Caribbean girls under cyber attack

Kim Simplis-Barrow, Special Envoy for Women and Children in Belize, speaks on the opening day of the country’s first national cybersecurity symposium, in Belize City from April 24 to 28, 2017. Photo: Caribbean Network Operators Group

By Gerard Best

BELIZE CITY, Belize -- A cyberbullying victim’s parents have spoken out in Belize against the alarming practice of posting nude photos of young girls online.

The couple sits facing away from the camera as they recount the episode that forever changed their daughter’s life. The father, slowly and in a plaintive voice, says someone accessed the photo from her social media account and reposted it to a public site. With just a few clicks, the damage had already been done. 

“It was a huge blow to our family when it happened. Me and her mother, we tried to be strong for her, and supported her in every way possible, and to try to get over it. It was a terrible thing for her,” he said.

“Be bold for change against cyber violence!” shouts the mother, firing a parting shot in the final frames.

The parents’ testimony is part of an online anti-cyberbullying campaign spearheaded by the US Embassy in Belmopan. The campaign gives voice to a nationwide concern at the trend of posting nude photos and videos of girls and women. 

Also speaking out is Kim Simplis-Barrow, wife of Belize Prime Minister Dean Barrow, who is calling for urgent action to protect women and girls from the use of the Internet as “a vehicle for gender-based violence.”

“Globally, cyber criminals are using the Internet for abuse and exploitation, putting our most vulnerable populations at risk. Here in Belize, we have had our own struggle with these issues,” she said.

Pedophiles, rapists and human traffickers must not be allowed to continue using popular Internet-based social media platforms as “a digital hunting grounds”, she said.

The First Lady, who is also the country’s Special Envoy for Women and Children, has worked to bring child sexual exploitation into the domain of public discourse and action.

“Belize is ill-prepared legally and otherwise to effectively address these challenges,” she said.

Speaking at the country’s first-ever national cybersecurity symposium, held in Belize City in April, her brief remarks made a simple yet powerful point: there can be no citizen security without cybersecurity.

The message found support from a powerful ally.

“Cyber crime knows no borders, we’re all in this together,” said Adrienne Galanek, chargé d’affaires at the US Embassy.

“The cyber world we live in poses very real threats, from exploitation of children to the cruelty of cyberbullying. Predators capitalise on the anonymity of cyber space to target victims, whether to lure them to sexual exploitation or criminal activity. Compromising images of young girls and women are exploited online, while the male perpetrators’ identities are often concealed in shocking videos,” she added.

Only in the last few years the growing cost and incidence of cybersecurity has propelled the subject to the top of the agenda of government and business leaders.

“In the United States, we are currently in the process of reviewing our cybersecurity national strategy, and we encourage Belize and other nations to similarly review as needed their cybersecurity national strategy,” Galanek said.

Many observers across the Caribbean will hope that Belize is only the first in a regional movement to break the silence and take active measures to protect the region's children and all citizens from cyber predators.

Public announcement - Ransomeware attach today 74 countries

Massive Ransomeware attack...Total 74 countries affected...Please do not open any email which has attachments with *"tasksche.exe"* file. Please send this important message to all your computer users

And what if the Hackers attack Malaysia below is the wish list from long suffering Malaysians

The day Malaysia wakes up from a massive cyber attach on the Government’s Immigration department  , National Registration department , Judicial system , Internal Revenue Board , Customs department , Education system the banking system by a new breed of Cyber  Super heroes do undo the racial , religious and social justice wrongs of 60 years and make it right . Passwords changed forever and programs locked with no avenue of changing the software program or accessing the data base to change.

1.       National Registration Department – NRD

A.      All those who were born after independence in West Malaysia with neither parent a Malaysia will become a non-citizen

B.      Genders will be randomly mixed up as a new category will be added “Other sex” and selective National Registration numbers will be chosen at random and will have their se listed as LGBT and selective criteria will be by last 4 digits of NRIC , race and religion

C.      All Malays who have both parents born overseas will have their race listed as others and specified as i.e. Indonesians , Filipinos , Thais , Bangla , Pakistani , Indians and will no longer be Citizens and status will be reverted to Permanent Resident and a Red NRIC Card holder

D.      Religion will be deleted and all will be listed as atheist

E.       All who are listed as Malays and having one or both parents as non-Malays will have their race reverted to Others category i.e. “Outsiders”

F.       Bumiputra status on NRIC card will be deleted

G.     All monetary assets will be automatically declared and registered with NRD , i.e. movable and non-moveable assets

2.       Immigration Department

A.      All whose status are changed in the NRD data base will have it reflected in the Immigration Department data base

B.      All declared as non-citizens by NRD will have the Malaysian International passports revoked automatically

C.      No bypass of NRD data base to issue passports to non-citizens

D.      All Foreign workers will have a chip implanted to keep tract on their whereabouts and on expiry of work permits will be recalled for deportation and failing to will have their status changed to criminals and reflect in the National Police Department data base

3.       National Police department

A.      All policemen status change to criminals in the National Police data base

4.       Internal Revenue Board

a.       All Tax returns with income of RM 500,000 PA. or more a year the tax calculated at 25% and back date to 5 years

b.      All Tax returns with income of RM 1 million PA. or more a year the tax calculated at 30% and back date to 5 years

c.       All Tax returns with income of RM 10 million PA. or more a year the tax calculated at 50% and back date to 5 years

d.      All Tax returns with income of RM 12 million PA. or more a year the tax calculated at 80% and back date to 5 years

e.      All those earning less than RM 240,000 P.A gets a rebate of 100% of their taxes paid  and backdated to 10 years

5.       Courts Justice system

a.       Automatically cancel all guilty verdicts on politically motivated cases

b.      All cases pending or dismissed for BN politicians to be automatically recorded as guilty verdicts

6.       Customs

a.       Abolish AP’s for all imports and duties on liquors and food stuffs and reduce duty for cars of all sizes to 20% of the value of the car

b.      Abolish duty for motorbikes 1000 cc and below

c.       GST no longer applicable

7.       More and more and hope the hackers become creative and help the poor suffering Malaysians

Another monkey crowing for the rights to lose

Cameron Highlands ‘belongs’ to MIC, declares Dr Subra
By Berita Daily Staff 35

Last Updated 15th May, 2017, 4:02 PM

The MIC president also says that the party is targeting to win seven parliamentary seats and 13 state seats in the general election

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC president Dr S Subramaniam today said that the Cameron Highlands parliamentary constituency ‘belongs’ to the party and MIC will contest the seat at the 14th general election.

He said this in reaction to MyPPP head M Kayveas who has indicated his intention to contest the seat currently held by former MIC chief G Palanivel.

Subramaniam, who is also Health Minister, however played down the ‘request’ by MyPPP, saying that such demands were normal just prior to the general elections.

Both MIC and MyPPP are in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. The Cameron Highlands seat is regarded by many as a safe seat for the ruling government.

On another matter, the MIC president said that the party was targeting to win seven parliamentary seats, including  Cameron Highlands, and 13 state seats in the general election.

He said these seats would be the party’s focus besides the other seats it would be contesting, totalling 28.

His elder brother say's bollocks to you Maniam


“Among the parliamentary seats, we want to win all seven seats out of nine eyed and out of 19 state seats, we are focusing on 13 seats,” he told a press conference after opening the Southeast Asia Public Health Nutrition Conference, here, today.

Subramaniam was asked whether MIC had identified the “safe” seats for the party in the coming general election.

Asked on the list of seats the party was confident of winning, Subramaniam, however, declined to reveal as it would be announced later.

Hadi admitted to hospital, expected to undergo surgery

Guess god called for a time out and have a chat with you on your errand ways and hope your heart surgery is a successful one and a change man who will now will care for the people as whole regardless race or religion but as human beings .god works in strange ways and want to remind you that you do have goodness in you and you must return to the path of truth and goodness.

May God bless you with a long life and live to see the defeat of BN-UMNO at the Malaysian General elections PRU-14

More updates on the Marang MP’s condition will be released when needed

KUALA LUMPUR: PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has been admitted to the hospital in Kuala Lumpur to receive intensive treatment today.

Abdul Hadi’s political secretary Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said in a statement that more updates on the Marang MP’s condition will be released when needed.

He thanked the public on behalf of the family and the party for giving Hadi space to recuperate by not visiting him at the hospital for the time being.

“PAS invites all members and supporters to pray for his health and that for treatment to go well,” he said.

Meanwhile Hadi’s secretary Zubir Mohd Daik, in a statement, revealed that the PAS chief is scheduled to undergo a heart surgery tomorrow.

Zabir called on all Pas members and supporters to hold a solat hajat (special prayer) for the Marang Member of Parliament.

“I appeal to all Muslims, either Pas supporters or members to hold a solat hajat, to pray for the success of  Abdul Hadi Awang’s heart surgery which is scheduled to be performed on May 16, 2017.

“May Allah bless and make the president’s affairs easier,” he said.

Zubir however did not mention where the surgery will take place.

Custodial death inquiry: ‘Balamurugan cried for mercy’ - Slavery still practized here

The Malaysian Indians have to face the historical facts about their existence in Malays and now Malaysia

1. They were imported from the villages in Southern India and sold to the Rubber and Oil Palm plantations to a life of slavery and misery thru debts which they could no pay

2. After independence the new masters the Malaysian  Indian Congress sold these poor souls to a continued life of slavery and misery to the new owners of the rubber and oil palm estates owners and also to the Malaysian government  by not politically defending this and getting them a good deal during Independence

3. MIC have been using them as cannon folder and keeping the enslaved and poor so that come elections time a few peanuts thrown at them will we sufficient for them to vote BN-MIC

4. With no backbone as the backbone MIC have sold them out and they were stigmatized and open for abuse by the government and police force as the government knows the monkeys in MIC are more concern about their bag of peanuts then for the Malaysian Indians

Who to blame but the Malaysian Indians for voting and keep the ruling party BN in power since independence and not making an effort to vote to change the government. Where are MIC, PPP and Hindraf when you all get abused and killed

D9 police officers assaulted Balamurugan, inquiry told

By Alfian ZM Tahir 71

 key witness tells an EAIC inquiry that Balamurugan was in a bad shape and was not able to eat while in police custody

KUALA LUMPUR: One of the key witnesses in the death of police suspect S Balamurugan divulged that he was assaulted by police officers attached to the Serious Crime Unit (D9) of the Klang Utara district police station.

Although he did not witness the beatings, 17-year-old juvanile Ang Kian Kok told an inquiry today that Balamurugan was in a bad shape when he met him at the Klang Utara police lock-up.

According to Ang, the officers also did not provide answers when asked on the reason of his (Ang’s) arrest.

“I was arrested together with Balamurugan and Taminarasan on Feb 6 this year. We were brought to Bandar Baru Klang police station and we were interrogated by officers from Klang Utara and Klang Selatan police station.

“At the Bandar Baru police station, I was punched and slapped by one of the officers there. I pleaded to them to stop hitting me. When I asked why I was arrested, they did not answer me.

“Later I was taken to Banting. The officers wanted me to show them the house of Kanapathy who is also a friend of ours. The police later detained Kanapathy and we were brought back to Klang Utara.

“When I reached Klang Utara, they gave us food. But when I asked Balamurugan to eat he refused. Taminarasan also refused. They lied down and they were in bad shape. I saw blood on his lips and it was swollen,” he told an inquiry at the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission ( EAIC) headquarters.

During the inquiry, several police officers were summoned to be identified, including some from the D9 unit from the police station.

Ang was able to identify almost every officers involved in the arrest and the interrogation, including the officer who allegedly punched him.

Ang later told the inquiry that he and Kanapathy had to carry Balamurugan into a van as they were transferred to Shah Alam central police lock-up.

In bad shape

He also told the hearing that he requested the police to provide medical assistance to Balamurugan.

“I ate the food (given) but Bala (Balamurugan) and Taminarasan did not. After that we were told that they will take us to Shah Alam.

“I had to help Balamurugan as he can’t walk properly. I told the cops that Balamurugan was in bad shape and need some help but nothing was done,” he said.

The next morning, Ang, Balamurugan, Taminarasan and Kanapathy were taken to Klang magistrate’s court for remand application, However the magistrate ordered the cops to send Balamurugan to the hospital and his remand order was rejected.

Instead of being hospitalised, Balamurugan was kept at one of the detectives room while Ang together with Taminarasan and Kanapathy were taken to Shah Alm central lock-up.

Ang later informed the hearing that he learnt about Balamurugan’s death from one of the detainees he met at the Klang magistrate’s court a day later.

On Feb 11 this year, four days after Balamurugan’s death, North Klang police chief ACP Mohd Yusoff Mamat disclosed that more than 10 policemen at the North Klang district police headquarters were under investigation over the death.

Mohd Yusoff, however, said none of the policemen had been suspended as investigations were ongoing.

He said claims by certain quarters that there were bruises and injuries on the body of Balamurugan should not arise until the autopsy report was released from the hospital.

Balamurugan’s family has lodged a police report over his death and requested a thorough investigation to identify the cause of death.

The deceased’s wife and niece match a key witness’s account that Balamurugan was tortured while in police custody

KUALA LUMPUR: S Balamurugan who died in police custody in February this year pleaded for help and mercy, said his niece Noor Anizah Abdullah at an inquiry today.

Anizah informed the inquiry that she heard her uncle’s voice when she and her aunt Natthanan Yoochomsuk (Balamurugan’s wife) arrived that the Bandar Baru Klang police station.

“I heard my uncle pleading and shouting like he was being beaten and was under a lot of pain. I was there inside the police station with Balamurugan’s wife.

“I asked about Balamurugan and the officers told me to wait. There was nothing we could do. I recognised his voice, even the wife told me that the voice was from Balamurugan.

“I was having an uneasy feeling about it. The police did not tell us why Balamurugan was arrested,” she told an inquiry held at the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission ( EAIC) headquarters this afternoon.

Anizah later explained that the shouting and pleading did not happen before five to six plainclothes police officers entered the police station.

“When we were there, we waited. But 15 minutes later a group of plainclothes police officers entered the police station.

“It was then I heard the shouting and screaming. It came from Balamurugan,” she explained.

Earlier today, one of the key witnesses in the death of police suspect Balamurugan divulged that the latter was assaulted by police officers attached to the Serious Crime Unit (D9) of the Klang Utara district police station.

Although he did not witness the beatings, 17-year-old juvenile Ang Kian Kok told the inquiry that Balamurugan was in a bad shape when he met him at the Klang Utara police lock-up.

According to Ang, the officers also did not provide answers when asked on the reason of his (Ang’s) arrest.

Wife: It was my husband’s cry for help

Sharing Anizah’s sentiment was Balamurugan’s wife Natthanan Yoochomsuk.

She added that she was informed about her husband’s arrest via a telephone call.

Speaking through an interpreter, Natthanan said that the police refused to let her meet her husband while did not provide any answer to the reason of arrest.

“I waited as there was nothing I could do. I waited for almost an hour and I asked if I could meet him. They say it can’t be done as he was in police custody.

“I also heard the shouting and noises. After the police (plainclothes) came.

“I was worried and can’t think straight. From what I can say is that I know my husband was in pain. The way he shouted and pleaded I know he was in pain” she described.

“I can hear my husband’s voice and also someone else’s. Not long after that the police asked us to leave and go home,” she added.

On Feb 11 this year, four days after Balamurugan’s death, North Klang police chief ACP Mohd Yusoff Mamat disclosed that more than 10 policemen at the North Klang district police headquarters were under investigation over the death.

Mohd Yusoff, however, said none of the policemen had been suspended as investigations were ongoing.

He said claims by certain quarters that there were bruises and injuries on the body of Balamurugan should not arise until the autopsy report was released from the hospital.

Balamurugan’s family has lodged a police report over his death and requested a thorough investigation to identify the cause of death.

Also read:

D9 police officers assaulted Balamurugan, inquiry told

A Syndicate Selling Fake MCs To Malaysians Working In Singapore Was Busted By Police

Four men in Johor have been arrested for allegedly producing fake medical certificates (MCs) for Malaysian civil servants as well as for Malaysians working in Singapore.

According to Johor Commercial CID chief Mohd Salleh Abdullah, the case is believed to be the largest case of fraud involving fake MCs. The fake MCs were sold for RM25 (S$8.10) a piece via a middleman. Each MC carried a forged stamp from Johor’s largest hospital, the Sultanah Aminah Hospital.

 “We found, among others, 60 fake MCs with serial numbers, five fake MCs with serial numbers as well as the rubber stamp of a medical officer, seven fake MCs without se­­rial numbers, three rolls of yellow paper and 59 pieces of the front cover book for the MCs,” said ACP Mohd Salleh.

The four men, aged between 28 and 37, were arrested during raids on May 3 and 5. According to Bernama, one of the suspects had worked at a printing outlet. Two of the suspects were working as restaurant assistants while the other worked for an air-condition company.

The syndicate was uncovered after an employer had tried to verify one of his staff’s MC with Sultanah Aminah Hospital’s management.

“Initial investigations revealed the syndicate had sold MC to those working at government departments and the private sectors in Johor Bahru and Singapore,” said ACP Mohd Salleh.

Among the items seized from the suspects included doctors’ stamps, four mobile phones and a Proton Persona car. Investigations revealed the syndicate had been active for a year.

Singapore: Baby Survives After Mother Dies Of Fatal Accident!!

The biggest fear of every pregnant woman is either losing her life before she can hold her baby or her baby losing his or her life before being born.

Just recently, a Malaysian woman identified as Goh Chieh Ting, 25, from Johor held a long-term visiting permit to Singapore. She was about six months pregnant when the lorry struck her while she was crossing the road.

Eyewitnesses told Shin Min Daily News that Goh was holding a woman’s hand as she crossed the road, it is learned that the other woman is her mother-in-law.

The lorry driver drove out from the carpark and turned right and when the driver saw the two women, he slammed the brakes but was unable to halt the vehicle in time and hit Goh.

A cleaner who was present at the scene, Yi Fan, 21, said he saw the two women walk past him before the tragedy struck moments later.

“The woman who was hit was lying on the legs of the other woman, and the right side of her body was full of blood.”

It is believed that Goh and her mother-in-law had just eaten breakfast and were about to cross the road to visit the market.

The fatal accident happened at Jurong West Avenue 1 towards Corporation Road, near Block 456 on Saturday around 8 am.

Goh was taken unconscious to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, she did not respond to treatment in hospital and was later pronounced dead at 9.30 am on the same day as a result of severe head injuries.

However, doctors performed an emergency caesarean section and managed to save her premature baby girl, who is in a stable condition. Her mother and husband declined to be interviewed but her grandaunt, Madam Yau Siew Mek, 64, told The Straits Times,

“The baby is healthy and large for her age…”

Madam Yau said Ms Goh’s mother-in-law doted on her, saying:

“She’s been crying non-stop since the incident.”

The police said the 46-year-old male driver has been arrested for causing death by negligence.

One of Ms Goh’s cousins, who declined to be named said,

“We are thankful for the doctors at Ng Teng Fond Hospital for making the quick decision to save the baby.”

Raging Wife Mercilessly Beats Up And Strips Husband’s Mistress In Starbucks

ecently, StompSg shared a viral video featuring a legal wife violently attacking and stripping her husband’s mistress at Starbucks Coffee.

In the shocking video, the wife can be seen woman confronting the mistress and is sitting on top of her to stop her from moving.

She says to the onlooking crowd, “Look at this adulterous woman. She’s messing around with someone’s husband”.

She then shouts at the woman, “Your mum is slutty too right? That’s why you’re born a slut”.

In the video, a man in a white T-shirt, presumably her husband is trying to intervene. The angry wife ignores her husband and continues to sit on the woman and attack her viciously. At one point the wife even strips the mistress to shame her in public.

Her daughter is standing next to her crying and calling for her but still nothing changed her mind. She went on attacking the mistress repeatedly.


Although netizens are saying that this incident happened at a shopping mall in Singapore, StompSg can’t confirm this for now.

Here’s the shocking video below:

The clown drawing that brought Malaysia's free-speech fight to Australia

A Malaysian artist, charged in his homeland for portraying Prime Minister Najib Razak as a clown, has arrived in Australia to motivate his countrymen to campaign for greater freedom of expression.

By Andrea Booth 
 UPDATED 27 APR 2017 

Malaysian graphic designer Fahmi Reza, 38, is using a visit to Australia to draw attention to his court battle with his country's government, and encourage nationals of his homeland to campaign harder for free speech.

Mr Reza spoke at Melbourne's Multicultural Hub on Wednesday evening.

He said he was invited by social justice campaign group Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia ('My race is Malaysian').

"The government is good at abusing different laws and using it against their critics to silence [them]," Mr Fahmi told SBS News. 

However he said the government should be held accountable.

"We need to continue and never stop pushing," he said.

"Our government officers - who pays their salary? It comes from taxpayers' money, our own money.

"And they are there to represent the people. As representatives they should accept different forms of feedback and criticism from people they supposedly represent.

"That's what I'm doing with my art, trying to use my art as a weapon to push for change in Malaysia."

Fahmi Reza is facing two charges.

Fahmi's charges

Mr Fahmi was charged in January 2016 under Section 233(1) of the country's 1998 Communications and Multimedia Act for posting a drawing of Prime Minister Najib as a clown on Twitter.

"Even graphic designers like me have also been charged and have gone to trial for criticising the government and Najib using design and graphics," Fahmi, whose travel ban was lifted in January, said.

The image referenced the Malaysian government investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, which involved the misappropriation of nearly A$2 billion after the fund sold nearly $4 billion in bonds with the support of an Abu Dhabi government fund, the International Petroleum Investment Company, to buy power plants.

The Malaysian PM was suspected to have siphoned $977 million of the $2 billion from 1MDB into his personal account, but claimed the millions were a donation from Saudi Arabia.

Mr Najib said the case, now part of an international investigation, was "unfortunately" political and instigated "by certain enemies" within the opposition party.

"They are uneasy with my leadership, so they have to look for issues," he said at the time. 

However, this week the Abu Dhabi fund announced Malaysia had agreed to pay $1.6 billion to it by the end of the year "in respect to the arbitration proceedings at the London Court of International Arbitration".


Mr Fahmi said he depicted Mr Najib as a clown "to show how absurd the whole scandal is".

"And the whole scandal, it made news all over the world, it turned the country into a joke," he added.

Mr Fahmi was charged again that year for another depiction of Mr Najib as a clown - this time under the Sedition Act.


In 2015, 91 citizens were charged under the act alone.

Political cartoonist Zulkiflee Sm Anwar Ulhaque, better known as 'Zunar', is facing nine charges under the act over tweets he posted following a Federal Court ruling in February 2015, which upheld the conviction of former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim for "sodomy".

Mr Fahmi said: "In a country full of corruption, we are all seditious. [How can the] government [call] all their critics seditious…when the government is so corrupt."

Malaysian cartoonist Zunar

Why come to Australia?
Mr Fahmi said he wanted to share his experience in Australia to encourage Malaysians here to join the social movement against the government using punitive measures to silence people.

"By sharing what I do back home and the kind of activism that I do, I hope can inspire some of them to also contribute to create a change back home," he said.

He said even from Australia they could contribute, using the internet including social media.

Mr Fahmi's trial is ongoing.

If he is found guilty, he faces two years in prison or a fine.

Australia avoiding investigating Malaysian corruption scandal, says former PM Mahathir

In an exclusive interview with SBS World News the former leader of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad - who ruled the country with an iron-grip for 22 years - said Australia was turning a blind eye to corruption over the 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) state investment fund.

"Australia has been involved to a certain extent but it looks as if the government of Australia wants to avoid any involvement in this crime committed,” Dr Mahathir said.

Malaysia’s current prime minister, Najib Razak, has been embroiled in the scandal since reports first emerged in 2015, alleging $900 million siphoned from the fund was deposited into his personal bank accounts.


Explainer: What is Malaysia’s 1MDB corruption scandal?

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been embroiled in an ongoing corruption scandal involving hundreds of millions of dollars and triggering investigations around the world.
Watch: SBS Exclusive: Former Malaysia PM speaks with SBS

Mr Najib denied all allegations of corruption and said they were part of a conspiracy to topple his government.
His hand-picked Attorney-General, Mohamad Apani Ali, cleared the prime minister of any wrongdoing and said the bulk of the money in his accounts was a gift from the Saudi Arabian royal family.

But the allegation of international money laundering connected to the fund have prompted investigations in Switzerland, Singapore, the UK and the United States.

Last year the US Department of Justice seized $1.3 billion in assets held by close associates and relatives of Mr Najib allegedly siphoned from 1MDB.  Singapore also jailed three bankers last year for money laundering connected to the fund.  

(File photo) Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak.

In total, it has been alleged that between January 2011 and April 2013 more than $1.4 billion (AUD) was deposited into Mr Najib’s personal bank accounts at the Malaysian bank AmBank.

In late 2015 AmBank was fined more than $16 million by the Malaysian banking regulator for non-compliance regarding money laundering allegations.

But Dr Mahathir said Australian law enforcement authorities were turning a blind eye.  

ANZ has been the single largest shareholder in AmBank for more than a decade, with a 24 per cent stake.

ANZ has been the single largest share-holder in AmBank for more than a decade, with a 24% stake.

That share, acquired in 2006, gave the ANZ the right to four seats on the 12 seat AmBank board and the right to appoint key management positions at the bank such as Chief Risk Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

But at a parliamentary hearing in March, ANZ CEO Shayne Elliott said the shares did not necessarily give them leverage at the bank.

“We have no ability to directly direct or influence AmBank in terms of its policies or procedures,” Mr Elliott said.

An ANZ spokesman declined to respond to question sent by SBS World News about whether ANZ staff working at AmBank were aware of transactions.

“We do not control AmBank and any questions about its operations need to be directed to them,” the spokesman said.

ANZ has denied any involvement in the Malaysian scandal.

Watch: Former Malaysian PM on Anwar Ibrahim sacking

“No employees of ANZ have had any involvement in that company (1MDB) or what has alleged to have happened at AmBank," Mr Elliott said in October last year.  

AmBank did not respond to questions regarding ANZ’s level of involvement in the Malaysian bank.

Louis de Koker, a professor of law at Latrobe University who has advised overseas banks on money laundering regulations for more than a decade, told SBS World News the transactions should have set off “red flags” within AmBank.

"All the transactions that featured in this case, which were multi-million dollar transactions, would be viewed as large transactions by all banks, even the largest banks in the world,” Mr Koker said.

But Mr Koker said risk analysts at the bank might not have made management aware of the red flags.

"It is quite possible that you may be in a very senior position in a bank and you may not be aware of contraventions of the law or of inadequacies or vulnerabilities in the system if the controls aren’t properly designed,” he said.

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad speaks to SBS News (Photo: King Chai Woon)  


AFP 'continue to evaluate allegations'
At a parliamentary hearing in March, Mr Elliott said the Australian Federal Police had not asked ANZ to hand over any documents and no staff had been questioned in relation to the matter.

But Dr Mahatir believes Australian authorities should look into Australian connections to Ambank.

“They (ANZ) hold a big share in that bank and that bank (AmBank) is involved in practically money laundering, so I think Australia should show some interest,” he told SBS World News.

Two years on from the scandal first emerging, the Australian Federal Police said they “continue to evaluate these allegations”.

When the 1MDB scandal broke in 2015 hundreds of thousands of Malaysian took to the streets demanding Najib's resign.

“The AFP is assisting foreign law enforcement partners in their investigations. Given this matter is the subject of evaluation, it is not appropriate to comment further,” an AFP spokeswoman told SBS World News.

But James Chin, Director of the Asia Institute at the University of Tasmania, told SBS World News he thought Australia’s diplomatic relations was taking priority over law enforcement.

"The Australian Government has always been very careful about its relationships with key allies in Asia, especially countries where they have a longstanding relationship like Malaysia,” Professor Chin told SBS World News.

He added there are several other Australian links to the scandal, not relating to ANZ, which he believed also warranted investigation by the Australian authorities.

“Many people believe that some of the money from 1MDB has gone through the Australian financial system, also there are some people who believe some of the money may have ended up in Australia, especially in real estate holdings,” Professor Chin said.

Watch: Australia avoiding probe into Malaysia corruption

Mahathir’s last stand

Dr Mahathir’s criticism of Australia comes in the context of an ongoing campaign to remove Prime Minister Najib, his second hand-picked successor. Mr Najib became the prime minister in 2009 after Dr Mahathir fell out with his first successor, Abdullah Badawi.

When Dr Mahathir stepped down as Prime Minister in 2003 he promised to stay out of politics, something he has struggled to do. 

“I thought I would be having my retirement resting and enjoying life, but it seems that it is not going to be like that,” Dr Mahathir said.

When the scandal broke in 2015, Dr Mahathir and some others within the ruling party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), called for Mr Najib to step aside.

Dr Mahathir quit UMNO in February last year and formed a breakaway party along with other disaffected UMNO members.

Dr Faisal Hazis, a senior fellow of Malaysian politics at the National University of Malaysia, told SBS World News Dr Mahathir’s failure to remove Mr Najib from within UMNO reflected his diminished influence within the party he led for more than two decades.

“He failed basically to institute change through the party, so he is taking this quite drastic option of working with the Opposition,” Dr Faisal said.

Najib Razak was Mahathir Mohamad's second hand-picked successor before the two fell out over a corruption scandal (File photo 2009)


‘I don’t care if they forget me’
Dr Mahathir sat down with SBS World News at a political study centre on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, devoted to researching former Malaysian leaders.

In one part of the building an entire wall was covered with colorful portraits of the former leader riding bicycles and smiling.

However Dr Mahathir said he isn’t concerned about his legacy.

“Well, I don’t mind if they forget me completely,” he said.

Dr Mahathir has formed some unlikely alliances with old enemies and is preparing to campaign against the government at general elections expected later this year.

He is even working with his former arch enemy, Anwar Ibrahim, who was his deputy until he fell out with Dr Mahathir in 1998 and led protests calling for political reform in the country which has been ruled by one party for 60 years.

Mr Anwar was imprisoned on charges of corruption and sodomy shortly after falling out with Dr Mahathir. He has always maintained his innocence and said the charges were politically motivated.

Mr Anwar was released from prison in 2004 and went on to lead the Opposition Coalition to electoral milestones in 2008 and 2013. He was jailed again in 2015 on separate sodomy charges and is currently behind bars serving a five-year sentence.

Sodomy is illegal in Malaysia, though it is extremely rare for the laws to be enforced.

In September last year, the two men whose conflict has shaped Malaysian politics for decades met face-to-face for the first time in 18 years.

Mahathir Mohamad fell out with his one-time protoge and deputy Anwar Ibrahim in 1998.

“We have decided that we have to focus on this very important issue, the overthrowal of a present kleptocratic government. So for that we are prepared to forget the past,” Dr Mahathir told SBS.

When asked if has apologised for jailing Mr Anwar, Dr Mahathir said he didn’t apologise for anything.

“We have all said nasty things about each other. I don’t ask people to apologise for calling me all kinds of names and accusing me of all kinds of wrong doings,” Dr Mahathir said.

A Malaysian government spokesperson at the time said the meeting between Dr Mahathir and Mr Anwar “demonstrated the depth of their political opportunism and desperation”.

Chinese ‘colonisation’

Following the US Department of Justice raids against Mr Najib’s relatives and associates last year, he has moved Malaysia, a long-time US ally, closer to China, increasing foreign investment and military ties with Beijing.

Dr Mahathir's been especially critical of the $100 billion development of a new city in the Malaysian state of Johor, near the Singapore border.

The Forest City project by Chinese company Country Garden Holdings Co has set an ambitious goal to house up to 700,000 people in the new city, built on four artificial islands. Many of the units are being sold to Chinese buyers.

“They have the money, they have the means to invest, buy property, buy land, and build cities for themselves. That amounts to a conquest, a colonisation of sorts,” Dr Mahathir told SBS World News. 

Prime Minister Najib has accused Dr Mahathir of making false accusations against the Malaysian government over the development.

“He (Mahathir) made many false statements… they won’t get any citizenships. They only can have the rights to stay in Malaysia,” Mr Najib said in a speech in January.

Marriage of convenience
Malaysia has never had a change of government in the 60 years since independence, but general elections will be the first major electoral test for Mr Najib since the 1MDB scandal.

Many political analysts and observers predicted Mr Najib's downfall following the scandal, but the man who has ruled Malaysia since 2009 has proven himself the political survivor.

He has been instrumental in supporting a conservative Islamist opposition party to break away from the broader Opposition Coalition who worked together at the 2013 elections.

The elections are expected later this year and must be held before August 2018 at the latest.

While Dr Mahathir is working with Mr Anwar’s party in a new smaller opposition coalition, party infighting has prevented the new alliance from uniting behind a leader while Mr Anwar is in jail.

“It is divisive, the moment you name a (candidate for) Prime Minister there is going to be a lot of unsatisfied people who may sabotage the new Opposition Coalition,” Dr Mahathir told SBS World News.

After ruling Malaysia for 22 years Mahathir has struggled to keep his promise to stay out of politics. 
After ruling Malaysia for 22 years Mahathir has struggled to keep his promise to stay out of politics.

“So it is better for us to name a Prime Minister if we win. It becomes irrelevant to name a Prime Minister now and then we lose.”

Dr Mahathir, whose long political career has made him famous for always removing his political opponents, said if the upcoming elections are "relatively fair" he is confident Mr Najib won’t win.

The man, once a famous firebrand against Western interference in the developing world during his time in office, also added he hoped Australia and other countries would send observers and closely monitor the upcoming election.

“We would like to see the whole world watch this election. That is one time I want involvement from the rest of the world,” Dr Mahathir said. 

SBS requested an interview with multiple senior UMNO ministers and Mr Najib's office. They declined. 

Woman Risks Her Life Standing On The Ledge Of Seventh-Floor Balcony To Clean Windows

A cleanliness freak can go to any heights. 

A woman in Hong Kong didn’t mind risking her life to clean the windows of her house. She stood on the sill of her seven-storeyed balcony to tidy the windows.

The incident has been caught in a video showing the woman without any safety harness. For safety, her husband holds her legs while she aggressively cleans the windows.  During the cleaning, the woman squats, stands and stretches carelessly.


According to the Daily Mail, the clip was shot by the neighbour of the woman on May 7.

The woman is seen moving fearlessly on the ledge of the balcony. Ironically, no impressions of fear can be seen on the woman’s face as she stands 70 feet above the ground.

After a while the woman climbs off the ledge and stands on a chair. She bents down to clean the glass guardrails of the balcony, the reports states.

Here’s the horrifying video:

School Teacher Apprehended For Molesting Six Students After School Fails To Take

Kajang OCPD Asst Comm Othman Nanyan said in a statement that police had received six reports from parents and legal guardians that a teacher in a Bandar Baru Bangi school had allegedly molested six of his pupils in the school as reported by The Star.

Parents decided to take action after the school failed to do so despite being told of the incident. So far six pupils have come forward to give statements claiming they were molested by the teacher at the religious primary school since 2014.

ACP Othman said in the statement,

“All of the complainants lodged police reports as there was no action taken by the school although the matter had been reported a week earlier to the school.”

He said all the victims, who were aged between 11 and 12 at the time had not come forward earlier as they were ashamed and were afraid of the teacher.

A 12-year-old student was reported to have told his father on Wednesday, that the teacher had touched his penis while he was reading. The boy’s father lodged a police report on the incident which his son claimed happened in April.

Five other students came forward after that with similar claims of having been molested by the same teacher since 2014.

The 29-year-old teacher has been detained and will be remanded until Monday. The case is being investigated under Section 354/377D of the Penal Code for assault or use of criminal force with intent to outrage a person’s modesty.

HORROR UiTM Survival Exercise: Falling Tree And Branches Killed Two And Injured 6 Others!!

A group of 140 students and four lecturers from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Puncak Alam, Selangor were participating in a survival exercise at the Lata Charok waterfall at Janda Baik when the tragedy happened at 4 am.

As reported by The Star, the group was navigating dense forest area when they were struck by the falling tree and branches, killing Noorain Mohtar, 23 and Muhamad Kamil Md Sukri, 22.

District police chief Supt Mohamad Mansor Mohd Nor said the department was alerted about the accident around 4.30am, and policemen were immediately deployed to the scene.

Five victims – Abdul Muaz Abdul Razak, 22, Mohd Ammar Affandi Ahmad Subki, 20, Nur Farrah Izzatul Md Fauzi, 20, Farah Hanisah Hamdan Fadel, 22, and Ainin Sofea Abd Shukor, 21, were sent to the Betong Hospital.

Universiti Teknologi MARA  

Public university in Shah Alam, Malaysia · 7.8 km

Universiti Teknologi MARA is a public university based primarily in Shah Alam, the state capital of Selangor, some 28 kilometres west of country's capital, Kuala Lumpur. Wikipedia

Address: 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

Chancellor: Muhammad V of Kelantan

Phone: +60 3-5544 2000

Motto: Usaha, Taqwa, Mulia (Malay language, Endeavour, Religious, Dignified)

Number of students: 168,865 (2015) ( Only Bumiputras can enrolled and all paid by the Government and non-Bumiputras not allowed to enroll to study )

Budget: RM1.99 billion (2016)

Vice-chancellor: Hassan Said

While another victim, Muhammad Haziq Radzuan, 21, who had sustained serious head injuries was taken to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital for treatment.

It was learned that they had been at the Lata Carok waterfall for a survival activity since 11.30 pm on Friday and were supposed to descend at 5 am Saturday.

The Coverage would like to wish our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and may their soul rest in peace!