Former PKR Youth chief Ezam Mohd Noor today defended his appointment as senator and refuted claims that the appointment was a reward for his attacks on his former party.

Ezam, an ex-aide of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, said that his appointment was based on his “many contributions” to the fight against corruption, such as the set up of the People’s Movement Against Corruption (Gerak).

NONE "I am the only Malaysian who has gone to jail over the Official Secrets Act (OSA) due to his conviction against corruption. The reward claims are an attempt to discredit me," he told a press conference after the swearing-in ceremony at the Dewan Negara.

Ezam said that the appointment also had nothing to do with the fact that he has rejoined Umno and is now a fierce critic of PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

"I was very contented (with my position before). A senatorship is nothing much. It's not a reward," he said.

To a question, Ezam said was not given any specific instructions from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on his role in the Dewan Negara.

NONE Ezam said he has decided that his new role will be to expose those who engage in “treachery and extremist politics”.

"I have not backed out from my reform agenda, but we cannot have reforms that ruin the country,” he said.

“Lately, there have been groups who are willing to do anything, trading in principles and selling the name of the King and the country under the guise of reform (which is) fake and self-serving," he added.

Rumours become truth?

Ezam was sentenced under the OSA to two years’ imprisonment in 2002 for leaking documents pertaining to a graft probe on two Umno politicians - ex-Malacca chief minister Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik and former international trade and industry minister Rafidah Aziz.

In 2007, however, he quit PKR , citing a lack of confidence in his former party boss. Among other things, Ezam described Anwar as a “weak dictator” who was under the influence of Azmin Ali, who is now PKR vice-president.  

Ezam and several of his supporters rejoined Umno in May 2008 and has been consistently making public appearance during by-election campaigns attacking PKR.

NONE Along with Ezam, other Senators sworn-in today were MIC deputy president G Palanivel, Special Affairs Department (Jasa) information officer Noriah Mahat and Rahim and Co Chartered Surveyors Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Abdul Rahim Abdul Rahman.

At a separate press conference, Palanivel dismissed rumours that his appointment was a consolation for being dropped as the Barisan Nasional’s candidate for the Hulu Selangor by-election.

“No, I see this as a role for me to continue with my objectives (to serve the people),” he said.

NONE Palanivel ( left in photo ) was initially named MIC’s nominee for the by-election but when he was dropped , rumours surfaced about a possible senatorship and entry into Cabinet as a compromise.

He told reporters that he was initially reluctant to accept the appointment, but was later persuaded by party president S Samy Vellu into doing so.

"At first I didn't know whether to accept the position or not and was a bit confused, thinking of many things. But the party leader asked me to accept it," he said.

However, he refused to divulge the reasons behind his initial hesitation.

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