Awang Adek must come clean: When 2 people of questionable integrity helm the Finance Ministry

First time I came across the startling news was when the media revealed that Deputy Finance Minister Awang Adek Hussin had given a merchant the right to print two million pieces of twenty-ringgit bank notes when he was a big shot at the central Bank Negara Malaysia.

He allegedly continued to benefit from the merchant even after he left the Central Bank.

The second time I came across the same allegations was when a prominent PKR party member from Rembau, Chegubard aka Badrul Hisham Shaharin, repeated the same allegations against Awang. Chegubard challenged the deputy minister to immediately clarify if the accusations were true or otherwise.

Chegubard even chose Bachok, which is Awang Adek’s own political base, in which to challenge him in front of some 8,000 people. It is believed at least a handful of UMNO members also know about this open challenge.

Chegubard usually backs up his statements with strong evidence. It was he who revealed the shocking discovery of a ring worth RM24 million in KLIA immigration database which had been sent to the Prime Minister's wife from a company in New York. Rosmah and her husband did not make any comments in response to his allegations.

Now Chegubard is targeting the Prime Minister’s most trusted man and challenging him to clear his name from allegations of wrong doing when he was serving in the central bank.

Lost but still appointed Senator & Deputy Minister

Awang Adek was rejected by voters in the 2008 election. Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi did not appoint those who lost in the election to become ministers in his Cabinet.

But when Najib was the Prime Minister, he made Awang Adek a Senator and entrusted to him the Deputy Finance Minister's portfolio. It should be noted that Najib is also the finance minister.

The Ministry of Finance is a large and important ministry. It is administered by two important trustees. Our finance minister is also untrustworthy and in many ways seen as a wasteful spendthrift. He also appointed the dubious Awang Adek to become his deputy minister.

PM Najib is known to not care if civil society questions his morals and trustworthiness. It is as if the world would come to an end if he tries to straighten this out.

But what would happen to the integrity of the Finance Ministry and the country's financial position if the ministry is placed under two people with the most questionable integrity in Malaysia?

“Dr Awang has been slandered. A person is not guilty until he is convicted by the court. Dr Awang is not considered a convict. He was slandered and this does not make him guilty to the extent that his integrity is questionable.”

That may be Najib's standard defense. But with the slander unsatisfactorily denied, Awang has become a deputy minister who is not deemed as a trustworthy official.

When 2 people of questionable integrity head the Finance ministry...

When the Ministry of Finance is headed by more than one person with questionable integrity and trustworthiness, the world will lose confidence in our financial administration.

For this reason, Awang Adek should come forward and make an explanation to clear his name.

We want Awang Adek to do this so that if he is listed as a candidate in the 13th General Election, he will not be doubted by the voters and when he is selected by the folks in Bachok, they will be proud of the fact that they have elected a representatives who is clean and dignified.

If he fails to do so, he will be adding salt to BN’s pain to gain success. If he is to be the alternative Chief Minister but is perceived as someone without integrity, BN’s dreams of taking over Kelantan will not materialize.

If he is not willing to take any steps to defend himself, then people will begin to think that he left the central bank because he wanted bigger opportunities. But UMNO Kelantan will never be able to guarantee him such a prospect.

And as anyone can think, the real reason for his joining UMNO is not to fight for the people and country, but to seek protection. UMNO provides immunity for its members who have committed misconduct.

Awang Adek has not been proven guilty but this does not mean that he is off the hook.

The original article by Harakah's Subky Latif is in Malay. Translation by Huzainah Abdul Rani, Malaysia Chronicle