August 24, 2012
MACC clears Robert Phang of graft accusation
by Hafiz Yatim@http://www.malaysiakini.com
Outspoken former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) panel member Robert Phang has been cleared of the corruption allegations made against him. MACC Director of investigations Mustafar Ali today confirmed this in an SMS in response to a query from Malaysiakini.
Phang has also been issued with a letter from Mustafar, dated November last year, clearing him of the allegation made by an anonymous blogger. However, the letter from the MACC that clears Phang also states that it cannot be used for the purpose of publication by the media.
“The prosecutors have made the decision and cleared Phang from the corruption allegation. It was also announced by the Operations Review panel,” Mustafar said in an SMS earlier this week.
Phang resigned from the MACC panel early last year, declaring he needed to preserve his and the MACC’s integrity, and allow the graft commission to investigate the claims against him without any fear of conflict of interest.
His decision to resign stemmed from damning allegations that he had bribed a senior officer of the Home Ministry.
Commenting on the MACC’s confirmation that he has been cleared of the allegations of corruption, Phang, 72, said he was thankful that the anti-graft body had cleared him.
“The allegation (made in the blog) was baseless as it only surfaced early last year, following my criticism of Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail over his haj trip in 2010. I had said that Gani went on the trip with a shady character, Shahidan Shafie, who is a close acquaintance of former Malaysia Airlines chairperson Tajuddin Ramli.The said transaction that I was implicated in but was not involved in any way occurred in 2008,” Phang told Malaysiakini.
Gani had appeared before an MACC joint panel to explain his haj trip and one 
of the panel members, Ramon Navaratnam (right), said MACC was satisfied with the Gani’s explanation. However, Ramon’s position was blasted by Phang, who maintained that some members were not truly satisfied.
The A-G was last year cleared of the haj trip allegation, and the MACC also declared that no criminal offence took place.
‘A-G has to come clean’
Phang said following the allegations against the AG in connection with the Ho Hup affair, Gani should temporarily remove himself from his post to provide for the integrity of the investigations into that matter.
The Social Just Care foundation chairperson said he has also lodged a Police report against Gani in connections with the damning allegations made against Gani in a recently published book.
“The Police have recorded my statement for the report that I lodged. They asked for my purpose of lodging the report and my response was that it is for the authorities to investigate the truth of the allegations.
“Gani should remove himself from the post of A-G until he is fully cleared. Follow my example and resign until you are cleared. Or, if the allegations made in the book are untrue, then Gani should file a defamation suit,” Phang added.
The 14-chapter book published by the author himself, lawyer Zainal Abidin
Ahmad, is titled ‘Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail: Pemalsu, Penipu, Penjenayah?’ and it includes various open letters from former Kuala Lumpur CID chief Mat Zain Ibrahim.
Being the top prosecutor in the country, Phang said, Gani who is a fellow Sabahan like him must come clean as there are many allegations made against him, in the past and at present as well.
“Otherwise, Gani will be seen as a big liability for the Barisan Nasional in winning the 13th general election,” he declared.
Hoi, Silly Phang, seeking cheap publicity. I am sure Mr. Bean will comment on this character. Silly should learn to shut up. Hentam saja, Bean.
“The said transaction that I was implicated in but was not involved in any way occurred in 2008,” Phang told Malaysiakini.”
Now how could you be implicated and not be involved?? Silly Phang living up to his nick.
“Phang resigned from the MACC panel early last year, declaring he needed to preserve his and the MACC’s integrity, and allow the graft commission to investigate the claims against him without any fear of conflict of interest.”
“To protect the integrity of the process” was the way he characterized his sudden departure from the advisory panel. But then Silly Phang you had no operational role in MACC and was never in a position to influence both policy and operational and day to day management within MACC. Aren’t you a little haughty in the assessment of your role within MACC?
Had you remained they would have had to dismiss you and have you prosecuted for the alleged crime or crimes. The public would then know the truth. You would have had a chance to clear your name.
That letter or text message you claim you received from MACC does nothing to prove your innocence. On the other hand it could be evidence of your collaboration with MACC.
And don’t be silly. Just because the letter says “It is not for publication” it does not mean you cannot have it published. In fact you just had it published here on Dato’s blog. “Publication” does not mean you gotta send it to the printers.
Silly Phang being his silly self yet again.
“Phang said following the allegations against the AG in connection with the Ho Hup affair”
A lot of ho-hum.
Nobody seems interested in this character. Wonder why.
To Mr. Bean and Mr Gurdashan Singh,
Sincerely, I would like to “Thank” both of you for whatever your criticisms or remarks levied on my articles or press statements, which appeared in most of the blogs and in particular, the “Din Merican” blog. I have noted all your comments and criticisms respectively.
Again, I must sincerely “Thank” both of you for creating the PROMINENCE for me for the past years. I will pray to Almighty God for good health and protection upon both of you and your families.
Best Regards and God Bless. Amen
“HUMBLENESS IS GOOD VIRTUE, ARROGANCE SHALL FALL, THE MEEK WILL RULE THE WORLD”
I have always been puzzled at Datuk Phang’s silly childish action in resigning from the MACC and I do agree with Mr Bean that Datuk Phang’s rational and reasoning behind is flawed and it does not do any justice to himself except to his own self inflated ego about the “perceived hurt of damage to his reputation”. If a person did NOT do anything wrong he or she must stand his or her grounds and fight on until the allegations are proven to false and the blog writer punished for defamation of character.
By “staying on” in the MACC when confronted with the allegation, he could have been a VERY effective thorn in the fight against corruption. As it stands now, he is doing his fight on the sideline which is totally ineffective as MACC would NOT want him back although he is “cleared”. Now you understand why the stand he took was silly as “there was really nothing to be cleared in the first place” as I already believed in his integrity in his fight against corruption.