FAM investigates the tangled web of corruption that is the Obama Department of Justice and the Malaysian government.
See separate coverage on Leonardo di Caprio and the 1MDB Malaysian corruption scandal here.
(Reuters) – Malaysia will sign a contract to purchase Littoral Mission Ships from China when Prime Minister Najib Razak visits Beijing next week, according to a Facebook posting by the country’s Ministry of Defence.
Malaysian PM to sign 'significant' defence deal with China amid US strains https://t.co/ikiskjQFDy #Malaysia
— Thomas·王 🍁 (@iChinadian) November 1, 2016
The text of a speech to be delivered by Malaysian defense minister Hishammuddin Hussein was posted on Facebook on Tuesday, but was later removed after Reuters asked a defense ministry spokesman for comment.
Malaysia, China sign defense deal https://t.co/ZoDEHHH4jl pic.twitter.com/BJP4B9AmV2
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) November 2, 2016
The purchase of the patrol vessels, if it proceeds, would be Malaysia’s first significant defense deal with China and comes amid rising tensions in the South China Sea and as the United States and China compete for influence in the region.
China’s foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Friday he was “unclear on the specifics of the situation”. But responding to a Reuters question at the daily ministry briefing he noted China and Malaysia “continue to cooperate and communicate regularly across all spheres”.
Malaysia’s ties with the United States became strained after the Department of Justice, led by attorney general Loretta Lynch (See Video Below) filed lawsuits linked to a money-laundering investigation at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), which Najib founded and had overseen as chairman of its advisory council.
The Obama administration however, has been criticized for going easy on Najib Razak’s human rights record and kleptocracy. Evidence from the WSJ shows that billions of dollars have been discovered in his personal bank account.
Obama’s AG Loretta Lynch instead did Mr. Najib a favor by not directly naming him in the suit (but did not hesitate to name other plaintiffs).
Photo Credit: The Malay Mail Online
Cartoon by #Zunar sums up Obama's weakness on rights, corruption in #Malaysia. #Najib off the hook because of #TPP. pic.twitter.com/YktPIrNGD0
— Brad Adams (@BradMAdams) November 23, 2015
Malaysian artist Zunar, who has been arrested on charges of sedition – has been critical of Obama’s tolerance of Najib’s corruption.
PM Najib is ‘Malaysian official 1’ named in DOJ probe, says minister: BBC https://t.co/yPGhL5YDjv pic.twitter.com/eLDC8YJA2S
— CNBC International (@CNBCi) September 3, 2016
@twl12345 @2sayornot2say if Obama dnt cover.up, thy already name who is MO1 directly, nt jz by a code… both also got interest in between
— ET (@ET_WORLD96) November 9, 2016
Among the defendants in Obama/Lynch’s Department of Justice suit include financiers of the movie, “Wolf of Wall Street” starring Leonardo di Caprio. Transparency International has called on Leonardo to return the earnings from the movie due to the alleged crimes committed against the Malaysian people.
