KiniNews is now also available on Spotify and Apple podcasts.[KiniNews] The Kuala Lumpur High Court has ordered former premier Najib Abdul Razak to repay SRC International Sdn Bhd US$1.18 billion (RM4.77 billion) for losses the government-linked company had suffered.He was also directed to repay US$120 million of SRC funds that flowed into the former finance minister’s bank account.Judge Ahmad Fairuz Zainal Abidin delivered the ruling today in SRC’s civil suit against Najib and the company’s former chief executive officer, Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil, who is still at large.Meanwhile, in a separate story, more than 15 hours after businessperson Victor Chin’s deadline for a PKR MP to return RM9.5 million allegedly taken to help settle the "corporate mafia" scandal, the investor has yet to reveal the lawmaker’s identity.This has sparked speculation that the matter may have been resolved, possibly through a full refund to Chin.___________________Support independent media, subscribe to Malaysiakini.com - https://membership.malaysiakini.com/membership/start?internal_source=kinitv

KiniNews is now also available on Spotify and Apple podcasts.[KiniNews] PAS has challenged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to take legal action against Bloomberg if claims in a report against his leadership is not true.The media agency’s latest report quoted unnamed sources claiming that Anwar had asked “key people” in a probe on MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki’s shareholdings to hold off from making their findings public.PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said the government must answer all the allegations levelled at them.Meanwhile, in a separate story, the death of a motorcyclist yesterday morning, following a collision with a driver who tested positive for alcohol and drugs, has reignited public fury over the menace of impaired driving on Malaysian roads.The Klang Magistrate’s Court granted a four-day remand order for the driver in his 20s today.___________________Support independent media, subscribe to Malaysiakini.com - https://membership.malaysiakini.com/membership/start?internal_source=kinitv

KiniNews is now also available at: Spotify: https://mk.my/sH14qeJApple podcast: https://mk.my/jPylPZC[KiniNews] Rafizi Ramli has “revealed” the identity of one “Mr R” and name-drops Mr R’s boss. In a Youtube video posted last night, Rafizi alleged that Mr R acted as a middleman who worked closely with the “corporate mafia”. He also claimed Mr R reported to a former aide of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.Meanwhile, opposition MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal said Perikatan Nasional has no formula to reconcile the conflict between the camps aligned with Muhyiddin Yassin and Hamzah Zainudin.The former Bersatu youth chief said that ahead of the next general election, PN needs to decide between maintaining its relationship with the party or working together with Hamzah and his new party.___________________📌 Share this news! Join the Malaysiakini WhatsApp Channel now! https://mk.my/wa_mkiniTurn on notifications 🔔 or unmute the channel to receive news notifications immediately!—Support independent media, subscribe to Malaysiakini.com - https://bit.ly/3B3ztIa

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Spotify: https://mk.my/sH14qeJ

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Businessperson Victor Chin claims the money he allegedly paid to a PKR MP was a “service fee” to protect himself and his family.

In a statement today, he said the amount was not meant to shut down investigations against him. Instead, he claims he was under pressure and forced to surrender his shares for free.

Meanwhile, former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli believes Chin has concrete evidence of the scandal, or he would not have dared issue such an ultimatum.

In a brief YouTube video posted last night, the former PKR deputy president suggested Chin may have recorded his conversation with the MP, whom he has given until Monday (March 30) to return the money or be publicly named.

[KiniNews]

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Human Resources Minister R Ramanan has denied claims that he solicited RM10 million from businessperson Victor Chin over issues linked to the alleged “corporate mafia”.

Ramanan, who is also a PKR vice-president, said he has never met Chin and insisted the accusations were being spread by “irresponsible parties”, adding that police reports will be lodged.

Meanwhile, former PKR vice-president Sivarasa Rasiah has blasted Chin over the allegation, mocking him as an “imitator” of Sabah whistleblower Albert Tei.

Sivarasa also challenged Chin to lodge a police report, hold a press conference, and publicly name the PKR lawmaker he claims was involved.

KiniNews is now also available on Spotify and Apple podcasts.[KiniNews] Rafizi Ramli has warned that the government could be hit with another series of "explosive leaks” if it only targets businessperson Victor Chin over the “corporate mafia” allegations.The Pandan MP said he believed Chin probably keeps records and proof of all transactions he made in the course of his business, just like businessperson Albert Tei did in the Sabah mining corruption scandal."So, I would like to advise those in Putrajaya, those in the close circles of (Prime Minister) Anwar Ibrahim, Bukit Aman, and MACC: you should be careful," he said.Meanwhile, in a separate story, self-proclaimed activist Tamim Dahri Abdul Razak, who is being sought by authorities over the desecration of a sacred Hindu symbol, has agreed to surrender but on one condition.Tamim said he would return to the country and turn himself in to the police if authorities demolish a list of allegedly "illegal" Hindu temples.___________________Support independent media, subscribe to Malaysiakini.com - https://membership.malaysiakini.com/membership/start?internal_source=kinitv

KiniNews is now also available on Spotify and Apple podcasts.[KiniNews] Larut MP Hamzah Zainudin has openly linked his expulsion from Bersatu to party president Muhyiddin Yassin, claiming that the latter may have intended the move to “teach him a lesson”, but ended up with the opposite result.“Perhaps my expulsion was something that people would say was meant to ‘teach Larut a lesson’, but he was mistaken - it turns out it’s not easy to teach Larut a lesson. And it ended up backfiring on him - ‘now it’s your turn to learn a lesson’,” he said.Meanwhile, in a separate story several DAP leaders have slammed fellow party member, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M Kulasegaran, for his appearance alongside activist Arun Dorasamy at the Jawi Magistrate’s Court in Penang yesterday.Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan, Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman, Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid, and central executive committee member Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali said that while they respected Kulasegaran’s position as a party veteran, his action is inadmissible, especially given his capacity in the government.“The said action has sparked public controversy regarding the integrity of the country’s legal syste," they said.___________________Support independent media, subscribe to Malaysiakini.com - https://membership.malaysiakini.com/membership/start?internal_source=kinitv

KiniNews is now also available on Spotify and Apple podcasts.[KiniNews] Independent preacher Zamri Vinoth pleaded not guilty at the Kuala Lumpur Magistrates' Court this morning, to a charge under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, which criminalises statements made with the intent to cause, or which may cause, disturbance to the public.He was accused of committing the offence through a Facebook post on February 3 about a gathering involving “illegal temples,” which was reported by a complainant in Kuala Lumpur.Meanwhile, in a separate story, Businessperson Victor Chin - who is accused of being an alleged member of the so-called "corporate mafia" - has questioned why authorities raided his home last week.Chin said he had been cooperating with police in investigations since December, and had even been remanded for three days as part of a probe into the “corporate mafia” and alleged money laundering.He added that he will be submitting all evidence and supporting documents proving that he is not involved in the “corporate mafia” to his lawyers.___________________Support independent media, subscribe to Malaysiakini.com - https://membership.malaysiakini.com/membership/start?internal_source=kinitv

KiniNews is now also available on Spotify and Apple podcasts.[KiniNews] Khairy Jamaluddin has submitted an appeal to rejoin Umno, three years after the party expelled the former minister.The application was submitted last night to Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who had axed Khairy amid an attempt to challenge him for control of the party in early 2023.Zahid said Khairy’s appeal exemplified the “Rumah Bangsa” initiative, which sought to form a big umbrella for Malay-Muslim politicians.Meanwhile, in a separate story, businessperson Victor Chin said any investigations into alleged corporate intimidation should include the “roles and conduct” of the MACC and police.Chin, who is being probed for alleged involvement in a so-called “corporate mafia”, told Bloomberg that he supports the calls for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI), but stressed that any investigation must not focus on the corporate mafia allegations alone, but include enforcement agencies.MACC has previously issued a firm denial regarding the claims, dismissing them as baseless while alleging they are part of a smear campaign intended to undermine the agency’s reputation.___________________Support independent media, subscribe to Malaysiakini.com - https://membership.malaysiakini.com/membership/start?internal_source=kinitv

KiniNews is now also available on Spotify and Apple podcasts.[KiniNews] Businessperson Albert Tei, who exposed the Sabah mining scandal, today released to the media two images purportedly showing “armed” MACC officers at his residence during his arrest last November.The images, which are identical, showed what looked like two individuals in tactical gear and balaclavas standing on a staircase, with one of them appearing to be holding something in his hands.Tei believes the images reaffirm his claim that balaclava-clad MACC officers pointed pistols at him, his wife, mother-in-law, and the family’s domestic helper during his arrest on Nov 28.Malaysiakini has reached out to MACC for comments.Meanwhile, in a separate story, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said although the party was unable to persuade the cabinet to establish a royal commission of inquiry (RCI), the authorities have nevertheless expanded investigations into the alleged “corporate mafia”.He stressed that since investigations are underway, there must eventually be an outcome, and DAP will continue to follow up on the matter.___________________Support independent media, subscribe to Malaysiakini.com - https://membership.malaysiakini.com/membership/start?internal_source=kinitv