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Showing posts from February, 2024

Anwar's Big Daim Move

In the wild world of Malaysian politics, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's recent crackdown on corruption, specifically targeting former finance bigwig Daim Zainuddin, has caused a stir across political circles. The move, highlighted by the freezing of Daim's family-owned Ilham Tower at the end of 2023, seems like Anwar's way of saying, "No one is too big to be checked." Ilham Tower, a ritzy symbol to the prosperity of Malaysia’s 80-90s and valued at a cool US$580 million, became the center of attention when Daim refused to spill the beans on his assets. For some, Anwar's no-nonsense approach sends a clear message that even the big shots can't escape the spotlight. His current troubles stem from MACC poking around in alleged embezzlement dating back to a 1997 deal involving Renong and United Engineers Malaysia Bhd (UEM). Revisiting the UEM-Renong deal, wrapped in mystery after 26 years, is no walk in the park for MACC investigators. Theories are flying, with

Impak Siasatan SPRM Terhadap Keluarga Mahathir, Tun Daim

Sejak tahun lalu, Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) menjalankan siasatan terhadap individu berprofil tinggi berhubung pelbagai dakwaan salah guna wang. Individu yang menjadi perhatian adalah bekas Menteri Kewangan, Tun Daim Zainuddin; Tan Sri Mohkzani Mahathir dan Mirzan Mahathir. Ketiga-tiga mereka disiasat atas pelbagai dakwaan. Sehingga artikel ini ditulis, SPRM mengesahkan bahawa ketiga-tiga mereka masih belum mengisytiharkan harta seperti diarahkan. Tun Daim sebelum ini mendakwa siasatan terhadap beliau adalah berunsur politik namun mengikut pertuduhan mahkamah, bekas Menteri Kewangan itu gagal mematuhi notis SPRM dengan tidak mengisytiharkan 70 aset serta satu akaun bank. Isteri kepada Tun Daim, Toh Puan Na'imah Khalid turut didakwa di mahkamah atas kesalahan sama. Dalam pada itu, bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad mendakwa siasatan terhadap dua anaknya, Mirzan dan Mokhzani adalah disebabkan kerajaan mahu menjatuhkan beliau. Dakwaan itu bagaimanapun di

Mahathir's Selective Memory Should Come With More Accountability

In the aftermath of the investigations against Tun Daim, former Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad faces criticism and questions about his actions throughout his political career. In response to recent events, Mahathir has complained in the media, that he has been rewarded with “persecution” after both him and former finance minister Daim Zainuddin helped with Anwar’s re-election campaign during the Port Dickson by-election in 2018. When Anwar contested in a seven-way fight in Port Dickson in 2018, Daim, who at the time chaired the Council of Eminent Persons, joined the former’s campaign and urged locals to support Anwar. Asked if he thinks it’s a form of revenge or witch hunt conducted by the current government against him for the perception that Anwar was jailed and prosecuted under the nonagenarian’s first tenure as prime minister, Mahathir said he was unsure. “I don’t know whether this is revenge. “If I did something wrong, please investigate (me) but don’t use the government to t

MUDA Berisiko Kepada Parti Lain

Parti Ikatan Demokratik Malaysia (MUDA) yang sebelum ini dipimpin oleh ahli Parlimen Muar, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman berdepan cabaran besar dalam menghadapi landskap politik Malaysia tahun ini. MUDA membuka tirai 2024 dengan tiada lagi pengumuman individu yang bakal menggantikan Syed Saddiq sebagai Presiden parti. Meskipun Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Puteri Wangsa, Amira Aisya Aziz memegang jawatan pemangku Presiden parti ketika ini, namun MUDA seharusnya perlu mempunyai individu yang berkaliber bagi memimpin mereka. Situasi ini menimbulkan persoalan tentang keberkesanan dan kemampuan MUDA untuk berdiri sebagai sebuah entiti politik yang berpengaruh dalam arena politik negara. Sudah tentu, masa depan MUDA akan terus menjadi tanda tanya tanpa kepimpinan Syed Saddiq dan langkah mereka untuk merencana strategi supaya terus relevan sekurang-kurangnya dalam tempoh tiga hingga empat tahun lagi. Penyatuan MUDA dengan parti-parti besar seperti Pakatan Harapan (PH) hadir dengan risiko.