KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — Former Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) president Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam said his successor acted honorably in choosing to step down after raising a brouhaha over a corruption index report but warned that the decision will have a far-reaching effect on Malaysian society.
Datuk Paul Low was elected chief to the local chapter of the worldwide anti-corruption watchdog in March.
He quit in mid-stream yesterday following a lawsuit threat for his role in launching the Global Corruption Report 2009 (GCR 2009) said to highlight the multi-billion ringgit Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal.
“I think he did the right thing because you cannot be the president of any organisation when a large number on the boat has lost confidence in you,” Navaratnam told The Malaysian Insider today.
The prominent economist noted that his long-time friend had been on the receiving end of scathing attacks from many sides, including the executive committee (exco) of TI-M.
He described Low as an honest, God-fearing person with integrity and a good values system and sympathised with him.
But Navaratnam could not excuse Low for failing to consult his colleagues on the draft report of the corruption index before giving the green light to the main watchdog group based in Berlin to publish it.
“The fact remains that he did not table the draft with the Transparency International Malaysia committee and took it upon himself to approve it,” he said.
He added that it was not fair for the president to hold a press conference and openly comment on the report, especially as he was in a position of conflict.
Low was chairman of the Port Klang Authority (PKA) ad hoc committee on governance, besides being a vice-president of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM).
“Now the report is condemned. He is condemned,” Navaratnam, who also chairs the Centre for Public Policy Studies CPPS) said.
However, he tipped his hat off to Low for accepting his mistake and choosing to face the music by himself.
Tycoon Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, the boss of Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB) and the main contractor of PKFZ, said he will sue TI-M and Low for making an “irresponsible” report which he claimed assessed Malaysia’s private sector based on media reports and not facts.
Low had called the PKFZ project “one of the biggest scandals of the year” when he launched the report in August.
Navaratnam laughed off the fuss as a publicity stunt.
He pointed out that the report was prepared by TI in Berlin and Tiong could easily contact the group’s headquarters for a full explanation rather than hounding Low through the courts.
Navaratnam also ticked off TI-M excos for airing their quarrel with Low in public.
“Being transparent does not mean nakedness,” he admonished.
“Tomorrow people will think twice before serving on any NGO. It might just destroy the basis and pathos of wanting to do voluntary work,” Navaratnam marked.
He added that the public fall-out may cause less people to be drawn to giving up their precious time, effort and money to check wrong doings in the country, especially when they could end up sued for taking a stand.
“Our society is quite apathetic. The silent majority might become more silent,” said Navaratnam.
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Mr Navaratnam, perhaps you have been in the comfort cocoon for such a long time that you and those of your persuasion and stripe did NOT SEE THE WRITINGS on the wall.
The writings are naked to all eyes, except those which are selective and adorned with gold rim and very high-indexed glasses.
The rich, especially the filthy rich, in Malaysia are blind to many things and forms which the ordinary and displaced Malaysians feel and bear every moment of their breathing days.
The rich and powerful are so far removed from realities that those realities seem like fiction to them! No wonder some people say facts are stranger than fiction! Indeed in the world and realm of the poor and downtrodden, nothing surprises them more than the golden and crystalline wares, and the roof-high gates of their home entrances, that the filthy rich take for granted!
What is an Index to the poor, when the availability of the next bowl of rice and mean dishes become an issue?
Scandals after scandals come and go, billions of ringgit changed hands and lined already deep pockets, while nothing trickles to the poor and simple ordinary folks as they go about their menial jobs and shit lives.
Talking about the silent majority becoming more silent. They have NO VOICE! But they do have, good gracious, a vote which they hope they could use to alter their fortune a little wee bit better than pathetic, when the Big Election comes around in a few years, that is if they survive to wield and exercise it.
So much for the brouhaha over TI and the corruption indices.