Phang Calls for Urgency in Investigating His Bribery Allegations

Former panel of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) Tan Sri Datuk Robert Phang urged the MACC to start investigations on his bribery allegations immediately.“I appeal to MACC if there is investigation to be conducted, please speed it up” Phang told Malaysian Digest whet met at his office here today.“I’m looking forward to serve the nation with dignity, again,” he added.According to Phang, he never regretted his decision to pull out of Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel (CCPP) but stressed that if his name is cleared from the allegations, he would consider returning to MACC.

Robert Phang: People Should Not Be Discouraged from Telling the Truth

 Tan Sri Robert Phang Miow Sin is a former member of member of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel (CCPP). He resigned from the post recently amid the graft allegations that were leveled at him following his urging for an investigation into alleged corrupt practices in Malaysia Airlines (MAS). Phang, who is also a Justice of the Peace, said his decision to pull out from CCPP was to preserve his integrity as well as that of MACC.

In this interview, Phang talks to Malaysian Digest his efforts to clear his name and track down the blogger who had made alleged him of attempting to bribe a ministry’s secretary-general. 

Robert Phang Got Punk’d?

by Dajmarizal Zolkipli

Malaysia has become a nation where rumors, lies and false allegations by those who intentionally spread misinformation on innocent victims in order to silence or discredit them are taken as the truth. Meanwhile, the real truths, which can be substantiated, are ignored or covered up so that the deceptions appear credible. The Tan Sri Robert Phang’s bribe allegation would be the most recent and credible, if not a perfect, example to support the above statement. The allegation raised by one blogger suddenly made headlines all over the media, leaving Robert Phang looking pretty much like a deer in the spotlight. But Phang did not make much fuss, neither did he fret about it. Instead, he calmly invites investigations to be conducted on him, a move that’s pivotal in getting the rakyat to take his side.

Ambiga to MACC: Resign if you're not heeded

The advisory board of the national anti-graft authority has been urged to resign, if its recommendations to the government on how to tackle corruption are ignored.At a Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) organised forum on reforming political financing, Bersih 2.0 chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan ticked off the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for its repeated stance that it can only work within its constrains.

Her criticisms were directed at former Universiti Science Malaysia vice-chancellor Ishak Tambi Kechik, who now sits on MACC's advisory panel and lauded the commission's progress since its inception in 2008.“I don't buy the excuse of insufficient resources. If funds are lacking, then march into the prime minister's office and demand for more. If you don't get it, then resign en-bloc! I'm sick and tired of excuses about constraints,” she said.

IGP: Community can help to fight crime

Inspector General of Police Ismail Omar wants the local communities in the state to continue working closely with the police to fight crime. Their participation is very important to help lower crime rate in the country, especially the state, he said during a meet-the-people session at the Malay Union Club in Kamoung Datu Baru in Sibu today.

"Whenever and wherever there is close co-operation and ties, criminals and trouble makers tend to shy away. This bond is like a wall or an obstacle to those with evil intention," he said. On the other hand, he said it was very dangerous if the people were apathetic, did not care for each other or refuse to work with the police.

Dignity defended

My column last week described why I think a leading lawyer's dignity has been denied by our judicial system, all because of the so-called performance management system being implemented by the chief judge. Last week also, about 30 criminal lawyers met to discuss how they should protest this 'expediency syndrome' that appears to do injustice to those who still fall under our 'innocent until proven guilty' doctrine within our system of governance.

France is the only exception, as far as I am aware, that follows the 'guilty until proven innocent' doctrine. This means that in the French system, they are much slower in making any false accusations and presumably will never make an assertion without absolute certainty regarding the evidence gathered and charge being made.

Don't meddle, ex-US envoy told

KUALA LUMPUR: Former United States ambassador to Malaysia John Malott should forge goodwill between the two nations instead of meddling in Malaysia's domestic affairs.Businessman and former Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel (CCPP) member Tan Sri Robert Phang Miow Sin said Malott's legacy would have been more significant if he had left behind a high level of goodwill on which his successor could build.

"He has failed to do this. Further, he has made it uncomfortable for the current ambassador."An ambassador and the host nation must have mutual respect for each country's image on the world stage without stepping on each other," he told the New Straits Times yesterday.Phang came to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's defence over an article titled "Price of Malaysia's racism" written by Malott in the Wall Street Journal on Feb 8. Malott, who served here from 1995 to 1998, criticised the prime minister's 1Malaysia concept as being hypocritical, claiming "racial and religious tensions are higher today than when Najib took office in 2009".Phang said: "Najib is a dynamic person and I am sure he will be able to address all the allegations hurled against him. "He has the people's support to steer the country and their priorities in the right direction."

Fund gets RM60,000 boost

KUALA LUMPUR: The Tabung Bencana NSTP-Media Prima, set up to alleviate the burden of tens of thousands affected by the floods, received a boost when the chairman of Social Care Foundation, Tan Sri Robert Phang, and his associate from Oscar Bonanza Sdn Bhd, Richard Pan Siew Voon, contributed RM50,000 and RM10,000 respectively, yesterday. "The floods is something that we have to endure.

"We have to empathise with those whose lives have been disrupted by this and are living in deplorable and trying conditions.

"The government has done a lot in helping those affected by it and it is our turn to lend a helping hand to those who need it," said Pan.

"Personal contributions such as this would hopefully prompt others to join in the efforts and bring out the true 1Malaysia spirit in all of us," said Phang.

Tokoh Tokoh Masyarakat ( RTM 01st Feb 2011)

I thank Almighty God for his divine timely intervention not only to clear all the rubbish allegations against me and to promote me in the right perspective position as this TV documentary program vindicates me.

I have never expected that the authorities have decorated me as “TOKOH MASYARAKAT MALAYSIA”. 

It has appeared on the 1^st February 2011 after the 8.00 p.m. news, Peristiwa TV 1. It will appear that even God is sending down a meaningful message to the Rakyat, my true characteristics.  I will continue to walk the talk.

Please enjoy viewing.

God Bless.

Phang: No need for police report

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Robert Phang Miow Sin will not lodge a police report against the blog "A Voice" over the allegations of corruption levelled against him in a posting last week.He said there was no need for a police report as the matter was already being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). Phang, who relinquished his post in the MACC consultation and corruption prevention panel on Thursday, said his decision to resign was seen as the best solution at the moment.