The Arts of Corruption.....

Sarawak Chieftain's US$1 Dollar Mansion!

We've heard of falling housing markets, but this seems extreme Written by The Sarawak Report Thursday, 26 August 2010 The Sarawak Report (http://sarawakreport.org/), an NGO based in the east Malaysian state, has uncovered exhaustive evidence that the chief minister, Abdul Taib Mahmud, has looted Sarawak of hundreds of millions of US dollars and hidden the wealth in Canada, the UK, Australia and the United States. It now has found indications that Taib may have received a US$7 million home from a timber company which depended on Taib for a license to harvest timber. Asia Sentinel is pleased to print the latest of the Sarawak Report's examinations of the Taib family's wealth. Taib claimed he had wanted to quit back in 2006, but was persuaded to stay. — file pic Abdul Taib Mahmud, the chief minister of the Malaysian state of Sarawak, appears to have acquired a Seattle, Washington, mansion valued at nearly US$7 million from one of his state's biggest timber barons for just US$1, records in the United States say, according to the NGO, Sarawak Report. Taib has controlled the issuance of timber licenses in Sarawak for the past 30 years. The Seattle property, which covers 26,000 square feet in one of the most prestigious areas of the north-western US city, was passed to a company owned by Taib in 1991 by a California corporation called CSY Investments, set up in 1988. CSY acquired the property in 1991 and then registered it under subsidiary company called WA Boylston Inc. CSY are the initials of Chee S Yaw, who signs himself as the company's president in documents publicly available at the King County Land Registry. Yaw is one of the younger sons of Yaw Teck Seng, founder of the massive logging conglomerate Samling Global. Yaw Teck Seng is regularly featured in Forbes Asia's Rich List of Malaysia's top 40 richest individuals, as does his eldest son, Yaw Chee Ming, establishing them one of the richest families in Asia. Details of a very nice property Described as a "Top Grade Mansion" in 'very good' condition by the King County Department of Assessments, the property was valued at more than US$6.8 million in 2008. It has 6 bedrooms and 5 main bathrooms and an enormous living space of 9,020 square feet, plus a basement of 2,120 square feet. The house is surrounded by a large open porch and there is a big basement garage for the car-loving Taib family, plus a second, attached garage. The mansion is surrounded by gardens kept in manicured condition on grounds totaling 26,172 square feet. Mysterious acquisition The property, registered under the company W A Boylston Inc (California), has been in the possession of the Taib family since the early to mid-1990s. Family portraits of the chief minister, his deceased wife and four sons and daughters as small children adorn the elaborate rooms. They have all spent time in the mansion, which is not occupied by anyone else. The property forms part of the family's Sakti International Corporation, incorporated in California and managed by Hisham (Sean) Murray, Taib's son-in-law, out of his offices at 333 Preston Street, Ontario, Canada. However, there is confusion in the Seattle public records as to how the property passed to the Taibs. Sarawak Report has been unable to obtain any clear record of the transfer from one owner to another or, importantly, the register of any payment that would normally be eligible for taxation. We have requested a statement from the Taibs to explain the situation. 'Unethical' Earlier this week Samling made international headlines when the Norwegian Government Pension Fund withdrew all investments after condemning the company as 'unethical', owing to illegal logging and environmental devastation in Sarawak. Taib's control over the issuance of Sarawak's timber licenses leaves clear questions over his incentives for favoring such a company. It is no secret that Samling has based its business success on achieving numerous logging concessions in Sarawak. Over the period of the chief minister's rule, companies operating under his licenses have razed virtually all Sarawak's virgin forest, much of it taken without compensation from the indigenous peoples who had been granted these territories under Native Customary Land Rights. Samling is one of the main companies involved in this destruction and it has used its base in Sarawak to launch similar logging operations in the Congo, Amazon, Russia and elsewhere, many of which have been heavily criticized by concerned NGOs across the world. The US $1 Sale How and why did the chief minister come by a mansion formerly owned by Samling? The only official record available of a transfer of the property in the King County Land Registry from CSY is the granting of a so-called Quit Claim Deed for just US$1. The transaction on 19th September 1991 placed the property into the subsidiary company W A Boylston Inc, incorporated a few days earlier on September 5th by CSY at its registered address, 2260 Douglas Boulevard, Roseville, California, which was the headquarters of CSY. CSY and Boylston then immediately filed a joint letter to the King County Real Estate and Excise Tax Department declaring 'under penalty of perjury' that W A Boylston was a wholly-owned subsidiary of CSY Investments, thereby making the Quit Claim transaction exempt from excise tax. However, our investigations have shown that there is no subsequent record in the Land Registry of the later transfer of ownership of W A Boylston from CSY (Samling) to the Taibs. According to rules published by King County such a transfer would normally require the payment of thousands of dollars of excise tax. Proof of Taib ownership Despite the lack of open records, Sarawak Report is able to confirm that there is definitive proof that the Taibs did take over the property from Samling's CSY. In fact they took up residence as the effective owners not long after the property was placed in the hands of the CSY subsidiary W. A. Boylston. Rahman Taib had an insurance assessment drawn up in 1996 (see above). Furthermore, a significant alteration was made to the company's official address and official representative in 2000. In that year W A Boylston's annual Statement by a Domestic Stock Corporation to the State of California noted a change of address to that of the headquarters of Sakti International (the property company, which Sarawak Report has recently proved to be majority owned by the chief minister). Likewise, the company representative was altered from a CSY official to Rahman Taib, the Chief Minister's younger son. How much did it cost? Taib's salary as chief minister of the state of Sarawak is about RM50,000 (US$15,900) per month. If he had bought the Seattle home, the cost would have been about US$3 million at the time to purchase it from Samling. If he acquired it for US$1, there could well be tax implications for Samling and Taib in the states of California and Washington as well as the federal government. There is a second Seattle Mansion! If the Boylston mansion was indeed a 'gift' from Samling to the Chief Minister, then one cannot expect such a thing to be done by halves. Indeed, a second, equally gracious and prestigious mansion has also found its way from the Yaws to the Taibs in Seattle, by what would appear to be exactly the same route. W. A. Everett Inc 2222 Everett Avenue East, worth $2,854,000 at its peak value in 2008, was also originally purchased by the Yaws. It was then registered under another California corporation, W A Everett Inc, set up on the same day as W A Boylston (5th September 1991). W. A. Everett Inc is likewise listed as a subsidiary of CSY in the King County Land Registry. This mansion also ended up in the hands of the Taibs. The property is smaller, with four bedrooms and bathrooms, but has famously sought after views over the City. Sarawak Report understands that the Taibs have mainly rented it out over the past two decades, but as with Boylston, the only information about a transfer of ownership of the company from Samling to the Taibs comes with an identical change of address and officers in 2000, from the CSY address in Roseville to Rahman Taib, at Sakti International's Headquarters in San Francisco. This leaves many questions about how the Taibs have acquired their wealth and property. Click for King County Assessment Office details Click for ex-Samling properties now owned by Taibs in Seattle Click for Home Appraisal Document (1996)' "The Taib home, located at 1117 Boylston Avenue in the community of Seattle…" Click for Norwegian official announcement

The croaking of a toad....

Ibrahim Ali follows Tee, tells those who disagree to get out.........

UPDATED @ 05:06:33 PM 22-08-2010

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

August 22, 2010

Ibrahim: Go back to the place of their forefathers (if you can't respect the social contract), do not become hypocrites.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 22 — Datuk Ibrahim Ali today told those who disagreed with the “social contract” that they can leave the country, in a refrain brought up last week by Mingguan Malaysia columnist Dr Mohd Ridhuan Tee.

The Perkasa chief also castigated Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon for suggesting he should focus on the well-being of Bumiputeras instead of their equity, saying the minister in charge of unity had failed in criticising those who hurt the feelings of the Malays.

“Whoever does not respect the social contract which is (Article) 153 of the Constitution can get out of this country.

“Go back to the place of their forefathers, do not become hypocrites,” the Pasir Mas MP said in a text message to The Malaysian Insider.

Ibrahim’s Perkasa is a Malay rights movement that has pressed the Najib administration to keep affirmative action measures of 30 per cent equity target under the New Economic Policy (NEP) which ended in 1990.

Tee, a senior lecturer in the National Defence University, had expressed similar views in his weekly column when replying to critics whom he said had questioned the position of Islam in the country.

Ibrahim reserved some vitriol for Dr Koh, asking him to state his stand on the recent MCA Chinese Economic Congress, which had called for an abolishment of the 30 percent Bumiputera equity.

“Koh Tsu Koon adviced me to take a positive approach to improve on the conditions of Bumiputeras instead of hurting other races.

“But haven’t these other races hurt the Bumiputeras?” said Ibrahim.

He said that as minister in charge of unity, Koh should have rapped MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek for demanding that the bumiputera equity be abolished.

“The issue is, as minister in charge of unity, why has he not rapped this Chinese Chua Soi Lek..Koh is also responsible in having resulted in Malays in Penang to live in squatters (during Koh’s time as Chief Minister).

“30 per cent to be given away to other races is not fair because Bumiputeras have a 67 per cent right,” said Ibrahim.

Ibrahim then accused Koh of secretly being “anti-Malay”.

Koh had yesterday “advised” Ibrahim to focus on how to enable Bumiputeras to be more “knowledgeable, experienced and competitive” instead of hurting the feelings of other races by stoking racial sentiments.

The advice did not go down well with Perkasa economic bureau chief Dr Zubir Harun, who said that he found it “surprising” why Dr Chua was not reprimanded at all for questioning the rights of the Malays.

“The Bumi equity quota was raised by MCA, not MPM, not Umno... we have never spoken against the rights of the Chinese.

“He (Koh) advised Datuk Ibrahim Ali, but not Chua Soi Lek? Why Ibrahim Ali? The MCA economic congress was against the spirit of the federal constitution,” said Zubir.

Comment :-

The more people react and rebut the pompous talks of this fat ass toad, the more coverage and air time given to his claptrap of the lowest value, he will be made to feel his weightiness as a heavy weight Malay hero - and that's political mileage this Ibrahim Ali wants - for his low life political struggle.

It's a mishap, or more than that, Malaysia a once promised land had been and is still being led by these types of low class low standard mediocre leadership of the day they are so proud of it calling it - the Boleh Malayness. Most people conveniently remember them as the Boleh Malay Nerds in easy memory and pronunciation!

What more do we all expect these types of people to offer to lead and advance the Nation to prosperity when they can't even understand the most basic principle of living together, striving and then only sharing based on the fair share of efforts they put in together to build the national wealth!

They are talking about sharing of wealth pooled by the tax-paying citizenry in the national coffer based on the population ratio be they the productive or the polio group, would be counted as one who has such special right! Right which was not God given but by virtue of a mere paper they called it the social contract! So saintly that this piece of paper is just like their grandmama's loin cloth, untouchable!

This is what they are talking about the rights that had been prescribed in the stone by the forefathers!

To follow them exactly based on the originally prescribed version or an extended version is supposed to be a rule of thumb or a rule of living in this piece of land which they believed had been owned by their grandpa or great grandpapa!

That's the only foreseeable reason why they are always in the hype of snarling at the Chinese and Indians whenever they are in the most panicking moment that their great grandmama's virginity is going to be raped - hence the hysterical yell of fright - " All those who disagree to the rules to go back to their forefathers' dwelling place!"....

And let me tell you, bastard, this is where I live and my forefather lived! And where the hell you sucks want us to get out to?!

Shouldn't you idiots also high time think of your grandfathers' domicile in places like - India, the archipelago of Indonesia etc. and pay a visit to their heritage tombstones only to find out that you idiots and the so-called minority ethnic groups here are all about holding the same status - the Pendatang!

The only difference is - color!

What more special rights you polios live on crutches are talking about?!

Gosh!

Malaysia Boleh lagi?

Malaysia tops in political freedom, Singapore in business, survey shows........

By Joan Lau
Managing Editor

August 20, 2010

Malaysians enjoy relative freedom to disagree with the government as can be seen in this anti-ISA demonstration file picture — Picture by Choo Choy May.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 21 — Malaysia has a much more liberal political environment when compared to Singapore, a Newsweek survey revealed, but the federation lags far behind when it comes to ease of doing business.

This led to Singapore beating out Malaysia in overall ranking — 20, compared to Malaysia’s 37 — in Newsweek’s Best Countries special survey. However, the island republic lost out in fundamental things like citizens’ engagement with politics, freedom of expression and belief and personal autonomy.

This is reflective of the relative freedom Malaysians have in being able to disagree with the government, as seen in the various blogs, books and gatherings that are still allowed here.

Singapore has been known to crack down quickly and efficiently on what it perceives as dissent. Most recently, writer Alan Shadrake was arrested in July for the contents of his book Once A Jolly Hangman which is about the death penalty and judicial system in Singapore. The book has now been banned.

Still, Singapore has much to brag about as it beat out Malaysia in education, health, quality of life and economic dynamism.

In the area of health, the average life expectancy in Singapore is 73 years while that in Malaysia is 64 years. Also, when it comes to quality of life, only 1.99 per cent of Singapore’s citizens are living on less than US$2 (RM6.40) a day compared to 7.8 per cent of Malaysians.

But the most glaring disparity comes in the area of economic dynamism. For ease of doing business, Singapore came out at No 1 while Malaysia only ranked 23. It takes only an average of three days to start a new business in Singapore compared to an average of 11 in Malaysia.

And finally when it comes to average Gross Domestic Product (GDP)/capita growth rate i.e. incremental US dollar of growth per person, Singapore came in at US$50,300 compared to Malaysia’s US$14,800.

Singapore’s economic dynamism is what clearly contributed to the wide gap in the ranking.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also made it to the survey’s list of Top 10 world leaders. Lee is described as “the steward of the fastest-growing economy in the world” and a “master at risk management.”

He is credited with “saving the banking shock that hit other nations” and international credit insurers now rate Singapore as the safest place to do business in the region.

Even better, “China wants to emulate Singapore’s feat of liberalising the economy while maintaining one-party rule.”

Newsweek’s survey listed 100 countries and basically set out to answer the question: “If you were born today, which country would provide you the very best opportunity to live a healthy, safe, reasonably prosperous, and upwardly mobile life?”

And in case you were wondering, Finland came out tops and Thailand (58), Indonesia (73) and Vietnam (81).

*Meaning, Malaysia's placing No.37 is considered not bad at all?! Lagi Boleh?

But don't forget, Malaysia declared independence earlier than Singapore. At that time, Malaysia already owned a country of estates and natural resources including minerals and oils, and Singapore was only a fishing village and a slump State!

What's Singapore today other than she is one of the 4th dragon in this region of Asia Pacific?

One can only see the whole hog of it when he happens to stay for long enough in the island Country. Given another 2 decades, can Malaysia catch up to par with Singapore the tiny dot at the Southern axis?!

A million dollar question worth to ponder over.

Dr Pornthip..the angel of justice.

Pornthip: I work for rights of the dead, not Selangor government

UPDATED @ 04:25:33 PM 18-08-2010

August 18, 2010

SHAH ALAM, Aug 18 — As Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand faced relentless questions today about her qualifications and her testimony, the Thai forensic expert delivered what could perhaps be the line that fortifies her credibility as an expert witness in the Teoh Beng Hock inquest.

"You have to understand. I work for the rights of the dead, not the Selangor government”, she told the Coroner’s Court, drawing applause from a packed gallery, after Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) lawyer Datuk Abdul Razak Musa had questioned her qualification.

She had earlier maintained that she was sure Teoh’s death last year was not a suicide, but she declined to repeat her previous assertion that it was 80 per cent a homicide.

Dr Pornthip (picture, right) was testifying for the second time at the inquest into DAP political aide Teoh’s death. Teoh is suspected to have fallen from the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam, then state headquarters of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Before his body was found on a fifth floor landing he had been questioned overnight by the MACC.

Earlier today in court, Dr Pornthip testified that she disagreed with the findings of Dr Peter Vanezis, the British forensic pathologist brought in by the MACC to observe Teoh’s second post mortem last year. Dr Pornthip was also an observer.

Later, under questioning from Abdul Razak, who had suggested she was attacking the MACC with her testimony, she also told the court her university was among the top five in Asia when the MACC lawyer questioned her qualifications.

After telling Abdul Razak that she was working for the rights of the dead, she added that “my objective is to help the dead.”

Undaunted, Abdul Razak asked the Thai pathologist why she did not consider what transpired the night before Teoh was found dead.

“It is not important for the autopsy,” she said.

Asked again by Abdul Razak if she considered the point that there was no eye-witness to the pre-fall injury she asserted Teoh had sustained, Dr Pornthip answered that such injuries could be proven by scientific means.

At one point, Dr Pornthip even asked Abdul Razak if was indeed a lawyer, drawing more laughter from the gallery. Abdul Razak said he had been a lawyer for 24 years.

In what became a battle of wits, Abdul Razak also suggested that Dr Pornthip kept changing her position and “the goalpost.”

Abdul Razak then went on to point out to the inconsistencies of Dr Pornthip’s findings with those of Dr Vanezis and other local doctors.

But Abdul Razak also wrongly asserted that Pornthip spoke of strangulation today. But she denied citing strangulation as the cause of Teoh’s neck injury.

“I said that it was a pre-fall injury,” said Dr Pornthip.

She had earlier testified that the bruises around Teoh’s neck were caused by blunt force or trauma that was stronger than manual strangulation.

Abdul Razak pointed out that the other four doctors found no evidence of strangulation and asked Dr Pornthip if Teoh could have strangled himself.

Lawyer Gobind Singh Deo immediately stood up and asked Abdul Razak to demonstrate this, causing the gallery to erupt in laughter.

Abdul Razak also did not seem to grasp the difference between being unconscious and being dead.

He pointed out to Dr Pornthip that she had earlier testified that Teoh was alive at the time of the fall, to which she agreed.

“I agree he was alive, I never said he was dead,” she said.

Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas had to explain to Abdul Razak that the issue was about Teoh’s state of consciousness.

The finding of new evidence, purportedly a note written by Teoh, was also raised at the inquest today.

Gobind had asked Dr Pornthip about the significance of any notes found at a crime scene.

She said it was significant and police should do forensic investigation and collect fingerprints and conduct DNA testing.

She added that this was protocol for the crime scene investigator and that it should be done immediately after discovery.

Gobind asked if such evidence was still reliable one year after it was found.

“It depends on what kind of scientific evidence there is. I won’t rely on handwriting only. It should be based on fingerprints and DNA.”

Dr Pornthip concluded her testimony today and the inquest was fixed for mention on September 1.

Gobind informed the court that they were consulting their own experts on the issue of the note and needed time to determine if they would object to the introduction of the new evidence.

Create a mountain out of molehill.

Recently it happens that our Penang Chief Minister YAB LGE had been harassed by one old Malay chap by rapping on his shoulder in the presence of his bodyguard(?). It happened when the CM was heading to the 2nd floor car park at KOMTAR, the State Administrative block.

Immediately, the State Secretary over-reacted like KOMTAR had faced terrorists attack and ordered to seal off the six emergency exits supposedly they are meant for the fire escape doors no one is permitted to have them shut down! The public at KOMTAR now are having their lives at stake in case of any untoward happenings just because of the CM has come across such unfriendly visitor!

Being a CM, and a VVIP, of course he is valuing his life and safety as paramount important more so he's the captain of the Great Penang ship we all Penangites rely on him to lead to forward safely and peacefully in the so-called bon-voyage in our daily life journey. By considering less on the conveniences of the working and shopping public at KOMTAR to the extend of neglecting the safety of the general public at large, i wish to comment that our beloved CM was a bit lacking in regard for the feelings of others but merely thinking of his own safety first!

What's the point of having the bodyguards with him and they were doing nothing to protect their boss's safety?!

CM must be fair to the peoples of Penang and he must always bear in mind, before Penangites propped him up as a CM, his position was also a commoner and his life is equally important as the lives of those others'. Whether the life of a Tun, a Datuk Seri or a CM, a Minister, they are all the same value and they are only humans. Special positions or privileges are all man's self-egoism which makes the difference!

Probably the CM has got no such intention of creating barrier and different caste between him and the Penangites and it's all the works of his special assistant who is wildly recognised as an arrogant bureaucrat where many peoples have learnt enough of his rude and arrogant attitude when he's dealing with people's plights or grievances! I shared such experience with some of the journalist friends they will one day put him on the hot wok should he not restrain from his unwelcome arrogance!

Then this special assistant has to be blamed of such inconsiderate action of causing Penangites furious by not only inconveniencing them greatly but also taking for granted the safety and lives of the general public patronizing KOMTAR!

Imagine, today there's only one goat encroached into the security tight car park domain, they would have shut down the whole 2nd floor. How about tomorrow there are a phalanx of intruders bang into the lobby place, what are they going to do? Shut down the whole KOMTAR?!

Ridiculous!

Only God can Change.

When people ask me, how is Malaysian politics going on, after the political tsunami on 308?

What's the change so far?!

Has Malaysia become more liberal in terms of draconian laws, freedom of speech and a fair and just judicial system had all been seen to have drastic changes? ..Nope!

And how about the most depraved corruption culture of the politicians? Have they all been diminished?

My answer for this is - mum!

I believe many others from the general hoi-polloi should also not being able to provide any positive answer.

Only the so-called politico savvy and literate people will have perhaps, slight knowledge of how the political scenario is still lurking with all the myths of political conspiracy and witch-hunts from the two major political rival blocs, where each faction is accusing of another the evil of all sins! And everyone is fighting and struggling to emerge as the white knight, the salvager, for the Country which is said to be heading to a quagmire of deeper economic doldrums, or even said to be on the brink of bankruptcy!

They are very busy in the process of chips buying and extension of political mileage so as to enable whopping victory in the next 13th General Election forthcoming. So as they, either side, can march in the corridor of power at Putra Jaya as paramount importance!

Little have they cared about the so-called economic logjam!

Some economics analysts have even juxtaposed Greek with Malaysia and that, according to them, we are not too far from walking into the same footpath of joining the Greece as a bankrupt and fail Nation, both economically and politically!

It's a presage of mind-bogging but mind-numbing politicians especially those swollen head Umno imbeciles are still at the peak of orgasm stoking racial emotions to bark at the minority ethnic groups in the name of Malay interests and their God given rights as the only privileged swine which they gave births in this promised land! Others are 'pendatang' or aliens.

It sounds ludicrous and a freak show in the eyes of the civilized human being but these semi-civilized bigots of fascism and chauvinists are inexhaustibly peddling such intoxication for the gullible minds of their clans or tribes people!

Give them all everything in the land of bankrupt and stark in precious resources, by then, what can they do with it judging from their ever pampered characters by their leaders of providing crutches to walk or they will become the pathetic polios!

The national wealth which for the past years recorded two digits advancement during the good time weren't the results of hard works and efforts put together by all in order to have rewarding harvests in the business sectors, hence, lucrative revenues for the national coffer?!

Without the efforts and business acumen of the minority Chinese, can they the considerably inert and prodigal specie be able to self-sustain the set of national accounts which is already in the red and needs reboot?!

If there's no more surplus in the national resources and only full of deficits in the revenues, then from which heaven they are asking for their special rights to share the big chunk of creams when there is only husks which will ultimately leave behind?!

Is there such a thing as the divine rights given by their most trusted God?

Isn't God says - every human being is born with equal rights?!

As long as such mentality does not change, what can we expect the Nation to have adopted a set of progressive ideology which becomes the backbone of national policies well preserved and subscribed by all nationals as the one and only foundation to struggle for national interests first, then only the individual and tribal interests come later.

Sadly, we see the compatriots over here are putting the cart before the horse, fumbling and retrogressive!

God Bless.