SUARAM : Right of access to funding

States should facilitate not restrict access to funding for human rights by NGOs

Just like the attempt to introduce detention without trial as a subterfuge for gross failure to solve rising crime rates, the Malaysian government now wants to introduce a law to stop foreign funding for legitimate human rights work by Malaysian NGOs. The fact is that, after the calculated and relentless harassment of SUARAM by the government of Malaysia for more than seven months since July 2012, ostensibly to investigate “foreign funding to destabilize the government”, the government came up with nothing. This was despite the fact that the government agencies including the CCM carted away from SUARAM’s office all relevant documents and data relating to SUARAM’s funding. Thus, what more can a new law unravel that the CCM, ROS and Perkeso failed to uncover? The truth is that Concerned Malaysian NGOs (Comangos) have always been transparent about their funding and have been doing Malaysians a great favour by defending and promoting human rights in Malaysia. The problem seems to be the government’s own guilty conscience and duplicitous stand on human rights. The whole harassment of SUARAM started apparently after the Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM), a Government linked NGO lodged a report against SUARAM to the Company Commission of Malaysia (CCM). This harassment was clearly an attempt to try to silence SUARAM from exposing the scandal over the purchase of the Scorpene submarines. Ironically, while SUARAM was being being investigated by no less than six government agencies, Sabah UMNO Chief Datuk Musa Aman was at the centre of a RM40 million money laundering scandal uncovered by the Hong Kong police. Right of access to funding The right to freedom of association is a fundamental and universal right enshrined in numerous international treaties and standards and especially Article 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The United Nations Human Rights Committee (CCPR) observed that the right to freedom of association relates not only to the right to form an association, but also guarantees the right to such an association to freely carry out its activities legally. The Declaration on the rights and responsibility of individuals, groups and organs of the society to promote and defend universally recognised human rights and fundamental freedoms (Declaration on Human Rights Defenders) adopted the United Nations General Assembly in 1998 explicitly grants human rights defenders the right to access to funding; “Article 13 of this Declaration States, Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to solicit, receive and utilize resources for the expressed purpose of promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms through peaceful means, in accordance with the article 3 of the present declaration”. The Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Mr Maina Kiai which was presented in the recent 23rd Session of Human Rights Council clearly defined that; “The ability to seek, secure and use resources is essential to the existence and effective operations of any association, no matter how small. The right to freedom of association not only includes the ability of individuals or legal entities to form and join an association but also to seek, receive and use resources – human, material and financial from domestic, foreign, and international sources.” Many human rights bodies and special procedures, particularly those within the United Nations system have emphasized the principles that access to funding is a component of the freedom of association and that NGOs should have free access to funds, including foreign funds as long as the NGOs are not involved in any malpractice or criminal activities. Malaysian government receives the most foreign funding The fact remains that the Malaysian government as well as many other governments in this world are the biggest receivers of foreign funding - funding from World Bank and many other monetary foundations for projects and development assistance. But why are foreign funds so nefarious when NGOs get them yet apparently uncontroversial when others do? Mr Maina Kiai also has raised concern and questions related to double standards being practiced by the States against the NGOs in their country. Why should NGOs be singled out for restriction? It leaves the impression that their real sin is not accepting foreign contributions but criticizing the government. “It is paradoxical that some of the States stigmatizing foreign-funded associations in their own countries are receiving foreign funding themselves (in the form of loans, financing or development assistance), often in substantially greater amounts than that flowing to CSOs in their country. Others are the very same States providing funding to associations abroad, while rejecting foreign funding for associations in their own countries. But what is clear is that these new trends have a dramatic effect on civil society as they have not only resulted in restrictions to the enjoyment of freedom of association, but also led to further human rights violations”. States should facilitate not restrict access to funding for NGOs With the lack of freedom of association in Malaysia, any further restrictions on NGOs’ activities will be retrograde and completely contradictory to the Prime Minister’s promise to turn over a new leaf in terms of democratic reforms. Any regulation of NGOs should focus on their conduct, not their source of funds. The government’s ignominious failure to pin anything on SUARAM should be a lesson for it to learn to play by the rule of law. So long as an organization is engaged in peaceful advocacy and independent in its decision making like SUARAM, even if that is critical dissent, it should be entitled to do so as a matter of right, regardless of who funds the NGO. The Government should facilitate and not restrict the access to funding for NGOs which undertake development, human rights, environmental, as well as those that seek to increase transparency and accountability in their countries. Ultimately, it is the obligation of the Government to protect and promote this right, which is enjoyed by all citizens. Released by, Nalini Elumalai Executive Director SUARAM

Scorpene: Dakwaan Suaram palsu semata-mata

KUALA LUMPUR 4 Dis. - Propaganda pembangkang melalui pertubuhan tidak berdaftar, Suaram berhubung wujudnya perbicaraan di Mahkamah Perancis melibatkan isu kapal selam Scorpene jelas merupakan satu dakwaan palsu dan pembohongan semata-mata.

Presiden Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM), Azwanddin Hamzah berkata, perkara itu dibuktikan sendiri oleh Ahli Parlimen Batu, Tian Chua dalam sidang Dewan Rakyat pada 21 November lalu apabila beliau mengakui tidak ada perbicaraan di mahkamah tersebut.

"Kajian JMM menerusi penyata rasmi Parlimen yang telah dikeluarkan jelas tertulis bahawa Naib Presiden Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) itu mengakui dengan berkata 'saya tidak pernah kata Perancis ada perbicaraan'.

"Ini bermakna terbukti perbicaraan tersebut yang selama ini didakwa Suaram adalah satu pembohongan besar dan berniat jahat untuk memfitnah kerajaan Malaysia," katanya dalam sidang akhbar di sini hari ini.

Menerusi penyata rasmi Parlimen Bil 65 yang didedahkan JMM itu, Tian Chua menyebut 'saya tidak pernah kata Perancis ada perbicaraan'.

Isu perbicaraan itu menjadi perdebatan hangat di Dewan Rakyat pada tarikh tersebut apabila beberapa ahli Parlimen telah mendesak beliau untuk bercakap benar agar tidak mengelirukan rakyat. 

Menurut Azwanddin, pengakuan Tian Chua itu sekali gus mengesahkan 'perjuangan' Suaram yang berlagak sebagai sebuah pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) untuk memburukkan kerajaan menerusi isu tersebut adalah jelas satu fitnah dan berbohong kepada rakyat.

"Pendirian Tian Chua yang merupakan salah seorang pengasas Suaram itu telah berpusing 180 darjah dengan pengakuan tersebut.

"Walau bagaimanapun kita tidak hairan kerana inilah amalan biasa pihak pembangkang apabila tersepit mereka akan pusing kenyataan," katanya. 

Sehubungan itu, Azwanddin mendesak diwujudkan satu akta untuk melucutkan jawatan ahli Parlimen jika terbukti mereka terlibat secara langsung dengan campur tangan pihak asing.

Kenyataan JMM berkaitan isu Nazri

KUALA LUMPUR 3 Nov. - Presiden Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) Azwanddin Hamzah berpendapat, dakwaan yang dibuat oleh Pengarah Strategi Parti Keadilan Rakyat, Rafizi Ramli mengenai hubung kait antara Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz dengan ahli perniagaan balak, Michael Chia mampu menjadi isu kepada kerajaan. 

BERIKUT adalah kenyataannya:

1. Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz mungkin akan menjadi 'political liability' kepada Barisan Nasional (BN) jika benar desas-desus mengatakan bahawa Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim ada banyak simpan rahsia hitam membabitkan seorang ahli keluarga beliau. Anwar pasti akan ambil kesempatan ini untuk peras ugut sesiapa saja jika beliau berpeluang. Kita semua tahu bekas ahli PKR memang tahu sangat dengan cara 'political blackmail' jika serasi dengan falsafah politik Anwar. Tindakan Rafizi baru-baru ini mungkin ibarat 'the first show' sahaja.

2. Anwar sekarang di dalam keadaan politik yang amat terdesak dan beliau tidak teragak-agak untuk melakukan apa sahaja untuk dapat selamatkan Suaram. Suaram merupakan 'weapon of last resort' kepada Anwar untuk menyerang pemimpin dan agensi kerajaan BN menjelang Pilihan Raya Umum (PRU) Ke-13.

3. Anwar juga sedar bahawa Suaram sekarang berada dalam situasi yang amat tenat dan Anwar perlukan orang dalam BN untuk memberi ruang bagi Suaram bernafas pada saat genting. Komplot Scorpene mula dirancang oleh Anwar pada September 2004 di Munich dan peranan utama diberi kepada operator Suaram yang hanya sebuah syarikat sdn. bhd. tetapi berlagak seperti pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang kononnya mewakili rakyat Malaysia.

4. Ramai yang membuat tafsiran bahawa tindak-tanduk Mohamed Nazri kebelakangan ini seolah-olah memberi talian hayat kepada Suaram. Mungkin perkara ini berlaku secara 'coincidence' atau mungkin tidak.

5. Walaupun ramai antara kita yang menghormati keadaan Mohamed Nazri tetapi kita semua lebih mementingkan keselamatan dan kedaulatan Parlimen serta negara ini. Menteri yang menjaga kes-kes rasuah perlu memiliki imej bersih dan disegani. Menteri tersebut perlu menerima hakikat sebenar keadaan dan dilema politik beliau ketika ini.

Malaysia: Escalating harassment of several members of SUARAM

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has received new information and requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Malaysia.

New information:

The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources of the ongoing and escalating harassment of several members of Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM). 

According to the information received, between September 19 and October 4, 2012, several leaders and staff of SUARAM, including Dr. Kua Kia Soong, Director, Dr. Yeoh Seng Guan, Director, Ms. Nalini Elumalai, Executive Director, Ms. Danapakiam Savari, Finance Manager, Ms. Cynthia Gabriel, secretariat and former FIDH Vice President, Mr. Arumugam Kalimuthu, Chairman, Mr. Sivarasa Rasiah, Dr. Mohd Nasir bin Hashim, co-founders, deceased Fan Yew Teng and Charles Hector, and Ms. Sarah Devaraj, Refugee Coordinator, were served multiple notices from either or both the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) and the Registrar of Society (ROS)[1] regarding inspection and investigation conducted by the two administrative bodies on SUARAM’s registration, accounts and activities. A total of 16 notices were served by CCM and eight notices were served by ROS since July 2012. 

In many instances, the CCM did not allow SUARAM sufficient time to respond to their requests. For instance, on October 2, 2012, the CCM requested SUARAM to produce within less than 24 hours an extensive list of documents related to all grant agreements and offer letters concluded with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and the Open Society Institute (OSI) and all payment vouchers and receipts related to campaign expenses between 2006 and 2011. SUARAM’s lawyers subsequently sent a letter to the CCM to condemn this new request as being both unreasonable and unrealistic, and constituting a clear act of harassment. Despite such short delays, SUARAM nevertheless did produce the documents requested. More generally, SUARAM complied with all orders served by CCM and ROS. 

Since July 2012, SUARAM has been the target of ongoing harassment by the Malaysian authorities through investigations, public vilification and threats to charge SUARAM for alleged financial irregularities, receipt of foreign funds and non-registration as a society (see background information). 

Moreover, acts of harassment have also been perpetrated by other pro-government entities. On September 28, 2012, a coalition of 30 pro-government Malaysian NGOs calling themselves Gerakan NGO Bertindak 1Malaysia reportedly requested that SUARAM be declared illegal and treated the same as other illegal entities such as Al-Arqam, the Malayan Communist Party and the human rights NGO Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf). In addition, in a Joint Memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office on September 27, 2012, the same coalition of NGOs also called for legal actions to be taken by the Home Ministry, the Attorney General’s Chambers, the Central Bank (Bank Negara), the CCM and the Inland Revenue Board against SUARAM members under their respective mandates. The coalition in particular accused SUARAM of having committed “offences against the State" and “offences against the person of the King”. 

On October 4, 2012, right-wing group Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) also declared during a press conference that SUARAM had bribed Government officials to cover up information on its foreign funding. 

The Observatory strongly denounces the escalating harassment of SUARAM, as well as the Malaysian Government’s attempts to discredit those who receive foreign funds for their human rights work. Indeed, as recalled by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in her Commentary to the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders “Governments [should] allow human rights defenders, in particular NGOs, access to foreign funding as a part of international cooperation, to which civil society is entitled to the same extent as Governments. The only legitimate requirements imposed on defenders should be those in the interest of transparency”. 

Such acts of harassment seem to merely aim at sanctioning and hindering SUARAM human rights activities. The Observatory therefore reiterates its call on the Malaysian authorities to put an end immediately to the continuing harassment against SUARAM and, more generally, against all human rights defenders and organisations operating in the country. 

Background information[2]: 

On July 3, 2012, a team of officers from the CCM attempted to serve a notice of inspection to SUARAM, but the organisation pointed out that said notice was defective and hence, invalid. An officer from the CCM subsequently informed SUARAM that the CCM team would come back at 10:30 am on the following day to serve a proper notice. On July 4, 2012, the Directors, Chairman, secretariat members and staff of SUARAM together with lawyers arrived at the SUARAM’s office around 10:00 am in anticipation of the CCM’s scheduled visit. However, the team of officers arrived at 5:53 pm, a long time after the persons authorised to receive the notice had left the office. 

Between July 6, 2012 and September 17, the CCM served notices of inspection to different SUARAM leaders and staff on at least five occasions, requesting them to produce information and documents related to the organisation’s activities and/or summoning them to the CCM offices for interrogation. 

On August 3, 2012, SUARAM received a letter from the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO), an agency under the Ministry of Human Resources, ordering them to bring a list of documents to its office on August 30. It is to be noted that the said letter stipulated a fine up to RM10,000 (approximately 2,500 Euros) or two-year imprisonment or both in case of non-compliance 

In addition, on August 3, 2012, Mr. Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister, stated in a press conference that SUARAM’s accounts were highly suspicious and maintained that CCM’s investigation on the human rights organisation was not politically motivated. A lawyer from the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the largest political party headed by the current Prime Minister Najib Razak, also suggested that SUARAM would act as a money laundering terrorist organisation and called upon Bank Negara (Central Bank) to take immediate actions against it. 

On September 7, 2012, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Wisma Putra) expressed its intention to summon the German Embassy in Kuala Lumpur to explain the alleged channelling of funds to SUARAM for activities which purportedly show its “partiality to certain issues that have implications on Malaysia’s domestic situation”. 

On September 8, 2012, Mr. Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that the CCM had identified five charges under the Companies Act 1965 that could be made against SUARAM. In addition, the Malaysian Government also announced that investigations would be undertaken by several other government agencies, including the ROS that has publicly alleged that SUARAM is not legally registered as a society. 

On September 11, 2012, a meeting was held between the CCM, the ROS, the police, Bank Negara, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, and the Home Ministry, reportedly to determine the jurisdiction and actions to be taken by the respective government agencies against SUARAM. 

On September 13, 2012, former SUARAM staff’s family home was visited by officers believed to be from CCM, had enquired about matters pertaining to registration of businesses. The alleged officers obtained the staff’s mobile number from the family members upon learning that the staff was not at home. 

Action requested:

Please write to the authorities in Malaysia, urging them to: 

i. Put an end to any kind of harassment against all SUARAM staff and leaders mentioned above and more generally against all human rights defenders in Malaysia; 

ii. Ensure in all circumstances that SUARAM and its members are able to carry out their legitimate activities without any hindrance and fear of reprisals; 

iii. Conform with the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, especially its Article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”, as well as its Article 12.2, which provides that the State shall “take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of his or her rights”; 

iv. Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments ratified by Malaysia. 

Addresses:

· Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, Prime Minister, Prime Minister’s Office Malaysia, Main Block, Perdana Putra Building, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62502 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia. Tel: + 60 3 8888 8000, Fax: + 60 3 8888 3444, Email: ppm@pmo.gov.my

· Dato Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Minister of Home Affairs – Security Collective responsibility, Blok D1 & D2, Kompleks D, Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, 62546 Putrajaya, Malaysia.;Fax: 03-88891613/03-88891610, Email : webmaster@moha.gov.my

· Tan Sri Hasmy Agam, Chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM),Tingkat 11, Menara TH Perdana, Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Fax: + 603-26125620; Email: humanrights@suhakam.org.my

· H.E. Mr. Mazlan Muhammad, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the United Nations in Geneva, International Centre Cointrin (ICC), Bloc H (1st floor), Route de Pré-Bois 20, 1215 Geneva 15, Switzerland. Fax: +41 22 710 75 01. Email: malgeneva@kln.gov.my

· Embassy of Malaysia in Brussels, 414 A avenue de Tervueren, 1150 Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, Belgium, Fax: + 32 2 762 50 49. Email: malbrussels@kln.gov.my 

Please also write to the diplomatic missions or embassies of Malaysia in your respective country as well as to the EU diplomatic missions or embassies in Malaysia. 

*** 

Paris-Geneva, October 19, 2012 

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply. 

The Observatory, a FIDH and OMCT venture, is dedicated to the protection of Human Rights Defenders and aims to offer them concrete support in their time of need. 

To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:

· E-mail: Appeals@fidh-omct.org 

· Tel and fax FIDH + 33 (0) 1 43 55 25 18 / +33 1 43 55 18 80

· Tel and fax OMCT + 41 (0) 22 809 49 39 / + 41 22 809 49 29

[1] Owing to restrictive provisions and wide powers of the Minister and Registrar to suspend, ban and cancel any societies deemed to be a threat to national security under the Societies Act 1966, SUARAM has, like a number of other Malaysian human rights NGOs, registered under the Registrar of Companies (ROC) since 2002. 

[2] See Joint Press Statement, Asian and International Human Rights Groups Urge Government to End Harassment against SUARAM, September 17, 2012

Bertindak segera ke atas Cynthia

KUALA LUMPUR 16 Okt. - Enam pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) hari ini membuat laporan polis bagi mendesak pihak berkuasa mengambil tindakan segera terhadap Pengarah Eksekutif Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), Cynthia Gabriel yang ingin membawa masuk dua peguam asing bagi memberi taklimat kepada ahli Parlimen mengenai isu pembelian kapal selam Scorpene.

Enam NGO terbabit ialah Kelab Wartawan Muda Malaysia (KWMM), Jaringan Melayu Muda Malaysia (JMM), Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa), Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia, Lembaga Kesedaran Pencegah Jenayah serta Lembaga Perlindungan dan Kebajikan Pengguna.

Presiden KWMM, Dzulkarnain Taib berkata, perbuatan membawa orang asing mencampuri urusan dalaman negara bakal mengancam keselamatan negara.

“Suaram menunjukkan sikap angkuh kerana terus berusaha membawa dua peguam Perancis, William Bourdon dan Joseph Breham mencampuri urusan dalaman negara walaupun laporan polis sudah dibuat terhadap tiga pemimpin pembangkang berhubung perkara yang sama pada 5 Oktober lalu.

“Rakyat tidak harus membiarkan pihak luar mencampuri urusan negara kerana ia akan mengancam keselamatan," katanya selepas membuat laporan di Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Dang Wangi di sini hari ini.

Menurut Dzulkarnain, Cynthia menyatakan hasratnya itu melalui satu kenyataan yang disiarkan di Harakah Online yang menyebut bahawa Suaram tetap akan membawa masuk dua peguam berkenaan ke Malaysia dalam masa terdekat.

Sementara itu, Presiden JMM, Azwanddin Hamzah berkata, pihaknya akan berusaha menghalang tindakan Suaram tersebut dan pendedahan mengenai penglibatan pegawai kerajaan menjual maklumat dalam kes itu akan dilakukan dalam waktu terdekat.

“Saya mempunyai bukti terdapat pegawai kerajaan menerima sogokan Suaram untuk dedah rahsia kerajaan. JMM akan dedahkan dalam tempoh terdekat," ujarnya

Saifuddin gagal bezakan isu

KUALA LUMPUR 13 Okt. - Timbalan Menteri Pengajian Tinggi, Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah digesa meletakkan jawatan kerana gagal membezakan antara isu keselamatan negara dengan isu politik. 

Ahli Parlimen Kulim-Bandar Baharu, Datuk Zulkifli Noordin menegaskan, sebagai seorang pemimpin yang memegang jawatan dalam Kabinet, Saifuddin sepatutnya boleh membezakan isu pertubuhan haram menerima dana asing untuk menjatuhkan kerajaan dengan isu politik.

Katanya, isu Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) bukan soal politik tetapi perkara itu menyentuh tentang keselamatan serta kedaulatan negara.

"Suaram merupakan pertubuhan haram yang mengutip dana secara haram dan terbukti menerima dana daripada penyangak mata wang, George Soros.

"Saya terkejut kenyataan seperti itu dikeluarkan oleh anggota Kabinet yang jelas menunjukkan beliau tidak lagi layak menjadi timbalan menteri dan patut meletakkan jawatan," katanya ketika dihubungi Mingguan Malaysia di sini hari ini.

Beliau mengulas pandangan Saifuddin dalam portal berita Malaysiakini baru-baru ini yang mendakwa serangan BN ke atas Soros, berpotensi 'memakan diri sendiri'.

Zulkifli menambah, dana yang diberikan kuasa asing kepada pertubuhan haram sudah pasti bukan bertujuan untuk memajukan negara tetapi bagi menghancurkan demokrasi sedia ada.

"Sekarang kita bercakap mengenai Suaram yang terbukti menerima dana asing untuk menjatuhkan kerajaan sedia ada yang dipilih oleh rakyat," katanya. 

Presiden Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM), Azwanddin Hamzah juga senada dengan Zulkifli dan kesal dengan Saifuddin yang cuba mempertahankan sebuah pertubuhan yang terbukti menerima dana dan menjadi tali barut kuasa asing. 

"Kami (pertubuhan bukan kerajaan) bersungguh-sungguh menentang kemasukan dana asing yang bertujuan untuk menjatuhkan kerajaan, malangnya Saifuddin pula mempertahankan Suaram," katanya.

Presiden Persatuan Alumni Pemimpin Mahasiswa Aspirasi Malaysia (Aspirasi), Mohd. Shahar Abdullah pula menganggap Saifuddin seperti 'gunting dalam lipatan' apabila bertindak seolah-olah menyokong Suaram yang terbukti membuat pelbagai fitnah terhadap kerajaan.

"Jika perjuangan politik sudah tidak lagi selari dengan aspirasi kerajaan, adalah lebih baik letak jawatan," jelasnya.

Lum Yong, JMM lapor polis gambar palsu PM

KUALA LUMPUR 11 Okt. - Bekas pengasas bersama PKR, Ng Lum Yong dan Pertubuhan Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) membuat laporan polis bagi menggesa siasatan berhubung penyebaran sekeping gambar yang disifatkan cuba mengaibkan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Gambar yang dipercayai menggunakan teknik pertindihan gambar atau super impose itu didedahkan oleh sebuah blog prokerajaan anotherbrickinwall.blogspot.com sejak Jun lalu, yang mendakwa gambar berkenaan disebarkan menerusi sebuah lagi blog milik pemimpin pembangkang.

Menurut Lum Yong, beliau mengetahui tentang gambar yang memaparkan gambar palus Najib, model Mongolia, Altantuya Shaariibuu dan penganalisis politik, Abdul Razak Baginda itu setelah ditunjukkan oleh seorang rakan di sebuah restoran di Ampang.

"Saya curiga dengan penyebaran gambar itu oleh seorang pemimpin pembangkang. Adakah perbuatannya sengaja untuk memburuk-burukkan imej pemimpin nombor satu negara atau konspirasi untuk menjatuhkan kerajaan.

"Oleh itu, saya bersama JMM mendesak agar polis membuat siasatan lanjut dalam hal ini supaya perbuatan tersebut tidak disalah tafsir oleh orang ramai," katanya ketika ditemui di Ibu Pejabat Polis Ampang Jaya, di sini hari ini.

Mengulas lanjut, beliau memberitahu, pihaknya juga sangsi dengan tindakan penyebaran gambar itu yang berkemungkinan mempunyai kaitan dengan Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) bagi memburuk imej Perdana Menteri.

"Laporan hari ini juga mendesak siasatan berhubung kenyataan Pengarah Suaram Dr. Kua Kia Siong di sebuah akhbar, beberapa bulan lalu yang mengatakan pertubuhan itu menerima dana asing bagi membiayai kempen memfitnah Perdana Menteri.