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Key Highlights
Najib’s court drama: Shafee’s firm out, Zaid’s firm in
Retired Singaporean’s detention ordeal
Secret ledger - ‘Dr M received RM2.6m’
Najib’s court drama: Shafee’s firm out, Zaid’s firm in
Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s courtroom drama continues to be riddled with numerous twists and turns. The latest was the dropping of Shafee Abdullah’s law firm in favour of Zaid Ibrahim’s firm to represent him in the hearing of his SRC International case appeal at the apex court.
Before the last general election, Zaid, a former law minister, had been critical of Najib and was aligned with Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who led Pakatan Harapan to a historical win in the 2018 national polls.
It is unclear what prompted Zaid’s change of heart.
Critics have claimed this is another attempt to stall proceedings as the Federal Court is slated to hear the appeal for 10 days next month.
This would be Najib’s final avenue to overturn his conviction, 12-year jail sentence and RM210 million fine. Failing this, his next stop would be in prison. His freedom would then hinge on a royal pardon.
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Retired Singaporean’s detention ordeal
In an interview with Malaysiakini, Singaporean Wong Chun Khuen shared his ordeal during his five-week detention in an immigration detention centre in Johor four years ago.
Describing the conditions as “inhumane”, the 65-year-old retired engineer said he would have died in the Pekan Nanas immigration depot if incarcerated longer.
Wong also claimed he was forced to do squats in the Kluang Prison, where he spent three days, despite suffering from asthma and high blood pressure.
Apart from this, he also claimed to have witnessed an ailing detainee not being given prompt medical attention, which he believed caused the detainee’s death.
Wong also claimed that immigration officers exploited the detainees for money by using certain inmates who acted as intermediaries.
Previously, five Chinese nationals who were detained in the same immigration depot made similar allegations in an interview with Malaysiakini.
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Secret ledger - ‘Dr M received RM2.6m’
A witness in former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s corruption trial implicated Dr Mahathir Mohamad as one of those who received funding from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB).
Former UKSB administrative manager David Tan Siong Sun told the High Court in Shah Alam that the company's secret ledger recorded payments of RM2.6 million to Mahathir through his nephew.
Apart from the 97-year-old former prime minister, Tan also claimed that payments were recorded to former MCA leader and then transport minister Chan Kong Choy.
Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan and former MCA secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan were also among the latest to be implicated.
All four have denied the allegations, with Mahathir saying the investigators are free to check his bank balance.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said MACC would summon all those whose names have been mentioned.
With the list of alleged recipients growing longer, Malaysiakini has updated its KiniGuide on the UKSB secret ledger to help readers keep track.
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Views that matter
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What else is happening?
Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto was booted from the Dewan Rakyat when she refused to accept a ruling on controversial Umno politician Tajuddin Abdul Rahman’s alleged sexist remarks.
Pahang regent Tengku Hassanal Sultan Abdullah "asked" the police to drop their probe against the head of Malaysian Nature Society's Pahang chapter.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Maximus Ongkili dismissed the proposal to have a new agreement to replace the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
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