Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) has defended human rights watchdog Suaram’s receipt of foreign funding, stressing that this is normal for civil society groups.

NONE In a press release today, TI-M president Paul Low ( right ) said even his organisation receives foreign funding for projects from legitimate sources which does not influence the objectivity and outcome of the project.

Low said local funds are difficult to come by, thus foreign funds are acceptable as long as it does not pose a conflict of interest or risk TI-M’s independence.

“Following these principles, we have received foreign funding from various sources over the years. A list of our funding sources is available on our website.

“Foreign funding has been a cornerstone of civil society, especially in developing countries as many issues such as corruption, climate change and human rights are global and cut across jurisdictions.

“In fact universities, think tanks and even the Malaysian government continue to receive funding from various foreign institutions,” he said.

Low said many NGOs have contributed to the betterment of Malaysia through their human rights, environment and gender equality works.

'Don't victimise Suaram'

He said as long as the NGOs remain accountable and transparency, they should not be subject to victimisation.

Previously, the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry had claimed that Suaram, through a registered business entity , had received more than US$180,000 from US-based Open Society Institute.

mahathir and george soros meet 151206 The organisation’s chairperson is George Soros ( right, in picture ), a billionaire who was blamed by Putrajaya for Malaysia’s financial crisis in 1997 but was later allowed into the country in 2006.

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad even held a joint press conference with Soros where the two publicly buried the hatchet . However, he is still occasionally used as a bogeyman by Putrajaya.

The government began investigating Suaram’s registered company Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd several months after the group held a series of public events to update the public about its suit in France citing impropriety in a submarine deal.

Suaram’s suit had led to French authorities probing French shipbuilding giant DCNS’s sale of two submarines to Malaysia, allegedly involving millions in kickbacks , which is illegal in France.

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