YOURSAY ‘Malaysian media are not 'too free' as they face intimidation.’

 

'Check with embassy first on Najib's wealth'

Odin: This is the prepared explanation regarding PM Najib Abdul Razak's wealth from the Malaysian Embassy in Indonesia in the event publishers or any other institutions approach it for an explanation:

 

“Malaysia's prime minister has inherited a modest sum from a foundation established by his maternal grandfather. That sum was used to finance his education in Britain.

 

“Not long after his return to Malaysia following the demise of his father, he was approached by two African men who had been previously granted a student visa to reside in his country.

 

“The Africans sold him several hundred reams of plain, A4-sized special paper and a tanker of unidentifiable, black fluid. He was instructed to cut the paper into pieces of the same dimensions as RM100 notes, soak the pieces in the fluid overnight, and the next morning the erstwhile plain paper would look like, smell like, and feel like RM100 notes.

 

“The prime minister has been doing that whenever he has had need to purchase personal items for himself and his family. It must be borne in mind that such items are inexpensive, run-of-the-mill varieties.

 

“Supposedly expensive handbags such as HermPs Birkin handbags purchased for his simple wife are actually fakes you can find at any ‘night markets' in Malaysia. The same goes for the diamond pieces of jewellery acquired for his wife; they are all fakes also.”

 

Vijay47: Odin, while I agree that Najib's wealth could be attributable to assistance from his friends in Nigeria just like former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his pals from Zimbabwe, perhaps you forgot his other source - the former Ghanaian army officer's niece who inherited US$41 billion (yeah, it's a coincidence) once stuck at Fort Knox that Najib helped to repatriate for a handsome commission.

 

I know it is the onset of the monsoon season but suddenly it seems to be raining imbecility unabated.

 

First, we had that visiting professor from the Harvard Faculty of Economics, Abdul Rahman Dahlan, to share with us the wonders of buying real property at astronomical prices in a patriotic effort to bail out a crony company.

 

This was followed by the Olympic gold medallist, the minister of international sports, Rohani Karim, who revealed Tiger Woods’ secrets on how to get ahead in life, influence people, and have lunch with US President Barack Obama.

Now we have Zahrain Hashim lecturing the Indonesian media on the ways of achieving journalistic excellence through relying on that font of truth and temperate spending, the Malaysian government. Yes, it is truly ‘zah-raining’ idiocy like cats and dogs.

 

Hot Khong: Why ask and be told lies? It’s better to do investigative journalism.

 

Victor Johan: Zahrain, Malaysian media are not 'too free', especially those that published or disseminated facts as they constantly face intimidation and they 'pay a high price' to keep the public aware of all malpractices by the Umno/BN-led government and its officials.

 

Opah: Zahrain was voted in as a PKR MP in Bayan Baru, Penang at the 2008 general election.

 

In 2010, Zahrain became a frog, declaring himself an Independent and an Umno-friendly MP. For that, he was ‘rewarded’ with a very senior diplomatic appointment, as ambassador to Indonesia.

 

This disgrace to the Malaysian diplomatic corps has no credibility at all in telling Indonesian magazine Tempo what to do.

 

Lin Wenquan: Is this some kind of a joke? Check with the ambassador or the embassy? Is Zahrain the PM's personal bookkeeper?

 

Someone has aptly said that an envoy is 'a good man sent to lie abroad'. After all, the PM's PR machinery has ascribed his wealth to his noble birth and fabulously rich maternal grandfather.

 

So why the fuss with Tempo's article? The Indonesians are simply zealous, aren't they? It is commendable that Tempo stood its ground.

 

As to the Malaysian websites, not publishing facts and "(what they publish) have not been tested in court", please sue them and test it in court then. And in the legal process, don't forget to invite former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad to the party. He will be the livewire!

 

NX: Thus far only Utusan Malaysia and New Straits Times have been paying fines for misreporting after being sued. That speaks volumes of the truth churned out by corrupt Umno.

 

Every time Malaysiakini has an article about a minister, the minister always says he or she was misquoted. Liars always get caught.

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