Johor Sultan hits out at Mahathir

The Sultan of Johor strongly rebuked Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad over the former prime minister’s disapproval of the Bangsa Johor concept.

Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar expressed his displeasure over the remarks made by Dr Mahathir that the concept could disunite the people.

“Tun Mahathir’s uncalled for remarks reflect his complete ignorance of Johor’s history.

“My great-grandfather Sultan Sir Ibrahim in 1920 made the clarion call Bangsa Johor to unite the various races in Johor under one flag for greater cooperation, harmony and peaceful existence. No race or individual was marginalised. He has been proven correct.

“The Bangsa Johor concept was initiated even before Tun Mahathir was born. He has no idea of what he is talking about,” said the Sultan.

Dr Mahathir, asked for his opinion about the Bangsa Johor concept at the 20th Perdana Dialogue Series themed “Federal-States Relations” at the Perdana Leadership Founda­tion yesterday, had said unity among Malaysians could slide if the people practised too much parochialism.

Dr Mahathir said the people should all be known as Malaysians, instead of the people of Johor or Kedah because “only when we are united can the nation prosper”.

While Johor has the right to promote the idea of Bangsa Johor, Dr Mahathir said what should be pushed instead was for the people to embrace that they are all Malaysians rather than identifying themselves from the state they originate from.

“After all, we are all citizens of Malaysia, irrespective of our colour, religion, ethnicity or even position,” Dr Mahathir had said.

Sultan Ibrahim yesterday said Dr Mahathir was not qualified to talk about unity.

“He is going around dividing the people including the Malays, while I am uniting Malaysians of all races including the Malays,” he said.

Sultan Ibrahim said Dr Mahathir should understand all states enjoyed their own unique pride but that did not mean they were leaving the Federation.

“It is a figment of Dr Mahathir’s imagination. He is stirring the hornet’s nest and my advice to him is to keep his mouth shut.”

Sultan Ibrahim said Dr Mahathir had earned a reputation for being a confrontational person who had caused division, especially in his foreign relations policy.

“He has quarrelled with many world leaders including with our neighbour Singapore and putting Malaysia in a spot.

“And now he talks about unity with an incredible straight face.

“Tun Mahathir is the root cause of the present problems in the country. He has no right to interfere in my state. I will not tolerate his antics,” the Johor Sultan said.

Daim Zainuddin's son made bankrupt

The son of former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin was made a bankrupt last week over some $1.65mil (RM4.9mil) in debts that he owed to Maybank Kim Eng Securities.

Md Wira Dani Abdul Daim has stepped down as non-independent and non-executive director of LionGold Corp, said a statement filed with the Singapore Exchange, indicating that he intends to settle personal affairs following the court bankruptcy order, which he intends to resolve within the next 30 days.

Wira Dani 37, has also ceased to be ISR Capital executive chairman since Monday.

Public-listed ISR is an investment and investment advisory firm focused on the natural resources space, according to its website.

Maybank secured a High Court judgment against Wira Dani in March to reclaim a debt of $2.459mil (RM7.3mil) that he owed.

This is said to have been borrowed by him to buy LionGold shares on a leveraged account.

Shares in LionGold as well as Blumont Group and Asiasons Capital plunged in October 2013, slashing some $6.9bil (RM20.55bil) of their market value in three days, according to media reports.

It led to an official probe on suspected irregularities, and lawsuits were filed by various parties, though the three companies said they were unaware of the reasons for the plunge.

LionGold, dealing in gold mining resources, had a $26.9mil (RM80mil) market value as of June last year, compared with $1.59bil (RM4.73bil) at its peak in August 2013.

Wira Dani had agreed to pay the bank via instalments but, by August 2014, had repaid only $100,000.

Maybank in April accepted the offer from his lawyer, Woo Tchi Chu, to settle the debt, with $1mil to be paid in two tranches within the month and the rest by end-June.

Maybank's Allen & Gledhill lawyer Vincent Leow had made clear that bankruptcy was an option in the event of a default by Wira Dani.

In the event, Maybank received only about $835,950 (RM2.4mil), leaving a shortfall of $1,650,642 (RM4.9mil) and triggering the bankruptcy move.

Wira Dani is said to have property in Singapore, according to court documents filed.

Maybank refused to comment when contacted last night, citing client confidentiality. –

Ahmad Said backs out, walks out early

Kijal assemblyman Datuk Seri Ahmad Said who was expected to make a dramatic move at the state assembly sitting on Monday, was seen leaving the hall during the tea break at about 10.45am.

When asked about his next move, the former mentri besar said that nothing had been decided and  asked reporters to"wait and see".

"I don’t see any agenda. What can I do alone," he said.

When asked if he had any plans to meet the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and solve the issue, he said he left it to the PM.

Meanwhile Ajil assemblyman Ghazali Taib who is also the state Multimedia, Communications and Special Task committee chairman said that he was not sure of the motion of no-confidence against Ahmad Razif.

"We are all in one team. What I brought up earlier was a good thing and no harm to it.

"What I see that this was the best opportunity for those who wanted to see something happens.

"But all I hope us that the sitting goes on well and nothing happens," he said

Johor Sultan to retract Datukships from those who didn't attend Hari Hol

Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar has warned that he will retract the Datukship of those who fail to attend the state’s Hari Hol celebrations to commemorate his late father’s death every year.

The warning came after a few individuals, who were given the title by his late father Sultan Iskandar, failed to turn up for the commemoration even though it was announced as a state public holiday, he said.

“Their failure to attend shows that they are unwilling to sacrifice their time to remember my father,” he said.

He said that when attending the Gerak Khas regimen 51st anniversary celebration in Kem Iskandar here on Thursday.

Sultan Ibrahim added because of this, it was better for the Datukship to be retracted or that the individuals return the title the way they had once accepted it - with honour.

IGP: NSC Act to safeguard national security

The National Security Council Act will only used if national security is threatened, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said.

Elaborating on the Government's explanation that the NSC Act is necessary given the rising threat of terrorism, Khalid said there are enough laws to fight terrorism and Islamic State elements.

"We have enough laws to fight terrorism and crime, such as the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act, the Prevention of Crime Act and the Prevention of Terrorism Act," he said at a Hari Raya open house at the Selangor police contingent headquarters Tuesday.

"The NSC Act will only be used if the country's national security is under threat," he said.

It was reported that the NSC Act, which came into effect Monday, has more sweeping powers than the now-repealed Internal Security Act.

Police to arrest Namewee over Oh My God probe

Infamous rapper Namewee will be arrested when he returns from overseas after reports were lodged against his latest controversial music video “Oh My God,” police said.

Penang Northeast district police chief Asst Comm Mior Faridalathrash Wahid was reported in a portal as saying that investigations into several reports against Namewee, or Wee Meng Chee , were ongoing and the rapper would be arrested “as soon as he returns.”

ACP Mior Faridalathrash said police could not divulge Namewee’s location due to the investigations, adding that records showed that he is now overseas.

“We will arrest him as soon as he returns to help in the investigations into the video clip recording,” he said.

Several NGOs in Penang where the video was shot at the floating mosque have accused Namewee of insulting Islam.

Police said investigations found that the video of four men dancing and singing was filmed at the mosque, Masjid Terapung in Tanjung Bungah in Penang.

ACP Mior Faridalatrash said the mosque chairman had lodged a police report after he was told that the video was shot there.

This is not the first time that Namewee, a 33-year-old Johorean, has courted controversy. In 2007, Namewee gained notoriety for mocking the national anthem in a parody, Negarakuku, in a rap video.

Two years later, he lashed out at Tenaga National in an expletive-laden video clip about frequent power outages in his hometown Muar.

His 2012 single, F*** Lynas – Good Day to Die, lambasted the Australian government over the company’s rare earth project in Kuantan