We, the undersigned NGOs, are gravely concerned with the comments made by the Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ismail Sabri Yaakob regarding human rights organisation SUARAM. The Minister is reported to have said that the financial accounts of Suara Inisiatif Sdn. Bhd, which is linked to SUARAM and currently undergoing investigation, are “highly suspicious”.
While we fully acknowledge that any allegations of irregularities in the financial accounts of an organisation can and must be investigated, we wish to remind the authorities to be impartial and fair in carrying out the investigation, as their first duty is to the Malaysian public, not to the government of the day.
Moreover, as expressed in the recent press statements issued by SUARAM, the NGO has given its full cooperation to the various authorities involved. In fact, it is the authorities themselves such as PERKESO who do not seem to be on top of the investigation process, thus raising further suspicions of political motivation. We also wish to question why the Companies Commission Malaysia (CCM) has only launched its investigation now, after the president of Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) questioned SUARAM’s legitimacy as an NGO.
Once again, this raises doubts due to the timing as the on-going Scorpene submarine investigations by SUARAM have revealed tremendous discrepancies in the financial accounts of the government-linked companies involved.
We demand an immediate end to the harassment against human rights defender, SUARAM. We also strongly support SUARAM’s challenge to the government and its agencies to speedily inspect and investigate Perimekar Sdn. Bhd. and Terasasi Sdn. Bhd. and reveal its findings to the public in the same manner which they have handled the investigations against SUARAM.
We continue to stand in support of all those who work in defense of human rights and democracy in Malaysia and reiterate our full support for SUARAM.
Signed and supported by:
NGOs
1. Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower)
2. Tenaganita
3. Lawyers for Liberty (LFL)
4. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita
5. Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)
6. Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)
7. Pusat KOMAS
8. Perak Women for Women (PWW)
9. Association of Women Lawyers (AWL)
10. Community Action Network (CAN)
11. Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)
12. Aliran
13. LLG Cultural Development Centre
14. Coalition of Kelantan NGOs
15. Civil Right Committee KLSCAH
16. Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC)
17. Serdang Bharu School Alumni Youth Section
18. Sisters in Islam (SIS)
19. Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
20. Bersihkan Malaysia Perth
21. People’s Green Coalition
22. Borneo Resources Institute, Malaysia
23. OHMSI (Oriental Hearts and Mind Study Institute)
24. Sabah Women’s Action Resource Group
25. All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
26. Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF)
27. Angkatan Warga Aman Malaysia(WargaAMAN)
28. Malaysian Indians Progressive Association (MIPAS)
29. Malaysian Youth Care Association (PRIHATIN)
30. People’s Welfare and Rights Coalition (POWER)
31. Malaysian Indians Transformation Action Team (MITRA)
32. Angkatan Nasional India Malaysia (AGNI)
33. Kill the Bill
34. Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Youth Section
35. Persatuan Komuniti Prihatin Selangor & KL
36. Serdang Bharu School Alumni Youth Section
37. LLG (Lim Lian Geok) Cultural Developement Centre Berhad Melaka
38. Himpunan Hijau
39. Group of Concerned Citizens
40. Malaysian Indian Development Association
41. Malaysian Association of Indian University Graduates
42. Malaysian Indian Historical Association
43. Malaysian Indian Youth Development Foundation
44. World Tamil Federation – Malaysian Chapter
45. Indian Malaysian Active Generation (IMAGE)
46. Persahabatan Semparuthi
47. Child Development Initiative
48. Academy of Tamil Studies
49. Council of Temples Malaysia
50. Japan Graduates’ Association of Malaysia
51. Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT)
52. Community Development Centre (CDC)
53. Malaysia Youth & Student Democratic Movement (DEMA)
54. Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM)
55. Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM)
56. Northern Green Youth
57. Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM)
58. Negeri Sembilan Chinese Assembly Hall (NSCAH)
59. Centre for Policy Initiative (CPI)
60. Muslim Professionals Forum (MPF)
61. United Chinese School Alumni Association of Malaysia (UCSAAM)
62. Save Our Sungai Selangor (SOS Selangor)
63. Global Bersih
64. SABM Australia (SABMoz)
65. Persekutuan Alumni Han Chiang Pulau Pinang
66. Malaysians for Beng Hock
67. 528 Media Action Group
68. Friends in Conversation (FIC)
69. Research for Social Advancement (REFSA)
70. The Micah Mandate
71. Save Vui Kong Campaign
72. MyOverseasVote (MOV)
73. Friends of Kota Damansara
74. Writers’ Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)
75. Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia (JKOASM)
76. Sinui Pal Nanuk Sngik, Perak (SPNS)
77. National Human Rights Society (HAKAM)
78. The Association for the Promotion of Human Rights (PROHAM)
79. Persatuan Seni Rumah Air Panas KL
80. Jaringan Orang Asal Se-Malaysia (JOAS)
81. Pahang Raub Ban Cyanide in Gold Mining Action Committee (BCAC)
82. Persatuan Alumni PBTUSM KL & Selangor
83. Jingga 13
84. Sarawak Keruan Organisation
85. Kampung Bukit Peninjau
86. PDBT
87. PPU
88. Indigenous People Development Centre (IPDC)
89. Kampung Bukit Limau-Sungai Nat
90. Pekan Kenowit
91. SILOP
92. PANGAU
93. WADESA (Persatuan Wanita Desa Sarawak)
94. IPIMAS
95. Persatuan Penduduk Balingan Satu (PPBS)
96. ADC MERADONG-JULAU
97. Jaringan Orang Asal Baram
98. TAHABAS
99. Rumah Rajang dan Tatu (RATA)
100. JKKK Pusat Krokong.
101. Tring-Kameh
102. Jawatankuasa Tindakan Rakyat Baram (JTRB)
103. Jawatankuasa Bertindak Rumah Ampau
104. Jawatankuasa Bertindak Hak Kg. Spaoh-Benat
105. Jawatankuasa Bertindak Melindungi Hak Kawasan Penduduk Tutoh-Apoh
106. MEBUSA
107. Sarawak Indigenous Youths Network (SYIN)
108. JKKK Pusat Jagoi
109. Pertubuhan Rakyat PUSAKAG
110. Pertubuhan Rakyat TONIBUNG
111. Pertubuhan Rakyat MONUNGKUS
112. Pertubuhan Rakyat GOMPITO
113. Pertubuhan Rakyat JGPT TONGOD
114. Pertubuhan Rakyat TINUNGKUSAN
115. Pertubuhan Rakyat G5 SIMBUAN
116. Pertubuhan Rakyat TINIPOT
117. Pertubuhan Rakyat PIROTON DAGALING
118. Pertubuhan Rakyat NOKIIKITO
119. Pertubuhan Rakyat MUKAKAS
120. Pertubuhan Rakyat MAMAKAT
121. Pertubuhan Rakyat BALAT-KUAMUT
122. Pertubuhan Rakyat G5 MANGKAWAGO
123. Pertubuhan Rakyat AARP ULU SENAGANG-MONGOOL
124. Pertubuhan Rakyat MONGOPUD
125. Pertubuhan Rakyat ALAB LANAS
126. Pertubuhan Rakyat G8 KOMOKITUKOD
127. KELAB BELIA KAMPUNG GANA (KBKG)
128. Pertubuhan Rakyat G14 TELUPID
129. Pertubuhan Rakyat G5 ULU TOMANI
130. Pertubuhan Rakyat KAWAKAHAN
131. G4- KANIBUNGAN
132. Pertubuhan Rakyat NAMBAYAN
133. Pertubuhan Rakyat SINUNGKALANGAN
134. Gabungan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI)
135. Pertubuhan IKRAM Malaysia (IKRAM)
136. Bruno Manser Foundation