In what is bound to send shockwaves through civil society, corruption watchdog Transparency International's (TI) Malaysia Chapter is rocked by the resignations of two of its top officials.

TI president Param Cumaraswamy and deputy president Lee Chong San have both tendered their resignations within a week.

Param ( pix) tendered his resignation letter this morning while Lee sent in his letter last Tuesday.

However, they gave contradictory reasons for their resignations.

In a strongly-worded resignation letter sent via e-mail to all TI members, Param pinpointed that 'the conduct and behaviour' of TI Secretary-General Mehrun Siraj as the main cause of his resignation.

The letter, a copy which was made available to malaysiakini read: "The conduct and behaviour of the secretary-general of the (TI) Society have become intolerable to the extent that I have decided to tender my resignation, which I hereby do, from the office of the president and membership of the Society with immediate effect.

"Among others, as seeking information from within results in virulent and scurrilous attacks, I find the Society loses its legitimacy to preach its objectives to the outside world.

"As I was elected at the last AGM, it is only proper that I tender my resignation to you. I thank you all for the support you had given me in the last one year."

Param who was also a former United Nations Special Rapporteur, had taken over his TI post from Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim last March.

Internal tussle?

Lee, when contacted, confirmed his resignation and said it was due to his disagreements with Param.

"I have my differences with the president (Param) ... personal and not so personal affairs related to the society," he said.

He also questioned if there was any motive behind Param's strongly-worded statement.

"I am quite surprised as to the motive behind his strongly-worded statement in regards to one resignation," he said.

Lee denied that the their resignations signaled an internal tussle within TI Malaysia.

"(It is) not really a tussle (but) a difference of opinions. We all believe there are certain ways to combat corruption. It's all related to how we want to manage the society in a fight against corruption.

"There ought to be some differences in views just like in any other organisation. I don't read anything adverse into this whole issue except that sometimes personalities don't see eye-to-eye on how to approach things and how to manage the society,"he added.

Mehrun and Param both could not be contacted for their comments today.