1. "Mahathir to lead formation of new party, coalition against BN - CNA 14 July 2016
KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has announced that the group of political figures and NGOs behind the citizens' declaration against Prime Minister Najib Razak will work together to oust the ruling Barisan Nasional government in the coming election.
He also said he would be one of the founding members of a new party that would join this coalition."
A most intriguing story in our neighbour's political landscape. Full of twists and turns that are wilder than any fictions that one had ever read! The most painful part is that: it is so very REAL and tragic!
Honestly, it is inappropriate to comment on our neighbour's internal affairs. Suffice to say it is not a model we want to copy. May the Malaysians find their own peace in their political arena.
2. "Hong Kong chief grilled over improper payments, anti-graft body resignations - CNA 14 Jul 2016
HONG KONG: Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying was questioned for one-and-a-half hours in the Legislative Council on Thursday (Jul 14) over accusations of improper payments, independence in the city's anti-graft body, and whether he was running for a second term next year.
It was Mr Leung’s last question-and answer-session in the current term legislative term before it breaks for the summer.
Arriving at the Legislative Council, Mr Leung was greeted by jeers from opposition lawmakers, with some causing a commotion. People Power lawmaker Albert Chan was thrown out of the chamber before the Q&A began and radical legislator Leung Kwok-hung was warned to behave by LegCo President Jasper Tsang.
Civic Party lawmaker Alvin Yeung kicked things off with questions about the recent resignations of two senior investigators at the Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC).
The anti-graft body has been embroiled in a controversy over the removal of the acting head of its operations, top graft-buster Rebecca Li, who has since decided to resign. She was reportedly leading an investigation into Mr Leung of pocketing US$6.4 million from an Australian firm, UGL, which he did not declare to the Executive Council.
"The government and I attach great importance to the work of ICAC, and we take their work very seriously,” said Leung. “We follow existing laws and regulations so that the ICAC can fulfil its mission. Such appointments do not require the approval of the Chief Executive."
The Chief Executive also repeatedly sidestepped questions on the UGL payments made in 2012 before he became the Chief Executive. He would only say that the payment was a 'normal' post-service arrangement after he left his company DTZ as a director, and that no commission from UGL, then bidding for DTZ, was involved."
An old story. Or more precisely, an 'old secret' that wished to be left alone and never uncovered this 'UGL payment thingy'. He had repeatedly said it was 'a legitimate business transaction' and he had done nothing wrong.
As for the removal and subsequent resignation of the acting ICAC head, it is unfortunate and no one can resist to link it to the acting ICAC head investigating Mr Leung's involvement with the UGL case! Hong Kong SAR has seen many instances what the more liberal members of the Legco and public would have considered as 'unethical' and 'protective secret that revealed the truth of the government carrying out illegal and/or unethical conducts' to believe that 'reasons' or 'excuses' given by the government for the happenstance.
Again, as it is an internal affairs, one must be careful not to overstep our boundaries! Good luck all.
KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has announced that the group of political figures and NGOs behind the citizens' declaration against Prime Minister Najib Razak will work together to oust the ruling Barisan Nasional government in the coming election.
He also said he would be one of the founding members of a new party that would join this coalition."
A most intriguing story in our neighbour's political landscape. Full of twists and turns that are wilder than any fictions that one had ever read! The most painful part is that: it is so very REAL and tragic!
Honestly, it is inappropriate to comment on our neighbour's internal affairs. Suffice to say it is not a model we want to copy. May the Malaysians find their own peace in their political arena.
2. "Hong Kong chief grilled over improper payments, anti-graft body resignations - CNA 14 Jul 2016
HONG KONG: Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying was questioned for one-and-a-half hours in the Legislative Council on Thursday (Jul 14) over accusations of improper payments, independence in the city's anti-graft body, and whether he was running for a second term next year.
It was Mr Leung’s last question-and answer-session in the current term legislative term before it breaks for the summer.
Arriving at the Legislative Council, Mr Leung was greeted by jeers from opposition lawmakers, with some causing a commotion. People Power lawmaker Albert Chan was thrown out of the chamber before the Q&A began and radical legislator Leung Kwok-hung was warned to behave by LegCo President Jasper Tsang.
Civic Party lawmaker Alvin Yeung kicked things off with questions about the recent resignations of two senior investigators at the Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC).
The anti-graft body has been embroiled in a controversy over the removal of the acting head of its operations, top graft-buster Rebecca Li, who has since decided to resign. She was reportedly leading an investigation into Mr Leung of pocketing US$6.4 million from an Australian firm, UGL, which he did not declare to the Executive Council.
"The government and I attach great importance to the work of ICAC, and we take their work very seriously,” said Leung. “We follow existing laws and regulations so that the ICAC can fulfil its mission. Such appointments do not require the approval of the Chief Executive."
The Chief Executive also repeatedly sidestepped questions on the UGL payments made in 2012 before he became the Chief Executive. He would only say that the payment was a 'normal' post-service arrangement after he left his company DTZ as a director, and that no commission from UGL, then bidding for DTZ, was involved."
An old story. Or more precisely, an 'old secret' that wished to be left alone and never uncovered this 'UGL payment thingy'. He had repeatedly said it was 'a legitimate business transaction' and he had done nothing wrong.
As for the removal and subsequent resignation of the acting ICAC head, it is unfortunate and no one can resist to link it to the acting ICAC head investigating Mr Leung's involvement with the UGL case! Hong Kong SAR has seen many instances what the more liberal members of the Legco and public would have considered as 'unethical' and 'protective secret that revealed the truth of the government carrying out illegal and/or unethical conducts' to believe that 'reasons' or 'excuses' given by the government for the happenstance.
Again, as it is an internal affairs, one must be careful not to overstep our boundaries! Good luck all.
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