In this June 18, 2019, file photo, former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak walks into a lift as he arrives at Kuala Lumpur High Court in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (AP) KUALA LUMPUR: The second trial of Malaysian's ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak linked to the multibillion-dollar looting of the 1MDB state investment fund was delayed Monday by a week to allow his first trial to end.Najib faces a total 42 charges of corruption, abuse of power and money laundering in five separate criminal cases brought since his shocking election defeat last year. Najib, 65, denies wrongdoing and accuses the new government under Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad of seeking political vengeance. Chief prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram said the last witness in Najib's first trial is midway through testifying and the case should end this week. The first trial began in April on seven charges of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering related to 42 million ringgit ($10.1 million) that … [Read more...] about Judge postpones 2nd corruption trial of Malaysia’s former PM
Former malaysian prime minister
Malaysian politicians call for Islamic preacher to be deported
PETALING JAYA: Despite facing calls for deportation by multiple parties, defiant Islamic preacher Zakir Naik called on Chinese Malaysians to "go back" first as they were the "old guests" of the country. "Later on, more people came and Malaysia became fully Muslim. Then you have the Chinese coming, the Indian coming, the British coming. They are our new guests. "People call me a guest. So I said, before me, the Chinese were the guests. They aren't born here. If you want the new guest to go first, (then) ask the old guests to go back. "The Chinese weren't born here, most of them. Maybe the new generation, yes." Mr Zakir, an Indian citizen who is a Malaysian permanent resident, made those remarks when he was talking about how Islam had spread peacefully in the region through traders, in a speech in Kelantan last Thursday. Mr Zakir's speech wascriticised by many parties after he compared Hindus in Malaysia to Muslims in India, saying the Hindus enjoyed more than 100 per cent rights in … [Read more...] about Malaysian politicians call for Islamic preacher to be deported
Najib stars in Malaysian hip-hop music video
PETALING JAYA: A hip-hop music video featuring former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was set to be released yesterday. Entrepreneur Mohd Nor Kharoni, also known as Ron Kamisan, on Saturday shared on Instagram a 45-second teaser of the video, entitled "BBB", short for "Bukan biasa-biasa" (not the usual), a catchphrase coined in February. In the clip, Najib is seen in a white Toyota Vellfire, escorted by police outriders. The video then shows the luxury MPV stopping in front of four men sitting at Lepaking, a hipster food spot owned by Mr Mohd Nor in Jalan Gombak, Selangor. The rap begins as the vehicle door opens, with Mr Mohd Nor giving Najib a thumbs up and Najib responding with a similar gesture. The teaser clip ends with the four men standing up and the vehicle door closing with Najib still seated inside. They then watch him leave in the MPV. The reason for Najib's collaboration and involvement in the music video is not known. Mr Mohd Nor, who claims to be a big fan of the … [Read more...] about Najib stars in Malaysian hip-hop music video
Prominent former Thai general and PM Prem dies at 98
Thailand's former general Prem Tinsulanonda, who led the country as prime minister for more than eight years in the 1980s, died yesterday morning. He was 98. Mr Prem, a towering figure in the powerful military, was widely credited with ending the communist insurgency in the country and steering the kingdom through a period of relative peace and prosperity as an unelected prime minister in five successive governments. Just as important, he was a longtime adviser to the late king Bhumibol Adulyadej, and he remained as head of the privy council when the king's son Maha Vajiralongkorn assumed the throne in 2016. He died of heart failure at Phramongkutklao Hospital in Bangkok, according to Thai media. The new Lower House of Parliament, in its second meeting yesterday after the March 24 General Election, observed a minute of silence in honour of the elder statesman. The former army commander, who never married, had appeared frail earlier this month during King Maha Vajiralongkorn's lavish … [Read more...] about Prominent former Thai general and PM Prem dies at 98
Corruption trial: Former Malaysian PM Najib Razak’s donor allegedly a ‘prince’
KUALA LUMPUR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - A sum of RM1.9 billion (S$625,742) was credited into one of Malaysia's former premier Najib Razak's private bank accounts between 2011 and 2013, the High Court heard on Monday (April 29). Part of the money was purportedly a donation from one "Prince Faisal al Turki" and the Finance Ministry of Saudi Arabia. This was confirmed by AmBank manager R. Uma Devi during cross-examination by Najib's counsel Harvinderjit Singh. Mr Harvinderjit: Refer to this e-mail of bank statement ending 694. Are these transactions from "Prince Faisal al Turki"? She agreed that parts of the money, including RM304 million in 2011 and RM756 million in 2012, came from "Prince Faisal al Turki". She also agreed that another amount was RM324 million, which was credited from Saudi's Finance Ministry to Najib's account. To a suggestion, Ms Uma Devi agreed that a letter of instruction purportedly written by Najib on July 30, 2013, had instructed that the donation money be … [Read more...] about Corruption trial: Former Malaysian PM Najib Razak’s donor allegedly a ‘prince’