In Putrajaya, an impish Dr M
Emmanuel Santa Maria Chin
Malay Mail3 November 2018
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at a PH press conference in Putrajaya November 3, 2018. — Picture by Abdul Razak GhazaliMore
PUTRAJAYA, Nov 3 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad gave the media a glimpse of his lighter side today, fielding speculative questions with equal degrees of wit and mirth.
When it was pointed out that he was seated beside former nemesis Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during a Pakatan Harapan press conference this evening, he reacted in feigned shock to the latter’s presence and playfully raised his fists at his former deputy.
The light-hearted moment showed an uncommon ease between the prime minister and the man intending to replace him, and who are being pitted against one another through various rumours.
“I wanted to fight him, but he smiled,” Dr Mahathir said as his playfulness caused observers to burst out laughing.
Dr Mahathir went on to reiterate his commitment to the PH succession plan to step aside for Anwar in two years.
“But I don’t know, if with his (Anwar) permission, maybe two-and-half years?” he said, before insisting he will keep his promise.
He also applied humour to another question about why Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng’s declared income was higher than that of the prime minister.
Lim’s RM86,464 placed him at the top of the list displayed by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, ahead of Dr Mahathir’s RM75,861.
He then jokingly suggested that it should not be the case.
“Is it (higher)? I don’t know. My salary is higher than the minister of finance; what else he gets, I don’t know,” he said when pretending to disapprove, triggering another outburst of laughter.
He used the opportunity to take a swipe at directors of government-linked firms, saying some were paid as much as RM180,000 per month.
“When I was PM (before) I got only RM20,000; (and) I have to look after the whole country,” he said, going on to feign sadness.
NEW PRESIDENTIAL COUNCIL MEMBER - Lim Kit Siang
PUTRAJAYA: PKR president elect Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and DAP party veteran Lim Kit Siang are now Pakatan Harapan’s new presidential council members.
The coalition is having its meeting at the Perdana Leadership Foundation, which is being chaired by PH chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The four member coalition of PPBM, PKR, DAP and Amanah, has five members from each party in the presidential council.
PH presidential council members are PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, PPBM president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng.
On May 11, PH held its first Presidential Council meeting after its historic win in the 14th General Election, which saw the coalition forming the government with a simple majority.
Dr M: PH to hold charity dinner to raise political funding
Azura Abas and Manirajan Ramasamy
New Straits Times3 November 2018
PUTRAJAYA: Pakatan Harapan (PH) will organise a charity dinner to raise political funding at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) on Dec 9.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is also PH chairman, announced this today after chairing the Pakatan Harapan presidential council meeting here.
“Political parties need money. But it is difficult to get it as some fear that it will be deemed an attempt to bribe or grease one’s wheels (to secure future projects).
“Thus, we will hold a charity dinner. Everyone will be treated equally without any special treatment,” he said.
Dr Mahathir said the government has in place a system which does not disclose parties which submit offers for project tenders.
“The decision-makers will not know the identities of those who submit the offers. Decisions will be made on who makes the best offer,” he said.
Dr Mahathir said, in this respect, companies and businessmen who buy seats for the charity dinner would not be able to influence the decision of future projects.
The event, he added, would “mostly be organised by government servants” and not so much by those in PH
Malaysia to join DoJ in charging Jho Low over 1MDB fiasco
NSTP Team
New Straits Times3 November 2018
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia might consider joining the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) to charge fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low, if the need arises.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, however, said the charge by the DOJ was money laundering, but Malaysia’s case against Jho Low was on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) money disappearing.
”I am sure Najib (Razak), Rosmah (Mansor), Jho Low and Reza (Aziz) know where the missing money is,” he said when asked if Malaysia will work with DOJ on Jho Low’s case.
(From left, seated) PPBM president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, PKR elect president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang during a press conference at the Perdana Leadership Foundation. - NSTP/MOHD FADLI HAMZAH
Dr Mahathir also noted that DOJ was working and cooperating very closely with Malaysian authorities
The Prime Minister was speaking to reporters after chairing Pakatan Harapan’s presidential council meeting at Perdana Leadership Foundation.
Also present was PKR elect president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, PPBM president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng.
The DOJ in a statement yesterday said Jho Low and Roger Ng were charged in the Federal Court in East New York for conspiring to steal millions of ringgit from 1MDB.
Yesterday, Dr Mahathir said Jho Low was hiding like a rat after being tracked down by various parties including authorities in Malaysia and the United States.
In the latest development, the government confirmed that Jho Low was not in China.
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said he was informed by the Chinese Embassy that Jho Low was not in the country, unless the businessman has been using a different name on a different passport.
“I spoke to the Chinese Embassy and they informed me that Jho Low was not in the country.
“Unless, he is using another name on a different passport.
“But based on China’s record, no individual by the name of Jho Low is in the country,” he told a news conference after attending the Budget 2019 Budget talks with the Ministers and Deputy Prime Ministers at the Parliament today
