SCORPENE STING: Suaram "close to finding the truth", to hold Jul 19 fundraiser

Despite the return of the Barisan Nasional (BN) into power following the 13th GE, more than 50% of the Malaysian electorate opted for a clean and transparent government. Only a fraudulent system could stop this unstoppable desire for change! With the help of a mal-apportioned system and a biased election commission, a minority BN government was formed without the backing of more than half of its populace.

Interestingly, in the lead up to the election campaigns across the nation, corruption issues took centre stage, dominated many election campaign speeches and shouts for an end to corruption were heard almost everywhere. The SCORPENE SCANDAL was singled out as the mother of all corruption scandals, in a sea of other high profile scandals. SUARAM campaigners toured the nation from North to South, East to West, speaking to thousands of Malaysians on the urgent need to fight corruption that has plundered our nation and shattered the lives of ordinary Malaysians.

The international nature of the SCORPENE scandal, the millions of ringgit siphoned off through kickbacks and bribes, the procurement of faulty and second grade battleships, the sensational murder of a Mongolian woman and the direct and purported involvement of Najib Razak, the Defence Minister at that time and the incumbent Prime Minister, had captured the imagination and hearts of Malaysians everywhere. This was a case of sheer abuse of power, and it become more evident with each passing day that the scourge of corruption, could no longer be tolerated.

Many dug deep into their pockets to sustain the agenda for change and support wholeheartedly the need to usher in a two party system that would ensure greater checks and balance, transparency and accountability. As such the outcome of the GE, have left many Malaysians disenchanted and let down, leaving us with little choice but to ensure those guilty of corruption crimes cannot escape unpunished!

SUARAM PUNISHED FOR BLOWING THE WHISTLE

Following our last fundraising efforts, exactly a year ago last June 2012, where we garnered a generous RM 240,000 from Malaysians, to announce and sustain the legal inquiry in the French judicial courts (Tribunal de Grande Instance), SUARAM had very soon after come under intense scrutiny and attacks by the Malaysian government agencies and the mainstream media.

So afraid were the Malaysian government leaders in the expose of the truth, as the inquiry was progressing in France, that 6 government agencies came together to intimidate, question and harass SUARAM officials and leaders, in a bid to discredit our good reputation, and blacken our name in the eyes of all Malaysians. However, until today, these agencies have failed to bring any charges against SUARAM as everything they accused us of, were utter fabrications.

THE FRENCH INQUIRY MUST CONTINUE

SUARAM is proud that today we continue to stand tall as a leading voice for human rights and good governance, and are here to announce our next and continued attempts to keep the inquiry in France alive! Let us be clear that the ongoing inquiry is not and cannot be a SUARAM commitment alone. We are now close to finding the truth as the developments and evidence in the ongoing inquiry are compelling; we now must fight this together and push for closure in this scandal that has dogged Malaysia for more than a decade now.

This is a cause in which is ultimately in the hands of the Malaysian people as without your continued monetary and moral support SUARAM would not have the means to proceed in the quest for Justice and truth. Let us face these hurdles together, to free Malaysia from the clutches of corruption, once and for all.

[Individual tickets are priced at RM 150 and RM500 and Tables are priced RM 1500 and RM 5000 each. Online payments and pledges can be made out to SUARA INISIATIF SDN BHD MBB a/c no: 5122 9582 0324.

For further enquiries, contact tickets@suaram.net or contact SUARAM at 03 77843525/ Sarah +013-3470860]