BN’s disgusting international standards

REMEMBER how Tan Sri Robert Phang was ousted as an advisory panel member of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission?

Phang was one of the pioneer members of the panel upon the formation of the MACC. However, his outspokenness has been a thorn in the flesh of those who tread the corridors of power.

Unlike the majority of the “Yes Men” MACC panel members who chose to accept their appointment, but remained mute throughout their tenure, Phang spoke up against corruption and abuse of power.

He openly took on the likes of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz, former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan (for alleged abuse of power and conspiracy with the underworld), and those who benefitted from the multi-billion ringgit Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) financial scandal.

Phang’s ouster in the MACC panel was sparked when he took on the all-powerful Attorney-General (A-G) Tan Sri Gani Patail.

Ruthlessly pushed out

That was too much for Phang to chew as Gani’s office could decide whether to prosecute an accused, with or without evidence; with authentic or fabricated evidence as the Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Sodomy I and II hearings have revealed thus far.

And all Phang did was to call on Gani to rebut allegations linking him to high-profile but shady corporate figures who allegedly paid for his haj or pilgrimage trip. The allegations were backed by documents.

Of course there were many other allegations against the A-G but the documentary evidence posted in the public electronic domain was just too embarrassing and overwhelming.

So what happened?

Gani ordered a probe on allegations of corruption, posted ANONYMOUSLY in a blog, which eventually led to nowhere and Phang was cleared by the MACC.

Phang had voluntary quit as a MACC panel member to facilitate the investigations against him and to uphold the integrity of the MACC.

After Phang was cleared, he was not reappointed to the MACC panel.

But Phang showed them

Boring? Hold your horses man! Read on and I can assure you that it is becoming both amusing and disgusting.

What I find most amusing is the fact that Phang was recently the recipient of the Socially Responsible Company (SRC) Awards 2011’s Master Class Awards in Anti-Corruption.

So what’s the big deal, you may ask?

Well, the SRC 2011 Awards are sanctioned by:

> The United Nations;

> The United Nations Global Impact; and

> Audited by McMillan Woods.

And, now for the best laugh! The award presentation, organised by JCI Malaysia and hosted by JCI E-Metro KL, was supported by:

> Malaysia’s Prime Minister’s Department;

> Malaysia’s Youth and Sports Ministry; and

> Malaysia’s Human Resources Department.

Twisted logic

The Barisan Nasional government sure has a funny way of recognising international achievers. It kicks them out of office when they start performing with international standards.

Phang better watch his next step and not be too delighted with the UN-recognition or the BN government will start treating him like a public pariah.

What am I talking about? Look how the BN government is treating former Bar Council president and Bersih 2 leader Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan.

For those suffering from amnesia (especially those from Umno-BN), U.S. first lady Michelle Obama and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton awarded Ambiga the Secretary of State's Award for International Women of Courage at the US State Department on March 11, 2009 in Washington, DC.

The awards were given to eight women from around the world who have shown leadership while struggling for social justice and human rights.

There you have it, Malaysians. The BN government sure have strange ways to reward or recognise talent and international achievers.

Protecting cow breeders who use public funds allocated for beef production to buy multi-million-ringgit condominiums seems to be the Umno-BN international standard and benchmark for supreme achievers.

Jackson Ng is a retired journalist who reads Malaysia Chronicle