Dewan Merdeka was yesterday full of blue shirts. The BN members were in a jubilant mood. They turned out in full force to celebrate the 48th Anniversary of Barisan Nasional, the all-powerful coalition of UMNO, MCA, MIC and other associate parties known as Friends Of BN (MMSP, IPF, PCM, MIUP, MPP) that had trounced Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) in the Melaka and Johor state elections.

The BN members had every reason to feel proud. Voters are returning in large numbers to support BN candidates, especially voters from the Chinese community. The BOSSKU factor played a big part in rallying non-Malay voters for BN. The trend is growing stronger and BN must strike while the iron is hot.

Clearly, PH is at its lowest rating after being killed by the Sheraton Move. The people are just waiting to teach PH a lesson after failing to govern the country in a short span of 22 months.

The Wrath Of Malaysians

The people have every reason to be angry at PH. In a matter of 22 months, the Bursa Malaysia (Malaysian Bourse) was wiped out of RM200 billion, resulting in serious losses to the stock market players.

Bank Negara had to spend RM60 billion to rescue the Ringgit. The withdrawal of GST resulted in the loss of RM20 billion in annual revenue. BR1M was replaced by an E-wallet of RM30, not monthly, but per year! Farmers, fishermen and Felda settlers had their subsidies cut. The people were getting poorer under the PH government, compared to the good thriving days under the Najib Razak’s administration.

Malaysians were angry at PH’s poor performance. Their anger stretched until today as the spillover effect, compounded by the pandemic, has been extremely damaging for the country. Over seven by-elections, PH candidates had been defeated by BN, a clear message that voters want PH out. This message was clearly read by Muhyiddin Yassin and the gang, resulting in the infamous Sheraton Move and later the formation of the ‘Backdoor Government.’

The day of reckoning has come. PH and the Sheraton Move detractors will face the wrath of the people.

BN Strikes Back

OCTOBER, that’s the targeted date for GE 15. Political pundits have agreed in common that PM will advise the Agong to dissolve Parliament, making way for GE 15.

Political parties are now busy forming coalitions to fight BN. Muhyiddin has been busy calling for a coalition with PH, but DAP made it clear they will not work with Bersatu. Their memory is still fresh of the Sheraton Move that led to the downfall of the PH government. PAS is caught in a political quagmire. Umno is reluctant to accept PAS as a coalition party of BN. As far as Umno is concerned, Muafakat Nasional is dead, its fate sealed when PAS colluded with Muhyiddin in all matters against Umno.

The likelihood is that BN will face GE 15 without PAS.

BN is sure to capture the majority of seats based on its performance in Melaka and Johor.

BN will make use of PH’s failure to govern the country. The weak economy, political instability, the infighting amongst PH component parties are all evidence of PH failure. Mahyuddin failure to manage the covid pandemic together with the Emergency declaration will bury Bersatu’s hope of making a political comeback.

Yes BN will strike back! This time, BN WILL CAPTURE PUTRAJAYA, AND DELIVER IT’S PROMISE OF BETTER DAYS FOR THE RAKYAT.

Can BN Make Malaysia Great Again?

Malaysians are hungry for change, looking forward to a government that focuses on economic development, creates jobs for jobless graduates, that provides political stability.

BN has a track record that delivers what the people want. Najib has proven that during his nine years as PM. Malaysia benefits from Najib’s close ties with China and the Middle East. The One Belt One Road initiative makes Malaysia its main target.

Saudi Aramco invested billions in the Pengerang project as a result of Najib’s visit to the Saudi Kingdom.

GST brought an annual revenue of RM 20 billion which saved the country from falling oil prices.

Malaysians prospered under Najib’s administration, that is a fact.

MALAYSIA WILL BE GREAT AGAIN UNDER A PARTY THAT GOT A PROVEN TRACK RECORD, THAT PARTY IS BARISAN NASIONAL.

Pakatan Harapan had failed and brought misery to the country. PN failed miserably under Mahyuddin. There is no other choice left for Malaysians but to put BN back in power.

The faster we hold GE 15 the better life is for the people. WHAT IS THE PM WAITING FOR? – NMH

About the writer: Kamarudin Ahmad is a social activist and a lawyer by profession and occasionally writes for NMH. The points expressed in this article are that of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the stand of NMH.

The post PH Will Be Punished, I’m Definitely Sure About It first appeared on NMH.

It was meant to be a networking Hari Raya gathering among members of Kelab Sahabat Najib ’87, a brotherhood comprising former UMNO Youth leaders that were together with their Patron, former prime minister, Najib Razak since 1987. That’s almost 35 years and still going strong. They have withstood the test of time and remained together during good and bad times. The spirit of brotherhood has grown over the years from the youth days in the 80s to the days of power when Najib became Prime Minister, Zahid Hamidi was Deputy Prime Minister and many other former youth leaders occupying cabinet seats. That’s how powerful the NAJIB BROTHERHOOD is, and always will be.

The Raya gathering, however, turned into an event to pledge their support and loyalty for the three Umno leaders – Najib, Zahid and sitting Prime Minister, Ismail Sabri, as the group is aware that all guns are now pointing at the three leaders as Umno is gearing up in full force for the forthcoming GE15.

Umno 35 Years Ago

In the good old days there was only one dominant Malay political party, that is UMNO … no other party could challenge UMNO in the Malay world. PAS only existed in the backwater east coast state of Kelantan.

All the well known Malay leaders originated from UMNO: Dr Mahathir, Muhyiddin Yassin,Tengku Razaleigh, Anwar Ibrahim, Najib and Zahid were all UMNO leaders.

THEN THE BIG BANG HAPPENED.

Anwar formed PKR, Mahathir formed BERSATU, Muhyiddin took over BERSATU, so Mahathir then formed PEJUANG and so the Malays were torn asunder by their own political leaders. The Malays are now so divided politically compared to the other races in Malaysia. They have lost the political hegemony in the Malay heartland. The islamic teachings of fostering brotherhood amongst muslims have been thrown aside. Its GONE WITH THE WIND, BUT THE NAJIB BROTHERHOOD REMAINS AS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF LOYALTY IN TIMES OF ADVERSITY.

THE CLASS OF 1987 has had enough. They have watched the selective prosecutions by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) gov’t on Najib, Zahid and other Umno leaders. They have watched leaders and supporters of PH being let off the hook by the then Attorney General (AG) Tommy Thomas.

THEY WATCHED IN UTTER DISGUST AT THE RULE OF LAW BEING FLOUTED BY THE PH GOVERNMENT.

Clearly, it’s too much for Najib to bear the burden of facing three major trials – SRC TRIAL, IMDB TRIAL, AUDIT REPORT TRIAL and the strain and stress of court attendances day in and day out over the last four years.

THE CLASS OF 1987 will request that the charges in respect of IMDB be dropped due to the restitution of IMDB money that is now taking place. Restitution of IMDB money from Goldman Sachs, the sale of superyacht Equanimity, from Singapore, and the IPIC settlement deal. Together with the current assets of IMDB, especially the Sungei Besi Bandar Malaysia land, it’s more likely IMDB will get back its money.

In line with the AG’s recent decision in the case of SERBA DINAMIK BERHAD, RESTITUTION IS A BETTER OPTION IN THE INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC.

The IMDB case should also be reviewed along the same line. A delegation from the Najib Brotherhood will meet with the prime minister anytime soon declaring their support and a humble request that their pleas be heard. With the General Election looming soon, it’s essential that party unity is maintained and that PM receives all-round support as the BN POSTER BOY. IT’S A TEST FOR ISMAIL SABRI’S LEADERSHIP AT THIS CRITICAL MOMENT.

Malaysia Should Bury 1MDB And Move On

The idea of 1MDB as a sovereign company was mooted by Najib when he became prime minister in 2009. It was a noble move to create a conglomerate that competes in the international market.

The initial investment by the Ministry of Finance was a mere Ringgit One million (RM 1,000,000). With that small capital from the government, 1MDB managed to acquire almost all the Independent Power Producers in the country with a few overseas, the Sungei Besi Land for Projek Bandar Malaysia, develop Project Tun Razak Financial Exchange (TRX)and own a strategic parcel of land in Penang.

IMDB was about to launch its IPO with a view to raise RM 5 Billion from institutional investors and the public.

Alas, continuous attacks by DAP leaders had dampened IMDB’s image, causing the IPO to be aborted.

The rest is history. With PH in power, Dr Mahathir launched a series of attacks on Umno leaders culminating in Najib being charged with various offences related to 1MDB.

Trials relating to IMDB have gone on in New York, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Goldman Sachs began the restitution of IMDB money. We are still waiting for the IPIC settlement deal.

All in all, there is a strong possibility of IMDB getting back most, if not all of its money.

Malaysians are tired of the 1MDB saga. Bloggers and netizens are now casting aspersions on the judiciary. We don’t see the country benefitting from the 1MDB quagmire.

The gov’t should wake up to the daily needs of the people, the concern over rising prices, shortage of chicken, and flash floods in the capital city.

It’s high time we bury the 1MDB saga. The country has to move on to greater heights. The rakyat deserves better days ahead. – New Malaysia Herald

About the writer: Kamarudin Ahmad is a social activist and a lawyer by profession and occasionally writes for the New Malaysia Herald (NMH). The points expressed in this article are that of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the stand of NMH.

The post The Najib Brotherhood Which Began 35 Years Ago first appeared on NMH.

Umno’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) with the election of office bearers has always been a divisive event. The most sought after post of the president had in the past been the cause of a major split in Umno leadership with the disruptive results on the political stability of the nation.

In 1987 Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah put up a strong challenge on Dr Mahathir for the post of Umno’s president. He lost by a small margin and challenged the AGM election result which caused Umno to be declared as an illegal party by the Kuala Lumpur High Court. Dr Mahathir formed Umno Baru (New Umno) and blocked Tengku Razaleigh from being a member of Umno Baru.

As a protest, Tengku Razaleigh formed a new party called PARTI SEMANGAT 46 which succeeded in defeating Umno Baru in several Parliamentary and State by-elections.

The political climate became unstable with BN Government being challenged by a strong coalition of opposition parties led by Tengku Razaleigh.

Subsequent years saw Anwar Ibrahim toppling Ghafar Baba from the post of Umno’s deputy president and his next target was for the president’s post. Unfortunately for Anwar, Dr Mahathir got wind of his ambitious plan.

The following years saw Anwar being sacked from Umno and losing his position as the deputy prime minister and the party’s deputy president. The whole episode culminated with Anwar being convicted of sodomy charges.

That’s how bad the power struggle in Umno during AGM was and how precarious the position of the president which is always the subject of a political scramble for power, a scramble that will weaken and split UMNO.

Money Politics In Umno

Money politics rule the day whenever there is an Umno election. Let it be for the position of president or other Office Bearers, we are talking of millions being spent by the candidates eyeing their respective positions. Candidates must have a war chest for the top position of president, deputy president and the three vice-presidents.

Money has to be spent to get the support of the Umno’s division chiefs from Perlis to Sabah and then the need to get the support of the Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings. Dinners at leading hotels to meet the divisional leaders and it’s an open secret for Ang Pow being given to the senior divisional leaders that attended the gatherings.

A candidate can expect to lose any position he contested should he not indulge in money politics as he will be regarded as a selfish candidate, thus begin the campaign trail made colourful by money politics.

The advantage to the incumbent cabinet ministers should the Umno election be held before the General Election (GE) is, that they have at their disposal all the resources of their respective ministries to garner support from the UMNO Divisional leaders.

Democracy in Umno is very much linked to money politics.

Power Struggle Of Umno’s Team A And Team B

There are two teams in Umno which we shall call Team A and Team B. The recent Umno Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) was made necessary due to the different agendas of these groups.

Team A is aligned with Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the president of Umno while Team B is aligned with Ismail Sabri the prime minister.

All the while Team A has maintained that the Umno party election is to be held after the GE which is due latest by May 2023. The rationale is to prevent ugly campaigns and money politics that will weaken Umno, definitely not a good scenario for the party to face the GE.

Team B on the other hand insisted that Umno hold its party election immediately before the GE. A number of Umno ministers and their cronies are in Team B. Their fear is that Zahid as president of Umno and chairman of Barisan Nasional (BN) will not nominate them as BN candidates for the coming GE.

This fear is justifiable as they have been critical of Zahid while serving as cabinet ministers, and have shown support for former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s statements in 2020 and 2021.

Team B is banking on Ismail Sabri as PM to challenge Zahid for President of UMNO while the UMNO ministers will contest other senior party positions. It’s almost certain that Team B will be victorious due to money politics and the PM factor.

Many divisional chiefs would be bought over by monetary rewards and GLC positions, something which Zahid would not be able to match.

To thwart the sinister agenda of Team B, Zahid called for the EGM to be held recently with a special resolution that Umno’s election is held within six months after a General Election.

Zahid and Team A are now saved by the EGM while Team B is now in troubled waters and their political future is now at the mercy of Zahid.

Will that put an end to the political struggle in UMNO? We will have to wait and see..whether the wound will heal.

Will Ismail Sabri Call For GE15 This Year?

UMNO/BN is in a jubilant mood. The success in the Melaka State Election and the triumphant victory in the recent Johor State Election is a strong indicator of voters’ support. Huge crowds could be seen whenever Najib made his presence. The large Chinese crowd in Johor is a clear signal that Chinese voters had returned to support BN candidates. Their frustration with DAP and the bungling PH government could clearly be seen in the Johor State Election. For the first time in many years, DAP candidates were trounced in what was known as DAP strongholds. In fact the Chinese community seemed to welcome Najib as a hero of the people.They have not forgotten the help for the Chinese schools in Johor and BN moderate policy towards Chinese education.

Most of all, the Chinese community benefited from nine years of tremendous growth under the Najib administration. Thus the call by UMNO/ BN for the General Election to be held this year.

This is the clear message to Ismail Sabri. But the latter seems to indulge in a dilly-dally game. He seems inclined to wait for a clearance from the Cabinet before advising His Majesty Agung to dissolve Parliament. The problem is Muhyiddin and PAS ministers dominate the cabinet and they are in no hurry for a General Election after being badly trounced in the recent Johor State Election.

The Federal Constitution is clear that it is the Prime Minister that advises His Majesty Agong to dissolve Parliament. However, conventions require the Cabinet to act collectively. It is the collective decision of the Cabinet that binds the PM.

A likely solution is for Ismail to strike a bargain with PAS and some of the ex PKR ministers. That will leave Muhyiddin out in the cold. Ismail Sabri seems to be at the crossroads. If he fails to call for a General Election this year, its very likely Zahid will not give him a nomination form as a BN candidate.

That may be the end of his political career in UMNO… and as a BN poster boy.

Najib And The Bongbong Marcos Factor

After years of political turmoil and successive Presidents, the Filipinos at last came to grips with reality. They have realised the need for a strong leadership that can place food on their tables. Ferdinand Marcos’ iron rule has been forgiven. They have moved on from the tantalising stories of Imelda Marcos’ 1,000 shoes. The lies and wild allegations against the Marcos had been cleared up. What matters now is the hope that Bongbong Marcos will ensure political stability with the support of the Duterte clans… and thus bring economic growth to a country that was once a leading powerhouse in this region.

Back home, we find a similar situation happening here. The need for political stability and the need for economic growth. Malaysia is currently behind some African states largely due to bungling policies of the PH Government.vThe achievements made by Najib over nine years as PM were scuttled away by 22 months of PH administration. Even with the largest Cabinet in history, Malaysia is still beset with political instability and slow economic growth.

Thus the growing talks of Najib making a comeback to Putrajaya. Official visits by Singapore ministers to Najib strengthen the talks. The recent Najib-Anwar debate is a strong indicator of Najib’s command of the economic situation compared to Anwar’s rabble-rousing rhetorics. Thanks to Najib we got MRT, LRT, ECRL, HSR, TUN RAZAK EXCHANGE, BANDAR MALAYSIA… some of the best infrastructures in our times.

In simple words, Malaysians got food on their table during Najib’s days as PM.

Looks like ALL IS FORGIVEN. COME BACK NAJIB. – New Malaysia Herald

About the writer: Kamarudin Ahmad is a social activist and a lawyer by profession and occasionally writes for the New Malaysia Herald (NMH). He is also an Umno member. The points expressed in this article are that of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the stand of NMH.

The post Umno And The Threats From Within first appeared on NMH.

It all started when Najib came up with a proposal that the ailing Sapura Energy be rescued from bankruptcy for several good reasons. You can read about the road leading up to the debate here and here. Petronas was proposed as the White Knight given the fact that Sapura Energy is a leading player in the Oil and Gas sector and at one time was the second largest Oil and Gas services provider in the world.

The bankruptcy of Sapura Energy would have severe repercussions on over 10,000 players in the O and G sector. PNB and local banks would take a big hit with their exposures in the billions. Najib’s arguments are not new. Other countries such as US, UK and Italy have rescued their major corporate players from bankruptcy.

Anwar as usual played the champion of the small business groups. As usual, Anwar sees the devil in any good proposal from Najib, that an evil sinister agenda is behind any gov’t rescue of Sapura Energy. Anwar insisted on a Forensic Audit to be carried out before any decision to rescue Sapura Energy is made. That seems to be the mood of Anwar throughout the debate with Forensic Audit being cited several times. The audience at Dewan Tun Hussein Onn WTC was rattled by the repetitive usage of Forensive Audit. And thus the new title of Anwar… Forensex Awwdid.

Najib Sets The Trap

Najib came on stage with facts and figures based on heavy research on the subject. Most of all, Najib came with nine years of experience as the Prime Minister of Malaysia. Nine glorious years of success with the Transformation of Economic policies. The great infrasructure projects of MRT, HSR, ECRL were all formulated during the glorious years of Najib. Thus the convincing arguments from the former PM and Pekan MP.

Anwar failed to rebut Najib’s arguments. Obviously, he did not do much research on the subject. Anwar was relying on his “REFORMASI” slogan which fell flat amongst the large audience. Anwar kept on harping the old tune of saving the poor and damn the rich. But again, PH failed to help the poor when they were in power for 22 months. All the people got was RM30 in the EWallet. Now, compare that to RM1,000 under BRIM of the BN Government. Even his argument of not inculcating a dependency syndrome did not hold much ground as Najib had the right arguments to counter it.

Anwar could not escape from the trap set by Najib. The debate comprised of four rounds and at every round, Najib presented economic data to support his arguments. The audience could clearly see Anwar was lost for words. His rabble rousing tactics did not work that night. Anwar must have regretted for taking up the Najib debate challenge which has clearly shown his outdated approach in tackling economic issues. Its a bitter lesson for Anwar.

What’s Next For Najib?

After the successful debut last night, we are eager to know Najib’s next move. Will there be a debate with Muhyiddin? Or Lim Kit Siang? Definitely no debate with Dr Mahathir due to his phobia over the name Najib. A debate with Muhyiddin should be held as he has been promoted as the next PM by the Bersatu/PN cronies. Netizens would love to see Muhyiddin being grilled over his poor handling of the Covid 19 pandemic including the Emergency declared to combat the pandemic.The failure to manage the country during his days as PM could be answered during the debate. Most of all why he needed such a large cabinet during days when the country was virtually under lockdown.

Lim Kit Siang will just be another Anwar style leadership.Talk Talk Talk with no track records of economic poliicies other than Malays-bashing style talk, which is typical of DAP leaders.

Its a tough time for Najib. He does not have a serious contender to debate with. After demolishing Anwar last night, Najib could easily demolish the next contender. We would love to see Najib’s next move.

Does Malaysia Still Need Najib?

When times are tough, we need tough leaders to handle the tough times. Tough leaders with high leadership qualities and the right temperament. Obviously Anwar did not qualify because he lacked the cool temper when caught in a trap created by Najib. We easily saw Anwar getting temperamental over the issue of rescuing Sapura Energy. In simple words, ANWAR LOST HIS COOL .

It was glaring to the audience how well-versed Najib was over economic matters. He came up with strong facts and figures that convinced the audience. Najib got nine glorious years as PM that convinced the audience that MALAYSIA STILL NEEDS NAJIB’S LEADERSHIP TO HANDLE TOUGH TIMES. NAJIB KEPT HIS COOL. HE DID NOT BLINK WHEN VERBALLY ATTACKED BY ANWAR. NOW THAT’S WHAT WE CALL A COOL LEADER.

Malaysia is currently far behind in the economic race amongst the South East Asian countries. I met a German industrialist who said that Malaysia is leftout in the latest technology developments. We are not moving in the right direction. The political infighting is damaging the country far worse than the war in Ukraine. There is an ending to the war in Ukraine. But will there be an ending to the political imbroglio in Malaysia?

I guess the answer lies in a strong leader coming from a political group with strong majority in Parliament. Its highly likely Barisan Nasional (BN) is the party. And Najib is a favourite leader from BN. Malaysians should not be surprised if Najib makes a comeback to Putrajaya. After all, the SRC case is still pending appeal at the Federal Court. Najib is free to plan his next move.

After all, as said by a CNN correspondent whom I met recently: NAJIB IS A STATESMAN WHO DID GREAT THINGS FOR MALAYSIA. – New Malaysia Herald

About the writer: Kamarudin Ahmad is a social activist and a lawyer by profession and occasionally writes for the New Malaysia Herald (NMH). The points expressed in this article are that of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the stand of NMH.

The post When Najib Trounced Anwar At Premier Debate first appeared on NMH.

Today marks the fourth anniversary of the fall of Barisan Nasional (BN). It also marks the rise to power of Pakatan Harapan (PH) as the coalition of political misfits to run the Malaysian gov’t.

Malaysians saw a PH cabinet of greenhorns that fiddled with the social and economic infrastructures created by BN since the nation achieved independence in 1957.

The achievements of Najib Razak during his nine years as prime minister were washed away by the inept PH ministers. The finance ministry under Lim Guan Eng then is much to be blamed for the economic downturn that took place over 22 months of PH rule.

An Economic Disaster Of PH Making

As Finance Minister Guan Eng took an adversarial stand towards BN policies, an aggressive attitude towards China and blatant propaganda on the national debt reaching one trillion frightened investors.

Foreign investors moved away their funds with adverse effects on the economy. A hefty figure of RM 200 billion was wiped out from Bursa Malaysia.

Bank Negara Malaysia had to pump in over RM60 billion to rescue the Ringgit.

GST was removed with the resultant loss of national income of RM20 billion per year.

The Malaysian gov’t had to resort to selling national assets in order to raise money apart from heavy borrowing.

The PH gov’t worsened the disaster by scrapping several people-friendly programs created by the BN Government which include BRIM, Klinik Satu Malaysia and many others.

It was a disaster indeed for the ordinary man on the street.

The Days Of Living Dangerously

The fall of the BN Government in May 2018 created a climate of fear. A witch hunt started against BN supporters while mercy was generously given to PH supporters. A sense of fear swept the country when former Najib’s residence was raided.

The follow-up raid on Najib’s apartment at the Pavilion discovered cash of over RM 100 million. The media went into a frenzy with non-stop wild allegations of corruption against Najib.

The Attorney-General (AG) and his boys went on a rampage. Apart from Najib, several other UMNO politicians were also charged for various offences under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act and Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA). Many are still awaiting trial.

As fate is on Najib’s side the High Court ruled no wrongdoing in respect of the over RM 100 million cash seized at the Pavilion apartment.

Though Najib was convicted in the SRC case, the trial is still ongoing with an appeal due at the Federal Court this August.

BN supporters live in a dangerous time when PH was in power. The witch hunt widens its net looking for more victims. Thus arise the group of KATAK LOMPAT (jumping frogs) that jump ship from BN to PH in order to avoid criminal prosecutions for all sorts of corrupt practices.

A Cruel Rule, Fate Befalls PH Gov’t

After months of the witch hunt against BN supporters, a cruel fate befalls PH Government. NOW ITS THE TURN OF PH TO BE WITCH-HUNTED BY A GROUP OF SHERATON MOVE WITCHES.

Muhyiddin, Azmin and the Bersatu PKR kataks launched a witch hunt against Anwar and the gang.

The witch hunt culminated in Dr MAHATHIR TOPPLING THE PH GOVERNMENT with just one Letter of Resignation. It’s a cruel fate, really.

Dr Mahathir could have handed over the PM position to Dr Wan Azizah and saved the PH gov’t. As the saying goes: Cruelty begets Cruelty. It’s simply the law of Karma. When you are cruel to your people, then the people will pray for your downfall.

That’s what really happened to the PH gov’t – A CRUEL ARROGANT GOVERNMENT THAT GOT CRAZY DRUNK WITH POWER MET ITS PUNISHMENT AT THE HAND OF ITS OWN LEADERS.

Let this be a lesson that A GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE CRUEL TO ITS PEOPLE.

Death And Poverty Struck Malaysians

The year 2020 and 2021 saw the country ravaged by the Covid 19 pandemic. None was spared from the pandemic. Matters got worst as the gov’t was under Muhyiddin with virtually no experience as a prime minister. Several blunders were made in managing the pandemic.

The first blunder was the TOTAL LOCKOUT that shuts down all activities for 30 days period. Except for essential services Factories and shopkeepers were shut down. The petty traders were deprived of their daily incomes.

The second blunder was the EMERGENCY declared by Muhyiddin against public opinion.

The worsening scenario resulted in the PEOPLE RAISING WHITE FLAGS FOR FOOD AND PEOPLE COMMITTING SUICIDE OUT OF DESPAIR.

The PN/BERSATU Government is responsible for the poor management of the pandemic. Many Malaysians died and many Malaysians became poor because of the government’s weakness in managing the pandemic. INDEED WE WERE LIVING DANGEROUSLY EVER SINCE PH GOT INTO POWER.

A Lesson For GE 15

Malaysians by now are much wiser after the 14th General Election. On this fourth anniversary, it’s time that we review what really happened since BN lost power in May 2018.

Were we duped by Dr Mahathir slogan SELAMATKAN MALAYSIA?

Did we really believe that Malaysia was going BANKRUPT?

THE TRUTH IS MANY MALAYSIANS ARE POLITICALLY UNEDUCATED. We are easily swayed by social media, we are easily manipulated by lies and propaganda. We believe in half-truths.

The end result, WE DUMPED A PROVEN BN GOVERNMENT WITH STRONG SUCCESS TRACK RECORD FOR A COALITION OF PH MISFITS.

Serve us right. We got one of the largest cabinet in the world but no track record of achievements to show.

These are lessons that Malaysians should learn when choosing the next government at the forthcoming GE 15. BN has the proven track record compared to PH. Definitely BN is the better choice. – New Malaysia Herald

About the writer: Kamarudin Ahmad is a social activist and a lawyer by profession and occasionally writes for the New Malaysia Herald (NMH). The points expressed in this article are that of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the stand of NMH.

The post 10/05 – Anniversary Of A Malaysian Disaster first appeared on NMH.

So much furore over former premier Najib Razak’s presence at the Breaking of Fast at Istana Negara. Netizens were surprised to see Najib seated at the main table, next to prime minister Ismail Sabri, together with the King and other dignitaries. Loud protests were heard in the social media with mainly criticisms. Netizens felt Najib should not be invited by the King in view of his conviction in the SRC case.

Ramadan… Month of Forgiving and to Foster Goodwill

Muslims take Ramadan as a month to do goodwill, a month of forgiveness, a month to do kind deeds.The King was following the teachings of Islam when he invited Najib to attend the breaking of fast at Istana Negara. No person should be discriminated because of his background and that includes Najib with a conviction on record. The point is, the SRC case is still awaiting appeal at the Federal Court. It is still an ongoing trial. It’s premature to condemn Najib as a criminal as there is every chance of Najib being successful in his Federal Court appeal. It would be an injustice to Najib if he were to be ostracized from society just because of prejudice by certain quarters. Even the judicial system is allowing Najib to be heard at the Federal Court. Najib is not being shunned by the Court. In fact, if he is being given the opportunity to adduce new evidence, he may even get a new trial for the SRC RM42 mill case. So why must netizens act in contrast to the judicial system?

Najib – The “Orang Besar” Pahang

Najib is the titular holder of “Orang Besar”, amongst the list of Prominent Persons in Pahang. This is a position that carries high honours amongst the Pahang Royalty. As the King hails from Pahang, it is only a natural act that His Majesty accorded Najib the honours as “Orang Besar” Pahang. The Malays are rich in tradition, just like the saying “Biar Mati Anak Jangan Mati Adat.” Such is the prominence of culture and tradition in the Malay society. Obviously, netizens overlooked this factor when condemming Najib at the Istana Negara.

Najib – The Punching Bag

It looks like Najib will continue to be the punching bag of netizens. Nothing that Najib has done so far deserved any praise. It’s Najib’s efforts that resulted in EPF allowing the RM10,000 withdrawal for those in need. It’s Najib that called for Sapura Energy to be rescued, thus saving the livelihood of thousands of workers and saving the country from the consequent financial crisis. It;s Najib that raised the plight of society during the Covid pandemic. And yet, netizens keep a blind eye to his good deeds. Clearly, Najib is a classic victim of the the PRIDE AND PREJUDICE OF SOCIAL MEDIA.

The Blind Justice Of Social Media

It’s a cruel world. And it gets worst in the world of social media. This is a world where netizens are THE PROSECUTORS AND THE HANGMAN. There is no trial. Najib was not given a fair hearing by netizens. He was condemned the moment police raided his residence in Taman Duta. It’s just a one-sided story. Whatever said by Najib is disbelieved. The hearsay stories against Najib has become the gospel truth. Netizens had found Najib guilty in the SRC case even before the trial, and now, despite the pending appeal to the Federal Court. What chance does Najib have to proof his innocence in the face of extreme prejudice of netizens?

Ultimately, will Najib ever get justice in his trials and tribulations?

Thus the need for netizens to exercise reasonable judgment whenever faced with issues over Najib…. AND TO BEWARE OF BLIND PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.

Netizens who are quick to condemn Najib must remember this. Their idols (the Pakatan Harapan gov’t) were given 22 months to rule the country. What did they do? They messed up the whole economic and social systems and then their second idol (Mahathir Mohamad) decided to resign and brought down the whole sorry gov’t with him.

So folks, be careful what you wish for, for you might just get it. You did, you failed, and now there is a strong possibility that Najib may come back. Because the Malays have a saying which indicates that if you were to repeat an item or a name incessantly, it might turn out to be a prayer (doa) which God may just decide to grant you the wish. – New Malaysia Herald

About the writer: Kamarudin Ahmad is a social activist and a lawyer by profession and occasionally writes for the New Malaysia Herald (NMH). The points expressed in this article are that of the writer’s and do not necessarily reflect the stand of NMH.

The post Much Ado About Najib Breaking Fast At The Palace first appeared on NMH.

Mengapa perlu ada debat tersebut, yang akan diadakan pada 12 Mei di Dewan Tuanku Canselor, Universiti Malaya?

Isu Sapura Energy telah hangat dibicarakan melalui media massa. Najib cetuskan cadangan SELAMATKAN SAPURA ENERGY atas pelbagai alasan konkrit terutamanya Sapura Energy pemain utama dalam sektor “Oil & Gas” selepas PETRONAS. Jika dibiarkan Sapura Energy jatuh bankrap puluhan ribu pekerja akan terjejas termasuk kontraktor/vendor yang bergantung kepada Sapura Energy untuk kelangsungan perniagaan mereka.

Dalam pada itu PNB sebagai pemegang saham terbesar akan mengalami kerugian mendadak.Sektor perbankan akan turut terjejas dengan memikul hutang lapuk menghampiri RM 10 Bilion.

Pasaran Saham

Pasaran saham akan turut menerima kesan buruk.

Justeru cadangan Najib perlu dipandang dari aspek menyelamatkan, bukan sahaja Sapura Energy, namun termasuk selamatkan pelaburan PNB, puluhan ribu pekerjaan, sektor perbankan.

Sapura Energy memiliki kontrak bernilai berbilion ringgit. Ia hanya perlukan kemudahan kewangan untuk laksanakan kontrak kontrak yang telah diperolehi. Kerana itu cadangan Najib adalah yang terbaik untuk negara.

Kita dah jangka pun bantahan dari Anwar yang membawa MENTALITI MENENTANG apa jua idea dari Najib. Ini minda “Typical Opposition”. Membantah walaupun idea itu mengandungi unsur unsur baik. Maka tak hairan Anwar akan menonjolkan imej sebagai pembela peniaga peniaga kecil, industri SME. Anwar akan tuduh Kerajaan membazirkan wang negara jika ingin selamatkan Sapura Energy. Isu ini akan terus dipolitikkan mengikut minda pembangkang.

Kononya PH nak membela nasib peniaga peniaga kecil sedangkan sepanjang 22 bulan PH memerintah negara, tiada pula dasar ekonomi yang membela nasib peniaga peniaga kecil.

Malangnya semuanya dimusnahkan PH hanya dalam tempoh 22 bulan mentadbirkan negara. Anwar sebagai pemimpin kanan PH memikul tanggungjawab atas keadaan negara yang bertambah buruk. Pasaran saham merudum, matawang negara meleset, harta negara dijual, hutang negara bertambah, pelabur asing lari ke negara jiran. Anwar harus menjawab mengapa PH gagal mentadbir negara..

Hentikan Politik Vendetta

Masa depan negara akan terus kekal buruk jika parti parti politik meneruskan “POLITICAL VENDETTA” keatas pihak lawan, terlalu fokus nak mengenakan pihak lawan. Contohnya, pendakwaan keatas pemimpin BN sedangkan pemimpin PH dilepaskan begitu sahaja. Parti yang bakal menang PRU 15 perlu fokus kepada usaha MEMBANGUNKAN MASA DEPAN NEGARA. Ketepikan politik balas dendam dan fokus kepada POLITIK PEMBANGUNAN ASAS MASA DEPAN NEGARA. – New Malaysia Herald

Kamarudin Ahmad adalah seorang peguam, aktivis sosial dan kolumnis New Malaysia Herald. Perkara yang dinyatakan dalam artikel ini adalah pendapat peribadi penulis dan tidak mencerminkan pendirian New Malaysia Herald.

The post SURAT | Mengapa Debat Najib-Anwar Sangat Dialu Alukan? first appeared on NMH.

The Double Standards Of Some Malaysians

Part 1 of this article drew as many criticisms as there were agreements from netizens. The objections to former Prime Minister Najib Razak coming back to lead the country was mainly due to the SRC TRIAL where Najib was convicted by the High Court and later lost the appeal in the Court of Appeal.

However the appeal to the Federal Court is still pending. In this regard the SRC TRIAL can be regarded as ONGOING until such time the appeal to the Federal Court had been heard. Netizens failed to see this legal point and condemned Najib while the SRC TRIAL IS STILL ONGOING.

The same group of netizens displayed an entirely different behaviour towards Lim Guan Eng who was appointed Chairman of DAP despite facing an ongoing criminal prosecution at the High Court in Jalan Duta. It’s a corruption case instituted by SPRM related to the infamous Penang Tunnel Project.

Why Not The Same Consideration For Najib?

Najib’s SRC TRIAL is still ongoing just like the Penang Tunnel Trial and yet, we hear loud protests when some NGO proposed that Najib come back to lead the country. If Lim Guan Eng facing a corruption trial can be appointed DAP Chairman, why can’t Najib be given the same kind of treatment? If Anwar who has gone to prison can be considered for the PM job WHY NOT NAJIB? WHY THE DOUBLE STANDARD WHEN IT COMES TO NAJIB?

We all know now that actions of the judges and the judiciary have got us wondering if everything is not as it seems when it comes to the 1MDB and SRC trials. Too many loopholes, questionable background stories about the judges and involvement of our national and commercial banks in the whole debacle.

Nevertheless, at least Najib has got nine years of achievements as PM when the country grew by leaps and bounds. Anwar has not even served a day as PM in Putrajaya, and yet PH supporters touted Anwar as next PM, keeping a blind eye to his years in prison.

Harping the 1MDB issue is a futile exercise by the Opposition. The country needs a TRIED AND TESTED LEADER to lead the country out of the economic doldrums. A leader who can build bridges with the economic power in the likes of CHINA and SAUDI ARABIA. And past track records have shown that capable experienced leader is Najib.

The Romance Of The Three Kingdoms

CHINA and SAUDI ARABIA had a special relationship with MALAYSIA during Najib’s days as sixth PM of Malaysia. The benefits to our country were tremendous. His super close relationship with China began with the efforts of his father, the late Tun Abdul Razak who first established diplomatic ties with China. Since those days, Najib has fostered closer ties with China.

The ONE BELT ONE ROAD initiative targeted our country as the largest recipient of investments from China. Large number of companies invested in infrastructure projects including the East Coast Railway Line. And many invested in property developments such as Forest City in Johor, Projek Bandar Malaysia, Kuantan Industrial Park and Melaka Gateway project among others. Malaysian companies benefited from the presence of Chinese investments in Malaysia. Not to mention the resultant benefits to Bursa Malaysia, ringgit currency and higher commodity prices. For this we thank Najib for having the foresight as PM to bring closer diplomatic and economic relations between Malaysia and China.

Saudi Arabia is another economic power from the Middle East. Najib had a close relationship with all the Saudi Rulers and managed to get the largest Saudi petroleum company ARAMCO to invest billions in petroleum projects in Malaysia. Further benefits included the increase in quota of pilgrims to Mecca. And the King Salman Center for International Peace (KSCIP) was set up in Malaysia only to be gleefully shut down by the PH gov’t without any reason given.

Alas the strategic advantage with China and Saudi Arabia came crashing down when Pakatan Harapan won GE14. The then Minister of Finance quarrelled with China, PH leaders preferred to fight with China rather than building bridges as Najib did. The ECRL and the FOREST CITY projects were under attack. The High Speed Rail project to Singapore was cancelled. The PH Federal gov’t days saw sour relationship with China. Malaysia was the biggest loser in the poor diplomatic policy of the doomed PH Government.

The Uneducated Malaysians

Tun Mahathir coined the phrase “Uneducated Malaysians” after PH won the 14th General Election in May 2018. The victory of PH is mainly attributed to this large group of “Uneducated Malaysians” who swallowed lock, stock and barrel the PH propaganda during the GE14 campaign. They believed that MALAYSIA WILL GO BANKRUPT. They believed that a hotchpotch of opposition parties with inexperienced leaders would be able to SAVE MALAYSIA FROM (the imagined) BANKRUPTCY. They threw out the well-proven BN gov’t for the sky high promises of the PH candidates. They were mesmerized by the Election Manifesto of PH which turned out to be a blueprint for some of the biggest lies in the country. SERVE THEM RIGHT. THE PH GOVERNMENT FAILED TO FULFILL THEIR ELECTION MANIFESTO, save one: Abolition of the much-needed GST.

Incapable people were appointed to the Cabinet. Lim Guan Eng as Minister of Finance kept harping on National Debt at RM 1 TRILLION when in actual fact the figure was much lower – to the tune of RM 686 Billion (plus, minus). The 1 TRILLION NATIONAL DEBT frightened investors. Many pulled out their funds from Malaysia.

Downfall Of Malaysia

To make matters worse, the then Minister of Finance had a fallout with China. He was not even allowed to enter the country at that time! The services of many government employees were terminated on the pretext of their close affiliations with previous BN Gov’t. The 1MDB witch hunt was the focus of the PH Gov’t. The exodus of foreign investors in fear of the uncertainty under PH Gov’t created the DOWNFALL OF MALAYSIA FROM ITS EXALTED HEIGHT OF THE BN DAYS.

The stock market suffered a major loss of over RM 200 Billion which was wiped out in just a matter of months after PH took over the Federal Gov’t. Bank Negara Malaysia had to pump in RM 60 Bilion to save the Malaysian Currency (Ringgit) from crashing down. The Malaysian Gov’t lost annual revenue of RM 2O Billion when GST was replaced with SST. Major national assets were on a fire sale because the Federal Gov’t was short of funds and clueless about how to manage the finances.

All in all, the short spell PH Government was responsible for the loss of over RM 300 Billion in a matter of 22 months. And all because “Uneducated Malaysians” were making a big fuss about RM 2.6 Billion found in Najib’s bank account. They dumped a BN gov’t that gave the B40s RM 1,000 BRIM yearly in exchange for PH Gov’t’s RM 30 yearly credited via e-wallet which not many rural folks know how to use it, let alone possess the app. A PRIMA FACIE ACT OF UNEDUCATED MALAYSIANS.

Is Najib An Angel Or A Devil?

In order to find the answer to this question we need to revisit the nine years starting from 2009 that Najib, currently the MP for Pekan, served as the sixth PM of Malaysia.

The country had strong economic growth, Bursa Malaysia was at its all time high, infrastructure projects were rolling out. The GLCs were doing well with billions in their coffers. Overall Malaysians had a good life under Najib.

With the main purpose of giving the people a better life in a harmonious multi racial society Najib launched his 1MALAYSIA policy. The people received cash aids in the form of BR1M (for the lower income group). Klinik 1Malaysia where Malaysians only need to pay RM1 for medical consultancy and medication, were set up all over the country. Students received book vouchers. Taxi drivers were given financial assistance. And many more where that came from.

TELL ME, ARE THESE THE WORKS OF AN ANGEL OR THE DEVIL? No matter what Najib did, the Opposition will always paint him as a Devil. To DAP supporters, Najib has been a devil right from day one he stepped into Putrajaya.

That’s the politics of DAP, feeding racially divisive propaganda to the Chinese community.

However, REALITY HAS SET IN WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. The Chinese community only realised what an angel Najib has been. That he is not the devil painted by DAP.

Is it too little, too late? That’s left to be seen. Perhaps there should be a RCI on the judges and other parties involved in the 1MDB trials. That, my friends, deserve another article on another day. – New Malaysia Herald

About the writer: Kamarudin Ahmad is a social activist and a lawyer by profession and occasionally writes for the New Malaysia Herald (NMH). The points expressed in this article are that of the writer’s and do not necessarily reflect the stand of NMH.

The post Make Malaysia Great Again With Najib Razak – Part 2 first appeared on NMH.

I am one of those who can only see hope for the country if a tried and tested prime minister in the form of Najib Razak can bring forth his transformation programmes again to boost the country’s standings. And I have every reason to believe that there are many who share the same view. Let me give you the reasons.

The Sapura Debacle

Malaysians are watching closely the war of words between Najib and Rafizi over the latest issue of “Saving Sapura Energy.” It all started with Najib calling PNB or PETRONAS to rescue Sapura Energy from being wound up. Out of nowhere, Rafizi emerged from his hideout and shot down Najib’s proposal in the typical PH style that has wreaked havoc to the Malaysian economy during 22 months of mismanagement by the PH Government.

Rafizi continues the VENDETTA CULTURE of PH whenever a proposal comes from Najib. This vendetta against Najib started the moment the latter became Prime Minister in 2009. The vendetta that closed a blind eye to all the infrastructures developed during the Najib administration: MRT, Pan Borneo Highway, UTC Centres, High Speed Rail, ECRL and many more. And the only issue that Rafizi keeps harping on is the stale, worn out subject of 1MDB.

It is clear that in this Sapura Energy issue, Najib is being constructive while in contrast, Rafizi is being destructive. This is the quality that Malaysians see in Najib as a responsible constructive leader. One of the many reasons why Najib must come back to lead the country.

Of Najib And The Pandemic

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, Najib has been making calls to the gov’t to provide assistance to the ordinary people. Malaysia’s sixth Prime Minister saw the sufferings that those in the middle and lower income groups were going through. Thus came the proposal for EPF to allow withdrawal of funds by their depositors as well as moratorium on payments of loans to financial institutions. Despite resistance by the Minister of Finance, in the end the Federal gov’t accede to the humanitarian proposal by Najib .. again another good reason why Najib must come back.

The Loud Message From The Johor Election

It was an astounding victory for Barisan Nasional (BN) in the recent Johor State Election, thanks to the powerful BN election machinery. But there is another bigger reason for the victory: Najib. The NAJIB FACTOR played a big role in driving the swing of votes to BN. The swing amongst the Chinese voters booted DAP out in three of their strongholds: namely in Yong Peng, Paloh and Pekan Nenas. Wherever Najib went, he was mobbed by the Chinese community. He was given a hero’s welcome that in the past years were reserved for the likes of Lim Kit Siang and DAP stalwarts. Many local observers said that even Lim Guan Eng or Tian Chua could not get a welcome as tremendous as Najib.

The question is why the big change of attitude amongst the Chinese community towards Najib? The answer lies in the nine years that Najib served as PM. The nine years that saw economic growth, that saw Bursa Malaysia skyrocketted to its highest level, the Ringgit remaining strong, investors from China and Middle East pumping billions to the economy. During his time too, the country experienced the longest bull run in the world, only to end when PH took over the economy!

Malaysians earned a good life during Najib’s days as PM. No cases of people hoisting a white flag for food. No cases of people committing suicide due to poor economy. Under the PH and PN gov’ts, many people became poor, many lost their jobs and closed down their business.

With this gloomy background, the people see Najib as a saviour, confidence in Najib’s ability to bring back the good old days. For the sake of Malaysia, Najib must come back.

Penang Business Summit

It came as a shock to DAP when Najib was given a red-carpet welcome for his keynote address at the Penang International Business and Investment Summit (PIBIS). Penang is the heartland of DAP and it’s a slap in their face when the Summit organisers picked Najib instead of Minister of Finance to deliver the keynote address, a clear indication that the corporate world has high regard for Najib’s economic policies, especially the Economic Transformation Policy.

It was Najib who introduced the GST as a countermeasure against falling world oil prices. The country earned RM 20 billion annually from the GST. Sadly, the PH Government abolished GST when Lim Guan Eng was Minister of Finance. The adverse effects on the economy can be seen until today caused by the loss of RM 20 bilion annual revenue, among others. Demonstrations were organised by DAP against Najib’s presence in Penang, but the group in support of Najib was much bigger and louder than the few DAP demonstrators. DAP should learn to read the writings on the wall – Penangites are fed up with DAP vendetta-style politics. They are longing for Najib’s development-based politics.

Tycoon’s Phobia Of “Malu Apa Bossku”

Malaysians had another round of entertainment when businessman Lee Kim Yew (LKY) lodged a report with SPR on the MALU APA BOSSKU slogan, coined by Najib’s multiracial supporters who believe in his innocence despite the politically-motivated court cases against him. The then Attorney General Tommy Thomas practised selective prosecutions against UMNO and BN leaders while many PH leaders and supporters have their criminal charges dropped.

It is on this premise that Najib supporters believed that Najib should not be ashamed of the charges filed against him as Najib is a victim of selective prosecution.

Obviously, LKY being a strong Mahathir supporter will not share the same view as Najib supporters, thus the big hulabaloo on MALU APA BOSSKU. In any case, LKY raised his objection on the ground that the slogan is against some aspect of Islamic teachings. Since when is LKY familiar with Islamic teachings?

The irony is that LKY lodged the report with SPRM, while in fact it should be lodged with the religious authorities since it is supposedly against Islamic teachings. It is not under the purview of SPRM to look into matters of Islamic teachings. LKY should be ashamed for making a mockery of himself. Obviously he failed to appreciate that we live in a democratic system and the people are free to express themselves. The slogan MALU APA BOSSKU will continue to haunt LKY and all other Mahathir/PH supporters.

Apa Lagi Cina Mahu?

Najib came clean with the Chinese community that he never uttered these words which literally mean “What more do the Chinese want now?” as alleged by the PH leaders. These words were coined by PH opposition supporters just to arouse the anger of the Chinese community when he was PM. Knowing Najib with his “1MALAYSIA” policy, it is impossible that Najib uttered words that single out a community. The very objective of 1MALAYSIA is to promote racial harmony. It’s unthinkable that Najib would do anything that would prejudice this policy.

Farewell Uncle Lim, Welcome Back Najib

Lim Kit Siang retired from the political arena after many years of serving DAP. The retirement came after the setback faced by DAP at the Johor State Election. The new generation of Malaysians are tired of the politics of hatred, racially divisive politics practised by the leaders of DAP. It thus came with a sigh of relief hearing the news of Lim Kit Siang’s retirement.

In contrast, the people look forward to Najib making a come back to Putrajaya. With nine years of a sound track record as PM, it’s not a surprise, nor impossible, for Najib to return, and we wait for that day to come.

Do look out for Part 2 where I will share with you Najib’s diplomatic principles, the inflow of FDIs and more of his transformation policies. No, I have never worked in Najib’s administration or in the Prime Minister’s office, but I am an identifier of what the country needs. – New Malaysia Herald

About the writer: Kamarudin Ahmad is a social activist and a lawyer by profession and occasionally writes for the New Malaysia Herald (NMH). The points expressed in this article are that of the writer’s and do not necessarily reflect the stand of NMH.

The post The Reasons Why Najib Must Lead The Country Again first appeared on NMH.

Former Prime Minister Najib Razak in his recent articles made a plea that the Malaysian government should save Sapura Energy from being wound up.

Serious repercussions will take place should that happen to Sapura Energy. Thousands of employees will lose their jobs, banks will be exposed to billions of ringgit of bad loans, PNB as the major shareholder of 40% in Sapura Energy will be adversely affected as the shareholding will be worthless should the company fold.

Najib’s plea to save Sapura Energy received strong backlash from opposition leaders with a major attack from Rafizi Ramli of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

What is the opinion of the public as innocent bystanders to this war of words between Najib and Rafizi?

For the answers to this question, we should look back at history — both locally and globally.

On the local front, the Malaysian government had in the past rescued PROTON from the verge of bankruptcy. Hundreds of millions were pumped into PROTON. And today, the national car manufacturer is flying high with its new partner GEELY from China.

Asian Financial Crisis

In the 80s, the country was badly hit by the ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS. The country’s major banks were stuck with non performing loans by the billions. The banks look like going under should there be no assistance from the gov’t. Assistance came in the form of DANAHARTA which took over the non-performing loans (NPLs) as a way to rescue the banks. The Government also took steps to merge the banking industry. As a result, many smaller banks were taken over by major banks such as Maybank, RHB Bank, CIMB Bank.

In terms of corporate cushioning, Malaysian Mining Corporation, Perwaja Steel and Malaysian Airline System are a few of the examples where the gov’t played the role of a White Knight.

On the global front, the US Government rescued FORD MOTORS from collapse. In the UK, the British Government rescued British Airways from their dire financial situation in the 80s and the 90s.

It is not unusual for a gov’t to rescue its major industries from collapse. In the case of Sapura Energy, any rescue effort will have a strategic purpose: The need to preserve an Oil and Gas player that is amongst the top players in the world. Without Sapura Energy, the country would not be able to tap the vast Oil and Gas business opportunities, killing the local vendors and support industries.

It is reported by the media that the local vendors are owed over RM4 billions by Sapura Energy. The collapse of Sapura Energy would deprive the vendors of the means to recover their payments.

PETRONAS As White Knight

PETRONAS as the national petroleum company should come to the rescue of Sapura Energy.That seems to be the opinion of netizens.Its the logical move for PETRONAS due to the synergy that exist with the business activities of Sapura Energy whose business structure still remain intact despite of the massive losses.All that is needed is an injection of capital by PETRONAS to enable business resume back to normal.

Alternatively, PETRONAS could takeover Sapura Energy through a shares acquisition exercise. A massive restructuring need to be conducted, some senior management staff need to be laid off and stalled contracts need to be revived, among others.

With PETRONAS as the controlling shareholder, it is expected that banks would be more willing to provide the required banking facilities for Sapura Energy to revive its business operations.

The question is, will PETRONAS rescue Sapura Energy? High probability it will. Presently, PETRONAS has taken position in Putrajaya Holdings Berhad, which is mainly in real estate development. Likewise, PETRONAS is in the hotel business with its stake in Impiana Hotel.

The PETRONAS Twin Towers is currently its major presence in the real estate sector. With such a diverse presence in the non Oil and Gas sector, there should be no reason why it should not rescue or takeover Sapura Energy which is a major player in the Oil and Gas industry.

Obviously, the Oppossition through its spokesman, Rafizi strongly objected to the proposal simply because it comes from Najib. The criticisms from Rafizi and other Opposition leaders should not be the yardstick whether or not to rescue Sapura Energy.

The reasonings from Najib should form the basis for the rescue of Sapura Energy. The Opposition PH has failed to move Malaysia economy forward during their 22 months in power. And the Sheraton Move government under Mahyuddin (Muhyiddin Yassin) has not improved the situation with bungling MCO policies over the Covid-19 pandemic.

Netizens hope that good common sense will prevail, and Sapura Energy be rescued, just as proposed by Najib. – New Malaysia Herald

About the writer: Kamarudin Ahmad is a social activist and a lawyer by profession and occasionally writes for the New Malaysia Herald (NMH). The points expressed in this article are that of the writer’s and do not necessarily reflect the stand of NMH

The post Should We Save Sapura Energy? first appeared on NMH.