By Jackson Ng
Jan 20, 11
What started as a spat between Tan Sri Robert Phang and Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam has evolved into a full-scale integrity war of three Tan Sri.
Unwittingly, Phang has now found himself up against the Ramon-Gani (Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail) duo.
Phang, a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) panel adviser, had incurred the wrath of the Tan Sri duo following his relentless calls via the media, both in print and internet news portals, to probe allegations against Gani.
Gani had gone on a Haj pilgrimage in Mecca with one Shahidan Shafie who is said to be close to former Malaysia Airlines chairman Tan Sri Tajuddin Ramli. Questions are being raised against Tajuddin over the national carrier's losses, running into billions.
MAS was reported to have filed several reports against Tajuddin with the MACC, citing Tajuddin's move to relocate MAS' cargo operations in Amsterdam and Frankfurt to a single hub in Hahn, Germany, as the single biggest loss suffered under him.
The new hub operation reportedly incurred monthly losses of between RM10 million and RM16 million before it was terminated and the government took over control of MAS.
Gani, as the A-G, wields the power to decide whether a case is to be prosecuted or not.
Phang had called on the A-G to clear the air over public allegations on his relationship with Shahidan and the Mecca Haj pilgrimage because he was concerned that Gani's silence would fuel deeper suspicions on the A-G's office and MACC's integrity and courage to probe the allegations.
Gani, under intense pressure from the public outcry via the media, on Jan 4 held a dialogue in the MACC academy with 30 (of the 42) members of the MACC board and panel members.
Ramon, the MACC panel chairman, deemed it fit to clear the A-G of the allegations after that, without any proper investigations. Ramon also claimed all the panel members were satisfied with Gani's clarification.
Phang then quickly took Ramon to task for the latter's lightning-speed move to clear Gani and this was also followed by other panel members who disassociated themselves from Ramon's stand.
Unwittingly, Phang has now found himself up against the Ramon-Gani (Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail) duo.
Phang, a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) panel adviser, had incurred the wrath of the Tan Sri duo following his relentless calls via the media, both in print and internet news portals, to probe allegations against Gani.
Gani had gone on a Haj pilgrimage in Mecca with one Shahidan Shafie who is said to be close to former Malaysia Airlines chairman Tan Sri Tajuddin Ramli. Questions are being raised against Tajuddin over the national carrier's losses, running into billions.
MAS was reported to have filed several reports against Tajuddin with the MACC, citing Tajuddin's move to relocate MAS' cargo operations in Amsterdam and Frankfurt to a single hub in Hahn, Germany, as the single biggest loss suffered under him.
The new hub operation reportedly incurred monthly losses of between RM10 million and RM16 million before it was terminated and the government took over control of MAS.
Gani, as the A-G, wields the power to decide whether a case is to be prosecuted or not.
Phang had called on the A-G to clear the air over public allegations on his relationship with Shahidan and the Mecca Haj pilgrimage because he was concerned that Gani's silence would fuel deeper suspicions on the A-G's office and MACC's integrity and courage to probe the allegations.
Gani, under intense pressure from the public outcry via the media, on Jan 4 held a dialogue in the MACC academy with 30 (of the 42) members of the MACC board and panel members.
Ramon, the MACC panel chairman, deemed it fit to clear the A-G of the allegations after that, without any proper investigations. Ramon also claimed all the panel members were satisfied with Gani's clarification.
Phang then quickly took Ramon to task for the latter's lightning-speed move to clear Gani and this was also followed by other panel members who disassociated themselves from Ramon's stand.
The criticisms against Ramon and Gani intensified in the media and on Monday (Jan 17), an anonymous blogger posted allegations that Phang tried to bribe the secretary-general of a ministry with an unsolicited gift shortly before Hari Raya Aidilfitri last year.
At this point of time, the question is the validity of the allegations levelled against Phang and Gani.
The allegations against Phang are made by an anonymous blogger while the allegations against Gani were made by blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin (popularly known as RPK) with supporting documents.
Read what the anonymous blogger posted and judge for yourself whether he or she had clearly taken pains to defend both Ramon and Gani.
Phang has rightly challenged the blogger to reveal his identity and repeat the allegations in public.
He was quoted by the media as saying that he would expose the people behind the lies and take action.
Phang, who is also an executive council member of the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation, said the allegations were made up to discredit his efforts to raise public awareness of corruption scandals involving prominent politicians and public figures.
Phang also said: "If there is any investigation (on me) by the MACC, not only do I welcome it but I will extend my fullest cooperation. The truth must prevail."
The public awaits with bated breath which of the three Tan Sri, if any, will emerge from this row with his integrity intact.
At this point of time, the question is the validity of the allegations levelled against Phang and Gani.
The allegations against Phang are made by an anonymous blogger while the allegations against Gani were made by blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin (popularly known as RPK) with supporting documents.
Read what the anonymous blogger posted and judge for yourself whether he or she had clearly taken pains to defend both Ramon and Gani.
Phang has rightly challenged the blogger to reveal his identity and repeat the allegations in public.
He was quoted by the media as saying that he would expose the people behind the lies and take action.
Phang, who is also an executive council member of the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation, said the allegations were made up to discredit his efforts to raise public awareness of corruption scandals involving prominent politicians and public figures.
Phang also said: "If there is any investigation (on me) by the MACC, not only do I welcome it but I will extend my fullest cooperation. The truth must prevail."
The public awaits with bated breath which of the three Tan Sri, if any, will emerge from this row with his integrity intact.
Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/153971
No comments:
Post a Comment