Wednesday 14 February 2024

1MDB funds used for Umno and BN for general election? What is the Opposition waiting for to bury Umno and BN politically

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No News Is Bad News

Opposition's best chance to bury Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN). For image info, go to https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2023/08/949207/dust-settles-bn-umno-must-champion-cause-malays-ensure-its-dominance 

1MDB funds used for Umno and BN for general election? What is the Opposition waiting for to bury Umno and BN politically

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14, 2024: Former 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) general counsel Jasmine Loo testified in the High Court today that “lots of money” were sent to the prime minister Najib Abdul Razak to fund Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN).

Isn’t 1MDB the country’s Sovereign Wealth Fund? This means the monies belong to the rakyat dan negara (people and country).

No one has the right or business to transfer any money from 1MDB for political use.

So, what are the police, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the Election Commission waiting for? Start a probe without any delay or giving excuses. Or are the three enforcement agencies giving special treatment to Umno and BN? Are they above the law in funding for general elections? Declare Umno and BN illegal and ban them from future GEs if they are found guilty.

Or, at least prosecute those who took 1MDB funds for use in general elections. And, let's not forget ignorance is no excuse in the eyes of the law.

Also, what are the Taliban-like PAS and the racist Perikatan Nasional (PN) led by Muhyiddin “I Am Malay First” Yassin waiting for? Start lodging police reports!!!

No News Is Bad News reproduces below a report on the court proceedings that damned Umno and BN:

‘Lots of money’ sent to Najib to fund Umno and BN, court told

Defence counsel Shafee Abdullah objects to Jasmine Loo’s statement, saying it is hearsay.

V Anbalagan:m

Jho Low was in possession of blank stationery bearing the letterhead of the Prime Minister’s Office which he used as and when the need arose, said Jasmine Loo. (File pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, once informed 1MDB general counsel Jasmine Loo that “a lot of money” had been deposited in Najib Razak’s accounts to fund Barisan Nasional and Umno, the High Court heard today.

Loo said she pressured Low to know about the transactions, but he told her not to worry, saying he would handle the matter.

“Low also told me that in case of any eventuality, he has evidence that it was done at the request and knowledge of Najib,” she said when examined by deputy public prosecutor Deepa Nair Thevaharan.

At this juncture, defence counsel Shafee Abdullah stood and objected, saying Loo’s statement was hearsay. In reply, Deepa said the objection should be taken up during submissions.

Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah did not rule on the objection.

Loo, the prosecution’s 50th witness, said she came to know from media reports in 2015 and 2016 that a lot of money had been deposited into Najib’s accounts, and sought confirmation from Low as to its purpose.

“He told me the money was political funds for BN, especially Umno,” she said.

Najib, who was the prime minister from 2009 to 2018, was Umno president and chairman of BN, a coalition of parties led by Umno.

Loo testified that she frequently saw Najib and Low together at 1MDB-related programmes.

She said she had seen Low in possession of an envelope containing blank stationery bearing the letterhead of the Prime Minister’s Office which he used as and when the need arose.

“For example, I have seen the PMO letterhead on the appointment of 1MDB chief executive officer Hazem Abdul Rahman which Low prepared at his home in (Jalan) Kia Peng.

“Low told me he will take the letter to the Prime Minister’s Office for Najib to sign,” she said.

On another occasion, Loo said, Low accompanied Najib to the 2013 United Nations General Assembly in New York.

She also said Low was later seen waiting for Najib at a hotel in New York after arranging for a meeting with US investors with the cooperation of Goldman Sachs, the investment bank.

On Low’s associate Tan Kim Loong, Loo said she knew him as a friend and first met him at the UBG office in 2009.

“At that time, Tan, also known as Eric Tan or Fat Eric, was also a business partner to Low and was involved in running restaurants and real estate,” she said.

MACC investigating officer Nur Aida Arifin yesterday told the court her investigations revealed that Najib received money from Blackstone, Tanore Finance Corporation, and Vista Equity International, which belonged to Tan.

Najib is facing 25 charges for abuse of power and money laundering over alleged 1MDB funds amounting to RM2.28 billion deposited into his AmBank accounts between February 2011 and December 2014.

The hearing continues.

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