By Muzliza Mustafa
Phang says bribery allegation 'utter rubbish and amusing'
MACC advisor says allegation an effort by cowards to shut him up
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel member Tan Sri Robert Phang Miow Sin has described an allegation he tried to bribe a government official as "utter rubbish, misleading and amusing".
Speaking to The Malay Mail at his office in Jalan Yap Kwan Seng yesterday, he labelled the anonymous blog writers who reported the allegation "cowards" who were simply seeking publicity at his expense.
Phang sought to clear his name as it was his active role in fighting corruption and crime-related issues that led to his appointment as a panel member by former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in February 2009 for a two-year term.
He said the allegation, first made in the blog A Voice, was to intimidate him from speaking out on issues of public importance.
“I am normally very reluctant to respond to anonymous blog postings. But here, I take them on for the sake of establishing the truth because this is clearly an effort made to shut me up.”
Phang said he had received many calls from friends and the media asking him for comments even though he had already said the allegation was "merely a fanciful story".
“I have asked these callers to help me identify who these writers and blog hosts are but I was told no such information is available on these blogs.”
He said the bloggers were cowards for hiding their true identities.
“These are mercenary writers and spreaders of falsehood as aptly described by the Malay saying Lempar batu, sembunyi tangan (throw the stone and hide the hand).”
On whether he would allow himself to be investigated by MACC, Phang said he welcomed such a probe. “If at all there is any investigation by MACC, not only do I welcome it but I will extend my fullest cooperation.”
Saying he would walk the talk, Phang was willing to relinquish his post as MACC advisor if an investigation was carried out.
“Likewise, I believe others should do the same.”
Phang said the allegation and attacks against him would not stop him from speaking up. “I will continue to speak up until all these rogues are weeded out. That is my pledge.”
He also said he would take legal action against the bloggers if they dared to identify themselves and repeat the allegation in public.
“Do not think I can be cowed by such delinquent antics. I will not dignify these acts of cowardice in seeking cheap publicity at my expense.”
A Voice had alleged the bribery attempt took place before Hari Raya at the office of a ministry's secretary-general. About RM900 million worth of contracts were to be given out by the ministry.
It said Phang tried to bribe the official with money hidden in a T-shirt. The blog at http://anotherbrickinwall.blogspot.com named Phang and even posted his picture.
Phang was not surprised the writer seemed to be well-versed with his background and personal life.
“My history of being a car salesman and such is out there in the public domain, so it's not a secret.”
On the other claims, like the people he knew and his connections, he said they were inaccurate."Only two or three per cent of those claims were true.”
He said he knew two of the people mentioned — former AG and now Suhakam chairman Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman and also former AG Tan Sri Mokhtar Abdullah.
Comments on high-profile cases justified, says Phang
PHANG said he has come under personal attack because he recently voiced concern about several high-profile cases.
He said he had expressed concern about public perception on a host of issues related to Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail’s Hajj trip.
He had wondered aloud about the Malaysia Airlines loss scandal; Abdul Gani’s relationship with former MAS chairman Tan Sri Tajudin Ramli’s proxy Shahidan Shafie; perceived selective prosecution; and the disclosure of a confidential MACC meeting by panel chairman Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, who announced the A-G had been cleared of any wrongdoing without any investigation.
“I became the subject of these attacks for merely asking for accountability for these controversies that were already in the public domain,” said Phang.
Stating his comments were justified, he added: “I have been vindicated as the MACC now says it is investigating the MAS scandal.”
After a meeting with Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein on Jan 10, Phang had said the MACC panel was authorised to issue a public statement to censure Navaratnam for making the "unauthorised clearance of the A-G".
The panel also urged Abdul Gani to clear the air on the issue with the rakyat as soon as possible, which he had agreed to do.
Phang said he was not attacking Abdul Gani but merely asking and inviting him to explain the truth. “The A-G should be thankful to me for I have created a conduit for him t
He said his intention was solely to get Abdul Gani to explain before the issue deteriorated further. “Why should I attack him? He’s been doing a very challenging job. I'm merely asking him to explain before the issue deteriorates."
Asked if he was barred from entering the A-G’s office, Phang said it was ridiculous. “If I have nothing to do there, what purpose do I have that I need to go?”
Like any government department, he said, the A-G's office needed information from the public to work on.
On the attacks against him by anonymous bloggers, Phang said he could only conclude some people must have been hurt badly by his comments.
“I am told one of the stories in these anonymous blogs initially claimed I am involved in a conspiracy to discredit former IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan, the A-G and the MACC, with the latest being me trying to corrupt a ministry’s secretary-general. Very amusing stories.”
He said they were "lame and merely illogical" allegations. “The objective of these personal attacks is clearly to confuse and distract the public from the real issues I have identified. Do not think by doing this you can shut me up."
Source : http://mmail.com.my/content/61477-phang-says-bribery-allegation-utter-rubbish-and-amusing
Source : The Malay mail newspaper @ date : 20 January 2011(Thursday)
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