Stand Up for and Defend Robert Phang

Let us stand up for and defend ROBERT PHANG against AGAINST ROGUES AND LIARS!

by Din Merican

Today is a national holiday to celebrate Thaipusam. Like most religious festivals which has moral significance, Hindus commemorate Thaipusam as the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a vel (spear) so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman. During Haj, Muslims throw stones at the Jamrah to commemorate Prophet Abraham’s stoning satan (the devil) who tempted him to disobey God. Religious literature is replete with such examples. It is a reminder to mankind that eventually good will overcome evil. It is a reminder that God is watching us.

In matters of state and mundane worldly affairs, we cannot, however, leave things to God to resolve for us. The Roman saying “ Give unto God what is God’s and Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s” reverberates in the same way as the Shariah’s concept of “Hablum Minallah and Hablum Minanannas”(Mankind’s relationship with God and Mankind’s relationship with his fellow Mankind).

The Rule of Law and an Ordered Society

Standing Up for Justice

Thus, to ensure that there is order in society, we have laws to govern us. As a matter of good governance, there has to be checks and balances in implementing these laws. That is what we expect in the balance between the two most powerful law enforcement agencies in the country, Polis DiRaja Malaysia (PDRM) and the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (M ACC). While PDRM is the principal law enforcement agency over all general and specific laws, we expect the MACC to ensure that PDRM does not abuse its powers or commit corruption. But we are disappointed!

PDRM-MACC Nexus

Time and time again we see PDRM and MACC working hand in glove. Instead of checking against one another, they collude with each other.

In 2007, instead of investigating reports by junior police personnel that former IGP Musa Hassan was in cahoots with the Along illegal loan shark syndicate, the MACC intimidated several Chinese informants to frame these junior policemen. It was then all too convenient for AG Gani Patail to charge them for fabrication of evidence against IGP Musa Hassan and the syndicate man, Goh Cheng Poh aka Tengku Goh went scot free.

DSP Baharain, Ken Hock and Hassan Aman: You are forgotten by PDRM, not us

Their case is still on-going and I will write about them shortly because I have just received a plea from one of their family members, a youngster, about the “penganiayaan” that they and their whole family had to suffer just because their fathers were carrying out their duties.

This child was sad that I wrote only about Dato’Ramli Yusuff and Lawyer Rosli Dahlan, only the big people. Let me tell suspended DSP Baharin Che Ros, suspended Inspector Hong Ken Hock and suspended Sergeant Major Hassan Aman that they are not forgotten. But the duty to remember them is their own Pasukan- their own PDRM which may have forsaken them!

The Teoh Beng Hock Tragedy: A Cover-Up

The MACC and PDRM also colluded in fixing up the investigation outcome of the Teoh Beng Hock Coroner’s Inquest. They had the scene of crime, they had a dead body outside of the MACC office window, they had a broken window handle which is clear evidence of Teoh being thrown out of that MACC office window, they had a list of the names of people who handled Teoh, they had senior DPPs and the Director of Prosecution of the MACC to assist the Coroner and yet the verdict was a disappointing – “We don’t know!”. This is a damning verdict on the state of justice in our country.

We see this sort of cover ups becoming more balatant of late. It is time we say we cannot have cover ups to be institutionalised. It is time we say no more!

Sanctimonious Ramon Navaratnam’s Poor Judgment

That is why there was public furor over Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam’s clearing of AG Gani Patail over his consorting with Tajuddin Ramli’s proxy Shahidan Shafie. That is why Tan Sri Robert Phang asked A-G Gani Patail to clear the air. Instead of doing that, proxy attacks by UMNO bloggers are now being launched incessantly against Robert Phang.

Proxy Attacks on Phang

Phang is under personal attacks after he questioned the lack of action in the MAS Scandal and A-G Gani Patail’s Haj Trip with Shahidan Shafie. Obviously, AG Gani Patail, Tajudin Ramli and Shahidan Shafie are hurting badly, not because they are repentant Hajis remorseful of past evil deeds, but because of Phang’s comments. Thus, these UMNO bloggers are working hard to defend these three and spin a new story that MAS did not lose so much money after all.

MAS’massive losses

Clearly, they are trying to make fools of the Malaysian public. Clearly they are trying to re-write history about MAS Widespread Asset Unbundling (WAU) restructuring which was implemented to get MAS out of the brink of bankruptcy. The reports of MAS losses lodged with the Police and the MACC were made by then MAS Managing Director, Dato’ Seri Idris Jala himself.

Idris Jala is now Minister in the Prime Minister’s Dept in charge of the Economic Transformation Program (ETP) for the government and of the country. Are they saying Idris lied when he made these reports? If Idris was wrong on the MAS losses, are we safe to leave our economic fortunes with this man? Is Idris now cooking the country’s economic books to present a rosy picture for PM Najib’s administration? These UMNO bloggers spin without thinking that in the end they damage PM Dato Seri Najib’s credibility more by their falsehoods.

As for Phang, they now accuse him of being in conspiracy with me, RPK, and a few others. Conspiracy for what? According to them, we are out to attack and discredit former IGP Musa Hassan, the MACC, and A-G Gani Patail. These proxy attackers should know that there is no need for me to attack A-G Gani or his Chambers. Just look at Dato’ Razak Musa strangulating himself in TBH’s Inquest and tell me if they have any credibility?!

What conspiracy?

Their conspiracy theory is not just preposterous but borders on the assumption that their readers are living in Bodohland. Thus, to depict that they have supporters amongst their readers, they delete the negative comments they received and put up their own positive comments. The things these mercenary writers do!

For good measure they bring in names of people who have been victimised by the system and who are now fighting back. They dragged in Ramli Yusuff and lawyer Rosli Dahlan as part of this conspiracy theory, whereas I wrote about their cases since 2007. They dragged in Dato’ Mat Zain Ibrahim, former KL CID Chief, whereas it is only recently that Dato’ Mat Zain came into the scene to expose Musa Hassan’s and Gani Patail’s fabrications and manipulations. In short, these UMNO bloggers behave like a bull in a china shop, they attack anyone who speaks out against the abuses in the system. That is how skewed these UMNO bloggers are. These proxy attacks launched through anonymous blogs is an old tactic.

If Phang’s comments about A-G Gani are untrue, then A-G Gani should deny it publicly. As private citizens with civil rights, Tajuddin and Shahidan could take out legal suits for defamation and slander. As the powerful A-G, Gani Patail could institute prosecution for criminal defamation against the writers who discredited his office. There is precedence – Raja Petra Kamarudinwas charged for allegedly defaming our Prime Minister’s wife, and the PM’s wife’s is not even a civil servant!

The A-G’s silence is deafening

The AG’s silence could only mean there is much truth in the allegations of his association with Shahidan and in him being compromised over the MAS Scandal such that he NFA’d the case despite Dato’ Ramli’s written recommendation that Tajuddin should be charged for various offences.

Now they accuse Phang of bribery! The intention is clear. It is to make Phang the subject of investigation by PDRM and MACC. A-G Gani Patail will then decide to press charges against Phang. That is what happens when you go against A-G Gani Patail. That was what happened Dato’ Ramli Yusuff and Rosli Dahlan in the MAS Scandal. Instead of going after the real crooks, they went after the Police Director and the lawyer!

But they made a big mistake in Rosli’s case and he is now fighting back. Are these bloggers, MACC and AG Gani Patail making the same mistake now by attacking Phang?

It seems so. Lone MACC dissenter Phang is not some kaki bodek like the sanctimonious Ramon Navaratnam who would cower at such base tactics. Phang has issued a Press Statement which, surprisingly, are carried by some mainstream media like the NST and The Malay Mail today. I reproduce the full text of Phang’s statement below in which he did not mince his words.

I call on all Malaysians to rise and defend Robert Phang against these rogues and liars!

January 20, 2011
PRESS STATEMENT BY
TAN SRI DATUK ROBERT PHANG MIOW SIN. Justice of Peace
Chairman – Social Care Foundation
Panel Advisor of Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)

ON THE RECENT PERSONAL ATTACKS AGAINST ME IN ANONYMOUS BLOGS

1. In the last two days I have been receiving many calls from friends and the media asking for my comments on the personal attacks made against me in various anonymous blogs. I have asked these callers to help me identify who these writers and blog-hosts are, but I am told that no such information are available on these blogs. In other words, these are cowards who hide their true identity. These are mercenary writers and spreaders of falsehoods as aptly described by the Malay saying “Lempar Batu Sembunyi Tangan”.

2. It is noted that I started to come under personal attacks only recently, after I raised concerns about public perceptions on a host of issues about the lack of action in the MAS Scandal; the Attorney-General’s Haj Trip under suspicious circumstances; AG Tan Sri Gani Patail’s relationship with the former Chairman of MAS, Tajudin Ramli’s proxy, one Encik Shahidan Shafie; about perceived selective prosecution; and also the disclosure of a confidential MACC meeting by Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam who announced that the AG had been cleared of any wrongdoing without any investigation. For merely asking for accountability for all these controversies that were already in the public domain, I became the subject of these attacks.

3. Let me be clear that in all the above matters, my comments are proven justified. I have been vindicated in that the MACC now says it is investigating the MAS Scandal. It is notable that the MACC Corruption Prevention Panel, after a meeting with the Home Minister, Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, on 10 January 2011, was authorized to issue a public statement to censure its Chairman, Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, for making that unauthorised clearance of AG Gani Patail. The Panel also urged AG Gani Patail to clear the air on the issues raised in public domain with the Rakyat as soon as possible – in which he agreed to do so.

4. In regard to the vicious attacks by these anonymous blogs against me, I can only deduce that some people have been hurt badly by my previous comments. Let me also be clear on this – my comments referred to above were based on matters that are already in the public domain. It is on record, that from day one till now, I have merely urged and invited AG to engage, explain and clear the air with the public as soon as possible.

5. I am told that one of the stories in these anonymous blogs initially claimed that I am involved in a conspiracy to discredit former IGP Musa Hassan, AG Gani Patail and the MACC. This is such a lame and illogical allegation. Recently, to intimidate me from speaking out on issues of public importance, these blogs also created a fanciful story that I tried to corrupt a KSU of one Ministry. Very amusing stories.

6. I say to these phantom writers – do not think I can be cowed by such delinquent and childish antics. I will not dignify these acts of cowardice seeking cheap publicity at my expense. TO BE SURE AND CLEAR, I DENY THESE VINDICTIVE STORIES OF FICTION AND IMAGINATION. The objective of these personal attacks against me is clearly to confuse and distract the public from the real issues that I have identified above. I will walk my talk. I INVITE THESE MERCENARY WRITERS TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AND MAKE THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST ME PUBLICLY. Do not think by doing this you can shut me up to cover up for your masters.

7. Sincerely and humbly, I say to these cowards again – if you have the guts, identify yourselves and repeat your allegations in an open forum. Then, I will expose the liars that they are and I will take the appropriate action against them. I will continue to speak out until all these rogues are weeded out. That is my pledge.

8. If at all there is any investigation by MACC, not only do I welcome it but I will extend my fullest corporation. THE TRUTH MUST PREVAIL.

9. I will support MACC in their fight against corruption.

“HUMBLENESS IS GOOD VIRTUE, ARROGANCE SHALL FALL, THE MEEK WILL RULE THE WORLD”.

Tan Sri Datuk Robert Phang Miow Sin
Justice of Peace