malaysiakini logo
story-image
mk-logo
News
Attempts to wish away 1MDB scandal; Proton finally ties the knot with Geely
ADS

KINI ROUNDUP | Here are the key headlines you may have missed yesterday, in brief.

Troubling attempts to wish away 1MDB scandal

The Malaysian Bar president George Varughese said he is concerned by the manner in which the serious allegations made by the US Department of Justice with regard to 1MDB were being downplayed.

A commentary on the BN Backbenchers Council portal claimed that the US$27.3 million pink diamond necklace allegedly acquired using stolen 1MDB funds and given to the wife of Malaysian Official 1 was "made up" by Malaysiakini, which also "duped" the international media.

Meanwhile, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar called for a bipartisan committee to figure out how to repatriate allegedly stolen 1MDB funds back to the country.

MIC treasurer-general S Vell Paari said there was nothing wrong for his party to receive funds from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, in response to whistleblower portal Sarawak Report alleging that MIC received around RM19 million from the prime minister, which it claimed originated from 1MDB-linked money.

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president Muhyiddin Yassin lamented that a special task force was able to produce a report on the forex scandal within four months and yet nothing has come out of the 1MDB probe, two years on.

He also questioned why Najib had been silent on the forex scandal for decades until now, after a fall out with former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The Finance Ministry issued a request for proposal, seeking a master developer for Bandar Malaysia after an earlier plan was abandoned.

Proton finally ties the knot with Geely

China's Geely pledged to turn Proton around despite the challenging task after the two companies formally inked a deal in which Geely will take up a 49.9 percent stake in Proton.

Najib blamed the ailing state of Proton on its "chief tester", in a veiled reference to Mahathir.

He also described objections to investments from China as "racist", stating that such views will leave Malaysia without foreign direct investments and impoverished.

National Felda Settlers' Children Association (Anak) president Mazlan Aliman urged Najib not to keep Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) former chairperson Mohd Isa Samad at the Land and Public Transport Commission (Spad) as the commission may suffer a similar fate as the ailing FGV.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nancy Shukri, who oversees Spad, assured that there will be checks and balances to ensure accountability and efficiency.

FGV granted its suspended chief executive officer Zakaria Arshad a second extension to respond to its show-cause letter. He has until noon on June 29.

Dr M works to win over former stronghold

Former premier Mahathir returned to his former constituency of Kubang Pasu some 14 years after resigning as the Umno division chief there, urging them to turn against Umno.

Bersatu information chief Kamarudin Md Nor denied that his party was seeking to dominate Pakatan Harapan, stating that the party was prepared to compromise on the opposition leadership structure.

Umno's Sekijang MP Anuar Abd Manap told Mahathir not to blame Umno for the recent string of defections in Bersatu.

Gerakan vice-president Dominic Lau said his party was vindicated by DAP's Kepong MP Tan Seng Giaw when the latter also expressed concern about disappearing greenery in Penang due to development.

Other Kini bites

Lawyer and activists Siti Kasim was charged with obstruction of public officers in relation to the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department's raid on a transgender function last year.

Rights groups International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Suaram condemned Malaysia's deportation of Singaporean activist Han Hui Hui last Sunday.

MIC vice-president SA Vigneswaran was reappointed as the president of the Dewan Negara.

PKR's Hutan Melintang assemblyperson S Kesavan was hospitalised after a 48-hour hunger strike protesting the Election Commission's alleged refusal to address complaints with regard to the electoral roll.

Consortium Zenith Sdn Bhd insisted that issues concerning alleged overpayment for the undersea tunnel and three main road projects in Penang was explained to Works Minister Fadilah Yusof during a briefing.

Looking ahead

Tourism and Culture Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz will be attending an expo in Kuala Lumpur.

The Hari Raya exodus continues today as millions of Muslims return home for the festivities which will begin tomorrow.

View Comments