Najib rejects ex-CEO Hazem’s claim 1MDB was a ‘tool for Umno funding’, says projects not for personal or political gain Posted on 10/12/2024 KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 10 — Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today denied that the Finance Ministry-owned company 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and its projects are for his benefit or for his party Umno’s benefit. Najib disagreed with former 1MDB CEO Mohd Hazem Abd Rahman’s previous court testimony of 1MDB projects being a “tool to get funds for Datuk Seri Najib and Umno”. “I strongly disagree with the assertion, 1MDB or its project ventures were not for my benefit nor for Umno,” Najib told the High Court while testifying in his defence in his 1MDB trial. Hazem had said Malaysian fugitive Low Taek Jho —- better known as Jho Low —- was the one who arranged and manipulated all decisions, investments, joint ventures, finances and fundraising involving 1MDB projects as a tool for Najib and Umno . Hazem said he had personally heard this from Low, and Low had trusted him as he was a good friend of Najib’s then principal private secretary Datuk Azlin Alias. Najib, who is a former Umno president, however, said today that 1MDB proposals were deliberated by its board of directors and had been brought to the 1MDB board by legitimate entities on the advice of advisers such as Goldman Sachs, BSI Bank and the Baker McKenzie group. Najib said 1MDB’s problem was instead a systemic failure with how the company’s management executed decisions starting from 1MDB’s former CEO Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi until Hazem’s time. MORE TO COME News
Sinner crowns outstanding season with ATP Finals win over Fritz Posted on 18/11/2024 Jannik Sinner made history as the first to secure the ATP Finals title without dropping a set since Ivan Lendl in 1986. (AP pic) TURIN: Home favourite and world No 1 Jannik Sinner became the first Italian to win the ATP Finals title following a dominant 6-4, 6-4 victory over… Read More
Women’s minister: Money issues, prioritising career, lack of suitable candidates among reasons behind declining marriage rate Posted on 30/11/2024 KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 30 — Career priorities, financial constraints and difficulty finding suitable partners are among the reasons many individuals choose to postpone marriage and remain single. Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said findings from the Fifth Malaysian Population and Family Survey revealed that 86.8… Read More
Flood watchers keep vigil as Kelantan river rises Posted on 30/11/2024 Kota Bharu residents have been keeping an eye out on the rising Kelantan river, where the water level rose to 5.5m, above the danger level this evening. (Bernama pic) KOTA BHARU: Local residents are keeping vigil through the night monitoring the water level of the Kelantan river at Tambatan D’Raja,… Read More