The de-facto RBA-in-Chief

Reading Mahathir's blog post yesterday titled "Najib's achievements", I am struck by the amount of half-truths, spins and outright lies in it.

As I have been on FaceBook for 2 1/2 years, I am deeply familiar with the Red Bean Army's (RBA) propaganda. For those who do not know, the RBA was a termed coined to describe cybertroopers loyal to the DAP prior to the 13th General Election to spread mis-truth and incite hatred towards the government.

Let me explain and rebut you like how I answer any common RBA troopers.

Che Det's writing in italics, my responses in blue.

1) He seeks the permission of the Singapore PM for the building of the bridge to replace the Malaysian part of the causeway. Later he asked the Singapore PM when he wanted to build the high-speed train. In both cases he was rejected. He doesn’t seem to be in full charge of the affairs of his own country.

That dang crooked bridge again!  The Sultan of Johor in an interview in December 2015 said:

"Both of us be­lieve that Jo­hor and Malaysia will ben­e­fit from the on­go­ing de­vel­op­ment and when the Kuala Lumpur-Sin­ga­pore fast train is built, the ben­e­fits will be enor­mous. 

I do not want to dig up the past nor do I wish to take a swipe at any politi­cian, ac­tive or re­tired, but the PM un­der­stands and ap­pre­ci­ates the need to work closely and not to re­peat the past. 

I find it hard to un­der­stand the ra­tio­nale or ir­ra­tional­ity of any Malaysian leader who wants Malaysia to quar­rel with Sin­ga­pore. It’s what I called crooked thinking."

Perhaps Mahathir should listen to His Royal Highness' advice and give up on your crooked thinking. Give up on your dendam and irrational hatred and learn to work together with our neighbours. 

Just because Singapore had embarrassed you by refusing to loan Malaysia USD5 billion even though you had publicly asked for it to save our country from the 1998 Asian Economic Crisis, doesn't mean that you must hate them forever.

If Malaysia had managed our economy well in the 1990s and not go on an unrestrained building binge and if we had not lost RM30 billion of BNMs reserves by your gambling on FOREX speculation then we would not have to be put into such a situation that we had to meekly and publicly ask our neighbours for help despite Mahathir whacking Singapore for decades.

When you build a bridge that joins two countries, I think it is logical to assume that you will need their approval too. What happens if we build only our side and the other side refuses to allow us to join the bridge to them or just close off the bridge permanently? Or bring the case up for international arbitration? Such a scenario would also embarrass us further.

2) He employed European consultants to advise him on the policies for the nation. This cost Malaysia RM 7 billion. These consultants did not understand the multi-racial character of Malaysia and the sensitivities of the people. The result is greater racism and tension between the races in Malaysia. The Chinese who before supported the BN, rejected him completely in 2013.

The much-bandied about figure of RM7 billion figure for consultants was for ALL consultants - local and foreign and includes such services for consulting engineers, consulting physicians, local accounting firm special audits etc - like what you did when you engaged Price Waterhouse to do a special report on Perwaja's RM15 billion losses.

RM7 billion is certainly not all for your "so-called European consultants" alone - but for services that the entire government spent for the 5 years period on 

And like any RBA, when challenged on this, I am pretty sure you would not be able to list down and justify your RM7 billion figure.

And to take it into perspective, RM7 billion is for the 5 years period between 2009 to 2013 - where the average govt budget spending per year is RM200 billion - making it a total of about RM1 trillion.

RM7 billion out of RM1 trillion would just be 0.7% of all spending.

Using absolute figures (rather than taking figures into perspective) and outright lies are a favourite RBA tactic.

Now you are blaming Najib for the drop in Chinese votes in GE13? 

It is mostly thanks to DAP demonizing PERKASA and PERKASA's many racial-tinged attacks against the Chinese and non-Muslims.

Did Mahathir forget that he was the patron of PERKASA and Ibrahim Ali's boss?

If you don't understand, here's a simple cybertrooper style graphics.

3) He actually employed Europeans to work in the PM’s department. Their influence over him led to his becoming insensitive to local conditions.

Here, you are probably referring to the APCO Worldwide case - which was to hire consultants for international public relations. Why would hiring foreign people who are familiar with the international market be a problem for you?

When Proton took over Lotus, did you also replace the foreigners working in Lotus? In fact, after you became Chairman of Proton in the year 2014, a new CEO was hired for Lotus Cars. 

His name is Jean-Marc Gales.

Such a RBA behaviour that you can do but others can't.

4) He set up agencies outside the Government to direct the affairs of the Government and disregarded the EPU and ICU in the planning and implementation of Malaysia’s development.
5) He paid these agencies, of which Pemandu is a major one, salaries and perks not in accordance with the Government salary scheme i.e. very much higher. He did not follow Government procedures and disregard the relevant authorities when doing this.

Your previous EPU was famous for awarding lop-sided IPP concession agreements. PEMANDU was introduced to provide transformation programs for the nation. So far, most international agencies have praised PEMANDU for the work they have done for Malaysia and PEMANDU is even now being hired by other country governments to help them. 

Let me just cite two of the chief contributions arising from PEMANDU's Economic Transformation Program. One is the Pengerang RAPID project, the downstream project that is now proving to be a saviour for our oil and gas industry jobs since upstream activities such as oil production and exploration has slumped. 

Read this:   As jobs dry up, oil and gas workers rely on Petronas’ Pengerang project for a lifeline

The other one was that PEMANDU identified that we would have needed to cut subsidies and wean Malaysia out of huge dependence on oil and gas revenues. Thus from 2009 where 42% of our govt revenues came from oil and gas we have come to a mere 14% reliance - thus sparing Malaysia of the pain that countries such as Brunei, Venezuela and the Middle East countries are facing now due to the oil price slump.

The EPU and ICT have their purpose and their importance is still relevant in what they do. It is just that PEMANDU does different things.

As for not following Govt procedures, what are you talking about? 

This is the government of the day and what working procedures that they implement IS the proper procedure.

Or do you mean that the current Govt is not following YOUR procedures?

Typical RBA tactic to use half-truth to try and incite anger in civil servants without acknowledging that the change has indeed brought benefits to the country.

6) He increased the budget of the Prime Minister’s Office very many times more. There are so many Ministers in the Prime Minister’s Office. His cabinet is the biggest in Malaysian history.

This is yet another favourite RBA tactic to fool others to think that the PM spends most of the money of the government.

Please understand the difference between PMO and the Prime Minister's Department.

The PMO's budget It is not just Najib alone lah.  The PMO has many many different units.

The budget is allocated here so it can be centrally controlled at the PMO level. Much of the budget are then passed thru to the various ministries and agencies for implementation.

The following are all under the PMO:

Commissions:
1. Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
2. Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (SPRM)
3. Public Services Commission (SPA)
4. Education Service Commission (SPP)
5. Judicial Appointments Commission (SPK) JAC
6. Land Public Transport Commission (L.P.T.C)
7. Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission EAIC
8. Election Comission of Malaysia

Central Agencies
1. Public Service Department (JPA)
2. Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU)
3. Economic Planning Unit (EPU)
4. Malaysia Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU)
5. Public Private Partnership Unit (UKAS)

Department and Agencies
1. Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM)
2. Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU)
- Malaysian Legal Aid Department (JBG)
- Malaysia Department of Insolvency (MdI)
3. Maritime Enforcement Affairs Division (BHEPMM)
4. Ceremonial and International Conference Secretariat Division (BIUPA)
5. Cabinet, Constitution and Inter-Government Relation (BKPP)
6. Property and Land Management Division (BPH)
7. Research Division
8. Public Complaints Bureau (BPA)
9. National Civics Bureau (BTN)
10. Judicial and Legal Training Institute (ILKAP)
11. National Audit Department
12. Malaysia Department of Syariah Court (JKSM)
- Mahkamah Syariah Wilayah Persekutuan (MSWP)
13. Malaysia Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM)
- Jabatan Agama Wilayah Persekutuan (JAWI)
14. Parliament of Malaysia
15. Department of Statistics
16. Department of National
17. Attorney General Chambers
18. Department of Awqaf, Zakat and Haji (JAWHAR)
19. Advisor Board
20. Sabah Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board
21. Sarawak Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board
22. National Security Council (MKN)
23. Prime Minister's Office
24. Chief Government Security Office (KPKK)
25. Pejabat Mufti Wilayah Persekutuan
26. Pejabat Ketua Pendaftar Mahkamah Persekutuan
27. Pejabat Penasihat Sains
28. Prime Minister's Department
29. Unit Inovasi Khas
30. National Palace of Malaysia
31. Office of the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal the Conference of Rulers'
32. Secretariat Office of Ex-Prime Minister Y.A.Bhg Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad
33. Secretariat Office of Ex-Prime Minister Y.A.Bhg Tun Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi
34. Pejabat Seranta Felda
35. Office of Federal Secretary, Sabah
36. Office of Federal Secretary, Sarawak
37. Bahagian Pendidikan Awal Kanak-Kanak
38. Unit Kawal Selia Felda (UKSF)
39. Performance Management & Delivery Unit PEMANDU
40. Protection Division UPS
41. Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM)
42. Federal Territories Director Of Lands And Mines Office

Statutory Bodies
1. Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA)
2. Pilgrims Fund Board (LTH)
3. Penang Regional Development Authority (PERDA)
4. Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan
5. Agensi Inovasi Malaysia (AIM)

Corporations
1. Institut Integriti Malaysia (IIM)
2. Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology
3. Talent Corp
4. TERAJU
5. PEMANDU Corporation
6. UNIK Corporation

Yes, even Mahathir's own office (32. Secretariat Office of Ex-Prime Minister Y.A.Bhg Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad) is budgeted under the PMO's budget.

It is sickening to see that the Mahathir is using such an often-repeated RBA piece of propaganda - which is entirely misleading.

7) He created jobs with high salaries for people he retired from service so that they will support him irrespective of his wrongdoings.

Who do you mean by this? More information needed. Or is it like how you put your brother-in-law as Chairman of Tabung Haji after he retired? 

Don't just make accusation like any RBA. Back your accusation up!

8) He had a lavish life-style and spent well beyond the means of a Malaysian Prime Minister for his daughter’s wedding.

Like any common RBA, you become personal and attack family members - despite being told multiple times that it was the in-laws who paid for the wedding.

Did you expect Najib's in-laws to be poor?

Najib's son-in-law Daniyar's mom, Maria, was married to Bolat Nazarbayev, the brother of long-time Kazakhstan president, for more than 10 years.

Bolat is super-rich and has a virtual monopoly of Kazakhstan fertilizer industry and also owns banks.

During their divorce court hearings in New York, the media reported that the court papers had stated that Maira had once purchased USD75 million (RM311 million) worth of jewelry and paid for it using Bolat's money.

A Mar 12, 2014 divorce settlement allowed Maira to keep US$50m (RM207m) in jewelry and a US$20m (RM83m) New Jersey house - a total worth of RM300 million - but had to give up custody of her son with Bolat.

I am also sure that Maira herself had money saved from her 10 year wedding too but this was not disclosed.

Daniyar is the only other son of Maira and I do not see any issues with Maira giving a few million ringgit to Daniyar to purchase presents or hold his own grand weddings or that Daniyar had been funded by his mom to do business and make his own money.

The next dozen or so of Mahathir's allegations are his recycled allegations regarding 1MDB where his accusations have progressively gone down from RM42 billion lesap to RM27 billion missing and suddenly to "a few billion" missing.

I don't want to bother answering this as these have been answered dozens of times already by various people and 1MDB itself. You can search my blog for those replies.

You ask, you get answered but you pretend not to hear and ask again. Yet another pretend-dumb, cannot see tactic of the RBA to keep asking the same questions and repeating the same allegations despite being answered multiple times before.

We move on to this.

24) He denied at first; then admitted, saying that it was a gift; then that it was a donation to ensure he won the election; then it was a donation from Arabs who appreciated his fight against Muslim terrorists; and finally that it was a donation from the late Saudi King. The source of the money is still not proven.
25) Now a Saudi Minister said there is no record of a gift, that probably it was a Saudi investment. The amount was not so big, he said.

Najib never denied receiving funds in his accounts at all. Not even once. All he said was that the funds were not from 1MDB or songlap money and it was not for personal use - so stop fitnah him and put words into his mouth (yet another RBA tactic).

And when you mention the Saudi Minister, you forgot to mention that  the Saudi Arabia foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir  himself. confirmed that the money into Najib's accounts came from Saudi Arabia and was quoted to say this:

"In Saudi Arabia, Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said that he accepted the (Malaysian) attorney general’s opinion that there had been no wrongdoing, but he also said that he did not think that the money had come from the Saudi government or that it was a political donation.

And your continued attacks on Najib also failed to cite that the office of the Swiss AG spokesman Andre Marty had told the Nikkei Asian Review "In the ongoing criminal proceeding of the OAG, Mr Najib Razak is not one of the public official under accusation,"

Yet another favourite RBA tactic of ignoring other credible and key pieces of information.

27) Money in any person’s account, whether from profits or borrowed or gift must be declared to the income tax department even if it is not subject to income tax. Apparently the Internal Revenue Board is not able to verify from official records about how the acquisition or existence of this money was done. There is also no clear report about the money by Bank Negara to determine whether it is being laundered.
Like what LHDN said.

Political donations are not subjected to tax, said Inland Revenue Board (IRB) chief Mohd Shukor Mahfar as quoted by news portal Malaysiakini. “To me, if the income is subjected to tax, (then we can tax). If income not subjected to income tax, then we cannot tax,” he was quoted.

And if you believe Wall Street Journal and your buddy Clare Brown at Sarawak Report, you would also have believed that the majority of the RM2.6b was returned shortly after within months (and within the same tax year) - with the remainder being used for political or CSR expenses.

And since there was no balance after the return and expenses that did not benefit Najib personally, what is there to tax?

BNM had already given their recommendations on 1MDB to AG which AG declined to prosecute and gave his reasons why. 

Those recommendations to AG was for revocation of approvals that BNM gave 6 years ago based on the basis that the forms were not filled in properly. NONE was for money laundering The AG gave his reasons why BNM's case was weak then: 

All three approvals given by BNM for remittance applied by 1MDB was given within the duration of not more than three days,” said Apandi during a press conference held here today. 

He also explained that based on the relevant ECM forms, namely 09A and 06B it had did not required the applicant to supply the names of the beneficiary owners during application. 

“Bank Negara should examine the applications. It is evident that BNM has not requested for further information,” said Apandi. 

“If Bank Negara Malaysia has not requested for specific information, why should 1MDB be blamed when they have filled in the information and answer the questions needed?” he asked.

Yes. BNM's investigations did not lead to any allegations of money-laundering when passed to the AG.

36) Malaysians are ashamed that Malaysia is rated as among the ten most corrupted country in the world and Najib is regarded as the most incompetent Finance Minister.

Another RBA tactic of labeling Malaysia as ten most corrupted country in the world. From your Deklarasi Mahathir, you gave your "proof" why you said Malaysia is top ten most corrupted.

Here it is:

"Fasal 3. Di bawah pentadbirannya negara jatuh tersenarai sebagai salah satu daripada 10 negara yang paling banyak mengamalkan rasuah mengikut laporan Ernst and Young Asia Pacific Fraud Survey Report Series 2013. Malaysia juga telah jatuh empat anak tangga Indeks Persepsi Rasuah 2015, dari 50 ke 54."

Let me explain:

According to them, Malaysia is top ten most corrupt and their main evidence is the Ernst and Young Asia Pacific Fraud Survey Report Series 2013.

Firstly, nama sudah "Asia Pacific" only - so how can be top ten most corrupt?

And worse.. this Report only covers 8 countries.

Read for yourself: http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/2013_Asia-Pacific_Fraud_Survey/$FILE/EY-Asia-Pacific-Fraud-Survey.pdf

Survey of EIGHT countries means Malaysia is top TEN most corrupt?

Where you go to school ah?

Their second evidence is this: " Malaysia juga telah jatuh empat anak tangga Indeks Persepsi Rasuah 2015, dari 50 ke 54."

You already say no. 54th - so where the top 10 comes from? This little piece of fact already CONTRADICT your own point!!!

And worse again.. it is actually 54th CLEANEST out of 167 countries as listed by the Corruptions Perception Index 2015: http://www.transparency.org/cpi2015#results-table

What kind of people would actually put their signature on a document like this knowing full well it contains obvious lies that even a kid can find out?

Tak malu ke? 

For the remaining points, it is time for me to also use familiar RBA tactics of using copy-paste graphics and meme.

For not suing WSJ, let me remind you of what you said.

And when you said you can swear on your allegations against Najib, let me remind you how many times you said you will swear on your holy book in the mosque but have never actually done so - not even once!

Heck, even when the Police came to question you TWICE on your multiple allegations and asked you to prove it, you refused to answer both times and lamely said you will only answer in court should they ever charge you.

What is this? If you have the proof then please answer the police. You make the allegation but you refuse to provide your proof to the relevant authorities.

And if indeed the police charges you for criminal defamation, then you will say that you are being victimized.

When others ask you why you don't make police reports against Najib, you say you have no evidence!!

I believe more and more people are getting tired of your antics to remove Najib. It is getting really desperate recently.

After your son Mukhriz was asked to resign as Kedah Menteri Besar and your lackey Tan Sri Muhyiddin was suspended from UMNO, your actions have betrayed your motives.

These desperate actions have shocked and revolted many people including:

- keeping quiet when Wan Azizah said you are weak and that it is Pakatan assisting you and not the other way around.

- Rafizi Ramli saying that you read from their script and that he is using you to help Pakatan win more Malay votes to beat UMNO

- becoming the ultra-hypocrite when you work with the person you once called the ultra-chauvinist racist Lim Kit Siang.

- attending a Pakatan Harapan event where one of their chief goals was to call for the release of Anwar Ibrahim.

- completely ignoring our Federal Constitution and following the colonial British tactics of calling for a referendum to remove a Prime Minister.

Malaysians are no longer fooled by you saying you are doing it for the Rakyat but they know your desperation and shocking behaviour is to protect your son and elevate him as the future Prime Minister.

How else can you explain the following that all happened IMMEDIATELY after your son was removed as Kedah Menteri Besar despite saying before you will not work with opposition just a few months ago?

Najib is close to completing 7 years as Prime Minister and he has done a pretty decent job so far. Our economy is transforming in the right direction and he has successfully helped us navigate the 2008-2009 Great Global Recession and the oil price slump. Our economy is still growing, our unemployment rate has not jumped (in fact we want to import more workers) and there is no mass closing of shops, collapse of conglomerates or Danaharta or Danamodal needing to be set-up like your 1998 crisis (which you refused to resign even then).

Now let me remind Mahathir of his first 7 years.

From 1981 to 1998 by the end of his first 7 years in power, Mahathir had doubled our unemployment, ran the highest budget deficits in Malaysian history, doubled our debt above the key 100% Debt-to-GDP ratio, doubled our foreign debt, more than doubled our unemployment rate, plunged our country into recession, seen our stock market drop by half, misused Maminco and destroyed the tin industry - our main export industry, mismanaged the tragic Memali incident resulting in the deaths of 18 civilians and police officers, forced the resignation of his deputy PM, his finance minister, sacked 3 other cabinet ministers (including Pak Lah) and 4 deputy ministers during ramadhan, destroyed the judiciary system, cheated billions of Bumiputra shares from EPF via Makuwasa, allowed BMF to collapse under RM2.5b of debt, almost allowed a full-blown racial riot before throwing more than 100 persons in jail under ISA for Ops Lalang,, closed 4 major newspapers including Sin Chew, Watan and The Star, split UMNO cleanly in half and caused it to be declared illegal.

And during that time, not one but TWO ex-PM - Tunku Abdul Rahman and Hussein Onn, his Deputy PM and his Finance Minister thought he was useless.

And Mahathir now says Najib's first 7 years is no good and wants to save UMNO and save Malaysia?

But the evidence show that Mahathir's first 7 years was a complete disaster compared to Najib. 

Other than the other mishaps listed, here are some hard data:

(any Mahathir loyalist willing to dispute the above?)

Save Malaysia from what, actually?

I sincerely hope that Mahathir will stop using RBA-style topics and use his twilight years resting and enjoying life.

There are enough lies and propaganda from the RBA out on social media already. We do not need Mahathir acting like the de-facto RBA-in-Chief adding to the clutter.