constantly” denying court rulings favouring natives on NCR land.

“The High Courts, the Court of Appeal and even the Federal Court have spoken and ruled on the recognition of NCR according to the customary practice of the natives concerned, but the state government chose to have its own restrictive interpretation.

“The state government is in its denial mode and likely to continue doing so, no matter how many cases are decided in favour of the native communities that have chosen to stand up against the state Barisan Nasional regime.

What is this country coming to?

ALIRAN

Will the rakyat be able to survive the power of the police – and that of the State, wonders Kee Thuan Chye. 

What is this country coming to? Many Malaysians are asking this question in view of the numerous actions taken by the police over the past week. 

WE RELEASE THE DOCUMENTS – EXCLUSIVE PROOF!

FBC Media's PR Chief/ Executive 

Programme Editor Alan Friedman

Sarawak Report has received a copy of the actual letter and contract sent by FBC Media Chairman, Alan Friedman, to Chief Minister Taib Mahmud, outlining their illegal PR campaign.

The total cost for FBC’s ‘Global Strategic Communications Proposal’ came to $5 million in the first year alone in a campaign designed to last at least 3 years. 

Sources close to BN have told us that the project was first outlined verbally in meetings between Alan Friedman and the Chief Minister, after the FBC Media Chairman was invited to Kuching at the start of the year.

Separate divisions?

‘MCMC officers behaved like thugs’

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) today questioned a journalist over a picture she had taken during the Bersih 2.0 rally.

But according to Lawyers For Liberty (LFL) coordinator, Fadiah Nadwa Fikri, the officials had behaved like thugs in their intimidation and harassment of both her and her client.

Fadiah had accompanied her client, Yusriah Yusof, a photographer with opposition mouthpiece Suara Keadilan, to the MCMC headquarters earlier this afternoon.

Yusriah was being questioned over her picture of Anwar Ibrahim’s bodyguard, Fayyadh Afiq Albakqry, taken after he was hit in the face with a tear gas canister while shielding Anwar.

The picture of his bloodied face were among the many circulated online in the aftermath of the rally as evidence of police brutality.

Post-Bersih 2.0 Rally, Here Are The Winners - Part 1 (Photo) 
Post-Bersih 2.0 Rally, Here Are The Winners - Part 2 (Videos) 
Post-Bersih 2.0 Rally, Here Are The Winners - Part 3

Armed Forces chief warns staff: It is treachery to expose votes cheating

In a bid to head off more revelations of votes cheating, Armed Forces chief General Zulkifeli Mohd Zin put on his fiercest face and warned that it was "treachery" for staff to blow the whistle on their bosses.

In a rare public statement issued on Thursday, Zulkifeli also rebuked "irresponsible parties" for implicating the armed forces and its personnel in corrupt voting procedures.

“The actions can be interpreted as treachery and it should stop immediately. The ATM (armed forces) is the nation's wall of defence that should be supported by all levels of the people, regardless of ethnicity, religion and political position," Zulkifeli, who heads the Armed Forces, said in a statement out on Thursday.

What happened to the RM29 million health clinic probe?

From Lee Kee, via e-mail

No amount of money spent on public relations will regain the public’s confidence in the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) until it displays true justice and independence from the powers that be.

The MACC’s selective persecution and prosecution is so glaring to the public that only a daft person will believe it is a truly anti-graft agency.

And, please don’t rate its administration with Hong Kong’s ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption). It’s insulting.

The Teoh Beng Hock tragedy continues to hog the limelight and public anguish has yet to die down after more than two years and only shows it is futile to defend the MACC.

Teoh’s death was caused by the MACC. Whether its officers were directly or indirectly responsible, it is still unclear because of the cover ups.

Battle starts for natives suing Taib’s sister

KUCHING: The hearing of a lawsuit against Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s sister, Raziah Mahmud, has begun.

The lawsuit was filed by natives Numpang Anak Suntai and 14 others on behalf of 276 Iban landowners of Sebangan/Sebuyau.

The suit, which is against Quality Concrete Sdn Bhd and Loyal Billion Sdn Bhd, is being heard at the Kuching High Court.

Quality Concrete, which is owned by Raziah, is alleged to have encroached into 3,305 hectares of forest which the Ibans have claimed as their native customary rights (NCR) land.

Taib’s ‘rogue’ PR campaign, thanks to Najib

CORRUPT BARISAN NASIONAL : KUCHING: When Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud hired FBC Media, it was to counter widespread negative reports of him.

Nothing wrong with hiring a PR company, is there?

Taib needed it, more so after revelations surfaced of his immense personal wealth and billions of dollars in global business links allegedly derived from timber concessions dating back to the 1980s.

The Swiss-based Bruno Manser Fund had linked and blacklisted 49-companies in eight countries to Taib and his family.

To top this opposition, environmentalists and conservationist here and abroad have claimed that under his rule 70% of Sarawak’s rainforest have been deforested and indigenous communities marginalised, abused and ignored.

FBC MEDIA SCANDAL – GROWING QUESTIONS FOR CNN’S JOHN DEFTERIOS

Defterios gives Facetime to FBC client,
Malaysia's PM Najib Razak, on CNN

Corrupt Barisan Nasiional - If CNN had acknowledged concerns about FBC Media’s spin operations and agreed to investigate the possible contamination of its programmes, because of its connections with that company’s President, John Defterios, criticism might have died down.

However, unlike the BBC and CNBC, who have both launched investigations and suspended FBC Media programmes, CNN has leapt to a fairly arrogant and unquestioning defence of its Business Presenter, who for years has combined that role with a senior position and substantial shareholding in the crooked PR/ Production company. 

Videos and You Tube: Catching the police and BN in a web of lies

Corrupt Barisan Nasional l Written by  Iskandar Dzulkarnain

What started out as just a simple march for democracy and for free and fair elections has turned out to be Malaysia’s biggest news of the year. In the weeks leading up to the July 9 Bersih march, the media industry was already witnessing a gigantic surge in the news material for Bersih 2.0.

Low-profile lawyer Ambiga Sreenevasan, who is also the Bersih chief, was thrown rudely into the limelight. Public attention was further aggravated by Perkasa Chief Ibrahim Ali and his hostility towards the Rally. Sad to say, death and gang-rape threats against Ambiga also riveted many Malaysians to their Internet.

MALAYSIAN MONEY – £3 BILLION YACHT !

According to the UK’s Mail newspaper an ‘anonymous Malaysian businessman’ has purchased a yacht priced at £3 BILLION pounds.  This amounts to nearly $5 BILLION dollars and indeed RM14.5 BILLION !

The purchaser of this record-busting toy is clearly reluctant to answer questions such as: How much tax have you paid? How much have you contributed to helping alleviate poverty? Or, indeed, how did you earn so much money in the first place?  So, they have remained anonymous.

We’ll derail BN, railwaymen warn Najib

PETALING JAYA: In a letter to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, the Railwaymen Union of Malaya (RUM) warned him of protest votes against the Barisan Nasional in the next polls.

The letter penned by union secretary-general Jaafar Alias in his capacity as the Tampin Umno information chief also panned the Najib admnistration’s tagline.

“They (KTMB staff) said the slogan of ‘people first, performance now’ does not seem to be relevant… where the views of union members and KTMB employees have been ignored,” he said.

Why does Sabah need a RM388m office?

Corrupt Barisan Nasional - KOTA KINABALU: In Sabah 65% of the roads are gravel tracks and clean drinking water and electricity are a luxury. Against this reality, is there a need for a RM388 million new administrative centre?

Questioning the logic behind the government’s decision to build a new complex, activist lawyer Kong Hong Ming said: “This money should be used to improve infrastructure and provide badly needed amenities to the people, especially those who are living in the rural areas.

“Why is the Sabah Barisan Nasional government spending taxpayers’ money on grandiose projects and not providing basic infrastructure such as piped-water supply to villagers?”

Kong said thousands of villagers in the state still do not have access to clean water.