‘Tunku Aziz not transparent’

Bersih's S Ambiga said Tunku Aziz's allegation that the election reform watchdog is a fundraising vehicle for Anwar Ibrahim is outrageous and unsubstantiated.

PETALING JAYA: Election reform watchdog Bersih 2.0 co-chairman S Ambiga said that the claim that watchdog being Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s global fundraising vehicle is outrageous and is not substantiated with evidence.

“The claim is completely outrageous. Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim, being the former leader of Transparency International-Malaysia, must surely know the value of solid evidence before hurling accusations,” she said.

Ambiga was responding to allegation by former Selangor senator Tunku Abdul Aziz that the election reform watchdog is a platform for Anwar to obtain foreign fundings for his political campaign.

“Anwar makes good use of his international networking to get these funds. I don’t know whether Bersih leaders knew it or not.

“But Bersih is Anwar’s vehicle to receive international funds under the guise of democracy and free and fair elections.

“Bersih is not a non-partisan independent organisation. It’s Anwar’s baby,” said Tunku Aziz who is also Transparency International-Malaysia’s (TI-M) founding president.

Relating to the matter, he said that he was invited to attend a meeting several years ago when he was still heading TI-M. Current PKR vice-president and Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, Anwar’s aides, PKR leaders and two Americans who led different funding organisations were also present at the meeting that was held at Sheraton Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

During the meeting he was offered to head a free and fair election watchdog movement with perks such as US$4,000 monthly salary plus other perks and allowances. Tunku Aziz declined the offer.

Ambiga also said that Bersih welcomes anyone, including Tunku Aziz to see its books and accounts that would dispel the allegations.

“We will be more than happy to show him our books and accounts. It will show him how we are funded and hopefully it will dawn upon him that we are strongly supported by the Malaysian public who wants free and fair elections,” she said, adding that a full statement will be issued by Bersih in relations to this matter tomorrow.