MIC man accuses TI-M of aping opposition

Transparency International-Malaysia's (TI-M) president Akhbar Satar has been urged to not behave like an "advocate" for the opposition, following the group's assessment on Malaysia's seven-rung slip on their corruption perception index (CPI).

MIC treasurer-general S Vell Paari said Akhbar's decision to blame Malaysia's CPI performance on PKR vice-president Mohd Rafizi Ramli's jail sentence, the lack of political financing laws, 1MDB and problems with Felda were far off the mark.

"I would like to advise Akhbar to be sincere and honest in his assessment of this issue.

"TI-M shall not act as an advocate of the opposition party in trying to tarnish the image of this country," said Vell Paari in a statement today.

He said Akhbar (photo) was "ignorant" and "irresponsible" for suggesting that Rafizi was a whistleblower when it was clear that the latter had clearly breached the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010.

Vell Paari said the law had made the disclosure of confidential information a punishable offence, and that whistleblowers are only protected if they tip off enforcement agencies.

"Whistleblowing to anyone else including the media or even an elected representative will negate any protection provided by the Act," he said.

'Bad faith'

Moreover, Vell Paari argued, Rafizi was convicted after the court found him guilty of breaching the Banking and Financial Institutions Act 1989 by exposing private bank statements.

"Therefore, to conclude that Rafizi Ramli is a whistleblower and that the government does not protect whistleblowers are grossly wrong, and done in bad faith to tarnish the reputation of the Malaysia government.

"Of all people, the president of TI-M should know this better," he said.

On the lack of a political financing law, Vell Paari argued Akhbar should train his guns on the opposition parties who objected to the law and not BN, which mooted such legislation.

As for 1MDB and Felda related matters, the MIC leader said 1MDB was the "most investigated company" in Malaysia, and yet there has been no proof that any laws were broken as no one was charged.

The CPI is an annual report by Transparency International which gauges public perception on corruption, involving 180 countries.

This year, Malaysia was placed 62nd, alongside Cuba.- Mkini