Two competing EGM invites spin TI-M into turmoil

Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M) is said to be in turmoil with the departure of its previous president Paul Low to take up a ministerial post in Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's cabinet.

The members then requisitioned for an extraordinary general meeting in an attempt to win back the non-governmental organisation's former respect.

It is understood the root cause of the problem was Low (left) leaving office without informing the executive of his decision after the BN's general election victory plus the MCA decision to shun all government positions.

His move and the trouble it triggered also came under fire from former TI-M member, Robert Phang in an interview with Malaysiakiniand in other media.

Amidst the turmoil Akhbar Sattar was elected from among the exco members to replace Low, defeating Josie Fernandez, with Mohamad Ali Hasan becoming deputy president and with Loi Keng Min and Mohamed Raslan Rahman secretary-general and treasurer respectively.

However, it was reported in late May that Josie was still secretary-general as she had not tendered her resignation. She also claimed that her email account had been hacked into.

It is understood that Selangor's Registrar of Societies recognised Josie as the TI-M secretary-general despite her defeat until her proposed resignation after the EGM.

Sources in TI-M say while Josie (right) had tried to settle the matter by calling for an exco meeting on June 28 to arrange for an EGM to discuss the members grouses and her resignation, this had been put down by the exco which allegedly held a separate meeting in her absence.

As a result it was learned that Josie decided to call via a letter dated June 28. for the EGM on July 13 at Subang's Dorsett Grand Hotel.

Meanwhile , Loi had in a July 4 letter to members called for a separate EGM at the Royal Selangor club in Bukit Kiara fixed for July 20, throwing members into confusion. 

Poser over amendment

Sources say both agendas for the EGM, that is the resignation of Josie and amendment to the organisation's constitution and other matters, are relatively the same.

This includes Article X (1)(c) which presently reads that if the office of the president, deputy president, secretary-general or treasurer is vacated, the executive committee shall at its next meeting or as soon as may be thereafter elect one of its members to fill the vacancy.

And that the vacancies in the executive committee shall be filled for the unexpired term by members of the society. 

Any replacement office-bearer or executive committee member appointed to fill a vacancy shall not be deemed to have served a term during that tenure.

That clause to be amended reads:

"If the office of the president or secretary-general is vacated, the president or secretary-general shall be elected at a general meeting. If the office of deputy president or treasurer is vacated, the executive committee shall at its next meeting or as soon as may be thereafter elect one of its members to fill the vacancy; and,

Vacancies in the executive committee shall be filled for the unexpired term from the members of the Society. Any replacement office-bearer or executive committee member appointed to fill a vacancy shall not be deemed to have served a term during that tenure.

Malaysiakini checks on the two letters revealed little differences between them except for the dates and the events' venues.