Daim fingers mystery man behind ‘attacks’
He noted that they started to attack Daim a couple of months ago and about a month ago the attacks spread to Mahathir. “They were too systematic to be the work of individual reporters and editors chasing after news,” said Kadir. “They appear to be working in concert, orchestrated by someone outside the media.”
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin
Kadir Jasin is grumbling about what he calls the well-planned and well-coordinated attacks on Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad and Tun Daim Zainuddin. He even identified the mystery man heading the operation, a person he called H…R…
It seems the mystery man, who is actually a woman, is Hardev KauR. Kadir also accuses her of ordering TV3 to give PKR’s Shamsul Iskandar airtime to attack Daim.
What Kadir did not mention is that he, together with Dr Mahathir and Daim, started attacking Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak first. But now that they are being hit back they find the heat too much to bear.
Earlier this week the Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) visited Daim to record his statement regarding allegations of corruption. Hence the backlash that Daim is facing is more severe and probably too hot for the Mahathir-Daim-Kadir team to handle. This could probably be why this issue is now being raised, as a sort of deflection exercise.
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Mystery man behind attacks on Dr M, Daim
(Free Malaysia Today) – Attacks in the mainstream media on former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and former Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin appear to be gaining momentum.
That’s the observation made by former New Straits Times Group Editor Kadir Jasin in his latest blog posting.
Meanwhile, added Kadir, despite Najib blasting pro-government bloggers as bangang (stupid) during the recent Umno General Assembly, the bloggers seem to be emerging as an increasingly influential group.
For example, they have been included in the Prime Minister’s entourage, which will leave for Davos, Switzerland, in a few days’ time to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF).
“Apart from enlisting Umno people in their efforts to silence the critics, the mainstream Umno-linked newspapers and TV stations continue to quote the opposition parties,” said Kadir.
He noted that they started to attack Daim a couple of months ago and about a month ago the attacks spread to Mahathir. “They were too systematic to be the work of individual reporters and editors chasing after news,” said Kadir. “They appear to be working in concert, orchestrated by someone outside the media.”
Daim said he knew the person and the cyberspace is abuzz with talk that a new person outside the media circle has emerged as the new media and propaganda “adviser” to the Prime Minister, added Kadir.
Kadir said that he had been asked the following question by a mainstream newspaper editor who sent him an SMS:
“Who is this person by the name of H… R… who is said to be so close to the PM and is able to tell the heads of Media Prima and Utusan what they should spin?”
Najib shaken
Kadir said Najib met Mahathir at The Mines in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, last December 13 and they had dinner.
Apparently, they talked about a number of issues, including 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), of which Najib is adviser. Sources said the Prime Minister was shaken by the discussion on the company, according to Kadir.
“Curiously, the attacks on Mahathir by pro-Najib bloggers and the Umno-linked mainstream media started soon after that meeting, alleging, among other things, that the former Prime Minister was putting pressure on Najib to revive the crooked bridge project ‘to satisfy his ego’.”
Kadir said that he was not sure if the attacks on Mahathir and Daim are the work of the mysterious new adviser to the Prime Minister or are a concerted effort by the entire pro-Najib propaganda machine to burnish his image by maligning his critics. “What I am more certain is the battle lines between the Prime Minister and his detractors could have been drawn.”
On his part, Kadir noted that Daim had issued a press statement which he addressed to Bernama, the New Straits Times Group and Utusan Malaysia, the contents of which had since been picked up by several news portals.
“Let us see if Utusan and NSTP newspapers will publish it.”
The statement reads: “I refer to the recent statements by some PKR politicians pressuring MACC to speed up its investigations into my banking business overseas.
“MACC is an independent body that makes its own decision without interference from anybody. I stand ready to support and cooperate with MACC in its investigation.
“Whilst I understand the motivation of these PKR politicians as they know not much other than politics and making baseless allegations, I am quite surprised with the attention given to them by the government-friendly media.
“TV3, which would not give two minutes of air time to Pakatan, has aired the PKR press conference no less than three times. The NST and Utusan have also carried this news.
“I am aware of who is behind this sudden attention on me. If you don’t like the message, kill the messenger.
“I hope that all these groups will leave the MACC alone to do its work. Thank you.”
