Suaram slams ‘premature’ accusations
(The Sun Daily) – Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) slammed Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob for jumping the gun by saying that the organisation would be prosecuted even though investigations into its accounts are still ongoing.
In a statement today, Suaram executive director Nalini Elumalai said Suaram also condemns Sabri’s alleged statement that its accounts are “highly suspicious” despite the ongoing probe.
“Suaram has all along complied fully with the Companies Act in our dealings, and our accounts are fully audited every year,” said Nalini.
“This can only be seen as a political setup to frame Suaram because of our complaint to the French court to investigate suspected corruption in the Scorpene deal,” she added.
It was reported on Saturday that Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd, the company linked to Suaram, would be charged in the next two weeks for breaching provisions under the Companies Act, and it would also be investigated for four other possible offences linked to its highly suspicious accounts.
It was also reported that the company has been receiving funding from foreign countries such as Germany, and has been linked to currency speculator George Soros.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry said Malaysia is deeply disappointed to learn that the German embassy had funded Suaram as it can be misconstrued and be seen as interference in the domestic affairs of the country.
According to the ministry’s statement, the ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Malaysia Dr Guenther Georg Gruber told the ministry’s deputy secretary- general (bilateral relations) the funds were for a project that is “close to German values – the protection and promotion of human rights”.
rights”.
According to the statement, the funds were used to organise a workshop which was held in Kuala Lumpur in November 2010 which was attended by 21 non-governmental organisations.