Thursday, September 06, 2012

Stop Persecuting SUARAM

The Companies Commission of Malaysia has shown remarkable diligence in raiding the offices of Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd, the operating entity of Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) non-governmental organization (NGO).

Yesterday, officers from the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) had gone to Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd’s company secretary and auditor’s office and conducted a search and seized documents related to the company.

The notices to search and seize were issued under Section 7C and 7D(1) of the Companies Act 1965.  The above sections of the law are essentially the powers of CCM to conduct searches and seizures or “fishing expeditions”, indicating no particular offence committed by SUARAM.

The raid was conducted despite SUARAM having written to CCM on 20th July 2012 that they will provide full cooperation to the latter and will provide further documents and information upon receiving written requests to do so.

Even PERKESO, the agency which manages SOCSO payments had ordered SUARAM to produce a list of documents to the office on 30th August 2012. In compliance to the notice, SUARAM had produced the requested documents to the relevant officer, who in-turn was completely clueless to SUARAM’s presence.

The actions by the Government agencies, under pressure from UMNO and right-wing racist organisations  such as Jaringan Melayu Malaysia and PERKASA, particularly by CCM are of extreme prejudice in nature.

Over the past year, I have exposed many companies which have flouted many laws in the Companies Act 1965.  They’ve included the companies owned by Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil’s family members who own the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC).

For example, NFC has granted personal loans to the directors of the company that breached Section 133 and 133A of the Companies’ Act where such loans are clearly prohibited.

The family’s other companies, National Meat & Livestock Company Sdn Bhd, Real Food Company Sdn Bhd and Meatworks Sdn Bhd have failed to hold the company’s Annual General Meetings, file its Annual Returns to the Registrar of Companies together with their Audited Financial Report.  These offences are clear breached of Section 169A of the Companies Act, which carries the penalty 5 years in prison and/or RM30,000.

Similarly, Yayasan Gerakbakti Kebangsaan (YGK) owned by UMNO Youth with Khairy Jamaluddin and Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan as directors, has never filed their accounts since 2009.

Why is it that up to today, despite the above exposes being made at least 6 months ago, the CCM has failed to act against the above companies despite the proven breaches? On the other hand, why is it that despite having done no wrong, the CCM and the other government agencies have been relentless in their pursuit to charge SUARAM.

It is clear as day that the current persecution is mediated the exposes on Najib and the multibillion ringgit Scorpene submarine scandal.

We call upon the CCM to stay away from politically motivated actions which will only tarnish its image as an impartial entity.  If it has to act against SUARAM, then surely action must be taken against the many companies of UMNO leaders, family members and cronies which have clearly breached many aspects of the law

SUARAM has done an impeccable job with the Scorpene submarine scandal which implicates the Prime Minister himself.  We hope SUARAM will maintain the course and double up its efforts especially to ensure that those corrupt leaders who abuses power will be rejected outright.

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