Half Million Dollar Denial! - Najib's Latest 1MDB Denial Is Directed Against Obama's Key Aide

Half Million Dollar Denial! - Najib's Latest 1MDB Denial Is Directed Against Obama's Key Aide
Frank White – DuSable’s Capital Management CEO and Obama’s chief political fundraiser was 1MDB’s latest JV partner
Frank White Jr– DuSable’s Capital Management CEO and Obama’s chief political fundraiser was 1MDB’s latest JV partner
With the US President Barack Obama due to make a supposedly image-boosting visit to Malaysia next month, yet another embarrassing denial has come out from the Prime Minister over 1MDB.
This time Najib Razak has directed his denial against the testimony of a key aide of Obama himself, his chief fundraiser, the businessman Frank White Jr of DuSable Capital Management.
Our research shows that White registered a half million dollar payment from the Government of Malaysia with respect to 1MDB and he is assumed to have been one of the key facilitators of the friendly relationship between the two politicians, who played golf in Hawaii during the Malaysian flooding disaster at the start of the year.
DuSable Capital Management focuses on energy support services and over the past two years it has declared a somewhat ill-defined role in 1MDB’s latest energy project – a planned solar power plant in Kedah (which we have noted is budgeted at three times the amount of similar projects elsewhere).
In public depositions the company has stated “one aspect of DuSable’s activities will be to communicate with US Government Officials” [23.04.14] and also “to encourage the US Government to provide non-financial support for the [1MDB Solar Power] project” [26.09.13].
Given there is no obvious need for 1MDB to require any US government advocacy to support the construction of a field of power generating solar panels in Kedah, the inevitable assumption is that Frank White Jr had agreed as part of his deal with 1MDB to promote its stated boss “the Government of Malaysia” with his own political boss Barack Obama.
For example by arranging golf between Najib and the President.
Did 1MDB money flow into fixing this glorious moment for Najib?
Did 1MDB money flow into fixing this glorious moment for Najib?
Nevertheless, in a written answer to a Parliamentary question, Najib has now categorically denied that there had been any agreement between DuSable and 1MDB WHATSOEVER!
“1MDB has never signed any sort of agreement with DuSable Capital Management LLC in Kedah.” [Parliamentary reply by Najib]
The MP who asked the question, PKR’s Wong Chen, has expressed considerable surprise as a result:
“For this Parliamentary session, I put in a question for an update on the 1MDB solar power project in Kedah with DuSable Capital Management LLC (DuSable). The project was reported by The Star on 23rd April 2014.
Yesterday, I received an official Parliamentary reply from the Minister of Finance, YAB Najib Razak that 1MDB has not signed any joint venture agreement with DuSable in Kedah.
We have been told that the Prime Minister’s golfing buddy, President Obama will be visiting Malaysia again this November.
The co-founder of DuSable is Frank White Junior. He has been described by Bloomberg as “President Obama’s top individual fundraiser, a former technology executive who collected millions of dollars for the Obama’s election campaigns.
So, is Najib’s company calling Mr Obama’s aide a liar?
After all, anyone who cares to check can look up the filings made by DuSable, because the United States’ transparency laws demand that all companies register their foreign dealings under the so-called FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act).
Frank White Jr made a number of depositions about his deal with 1MDB, beginning in 2013 when the plan to build the solar station was announced.
“DuSable has engaged in a partnership with 1Malaysia Development Berhad to develop, finance and construct a 50 MWac solar project….”  the latest 2014 filing explains (second document below):
Submission to FARA by DuSable on 26th Sept 2013
Submission to FARA by DuSable on 26th Sept 2013
DuSable amended the declaration the following year to say that the relationship would not involve any investment in the company by 1MDB, as had been stated previously.
Presumably the publicity surrounding the news that 1MDB would be investing in DuSable had been considered unconstructive:
1MDB will no longer be an investor in DuSable, but the arrangement remains in place - 2014
1MDB will no longer be an investor in DuSable, but the arrangement remains in place – 2014
What all this documentation makes clear is that DuSable certainly had an arrangement of some sort with 1MDB.

Half a Million Dollars for Frank!

What’s more, the public declarations show exactly how much money DuSable was getting “from the Government of Malaysia” for a “joint venture partnership reimbursement for solar investment project in Malaysia” – according to DuSable US$506,079:
Over half a million dollars!
Over half a million dollars!
Nice money for Frank White Jr for his activities, which included communicating with US Government Officials to provide that non-financial support. He puts in the details in a separate form, included are Frank and his co-director’s hefty travel expenses to KL showing the final total paid by 1MDB to DuSable was US$524,394.10:
Could the PM explain these payments in the absence of an arrangement?
Could the PM explain these payments in the absence of an arrangement?
But, with such talk of joint ventures and partnerships, how is that Najib has stated there has been “no arrangement whatsoever”?  Does he mean that Frank White Jr, who is Mr Obama’s close and trusted confidante, is lying?!
Wong Chen has understandably now challenged Najib to straighten things out with the US Governement:
“If there is no partnership whatsoever between DuSable and 1MDB, will the Minister of Finance file a formal complaint to the US State Department of Justice against DuSable?” he asked yesterday.
Perhaps Najib should sort this little problem before Mr Obama jets in in a couple of weeks?

Defamation Games: A Swiss PR; Anonymous Attacks; A Fake Twitter Army - And Information They All Share

Defamation Games: A Swiss PR; Anonymous Attacks; A Fake Twitter Army - And Information They All Share

31 Oct 2015

Sponsored content on Facebook - who paid?
Sponsored content on Facebook – who paid?
On October 23rd the latest paid PR campaign against Sarawak Report swung into its ‘new media’ phase.
We have seen it all before.
On that day a new Facebook site called ‘The Real Clare Rewcastle’ appeared online, replete with expensively commissioned cartoon videos denouncing the editor of Sarawak Report as a “liar”, “forger” and “activist posing as a journalist”.
Furthermore, it alleged that she had been paid by interested parties to work to “topple a democratically elected Prime Minister”.
On the self same day a bogus Facebook and Twitter army of  non-existent characters also made their debut to promote the videos and attack Sarawak Report.
Same things in common - started on same day, attacking same thing, same friends and followers - fake accounts.
Same things in common – started on same day, attacking same thing, same friends and followers – fake accounts.
Supposedly, the characters came from different countries, ages and backgrounds.
However, they are ‘followed’ by the same handful of organisations (including dating agencies) and share the same handful of links.
These October 23rd Tweeters and Facebook characters are all obsessed with the same issue, which is to encourage people to go and read the new Facebook site libelling Sarawak Report.
The motley crowd of allegedly unconnected fake people have also developed a parallel obsession with passing round an allegation that Sarawak Report is paid by none other than the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis.
Why Novartis would wish to pay for an alleged plot to “topple a democratically elected Prime Minister” remains unexplained, however the company is unpopular with certain environmental groups, who appear to be targeted in an attempt to undermine support for Sarawak Report.
'KL air hostess Lillian' is invited to present herself along with her other new friends of 23rd October
‘KL air hostess Lillian’ is invited to present herself along with her other new friends of 23rd October
It is, of course, all entirely untrue.
Ella's two new oct 23rd friends Maya and Harry were soon onto the comments section of Sarawak Report  spewing venom as well...
Ella’s only three followers include ‘Erotic Beauty’ and ‘Handsome Fresh’ and her  two new Oct 23rd contacts Maya and Harry were soon attacking the comments section of Sarawak Report claiming we produce ‘no evidence’..

Promoted content

Nevertheless, the Facebook site is ‘promoted’ content, which means that Facebook is being paid to direct it towards as wide a circle as possible of interested people – eg all Malaysians.
‘Ella’ (left) and her small army of fake friends have also started trying to harass anyone involved with Sarawak Report, in order to attempt to undermine their own separate contacts.
The sponsors of the site have remained anonymous, of course, to avoid being held accountable for their blatantly libellous content.
The UMNO communications boss, Rahman Dahlan, of Lester Melanyi fame would doubtless have approved of this whole cunning ruse to attack this website, but the finger points elsewhere on this occasion.
Oct 23rd also saw the invention of 'Rosie' - pro the Najib budget and anti-SR
Oct 23rd also saw the invention of ‘Rosie’ – pro the Najib budget and anti-SR. She has two followers including “Badclass Lingerie”
A fortnight or so earlier Sarawak Report had received warnings that a Swiss PR firm was ringing round the UK looking for a partner in a ‘dirty campaign’ against Clare Rewcastle.
The campaign was to involve material gained from her whatsap communications with Xavier Justo, the ex-PetroSaudi Director who had passed her a copy of that company’s database, including the details of the 1MDB PetroSaudi joint venture involving the theft of US$1.83 billion dollars from Malaysia.
Most UK PR companies declined to be involved in this grubby job, but where there is money there is always an eventual taker.

Marc Comina

So who was the Swiss PR organising this campaign in the UK, which appears to be now manifesting itself in The Real Clare Rewcastle Facebook page and the British made videos attacking SR?
It is well known amongst Swiss journalists that the man handling matters supposedly on behalf of Xavier Justo in Switzerland over past weeks has been the PR spokesman Marc Comina, who has represented a variety of wealthy people in trouble.
Nathan created Oct 23rd and focused on attacking SR has no personal friends, just  the sort of follower you can easily acquire!
Nathan created Oct 23rd and focused on attacking SR also has no personal friends, just the sort of follower you can easily acquire!
Other clients of Comina include the former Kazakh Minister of Energy; an art dealer who is presently accused of stealing paintings from Piccaso’s daughter and a Swiss wine producer accused by the authorities of breaking rules.
In a number of these cases Comina has worked together with a well-known and expensive Geneva lawyer named Marc Henzelin and sure enough Henzelin is also engaged alongside Comina to represent Xavier Justo in Switzerland regarding his present incarceration in a Bangkok jail.
As Malaysians all know, Justo was arrested in Bangkok because he was denounced by his former colleagues at PetroSaudi for leaking their database and they accused him of blackmail.
My own Twitter - Marc Comina
My own Twitter – Marc Comina
The question is how has Justo suddenly acquired the money to hire this expensive PR and legal team in Switzerland and what are they actually up to, supposedly on his behalf?
Sarawak Report has learnt that Comina has spoken extensively to selected Swiss journalists about Justo – some were granted exclusive access to fly to Thailand and visit the former PetroSaudi director, who had expected to be freed after confessing to what he understood were minor charges for attempted extortion – but instead received a three year jail sentence.
This lengthy sentence was thanks not least to the aggressive lobbying by PetroSaudi and 1MDB, who are together trying to also discredit the leaked material in Sarawak Report.
Comina has made clear to journalists that he and Henzelin’s current advice to Justo is to confess to being a blackmailer and to apologise to the Malaysian Prime Minister for the embarrassment caused by the PetroSaudi revelations.
Lawyer Marc Henzelin represents rich people in tight spots - he gave an exclusive interview to Le Temps alleging SR is linked to the opposition and could be a forger
Lawyer Marc Henzelin represents rich people in tight spots – he gave an exclusive interview to Le Temps alleging SR is linked to the opposition and could be a forger
Furthermore, Justo is being encouraged to allege that he was the victim of a plot by Sarawak Report to entice him to provide what he is now portraying as innocent material in the PetroSaudi database (“just some emails”) so that we could supposedly ‘doctor’ it to give a bad impression.
My client has the impression he was used and manipulated” Henzelin told Le Temps.
Sarawak Report’s motive, according to the new Justo narrative, was not to expose a huge crime and a massive international story, but to carry out an ‘opposition plot’ to “topple a democratically elected Prime Minister”, for which they imply we were paid by ‘opposition forces’ (including Novartis?).
Thus, according to Marc Comina’s present PR, poor Xavier Justo had no idea what was in the material he first used to blackmail PetroSaudi and then was trying to sell for US$2 million.
He and Mr Henzelin have gone even further, to libellously imply that Sarawak Report is an unscrupulous forger.
This is what Mr Henzelin told the Chief Reporter of the newspaper Le Temps, Sylvain Besson in an ‘exclusive interview’ granted last month, during which the lawyer also takes the opportunity to promote the image of PetroSaudi:

Besson: PetroSaudi is it a reputable company? Or a simple facade?
Henzelin: I am not a lawyer for PetroSaudi, but it is common knowledge that this is a serious oil company, not an empty shell. They have oil blocks and drill ships they operate.
Besson: Xavier Justo he knew what use the documents he handed over would be to Malaysian opposition? These documents were they altered before publication, as stated PetroSaudi?
Henzelin: My client has attended meetings where the Malaysian opposition and Clare Rewcastle Brown clearly evoked the political use they intend to make the documents they had not read. He considers that the documents have been used unscrupulous way and that some have been changed. But to what extent, what volume, he does not know. What is certain is that he has the impression of having been used, handled. In addition, he has not been paid, so he’s a little angry. [Google Translate]
Mr Besson never approached Sarawak Report for our comment on these accusations, although he had our number.  If he had asked, we could have confirmed that the story about a meeting between Justo, Brown and the Malaysian opposition is a complete lie.
So is the claim about forgery.
We would have added that while Mr Henzelin denies he is serving the interests of PetroSaudi, the entire PR-managed interview with Le Temps plainly serves that company’s interests above all others.
'My client feels he is being manipulated' but by whom?
‘My client feels he is being manipulated’ but by whom?
Since Justo had very limited funds by the time he was arrested and since similar engagements with the Swiss Press by the Comina/ Henzelin team have promoted the same line ‘on behalf of their client’, we therefore question who is ultimately financing Comina, Henzelin and all this PR?
What is certain is that Justo has now reconciled with PetroSaudi and has told visiting journalists that the man who originally denounced him and got him jailed in Bangkok, PetroSaudi’s Director Patrick Mahony, has now visited him behind bars and agreed to ‘help him get out’.
What a very nice chap after all?
Meanwhile, Mr Comina has been circulating certain extra materials to his chosen contacts journalists, which include copies of whatsap messages between Justo and and the editor of Sarawak Report and also of Justo’s ‘confessions’ made without a lawyer present after he was arrested.
We have evidence that these materials were passed to Le Temps and other selected Swiss newspapers.

Dark materials!

Spinning sinister interpretations on private messages
Spinning sinister interpretations on private messages about a payment that was never made.
These whatsap messages and ‘confessions’ were also what was offered to the PR companies in the UK who were being recruited to conduct a dirty campaign against Sarawak Report.
And the same materials are exactly what are now being used out of context as the main ‘evidence’ behind the smear campaign and videos featured on ‘The Real Clare Rewcastle’ Facebook site.
For the record, Clare Rewcastle did not pay Justo any money; did not receive any money from the opposition or anyone paying Justo and only agreed in principle to try to assist Mr Justo achieve a promised third party payment for his story, as long as process was entirely legal. In the event no payment ever took place.
These private messages obtained from Justo’s law case are now being used selectively and out of context, in order to smear Sarawak Report and distract from the real crime, which was the theft by PetroSaudi and Jho Low of US$1.83 billion dollars.
Comina's real client? PetroSaudi's Tarek Obaid was paid an US$85m 'brokerage fee' by Jho Low's Good Star according to the documents acquired from Justo.
Comina’s real client? PetroSaudi’s Tarek Obaid was paid an US$85m ‘brokerage fee’ by Jho Low for the 1MDB deal according to the documents acquired from Justo.
So, who do we think is behind that?
When we wrote to Mr Comina earlier this week and asked him if he was linked to the anonymous and libellous Facebook and Twitter campaigns, which are employing and distorting the very same material he also supplied to journalists, he nevertheless failed to reply.
On the other hand, the Le Temps senior reporter who obtained that exclusive interview with  lawyer Marc Henzelin, has roundly denied to Sarawak Report that he was aware of any PR manipulation in the genesis of his newspapers stories about Justo.
Sylvain Besson last week told Sarawak Report in a series of messages:
“I’d be glad to know which PR firm is conducting actions against you, so we can be aware of its actions and possible disinformation…”
“…. I can assure you we never heard of any PR firm disseminating material. They didn’t give it to us, at least. So we are still interested to know who they are, and to what extent they manipulate Justo’s lawyer and PR man.
On the other hand Besson acknowledged:
“….I confirm we’ll publish a story based on the messages exchanged between you and Xavier Justo”
These remarks were in response to our complaint after a journalists commissioned by Besson to write yet another critical item about Sarawak Report’s involvement with Justo explained:
“my mandate is to show our readers an example of transaction between someone who stole confidential data and people that agreed to pay for it.
There shall be no consideration about the situation in Malaysia, per se.
It is just a story about a Swiss guy who got trapped by trying to sell leaks.”
So who has determined Le Temp’s ‘mandate’, if a major international financial scandal involving Swiss banks is to be thus ignored we asked Besson?
And why was Mr Besson denying he had any knowledge of the hostile PR management behind Justo and his lawyer, given that other journalists were well aware that Marc Comina is the only way to reach the story?
We find it particularly odd given that Besson rates Comina as his number 4 best friend on Facebook:
Facebook friends with the PR manager who sees Justo's best chances as accusing Sarawak Report for forgery and supporting PetroSaudi
Facebook friends with the PR manager who sees Justo’s best chances as accusing Sarawak Report for forgery and supporting PetroSaudi
Sarawak Report therefore agrees that Justo is being manipulated.
However, we suggest that the manipulators are his wealthy and unscrupulous former colleagues, from PetroSaudi, who are trying to escape from serious criminal charges regarding the theft of hundreds of millions of dollars from 1MDB.
PetroSauid conspired to bring accusations against their whistleblower to get him jailed in Thailand.
Twitter Oct 23rd Newbie loves the PM's budget but has no friends to follow him
Twitter Oct 23rd Newbie, Seth,  loves the PM’s budget but has no friends to follow him
They are now promising him help to get him out, so long as he agrees to turn accuser against Sarawak Report and make ludicrous claims about us forging and doctoring PetroSaudi documents.
We therefore challenge PetroSaudi to stop playing in the shadows with these hired PR hands and all this anonymous Facebook libel – they should instead take us to a proper court.

Singapore ‘Court Case’

By this we do not include the latest whispering to newspapers from unidentified sources that Justo is to ‘bring a case’ next week against Sarawak Report in Singapore.
Since Sarawak Report has never been notified of any such case, this represents just more nonsense and gossip from those who dare not challenge us openly.
Another Oct 23rd Tweeter in favour of the budget and accusing Novaritis of paying SR to attack PetroSaudi.
Another Oct 23rd Tweeter in favour of the budget and accusing Novaritis of paying SR to attack PetroSaudi.
Justo, PetroSaudi, as well as the authorities in Thailand and Malaysia have the originals of all the documents we obtained – if we have doctored them it is entirely open to them to prove the matter in the UK courts (under whose jurisdiction the joint venture deal was done).
Otherwise, the Swiss media should stop regurgitating Marc Comina’s malicious PR and start to cover the real story, which is the role of their banks in Malaysia’s Heist of the Century.

'Creating A Culture Of Fear': Human Rights Watch Point The Finger At Malaysian Government In New Report

'Creating A Culture Of Fear': Human Rights Watch Point The Finger At Malaysian Government In New Report


"Freedom of expression and assembly in Malaysia are currently under attack" say Human Rights Watch
“Freedom of expression and assembly in Malaysia are currently under attack” say Human Rights Watch
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak comes under damning further criticism today with the release in Kuala Lumpur of an in-depth report by the leading US human rights organisation, Human Rights Watch, in advance of the planned visit by President Obama later this month.
The 145 page report accuses the Malaysian Government of creating a “culture of fear” and of “criminalising freedom of expression in Malaysia” and it is based on an in-depth analysis of Malaysia’s draconian laws between 2014-2015, including the Sedition Act, the Printing Presses and Publications Act, the Communications and Multimedia Act, the Peaceful Assembly Act and the Penal Code, all of which have been increasingly used against voices that are critical of the ruling Barisan Nasional government.
Human Rights Watch spotlights the worrying trend of abuse of the legal process, including ‘late night arrests’, ‘unjustifiable remands’ and a ‘pattern of selective prosecution’.
In doing so the NGO joins an army of critics, who are increasingly reporting on the strong-arm tactics used by Malaysia’s Prime Minister to silence dissent.
Sarawak Report itself recently reported how Najib Razak has been swiftly executing legal measures to outlaw and criminalise individuals, who attempt to take up their constitutional duties as a representative of the opposition or to exert their rights as critics of his regime.
In a statement issued today, Human Right Watch’s Asia Director, Brad Adams said:
“Prime Minister Najib Razak and the Malaysian government have repeatedly broken promises to revise laws that criminalise peaceful expression. Instead, Malaysia has gone on a binge of prosecutions of critics. The government is making a mockery of its claims to democracy and fundamental rights by treating criticism as a crime.
After the ruling coalition lost the popular vote in the 2013 elections, a crackdown on its critics began. That repression has intensified in the past year in the face of critical media coverage and rising public discontent over issues ranging from the imposition of a new Goods and Services Tax, to the government’s response to a spiralling corruption scandal involving the government-owned 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), whose board of advisors is chaired by Prime Minister Najib.
Rather than engage in debate on the merits of these issues, the government has responded by arresting and often prosecuting those with critical views, including opposition politicians, activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens, suspending two critical newspapers for three months, blocking websites, and declaring peaceful protests “unlawful.
Malaysia should stop shutting down media and shutting up critics. These actions are increasingly noticed by the international community, and send the signal that the rule of law is under threat.”
Sarawak Report has been blocked in Malaysia under the Communications and Multimedia Act
Sarawak Report has been blocked in Malaysia under the Communications and Multimedia Act.
Sarawak Report have also recently found ourselves at the brunt of these newly enacted or amended laws, as Human Rights Watch points out.
Amongst other cases, Human Rights Watch highlight the use of arbitrary laws against Sarawak Report
Amongst other cases, Human Rights Watch highlight the use of arbitrary laws against Sarawak Report
This blog has been blocked in Malaysia under the Communications and Multimedia Act because of our investigations into the 1MDB scandal, on the grounds that our articles, have been deemed “indecent, obscene, false, menacing, or offensive in character with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass.”
The Editor has also found herself investigated under the Penal Code for “activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy” and a warrant of arrest has been issued against her, along with requests for her to placed on Interpol’s Red Notice List.
Requests that were swiftly rejected by Interpol.
Amongst several examples of Malaysia’s arbitrary laws being used against opposition politicians, human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers and even ordinary citizens, therefore, the report hones in on the blocking of Sarawak Report and calls on the Malaysian Government and the Malaysian Multimedia and Communications Commission to unblock our website and to cease investigations against us.
Human Rights Watch send a clear message to the MCMC
Human Rights Watch send a clear message to the MCMC!
In a letter to Malaysia’s Minister of Home Affairs, Ahmad Hahid Zamidi, Human Rights Watch posed the following question:
Although the Communications and Multimedia Act specifically states that “nothing in this act shall be construed as permitting censorship of the Internet,” the government has used that law to block access to the website Sarawak Report and its reporting on possible corruption involving 1 Malaysia Development Berhad, to prosecute individuals for “offensive” comments on social media, and to investigate online news portal The Malaysian Insider for its reporting on a matter of public interest. Does the government now take the position that it can and should censor the Internet?
Najib Razak has been accused of creating a culture of fear since the ruling party lost the popular vote in GE13
Najib Razak has been accused of creating a culture of fear since the ruling party lost the popular vote in the 13th General Election.
This question along with a host of others were sent to the Minister of Home Affairs, the Attorney General, the Inspector General of Police and the Multimedia and Communications Ministry well in advance of the report being published. Unsurprisingly, Human Rights Watch received no response.
The report will make it difficult for world leaders to ignore the human rights abuses taking place under Najib Razak, many of who will be landing in Kuala Lumpur next month for the 27th ASEAN Summit.
The hard-hitting report includes interviews with civil society activists, journalists, lawyers, academics, opposition politicians, as well as public statements by the government, and media accounts of criminal proceedings involving free speech or peaceful assembly.

The full report “Creating A Culture Of Fear: The Criminalisation Of Peaceful Expression in Malaysia” can be read [HERE]