Where are you 'Dr Ham' on the umrah scam?

Share to help stimulate good governance, ensure future of people & M’sia

No News Is Bad News

Facebook image

Where are you 'Dr Ham' on the umrah scam?

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17, 2025: The racial and religious bigoted Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal “Dr Ham” Saleh’s silence on the umrah scam is deafening, to say the least.

Where are you Dr Ham? Malay Muslims have lost at least RM2.1 million in the scam!

No News Is Bad News reproduces below news articles on the umrah scam:

Akmal trolled for his dead silence on umrah scam but super-efficient to jump on ham sandwich furore

By FocusM

 

 

NETIZENS are apparently ticking off UMNO Youth chief Datuk Muhamad Akmal Saleh for turning his back on Muslim welfare matters whereby there is little room for him to derive political mileage.

This came about as he has yet to comment on the umrah (mini haj) scam allegedly masterminded by the husband-and-wife owners of Hejira Travel & Tour Holdings Sdn Bhd – both aged 31 – who have since been remanded for three days effective yesterday (Jan 16) to facilitate police investigations.

 

“There’ve been stories that for the past two to three days Malay Muslims were camping at a Malay Muslim (tour) agency that scammed would-be umrah pilgrims,” penned BUKAN Tokey Sarkis™(@farhanzahari) on X.

“Where is the UMNO Youth chief? The PAS Youth chief? Don’t you feel like helping fellow Malay Muslims who have been scammed? Heard the scam amounts to millions. Are you only keen to kick a fuss about sandwich?”

Many commenters also chipped in to reprimand Akmal and the opposition front for keeping mum on the umrah scam just because “it doesn’t involve DAP or the Chinese”.

Travel agency owners arrested in connection with alleged umrah scam

By Hakim Mahari - January 15, 2025 @ 9:40pm 

Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the owners, both aged 31, were apprehended at 7pm by the Commercial Crime Investigation Department. - NSTP/AIZUDDIN SAAD

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have arrested the owners of a travel agency in connection with an alleged umrah scam.

Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the owners, both aged 31, were apprehended at 7pm by the Commercial Crime Investigation Department.

"Preliminary investigations revealed that the company began operations in 2022 but relocated to a three-story premises in Sepang, Selangor, in October 2024.

"The suspects' modus operandi involved advertising umrah packages on the TikTok platform and engaging with agents appointed by the company to deceive victims.

"We have seized several computers, passports, and related documents for investigation purposes," he said in a statement today.

Hussein also said that the police had received a report in Sepang regarding the umrah scam involving the company.

"The first victim, a 39-year-old woman and a private sector employee, suffered a loss of RM11,000 and was stranded while attempting to perform Umrah on Jan 14."

The police have opened an investigation under Section 420 of the Penal Code.

To date, a total of seven police reports have been filed by victims, involving estimated losses of RM100,000 in Selangor, and the police are conducting further investigations.

Hussein also urged the public to exercise caution when considering Umrah packages, particularly those advertised on social media.

"For further verification of companies offering Umrah packages, checks can be made with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC)."

To-date, eight individuals aged between 24 and 46, including the married couple who own the umrah operator agency, have been remanded for three days in connection with the alleged umrah package fraud case.

“So far eight police reports have been received from victims and we estimate that there are 379 victims altogether,” Selangor Police Chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan told Berita Harian. “”Based on initial investigations, the estimated loss is RM2.1 mil.”

The severity of the umrah scam was highlighted by Sinar Harian which ran a sad story of how 60-year-old Maimun Sarajul who is one of the 379 victims of the fraud had struggled for 15 years to save enough money for her to perform her pilgrimage.

She shared with the Malay language portal how during that period she ate only rice with onions and salt to fulfill her desire to perform umrah but was ultimately cheated by the umrah operator. – Jan 17, 2025

Didn’t jailbird Najib say he did not know Jho Low?

Share to help stimulate good governance, ensure future of people & M’sia

No News Is Bad News

 

Didn’t jailbird Najib say he did not know Jho Low?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDuuZJMagfI (I confronted Jho Low over his lifestyle, Najib tells court)

Free Malaysia Today

3,302 views 16 Jan 2025 #FMTNews #1MDB #NajibRazak The former prime minister says he was ‘not comfortable’ with news stories about Low Taek Jho’s ostentatious lifestyle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB3J4S7EzG8 (Does Najib Deserve A Pardon? (Adakah Najib layak diampunkan?)

Mariam Mokhtar Admrl-Gen (rebuildingmalaysia)

31,080 views 15 Jan 2025 Does the convicted felon, the banduan, Najib Abdul Razak, deserve to be pardoned? You tell us! He stole taxpayers' money. He lied. He betrayed the rakyat. He almost bankrupted the nation. The money he stole was yours. It is not peanuts amount mah! It was sap sap seui for him as his former cabinet all tutup mulut... You decide!

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17, 2025: The disgraced, shameless and unrepentant former prime minister Najib “1MDB” Razak today told the High Court that he confronted Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, after negative publicity began to surface about the businessman’s lifestyle and ownership of luxury properties worldwide.

The jailbird, now serving his corrutipn sentence in Kajang Prison, said he was “not comfortable” with news stories about Jho Low’s ostentatious lifestyle.

No News Is Bad News’ beef with the jailed former Umno president is: “Didn’t he say he did not know Jho Low?”

Facebook image

No News Is Bad News reproduces below news reports on the court proceedings, including a suit brought by 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB):

I confronted Jho Low over his lifestyle, Najib tells court

Ho Kit Yen

-16 Jan 2025, 02:21 PM

The former prime minister says he was ‘not comfortable’ with news stories about Low Taek Jho’s ostentatious lifestyle.

Najib Razak told the High Court he was introduced to Low Taek Jho by his stepson Riza Aziz.

PUTRAJAYA: Najib Razak told the High Court today that he confronted Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, after negative publicity began to surface about the businessman’s lifestyle and ownership of luxury properties worldwide.

Testifying under cross-examination in his 1MDB trial, the former prime minister said he was “not comfortable” with news stories about Low’s ostentatious lifestyle.

“He kept saying that he was doing it for Sheikh Mansour,” said Najib, referring to Sheikh Mansour Zayed Sultan Al Nahyan, an Emirati prince.

Najib said he was introduced to Low by his stepson Riza Aziz. He said Riza and Low were classmates, and that Riza also knew Low’s brother, Taek Szen.

Najib however denied that he became beholden to Low. He said he knew Low had close ties with Middle Eastern royal families. “I was using him to tap his (Middle Eastern) connection,” said Najib.

The former prime minister also denied seeking Sheikh Mansour’s assistance after the US Department of Justice announced that it was bringing a civil forfeiture action against Riza, which was eventually settled.

He said he sent his former special officer, Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin, to Abu Dhabi to talk to Sheikh Mansour in an attempt to resolve 1MDB’s debt to IPIC.

‘I didn’t get Bakke’s text’

Separately, Najib denied receiving any SMS from ex-1MDB chairman Bakke Salleh about the company’s state of affairs.

Bakke, who resigned in 2009, previously told the court that he had informed Najib via text that 1MDB’s management was going against instructions from the company’s board of directors. Bakke said Najib never replied to the message.

In court, Najib said Bakke should have met him personally to explain his resignation.

“He knows me and I wish he had (come to) see me,” he added.

The hearing continues before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah.

Najib is standing trial on 25 charges of abuse of power and money laundering over funds amounting to RM2.28 billion deposited in his AmBank accounts between February 2011 and December 2014.

I left it to the authorities to act on adverse reports about 1MDB, says Arul Kanda

V Anbalagan

-17 Jan 2025, 03:34 PM

He said his role as CEO was to implement a rationalisation plan aimed at turning the company around. 

Former 1MDB CEO and group president Arul Kanda Kandasamy said he did not call for any investigation into four reports published locally and internationally between February and April 2015.

KUALA LUMPUR: Former 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy told the High Court today that he left it to the authorities to act on negative reports in the local and foreign media about the company’s state of affairs.

Testifying in his defence to a civil suit brought by 1MDB, Arul, who was also the group president, said he read several reports soon after joining the company in January 2015.

He said this when cross-examined by 1MDB’s counsel, Lim Chee Wee, over US$700 million in 1MDB funds that landed in the accounts of Good Star Ltd, an entity that belonged to fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low.

1MDB entered into an agreement with Petro Saudi International Ltd pursuant to which it was required to contribute US$1 billion, equivalent to 40% of the equity, into a joint venture project.

However, only US$300 million was paid to the joint venture, with the remaining US$700 million diverted to Good Star.

Lim referred Arul to four reports in Sarawak Report, the Edge, South China Morning Post, and Euromoney that were published between February and April 2015.

Lim: You read all the articles. Did you instruct any investigations?

Arul: No.

Lim: Neither did you lodge police reports, engage forensic accountants, or get in touch with local or foreign lawyers.

Arul: Yes.

Arul said he was also aware of a video by former Damansara MP Tony Pua and statements by PKR leader Rafizi Ramli disparaging the company over its foreign investments.

“Before joining 1MDB, I researched about the company and came across negative reports and statements by Pua and Rafizi, but I do not recall the particular articles,” he said.

In May 2021, 1MDB filed a lawsuit accusing Arul and former 1MDB chairman Irwan Serigar Abdullah of breach of trust and conspiracy, which led to alleged losses of US$1.83 billion, linked to the company’s investment in 1MDB-Petrosaudi Ltd.

The funds were said to have been converted into a Brazen Sky Ltd investment and were purportedly recoverable from the Bridge Global Fund.

1MDB also alleges that the pair misappropriated US$3.5 billion in company funds, which was paid to Aabar Investments, and another US$1.265 billion paid to the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) on May 9, 2017.

1MDB further alleges that Irwan conspired with Arul to extend his employment agreement, resulting in a payment of RM2,905,200 to Arul in disregard of the company’s interests, leading to financial losses and damages.

The company is seeking US$6.59 billion in damages from the duo and an additional RM2.9 million from Irwan related to the extension of the employment agreement.

Arul’s defence is that he left it to the police, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the national audit department, and Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee to investigate wrongdoings in the company.

He said his role as CEO was to implement a rationalisation plan aimed at turning the company around, settling its existing debts and kick-starting stalled projects, including Bandar Malaysia and TRX Development.

Irwan, who was appointed chairman by the Minister of Finance Inc in May 2016, said he was appointed to specifically steer 1MDB through the rationalisation plan.

Lawyers Sanjay Mohan and Adam Lee appeared for Arul, while counsel Lavinia Kumaraendran and Mavin Thillainathan represented Irwan.

Counsel Brendan Navin Siva and Raphael Kok are assisting Lim.

The hearing before Justice Raja Ahmad Mohzanuddin Shah Raja Mohzan continues on Feb 3.

Reformasi or Reformati?

Share to help stimulate good governance, ensure future of people & M’sia

No News Is Bad News

 For image info, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju795hczT3E 

Reformasi or Reformati?

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17, 2025: Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged Malaysia’s 10^th Prime MIn ister (PMX) Anwar Ibrahim to reverse his Government’s current course restricting fundamental freedoms.

HRW’s deputy Asia director Bryony Lau said Anwar promised Malaysians sweeping reforms, but his Government had instead sought to restrict freedoms of expression, assembly, and religions.

HRW’s 546-report detailing human rights practices in more than 100 countries throughout 2024 said instead of fulfilling promises for reforms, Anwar’s so-called Madani Unity Government (UG) expanded repressive powers to criminalise speech.

No News Is Bad News reproduces below a news report on the HRW’s report:

Fundamental freedoms and human rights backslide under Anwar, says global report

Human Rights Watch says instead of fulfilling promises for reforms, Anwar Ibrahim's government expanded repressive powers to criminalise speech.

MalaysiaNow

January 17, 2025 12:32 PM

Anwar Ibrahim joins supporters in chants of 'reformasi" hours after being sworn in to top office in November 2022.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has been urged to reverse his government's current course restricting fundamental freedoms, rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW) said as it released its latest global report.

The 546-report detailing human rights practices in more than 100 countries throughout 2024, said Malaysia under Anwar had backtrackded on pledges to reform variouls draconian laws, and instead expanded repressive powers to criminalise speech.

“Anwar promised Malaysians sweeping reforms, but his government has instead sought to restrict freedoms of expression, assembly, and religion,” said Bryony Lau, HRW's deputy Asia director. 

"As Anwar’s government steps up to lead Asean in 2025, the government should champion rights both in Malaysia and across the region."

It cited recent proposals to expand powers of the Sedition Act and the Communications and Media Act, saying it was part of a crackdown on free speech. 

"Malaysia’s new Cyber Security Act, which came into force in August, expands the government’s powers to police online expression," said HRW.

It also accused immigration authorities of rights violations, as well as forcible evictions of stateless and indigenous peoples in east Malaysia.

"The Malaysian government detains over 16,000 refugees and migrants in immigration detention centres, facing physical abuse, malnutrition, and medical neglect.

"Malaysian authorities deny the rights of Indigenous peoples, especially in eastern Malaysia, where business operations are caried out in forests that Indigenous peoples inhabit. In Sabah, the authorities forcibly evicted hundreds of Bajau Laut, a stateless, nomadic, ethnolinguistic group," it added.

The report meanwhile noted reservations on the constitutional amendments on citizenship laws, which granted Malaysian mothers rights equal to men in passing down citizenship to children born abroad. 

"The bill, however, still contains problematic provisions, including revoking automatic citizenship for children born in Malaysia to permanent residents."

Malay political pariahs must be ‘politically buried’ to save Malaysia

Share to help stimulate good governance, ensure future of people & M’sia

No News Is Bad News

The truth and reality - Malays losing power and their standing? - Facebook image

Malay political pariahs must be ‘politically buried’ to save Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17, 2025: No News Is Bad News reproduces below a commentary, believed to be written by a Malay, that is now circulating in social media.

The writer says he spits on the political pariahs and that Malaysians must get rid of these Malay political pariahs and banish them where they can no longer shame the Malays by what they do. 

This is what was posted and circulated:

Very good article that should be read and understood by all Malaysians especially our Malay - Muslim brothers as it is high time that all of us get smarter about our own country and our own lives !

This is the strongest criticism yet, written by a Malay about:

The Contemptible Malay Power Elites.

Apa Malu!

Malays-and-Muslim-two-of-a-kind- corrupt-arrogant

Aloq Staq

Awez Khan Ali

Selamat Pagi Malaysia

The Malays are a broken people. Broken by our own leaders. Broken by the antics, greed, and hubris of Malay political leaders lost in a world where self-interest and nothing else, matters. It is a world where these political pariahs take every advantage of any opportunity to make themselves some money.

Whether these political pariahs are stealing money from Tabung Haji where Malays have saved their hard-earned cash in order to do their holy pilgrimage to Mecca, or getting commission and kickbacks in the purchase of Covid 19 vaccines which are critical to the saving of Malaysian lives  – especially the most vulnerable Malaysians  – the old and those in the front lines fighting the pandemic by putting their own lives in danger.

Whether it is playing Russian roulette with the lives of our Armed Forces by purchasing submarines and weapons not fit for purpose that could result in the death of our Armed forces or not providing them with Helicopters and weapons that they need to defend our nation and our people against any encroachments from without.

Our children’s education is disadvantaged by the hundreds of millions siphoned from the Ministry of Education budget. Money allocated to buy solar panels, laptop, text books and the construction of schools to anything else that our children would need for their education – the contracts to supply these items are grossly inflated to pay off politicians.

They even take money from suppliers of food and drinks for our students. There is simply no limit to what these political pariahs will do to make money.

And as if the education of our children is not sacred enough for them to leave alone, the Islamic religion is also a source of funds for these political pariahs. They have no shame, they have no sense of fairness and certainly, there are without morals and ethics in their greed for anything they consider of value for themselves.

And the most despicable of things they do is for PAS to use Islam to benefit their political pariahs. And as if it is not enough that these political pariahs steal, their wives, children, and extended family are also into the thieving. 

I spit upon these political pariahs. 

These political pariahs are still today free to roam and plunder our nation at will. All of them Malays. Most of them are old. All of them must be discarded and punished for what they have done in plundering our national coffers. What they have plundered from our coffers must be taken back from them and put to good use to help our nation get back on its feet and prosper.    

The narrative spun over and over again: that the Christians will destroy Islam, that the Chinese and DAP will take over the country, and that the Malays must have the political power to survive in their own Tanah Air is stale and are no longer relevant in the world the Malays live in today.

Let us get rid of these Malay political pariahs and banish them where they can no longer shame the Malays by what they do. 

We know who they are, and it is time that these political pariahs be held to account for what they have done to the Malays.

Whether they are Prime Ministers, Ministers, Menteri Besar, all those loathsome and despicable Yang Berhormats or those little Napoleons who think that being a Malay gives them license to behave in an obnoxious manner to other Malays, and anybody else that question their plundering of our nation’s resources.

*Let us start by making sure the Father of all Plunderers is in incarcerated immediately and anyone else who has been the cause of the fall and fall of the Malays.

Today I am ashamed to call myself a Malay. Being a Malay means you have to take responsibility for what these Malay Political Pariahs have done.

Today being a Muslim in Malaysia is nothing to be proud of because all these plunderers, thieves, and scammers are Muslim. The non-Malays do not have to tell us these things.

There are many Malays today who can think, and we know what Malays have done to our country. You do not have to tell us how much the non-Malays have contributed to the development of Malaysia. We Malays know. You do not have to tell us that Malaysia is also your home. That too, we know. And we know that the Malays have been left behind by the others because it is all there for the Malays to see.

The best politicians are not Malays. The least corrupted politicians are not Malays. The most hard-working politicians who deliver on their promise to their electorates are not Malays. But this much we Malays know.  The most corrupted politicians in Malaysia are Muslims. The most arrogant politicians are Muslims. And the politicians who do not deliver on their election promise are also Muslims.

Simply shameless and unremorseful. This why the corrupt-loving Umno must be wiped out in the next general election to save Malaysia.

So there you have it, this nation of ours has been brought to its knees by corruption and the political shenanigans and devious duplicity of these Malays and Muslims. And you and I know that it will also have to be the Malays and Muslims who will have to work to get these political pariahs into the dock, to be tried, convicted, and incarcerated if there is to be any hope for our nation to survive past 2020. 

Enough said!

Najib’1MDB’ Razak kleptocrat got what he deserved, shouldn’t get pardon

Share to help stimulate good governance, ensure future of people & M’sia

No News Is Bad News

Najib’1MDB’ Razak kleptocrat got what he deserved, shouldn’t get pardon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV76r9YU6Ek (Najib got what he deserved, shouldn’t get a pardon) 251,535 views 21 Feb 2024 #agendadaily #bossku #pnbest Former Malaysian Bar President Manjeet Singh Dhillon hits out at Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah over his claims about the nation's pardon system.

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15, 2025: Malaysia is slowly but surely heading towards becoming a “banana republic” governed by a “banana” Government.

Where in the world can you find a civilised country and government (read as Umno which is part of the so-called Madani Unity Government) that supports a kleptocrat or thief who stole millions of Ringgit, if not billions, from the rakyat dan negara (people and country), and yet is hero-worshipping for the disgraced and shameless former prime minister to be freed!

Only moronic people, politicians and leaders will do that as the rakyat will have to repay the debts for at least a decade but, should Najib be freed, he gets to keep and enjoy his ill-gotten wealth.

Placing the former Umno president Najib under house (in his case bungalow)- arrest is akin to freeing him. This is called “backdoor freedom” for kleptocrats and unscrupulous corrupt politicians.

No News Is Bad News reproduces above an image and video clip on what some lawyers are saying about the efforts to seek pardon to free the national thief.