Solskjaer: Media have an ‘agenda’ against Pogba

Paul Pogba has no plans to leave Manchester United anytime soon. (AFP pic)

MELBOURNE: Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has moved to hose down speculation that Paul Pogba is unhappy and set to leave the club, declaring the media have an “agenda” against the French World Cup winner.

Pogba’s agent recently told The Times that the troubled 26-year-old intends to leave United, while the player, himself, said in Tokyo last month that he thought it might be time for a “new challenge somewhere else”.

Serie A club Juventus and La Liga giants Real Madrid have been linked with Pogba, and the speculation has followed United to Australia on their pre-season tour ahead of a match against A-League side Perth Glory on Saturday.

Pogba has two years left on his contract, with the option for a third, however, and Solskjaer hit out at media for indulging in the transfer talk.

“Agents talk all the time. As I said, we’ve not had any bids from any clubs,” he told reporters in Perth on Wednesday.

“That’s all I can say about this matter.

“There is an agenda against Paul, he’s a top, top bloke. A great professional, there’s never been any problems and he’s got a heart of gold.”

Pogba, who moved to Old Trafford from Juventus for a then-world record transfer fee of 89.3 million pounds (US$112.43 million) in August 2016, was named in last season’s PFA Premier League Team of the Year and has scored 31 goals in 142 appearances in all competitions.

But he has frustrated fans with his inconsistency, and a series of low-key performances last season culminated in clashes with angry supporters in the final-day home defeat by relegated Cardiff.

Manchester United posted a video of the team taking a stroll through Perth on its social media accounts earlier in the week but the upbeat soundtrack of electronic music could not disguise what appeared to be a heated exchange between Pogba and team mate Jesse Lingard.

Grinning defender Victor Lindelof came between the pair and threw an arm around Pogba as they continued walking but the moment sparked speculation of a rift in the camp.

Solskjaer said there was nothing in it.

“For example, Jesse and Paul walking around and it’s been portrayed as a fight between the two boys,” he said.

“I know you’re here to sell papers and sell stories but that’s nothing, no problems between the boys at all. They’re all professional. Pre-season has been very, very good so far.”

United kick off their new league campaign against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Aug. 11.

Pastor Koh, Amri’s task force gets two new members; only one cop remains


The families of pastor Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat attend the announcement of Suhakam’s public inquiry findings into their disappearances in Kuala Lumpur April 3, 2019. — Picture by Hari Anggara
The families of pastor Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat attend the announcement of Suhakam’s public inquiry findings into their disappearances in Kuala Lumpur April 3, 2019. — Picture by Hari Anggara

KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 — The government’s special task force probing the enforced disappearances of Pastor Raymond Koh and activist Amri Che Mat has received two new members, following the withdrawal of a former police officer over concerns of alleged conflict of interest.

In making the announcement, the Home Ministry today said it had taken into account the public’s views that the special task force should have a more balanced and independent composition.

“In relation to that, the Home Ministry has appointed a new member to fill in the vacancy left by a member who had previously withdrawn and one additional member,” it said in a statement today.

The Home Ministry named the duo as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s inspection and consultancy division assistant commissioner Azian Umar and independent lawyer Datuk Roger Tan Kor Mee.

With these two new appointments, the previously six-man task force will now have seven members.

The Home Ministry also clarified that only one of the current line-up of the task force members is from the police, namely Datuk Zamri Yahya who is the director of the police’s Integrity and Standard Compliance Department (JIPS), explaining that he plays an essential role.

“His membership is important to help smoothen the special task force’s proceedings as JIPS has the power under the law to call any police members to attend to testify,” the ministry said.

MORE TO COME

SWS invests in drones, AI to boost agricultural output

<p><br />BURSA Malaysia-listed manufacturing company SWS Capital Bhd (SWS) is investing in drone technology with confidence that an Industry 4.0 data-driven approach via artificial intelligence (AI) to Malaysia&#8217;s agriculture will boost yields and efficiency for local producers.</p> <p>In a statement, SWS said it inked a memorandum of understanding today with local information technology (IT) company Nexus Union Sdn Bhd with an Options Agreement to purchase 3.44 million shares or a 51% stake in Nexus&#8217; 70%-owned subsidiary Mata Aerotech Sdn Bhd valued at RM4.725 million.</p>

Read more.

Amal Clooney to join Philippine journalist’s legal team

<p>PROMINENT rights lawyer Amal Clooney said she will join the legal team defending Philippine journalist Maria Ressa, whose news site has repeatedly clashed with President Rodrigo Duterte.</p> <p>Ressa, who was named a Time Magazine&#8217;s &#8220;Person of the Year&#8221; in 2018 for her journalism, faces several criminal charges along with her website Rappler, in what press freedom advocates have branded an act of &#8220;persecution&#8221;.</p>

Read more.

Let cops probe sexual assault claim against DAP man, says Nga

Perak DAP chairman Nga Kor Ming says the party is of the view that no one is above the law.

PETALING JAYA: The Perak DAP will leave it to the police to probe a sexual assault allegation against a party assemblyman.

Its chairman, Nga Kor Ming, said this was because the party was of the view that no one was above the law.

“Appropriate action will be taken, depending on the outcome of the investigation by the authorities,” Nga, who is also the party’s deputy secretary-general, said in a statement.

Earlier today, Malaysiakini reported that police were probing a Perak executive council member after his Indonesian maid accused him of sexually assaulting her.

Bukit Aman Sexual, Women and Children’s Investigations Division (D11) principal assistant director Choo Lily confirmed with the portal that a report had been lodged yesterday and that the man was being investigated for rape.

Police have since taken a statement from the alleged victim.

The assemblyman has denied the allegation, according to Sin Chew Daily.

China calls on US to withdraw arms sale to Taiwan

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang gestures as he speaks during a daily briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Beijing. (AFP pic)

BEIJING: China’s foreign ministry called on the United States today to withdraw a potential US$2.2 billion arms sales to Taiwan, saying it strongly opposes the action.

The US state department approved the possible sale to Taiwan of M1A2T Abrams tanks, Stinger missiles and related equipment on Monday.

Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang made the comments at a daily news briefing in Beijing.

Najib signed draft memo of SRC ownership transfer from 1MDB to MoF Inc at Subang Airbase in 2012, says witness


Former Finance Ministry deputy secretary-general (Policy), Datuk Mat Noor Nawi is seen at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex July 9, 2019. — Picture by Hari Anggara
Former Finance Ministry deputy secretary-general (Policy), Datuk Mat Noor Nawi is seen at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex July 9, 2019. — Picture by Hari Anggara

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak had signed a draft memo prepared to place SRC International Sdn Bhd under the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MoF Inc) at a military airbase in February 2012.

Datuk Mat Noor Nawi, former Treasury deputy secretary-general (Policy), testified that Najib had signed the draft document prepared by him at the Subang Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) airbase on February 3, 2012.

“He (Najib) read the draft…each paragraph…every page and to my surprise, signed the draft copy on the first page where he agreed to the suggestion to place SRC International under MoF Inc,” he said during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Datuk Suhaimi Ibrahim.

Prior to the transfer of ownership, SRC International was a wholly-owned subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

SRC International was officially placed under MoF Inc on February 14, 2012.

Mat Noor, who is the prosecution’s 44th witness in the trial, said the draft memo carried neither the Finance Ministry letterhead nor his letterhead.

Asked to explain how the draft memo was prepared, Mat Noor said SRC International chief executive Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil’s aide and 1MDB officer, Zahid Taib had contacted him on Feb 2, 2012, saying Najib wanted to see the draft at 8am the next day.

“When I got a call from Zahid, he informed that the prime minister wanted to see the draft letter and he asked MoF Inc to submit its draft.

“I then instructed MoF Inc to prepare the said draft on February 2 and it was then submitted to me for the PM’s viewing.

“This (draft) letter did not have my letterhead and the official stamp of the prime minister and finance minister,” he explained.

Meanwhile he also considered Najib’s decision to sign a letter dated January 9, 2012, a “top-down” decision-making process as it was written by SRC International and addressed to Najib as the prime minister.

The letter prepared by Nik Faisal indicated among others for SRC International to be placed under MoF Inc.

“When the PM minuted the letter with ‘I agree with the suggestion’, then we will just execute the decision and formalised the whole process.

“I categorise this as in the second category (top-down) as the prime minister has indicated that he agrees with the matter and Nik Faisal wrote in the letter that he was writing in on the PM’s advice.

“Nik Faisal may have very likely discussed and obtained verbal agreement from the then PM before SRC International wrote the letter,” he explained.

MORE TO COME

Anwar: Parliamentary caucus for reform to meet with head of select committees next week


Port Dickson MP Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is pictured at Parliament in Kuala Lumpur July 2, 2019. ― Picture by Mukhriz Hazim
Port Dickson MP Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is pictured at Parliament in Kuala Lumpur July 2, 2019. ― Picture by Mukhriz Hazim

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 — The parliamentary caucus for reform and governance will meet with the chairman of the six Parliament Select Committees (PSC) and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) next week to discuss the challenges faced by the committees.

Its chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the meeting was to empower the role that was promised to the committees under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration.

“We have received input from the select committee that they faced some difficulty calling in top government servants for briefing. Or that the Parliament’s powers are limited, unlike what was promised.

“Our first step is to call in all the chairman of the all the committees to discuss the problems they face and how to deal with it,” he told a press conference in parliament after chairing the caucus meeting here today.

The six existing select committees are for budget, major public appointment, rights and gender equality, defence and home affairs, consideration of Bills and federal-state relations.

Anwar’s response came following the appointment of Latheefa Koya as the new Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief last month, which was not reviewed by the PSC for major public appointments.

Latheefa was appointed by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad without prior consultation, and it came with a two-year contract effective June 1.

Merdeka Center