Kini Roundup: Arul claims 1MDB could be duped, KJ-TMJ debate on the cards

comments     Kini Roundup     Published     Updated

Here’s a recap of major headlines yesterday you may have missed.

‘1MDB may have been duped’

1MDB may have been duped into transferring US$3.5 billion to a company unrelated to the Genting Tanjong power plant deal, claimed chief executive officer Arul Kanda Kandasamy, citing the announcement by the Swiss Attorney-General Office (OAG) on Tuesday which he claimed indicated that 1MDB might be a “victim of fraud”.

Arul has also challenged DAP lawmaker Tony Pua to provide proof with regard to his “malicious accusation” against him.

Pua had earlier called for Arul to be investigated for allegedly covering up the alleged 1MDB-IPIC-Aabar multi-billion-dollar scam, which saw the transfer of US$3.51 billion to British Virgin Islands-incorporated Aabar Investment PJS (Aabar BVI), which is also unrelated to another 1MDB project.

Meanwhile, Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli wants to know when inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar will order the arrest of Arul for allegedly misappropriating RM288 million of the firm's funds meant to pay Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT), based on his police report on the matter.

Can foreign investigators act against Najib?

Mohd Hafarizam Harun, one of Najib Abdul Razak's lawyers, has openly questioned whether foreign investigators have jurisdiction to initiate action against the Malaysian prime minister.

However, at least two lawyers disagree with him saying that international probes on 1MDB could result in the charging or extradition of anyone who is found to have committed offences, whoever they may be.

Though one lawyer says that a sitting head of government such as the PM cannot be charged or arrested while he still holds office.

KJ says yes to TMJ’s challenge

Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin have accepted the challenge by Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Ibrahim for a debate on the state of Malaysian football.

Though unsure if the debate is a good thing, the minister said meeting the crown prince in person is necessary to ward off allegations that they dare not face each other.

Tunku Ismail had challenged Khairy to a televised debate on the performance of the national footballers as he was sick and tired with “all the lies and cover-ups”.

Football Coaches Association of Malaysia president B Sathianathan also said that he is ready to join the debate. The former national football coach, whom the crown prince also mentioned in his challenge to Khairy, said that this may lead to a better understanding of the situation involving the sport.

More Kini bites

Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Dr Sim Kui Hian has expressed disappointment over Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem’s decision to allocate SUPP’s seats to BN direct candidates. Though h e decried that SUPP had been "overruled" by the chief minister, he conceded that it is the chief minister’s prerogative to do so.

PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail regrets that former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad continued to lambast the opposition party's jailed de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, who is also her husband, despite Anwar's magnanimity in forgiving Mahathir's previous excesses.

The Malaysian Hindu Sangam (MHS) president Mohan Shan has questioned whether the ruling Indian-based party MIC agreed with the Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to compromise on the issue of controversial Muslim scholar Dr Zakir Naik, allowing him to speak at events nationwide albeit a topic other than the original ‘Similarities between Hinduism and Islam’.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng is set to go toe to toe federal minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan on the Taman Manggis land controversy. The debate will be on April 19 and televised live by TV3.

Malaysiakini's focus on Sarawak education continues with Dalat - a town of Sarawak river people - as we look at the plight of the smallest school in the rural settlement where 20,000 souls live on the banks of the Oya River and the hardship facing its 17 students and 11 teachers.

Looking ahead

Mahathir will be speaking at a Pakatan Harapan forum titled ‘The PAC Report on 1MDB - Is Najib complicit or innocent?’ at 8.30pm tonight, to be held at the IDCC Convention Centre, Shah Alam.

Other panellists include opposition leaders Lim Kit Siang, Khalid Samad, Pua and Rafizi, as well as Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) director Cynthia Gabriel.



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