Latest news with #1MalaysiaDevelopmentBhd
New Straits Times
7 hours ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
MP calls for wider reporting avenues to protect whistleblowers
KUALA LUMPUR: Whistleblowers must be given the option to report to bodies other than the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the police, or other authorities, said Subang member of parliament Wong Chen He said this was because corruption also involved the authorities themselves. "What happens if the authorities do not take any action? What is being proposed is that complaints should also be allowed to be submitted to other parties," he said when debating the Whistleblower Protection (Amendment) Bill 2025 in Dewan Rakyat today. He said in more democratically advanced countries like the United Kingdom, France and Sweden, whistleblowers are allowed to report to the media if no appropriate action is taken by the authorities. "As such, an amendment needs to be made to protect whistleblowers who courageously submit complaints to the media. I also believe it should be extended to members of parliament. "This failure to do this is what we saw in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd case, not just in the recent cases in Sabah." He also said that protection for whistleblowers must also be given for the disclosure of corruption or abuse of power, even if the matter falls under the Official Secrets Act. "The greater good must prevail." He said the policy issue concerning the regulatory body for whistleblowers is that it should be independent and not under the control of the executive; "Accountable to Parliament, like an ombudsman body. "In this bill, these three key policy issues have not been addressed. I'm not opposing the bill, but I just want to say… You have to do more." Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said whistleblowers should report through official channels, not the media, saying bypassing procedures risks national security and prosecution. She said this in reply to Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam) during the oral question-and-answer session in Dewan Rakyat. Wee asked about the government's decision to amend the definition of eligible whistleblowers under the law, so that restrictive conditions or criteria cannot be used as grounds to exclude them from protection under the Whistleblower Protection Act.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Jho Low reportedly living in luxury in China under unofficial protection
KUALA LUMPUR: Fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, is reportedly living in luxury in China under unofficial protection, according to fresh claims by investigative journalists Bradley Hope and Tom Wright. Speaking in their podcast, Finding Jho Low, which aired on Friday, the authors of Billion Dollar Whale revealed that Low is allegedly residing in Shanghai's upscale Green Hills neighbourhood and operating under a forged Australian passport using the alias "Constantinos Achilles Veis." They claimed that former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had allegedly advised Low to flee the country as scrutiny of the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal intensified, prompting him to escape to China where he had familial ties in the Chiuchow region. "Despite being a fugitive, he is living comfortably, driving luxury cars and accompanied by Chinese security guards. It appears he is not under house arrest but enjoying an unrestricted life," Hope said in the podcast. Hope and Wright, who spent years tracking Low's global movements, also alleged that Malaysia lost as much as US$6 billion (RM28 billion) in Belt and Road Initiative-linked projects that were engineered with Low's involvement, mirroring the pattern of financial manipulation seen in the 1MDB scandal. Among the most revealing claims was that Low had allegedly cultivated ties with high-ranking Chinese political figures and intelligence officers, positioning himself as a "shadow broker" who influenced Malaysia's foreign policy tilt towards Beijing. The podcast also highlighted how Low allegedly played a role in corrupt infrastructure deals such as the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, which involved bribes to Chinese officials, including former deputy public security minister Sun Lijun, who was later jailed for corruption. A turning point in the investigation came in 2019 when a photo of Low at Shanghai Disneyland surfaced. Analysts said the image helped identify his close-knit circle and added weight to claims that he is under unofficial protection by Chinese authorities. Hope and Wright suggested that Low has rebranded himself in China as a "dark arts coordinator," helping Chinese companies navigate complex regulatory environments, especially when dealing with the United States. "He is not just hiding. He is actively helping Chinese entities operate in hostile geopolitical terrain. That makes him valuable," Wright said. The journalists also claimed that Low had maintained an office at the Shanghai World Financial Centre, further suggesting he was actively engaged in financial or strategic work, rather than merely evading law enforcement. Much of the information shared in the podcast came from undisclosed documents and confidential sources, which the journalists said they could not reveal due to safety concerns. These revelations challenge earlier assumptions that Low was under house arrest or moving covertly from one location to another. Instead, they paint a picture of a man who remains influential and protected within a powerful foreign system. Law enforcement agencies, including those in Malaysia and the United States, may now have to recalibrate their approach in seeking Low's return as calls grow louder for accountability in the multibillion-dollar corruption scandal.
New Straits Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Court rules Isham's remarks on Najib's trial not contemptuous
KUALA LUMPUR: Former Umno information chief Isham Jalil's statements criticising Datuk Seri Najib Razak's corruption trials involving 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) did not undermine public confidence in the judiciary. High Court judge K. Muniandy made the ruling after dismissing committal proceedings initiated by the Attorney-General's Chambers (A-GC) against Isham today. The court said that the contempt alleged did not have a direct bearing on the specific courts in which the 1MDB and SRC International Bhd cases had been heard and decided. "The cases were already determined by that courts. Therefore, what could be regarded as scandalous or interfering with the course of justice earlier may not be so today. "The vague allegation that the respondent (Isham) has scandalised the judiciary by making the impugned statements, when seen in the light of the facts and context of the publication, the statements do not pose real risk of undermining public confidence in administration of justice," said the judge. Muniandy said the object of the law of contempt was not to protect judges and their dignity but to protect the rights of the public by ensuring that the administration of justice was not obstructed. "With the advent of social media, criticisms against a judge and his decision is commonplace, as replied by the respondent in his reply to the show cause. "As a judge, our duty demands that we adjudicate cases with absolute independence, unwavering impartiality, and unassailable integrity. "This is not always easy, as we must stand resilient in the face of adversity and criticism, for the scales of justice must never be swayed by external pressures or the clamour of public opinion," he said. Muniandy said the judgments in corruption cases involving 1MDB and SRC International were clearly based on facts and the law, rather than emotion or public pressure. "It shows that the ebb and flow of administration of justice is guided by legal principles, not by the shifting tides of public opinion or scurrilous attacks." Muniandy said while freedom of speech was a cornerstone of democracy, its exercise must respect the vital function of the judiciary. He said the power of contempt of court was a necessary tool to prevent genuine obstruction or subversion of justice. "However, its use should be reserved for cases where there is a real risk of undermining the administration of justice, not merely to suppress uncomfortable or even critical opinions. "The most effective way for the judiciary to dispel unwarranted criticism and defend its integrity is through undeniably fair and just judgments," he added. A-GC filed the contempt application on Dec 28, 2023, following Isham's remarks in an interview titled "Townhall For Justice: Keadilan Sebenarnya Untuk Siapa?" (Justice: Who Is It Really For?) In his remarks, Isham had criticised the corruption trial and appeal involving his former boss, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, in relation to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and SRC International Sdn Bhd cases. The recorded interview, which discussed the trial and appeal proceedings in the SRC and 1MDB cases, was posted on the Facebook page of "The Malaya Post" on Sept 30, 2023.
New Straits Times
20-06-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
'Fewer cases hanging over him': Najib happy with SRC DNAA
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak is happy that he had been given the discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) over three money laundering charges involving RM27 million linked to SRC International Bhd. Najib's lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, said the former prime minister is pleased with the decision of High Court judge K. Muniandy, who had issued the DNAA order today. "He is happy simply because there are not too many cases hanging over his head. He has been asking for a DNAA for sometime. "He can concentrate on the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) case now," said Shafee in a press conference after court proceedings.
New Straits Times
16-05-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Anwar: Some may not want Jho Low brought back — he could expose more
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said bringing fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, back to Malaysia to face justice, would ruffle some feathers. He said some quarters might not be keen to have Low, who is wanted for the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) financial scandal, back on Malaysian shores. During an interview on Al-Jazeera's 101 East, Anwar was asked if there were certain camps who did not want Low to be brought back to Malaysia. Anwar replied: yes. "I believe so, I am sure… the fact that his (Low) return would probably expose more. I do not want to be distracted to consider this as the only issue that the prime minister Anwar has to deal with. "Anwar has to deal with the issue of governance and rid this country of systemic is a major, arduous battle and it does not start and end with 1MDB," he told the show's host, Mary Ann Jolley. Asked about Low's whereabouts, Anwar said that authorities are trying their best to locate him and one of the first things he did as prime minister was to call up all the enforcement agencies to do whatever they can to track him. "I think he is quite instrumental and his testimony will be pivotal in actually an end to this case(1MDB)," he said. On the complicated process to bring Low back despite mounting evidence against him and if he is in China, Anwar replied: "no one knows his whereabouts." "We cannot establish if he is in China. I mean, seriously on record... but we suspect some movements. If I say more, there will be more complications," he replied. Last year, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said police were tracking down Low but there were no leads on his whereabouts. In May 2023, Anwar said negotiations were ongoing to bring Low back to Malaysia but said that the process is a complicated one, involving multiple countries, intelligence services and Interpol (International Police).
