In any vocation, there are experts who have the knowledge and experience gained after years of study and work. But there are also pseudo-whizzes and self-appointed connoisseurs who claim to be authorities and act and behave authoritatively.

In times of crisis, they usually end up as attack dogs, hoping to discredit the findings of individuals and corporations. But having attack dogs with no bite is more a liability than an asset in times of crisis.

Desperate times need desperate measures even if it means to bring discredited “experts” to the fore. This is what seems to be happening in light of the series of exposés on alleged payments to certain individuals and companies by the London-based whistleblower site, Sarawak Report.

Former editor Lester Melanyi and his handler Ramesh Rao have once again surfaced in the media trying to discredit the site and in the process making fools of themselves. Their re-emergence may be providing some comic relief to many Malaysians without even Putrajaya and its occupants realising their folly.

Jolted by the latest filings by the US Department of Justice (DOJ), like dying men clutching at straws, a host of other self-appointed spokespersons (cabinet ministers included) are falling over themselves and doing more harm than good.

Many are rushing to address the issue trying to score brownie points with the boss, little realising they continue to agitate and irritate the citizens with blatant lies and irrational statements. Instead of addressing the issue, they have entered the fray in an effort to demonise the DOJ. Some of their statements are preposterous and border on absurdity.

We have heard of “Western media jealous of Malaysia’s success”; they have since moved to “foreign conspiracy” and “opposition influence”. Now, according to Umno information chief Annuar Musa, it has become a “conspiracy to end Muslim rule in Malaysia”.

If Annuar’s statements were farcical, then MCA chief Liow Tiong Lai, who waded into the issue, did not help with his comments. His nonsensical “DOJ must prove its latest allegations relating to 1MDB in a competent court of law” is evidence of some cabinet members choosing to be naïve and ignorant.

Annuar also thinks there is a correlation between the losses in the foreign exchange and the losses incurred by 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB). However, two wrongs don’t make a right.

But it is not that Putrajaya lacks advisers and consultants. From in-house expertise, the PM’s press secretary Tengku Sarifuddin Tengku Ahamd has been issuing statements and so has Rizal Mansor on behalf of PM’s wife Rosmah Mansor. There is no dearth of “experts” to rely on, but the latter has yet to utter a word on the alleged diamonds.

There’s also Paul Stadlen, the former boss of Apco which was advising the PM’s office. Parliament was told he is not the government payroll, but yet his business card says that he is a member of the “National Communications Team in the Prime Minister’s Office”. There are others who did communication work, according to Sarawak Report’s latest revelations. And they had allegedly received mega bucks directly from the PM’s bank account over the years.

Communication ‘specialists’

Three media personalities operating as Cense (Centre for Strategic Engagement) allegedly received millions from the prime minister. Set up in 2010, this outfit specialises in public policy research with special interest in media, policy and political communications. According to its website (which has since been taken down), its clientele includes members of parliament, ministers, policymakers and multinationals operating in the region.

The company whose directors are former New Straits Times journalist Rose Ismail, Sin Chew Daily director and columnist Rita Sim, and Fui K Soong, who headed MCA think-tank, Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research (Insap), allegedly received RM6.75 million. Sim also allegedly received an additional payment of RM1.2 million.

Sarawak Report also alleged that another communication specialist, Brandworth Corp, received more than RM12 million in 2013 “to manage Barisan Nasional’s media strategy in the general election”. Media Link Direct, another “communications specialist” also allegedly received five payments in 2013, totalling RM10.5 million. Zeal High Tech Solutions, which is in the business of pumping messages through social media, allegedly received RM13.5 million.

Where are they now? With their names and their outfits in public domain, shouldn’t they be at least singing for their supper on behalf of their clients’ previous generosity?

We do not know how many others have been on the payroll to do “communications” work, but some of them have passed themselves off as “independent media strategists and consultants”. Despite describing themselves thus, they continue to remain silent on the receipt of funds. At the time of writing, they have yet to respond and attempts to get at least one of them to comment have been unsuccessful.

If such highly-paid individuals and outfits have disappeared into the woodwork, where is the minister in charge of integrity and governance, Paul Low? He has maintained stoic silence on matters related to 1MDB and revelations by Sarawak Report.

Except for advising the prime minister not to attend the International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) in Putrajaya two years ago, the sealing of his lips has expedited the spread of a disease called the Truth Deficiency Syndrome.

Here are some questions for him: Shouldn’t he be addressing issues of integrity and governance on behalf of the government? Shouldn’t he be in the forefront advocating greater transparency, especially in the Prime Minister’s Department? Has he failed in his duties to ensure the highest standards of governance in the government, its agencies and leaders? Shouldn’t he be advising his cabinet colleagues to come clean on the funds that they have received? Shouldn’t he be reprimanding them for making statements which affect his status as the man in charge of integrity?

The only consolation he can take is that he is not a “party” man and never received any money or “donation” as other component parties and their leaders had received.

This does not absolve him of the blame. He is part of the system and he is a party to the doctrine of collective responsibility. While he may not want to be in the same boat as some of his colleagues who have shot themselves in their feet, Low’s continued silence only leaves Joe Public to assume to he has lost his moral compass and courage to stand up for the truth.

R NADESWARAN is an award-winning veteran journalist who writes on bread and butter issues with one agenda - a better quality of life for all Malaysians irrespective of colour, creed or religion. He can be reached at citizen.nades22@gmail.com.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.