VIDEO l 3.10 min

The crisis over Transparency-International Malaysia's (TI-M) leadership boiled over today when exco member Rozni Hashim shouted at secretary-general Josie Fernandez in full view of journalists.

NONE "As far as we are concerned, the legitimate secretary-general is KM Loi (Loi Kheng Min). As it is today, that is what the president and exco have sanctioned, let's not make it worse for TI-M,” said Rozni (left) .

"This is a TI-M function for the 'Global Corruption Barometer' (survey findings). I am embarrassed to hear Josie doing this."

He then turned to journalists, saying: "You're listening to the wrong person. Where is KM Loi?"

Josie muttered: "I don't want to get into a debate on this."

However, Rozni proceeded to repeatedly shout at the top of his voice for Loi, who the exco recognises as the new secretary-general.

NONE Loi (left) then scrambled back into the press conference room at the TI-M headquarters in Petaling Jaya, to speak to the media as Rozni stomped off.

Josie had talked to journalists about the Global Corruption Barometer 2013 after TI-M president Akhbar Satar presented the survey results and responded to questions.

The confusion over Josie’s status had started when then president Paul Low stepped down to take up post as a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, and the exco elected a new line-up on May 24.

Josie, who was defeated for the presidency, then informed the exco that she wished to tender her resignation within two weeks, citing dissatisfaction with the election procedures.

However, she was immediately removed by the exco and replaced by Loi.

Akhbar declined to comment on the issue, stating that he would only speak on the survey findings that he released.

EGM to resolve crisis

Answering journalists later, Josie apologised for the incident but claimed that the Registrar of Societies still recognises her as the secretary-general based on her appointment at TI-M's general meeting on April 28.

She said she will officially tender her resignation at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on July 20 which will resolve the leadership crisis.

NONE Josie (right) said she had not tendered her resignation up to now because she is overseeing several projects for TI-M and is also dealing with funders. Therefore, she feels a need to see these through.

She also said TI-M members had requested an EGM to resolve the matter. When she called for an exco meeting on June 28, she was allegedly ignored, after which she issued a call for an EGM on her own.

On June 20, Josie said the exco finally called for the EGM .

"I feel it is best that only one EGM be held to discuss the items raised by those who have requested it.

“I feel vindicated by the fact that my calling for the EGM on July 13 had  provoked the exco to respond and call for an EGM on July 20 that would otherwise left the matter to fester.”

Josie then asked the media to focus on the impunity of those in power with regard to corruption.

"Impunity is a major challenge, meaning there is freedom from punishment for those in power. That means the powerful are not being punished and that is the symptom if a bad government," she added.

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