HAZE - AIN'T IT THE PITTS!

In 1997 Malaysians were assaulted by a phenomena unknown previously - the HAZE... no..it aint a horror movie nor was it a Stephen King novella of some ungodly attack by monsters hiding in the haze.

It was mankind at his worst, pure and simple. An un-wanton destruction of nature for ease of profits and an uncaring attitude towards the environment. This time however the magnitude of the destruction was such that the an entire region of the planet was engulfed by smoke from the burning of tropical forests in Sumatera and neighboring zones in Indonesia.

Malaysia being the caring and sometimes unrealistic neighbor sent help as never seen before. Men and equipment to fight these fires even at the cost of lives and money unaccounted till now, all in the name of ASEAN brotherhood.

So, what have the Indonesians done since then? Eermm....hurmmm....eerrrr...lemme see...

Yes siree, thats right! Nada! Nyet! Zilch! Langsung tiada!

Am i exaggerating? Well go look out of your window today then! by the way folks its September 2015 and in 1997 it was about this time of the month too...

Rhetorics aplenty! Promises a zillion on what, when, how that government is going to tackle and stop this yearly nuisance!

Nuisance?? Hmmm....to us ordinary people...but in reality a medical hazard, an ecological catastrophe, an extinction event for some creatures and a list that can go on and on..none of which is good.

Jokowi said last week at Palembang, Sumatera that everyone know what needs to be done to stop this fires from causing such misery to everyone. Kudos to Jokowi as he had also extended the Moratorium on land that cannot be touched for deforestation. While Mr Jokowi must be commended for his tough talk which i believe will carry some weight, i cannot but be amused at his Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya.

She was on her way back to Indonesia to join Jokowi after cutting short an official trip to Norway on climate change talks! Duh..... charity begins at home laa Kak...

So, come August, September every year, Malaysia, Singapore gets a very unwelcome visitor via the southerly winds from Sumatera...get out your face masks folks, its that time of the year again!

Abdul Aziz Wahab

September 11, 2015

Indonesia sending thousands of troops to fight smog-causing fires.

PADAMARAN, Indonesia (Reuters) - Indonesia said on Friday it will send more than 10,000 troops to fight fires in southern Sumatra, as smoke makes thousands sick, delays flights and pushes air quality to unhealthy levels in neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia.

Indonesia has vowed before to end the seasonal fires but has failed each time to stop the so-called "haze", caused by slash-and-burn clearances on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo, where large areas of forest concessions are held by pulp an.d paper and palm oil companies.

Indonesian troops will be sent to the provinces of South Sumatra and Jambi, two of the main hotspots, Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said.

If necessary, the agency would also send in additional helicopters to help water-bomb fires.

"We have mobilized national resources to put out the fires," newly appointed BNPB chief Willem Rampangilei said in a press.

South Sumatra, one of the main centres of the fires, has alone reported 22,585 cases of acute respiratory tract infections since Friday.

Early on Friday, Singapore's Pollutants Standard Index rose to 248, which categorises the air as "very unhealthy", or one level below the index's highest air pollution category of "hazardous".

Singapore, which was voting in a general election on Friday, advised citizens against strenuous outdoor exercise.

Bank Negara Releases Poster of Two Former 1MDB Execs

July 24, 2015   Berita, News   No comments

KUALA LUMPUR,  July 24 – Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) is seeking information on the whereabouts of two people who previously held senior executive positions in state investment arm 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MBD), which is currently under investigation for misappropriation of funds.

The central bank in a posting on its Facebook page today released a “Wanted” poster carrying the pictures, names, identification card numbers, and last known addresses of the two individuals.

The poster said the duo, Casey Tan Keng Chee, 50, and Jasmine Loo Ai Swan, 42, were wanted to “assist investigations under the Exchange Control Act 1953”.

It urged members of the public who had information of the duo to contact BNM directly or file a report at the nearest police station.

Najib to file suit against WSJ on Tuesday, says report Published: 5 July 2015 4:42 PM

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is expected to file a suit against The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday over its report alleging that billions of ringgit were channelled into the prime minister’s private bank accounts, The Star Online reports today. – The Malaysian Insider filepic, July 5, 2015 

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is expected to file a suit against The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday over its report alleging that billions of ringgit were channelled into the prime minister’s private bank accounts, The Star Online reported today.

The suit will be filed by his lawyers in Kuala Lumpur, the portal reported, citing sources close to the prime minister.

Najib is expected to make an announcement regarding his intentions this evening.

He scheduled to give a press conference at 6.15pm today at a mosque in Semenyih.

On Thursday, WSJ alleged that up to US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) was transferred to Najib's personal accounts in 2013, just before the 13th general elections.

Najib denied the allegations and pinned the blame for the latest report on former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has in recent months called for Najib's resignation.

WSJ , however, stood by its story, saying that the report was based on solid documentation proof.

A multi-agency task force has been set up to investigate the claims.

Najib's own cabinet ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, have urged the PM to take legal action against WSJ if the report is untrue.

Najib, who is also finance minister, is chairman of 1MDB's advisory board. – July 5, 2015.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/najib-to-sue-wall-steet-journal-says-report#sthash.66uaqyzz.dpuf

If I wanted to steal money, I wouldn’t put it in Malaysia, says Najib

BY ANISAH SHUKRY

Published: 5 July 2015 7:54 PM

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today rubbished claims he had stolen 1Malaysia Development Bhd's (1MDB) funds, saying that if he wanted to do so, he would not have placed the money in a bank account in Malaysia.

He said he was merely a victim of certain quarters who were trying to twist public perception so that the opposition would gain more votes in the general election.

"In the past one or two days, they have come up with all sorts of stories. I have become a victim of their relentless attacks lately, that I supposedly stole a huge amount of money and placed it into my personal accounts.

"I am thankful, there are some who say they don't believe the news, including Datuk Haron Din on his Twitter. He said it didn't make sense for me to do something like that.

"If I wanted to steal, surely I wouldn't steal the money and bring it into an account in Malaysia. That is, if I wanted to be a robber (penyamun). But of course, as a prime minister, I won't betray Malaysians and what belongs to Malaysians," he said in his speech at the Bandar Rinching Mosque in Semenyih.

On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) alleged that up to US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) was transferred to Najib's personal bank accounts with AmBank in 2013, just before the 13th general elections.

But Najib on Friday stated he had never taken any funds from 1MDB for personal gain and pinned the blame for the latest report on former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has in recent months called for Najib's resignation.

However, opposition politicians have taken Najib to task over his "ambiguous denial", while WSJ is standing by its story, saying its report was based on solid documentation proof.

Meanwhile, the prime minister said today his critics used social media to play up false issues, and pointed to the storm over 1MDB's debts as an example.

He said Fitch Ratings had said 1MDB did not pose a systemic risk to the country, and that the agency was confident with the state investment arm's rationalisation plan.

"So when there are quarters that play this up, it's all just perception. In this era, with social media, their purpose is not to find truth, but to carry the latest news, regardless whether it is accurate, false, or semi-false.

"Their goal is not to expose the truth, but to change the people's perception. Perception towards the government, and perception towards the leaders," said Najib.

He said that under Barisan Nasional's rule, the country became renowned for practicing moderate, progressive Islam, and that "even non Muslims are respected and given a good place in our country"

"So we must defend the Umno and BN leadership because we know the opposition is weak, even though they are still together. With their conflicting ideologies, they cannot bring stability to Malaysia.

"Ruling at the state level is a different matter, but, nationally, we need a federal government that is strong, stable and can take us into the future," said Najib.

A multi-agency task force has been set up to investigate WSJ.

Najib's own Cabinet ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, have urged the PM to take legal action against WSJ if the report is untrue.

Najib, who is also finance minister, is chairman of 1MDB's advisory board. – July 5, 2015.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/if-i-wanted-to-steal-money-i-wouldnt-put-it-in-malaysia-says-najib#sthash.rxjmzmTh.dpuf

Hishammuddin backs Najib on 1MDB with 3 conditions.

BY MOHD FARHAN DARWIS

Published: 1 June 2015 2:17 PM

Dato Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said today on his Twitter account @HishammuddinH20 that his support for Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s ultimatum that ministers either resign or support his rehabilitation measures for 1Malaysia Development Bhd was based on three conditions.

The conditions are there is rationalisation of 1MDB, accountability if there is any wrongdoing and that both of the conditions are carried out transparently.

“Agree (with the ultimatum) with conditions 1) rationalisation of 1MDB,  2) accountability if there is wrongdoing, and 3), transparency on (conditions 1 and 2),” the defence minister said.

Hishammuddin did not attend last Friday's Cabinet meeting as he was in Singapore for a regional security summit.

Najib’s ultimatum was revealed by Umno-controlled daily Utusan Malaysia today, which also reported that none of the ministers declared he or she would not support the prime minister on 1MDB.

Hishammuddin has been in Singapore since May 29, the same day Najib convened a special cabinet meeting to unveil plans to restructure 1MDB, which has chalked up debts of RM42 billion.

A few social media users responded immediately to Hishammuddin’s tweet.

A Twitter user Erwan79, using the handle @A_One79, said: “before you ask Cabinet members to resign, ask members of the 1MDB board of directors to resign. Investigate thoroughly.”

Another Twitter user Mazlan Razak, @MazlanRazak, said: “congratulations, I like ministers with balls.”

Najib was said to have issued the ultimatum soon after Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah finished laying out the road map for 1MDB's restructuring to the ministers.

"The prime minister told members of his Cabinet who were not with him on the 1MDB issue to resign, but not one person did so," the source told the Malay daily.

Utusan also noted that Najib's ultimatum followed the statement by Barisan Backbenchers Club chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Samad, who last Tuesday urged ministers, who did not agree with the collective decision of the Cabinet on 1MDB, to resign.

Shahrir was supporting Umno's Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who said the entire Cabinet was collectively responsible for 1MDB's controversies which have sapped public confidence over the government's handling of the Finance Ministry-owned firm.

Husni, who has been made the government's spokesperson on 1MDB, had said the company had entered into a binding agreement with Abu Dhabi's International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) and its subsidiary, Aabar Investments (Aabar), where IPIC would pay 1MDB US$1 billion, on or before June 4, 2015.

The US$1 billion payment would be used to repay a US$975 million (RM3.5 billion) loan, in advance of its due date, to a syndicate of international bank lenders, Husni had said. – June 1, 2015.

Obama warns China against 'throwing elbows' in sea dispute.

2.6.2015

US President Barack Obama on Monday weighed in on territorial disputes in the South China Sea, urging regional powers, particularly China, to respect the law and stop "throwing elbows."

As several Asian regional powers face off over maritime borders, Obama warned about disregard for existing laws and a move away from established ways of resolving disputes.

"If you start losing that approach, and suddenly conflicts arise and claims are made based on how big the country is or how powerful its navy is instead of based on law, then I think Asia will be less prosperous and the Pacific region will be less prosperous," he said.

The United States does not hold any territorial claims in the South China Sea, Obama added. But as a "Pacific power" Washington has vocally called on China and other nations to end reclamation.

His administration has vowed to continue sending military aircraft and ships to the tense region to protect navigation rights.

"We think that land reclamation, aggressive actions by any party in that area are counterproductive," said Obama.

Turning to China directly, Obama adopted a boxing metaphor, saying "it may be that some of their claims are legitimate, but they shouldn't just try to establish that based on throwing elbows and pushing people out of the way."

--