Leading Sabah consumer activist Patrick Sindu  has issued a blanket denial of fresh allegations against him last week by fellow activist Hashima Hasbullah.

Sindu, who leads the reconstituted Consumer Association of Sabah & Labuan (Cash) disputed Hashima’s allegations in a police report and a subsequent media statement, although she did not name him.

Both had been office-bearers in the old Cash, which was deregistered last July due mainly to infighting and complaints that reached the Registrar of Societies (ROS). Hashima has since been openly critical of Sindu.

kitingan project ic 250107 patrick sindu “It is not true that anyone tried to withdraw money from the bank account of the old Cash. The RM30,000 in frozen funds from the federal government is still intact,” said Sindu of the latest claim.

He said the association had held an emergency meeting over the weekend, at which several resolutions were passed.

These included taking legal action against Hashima over various allegations in the media since February last year, when she was axed as secretary-general along with deputy president Nordin Thani.

“We intend to bring this sordid chapter to an end as soon as possible. Hashima has no locus standi to be prying into our bank accounts and issuing press statements.”

He noted that Hashima had claimed during  her press conference last week that she was alerted by the bank over an attempt to siphon off money from a frozen account held by the old Cash.

“Why would the bank alert somebody who has no business in the matter? This is against the Banking Secrecy Act. The frozen funds are in the custody of the Department of Insolvency (DOI),” said Sindu.

He said he expects the DOI to return the grant money to the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry. Alternatively, it may use the money to help Cash settle expenses incurred for hosting consumer activities and seminars as agreed with the federal government.

Sindu said Hashima  has done enough to wreck the local consumer movement and should know “when to cease”.

The emergency meeting, said Sindu, noted that Hashima was merely an appointed official before she was sacked for bringing Cash into disrepute  through various actions which have come to public notice.

The meeting was unable to fathom the actual motives behind the latest attack. It also did not touch on speculation that Hashima is in the midst of setting up her own consumer association.

Sindu said he had called at the Karamunsing police station in Kota Kinabalu last Friday to rebut Hashima’s report and lodge one against her for making false allegations.

He claimed that he had merely wanted the bank account of the old Cash closed, so that the new entity can operate its own account with the same bank.

“The new Cash is registered as a business enterprise with City Hall under a trading licence to hold consumer seminars,” explained Sindu.

“We lost faith in the ROS after it deregistered the old Cash  within six months without hearing us out.”

He added that local authorities in Sabah and Sarawak have the right to issue trading licences. In turn, this avoids the need to register under the ROS, the Registrar of Business, or the Companies Commission of Malaysia.

New group on the way

Hashima, when contacted, admitted that she is in the midst of registering a consumer association for Sabah, but declined to reveal what it will be called.

It is not known whether rivalry in the crowded field of consumer activism in Sabah is behind the latest flare-up between Sindu and Hashima.

“I am only doing my part as a concerned citizen. I hope the authorities concerned will act promptly to stop whatever operations and consumer activities are being undertaken by Sindu and his people. They should have acted to safeguard public interest,” she said.

Hashima expressed frustration that certain government departments and agencies seem to be unaware of the “true status of (the old) Cash” and “continue to recognise Sindu and his officials by inviting them to official functions and the like”.

She warned that she would not hesitate to apply for an injunction against Sindu and his fellow consumer activists if the relevant authorities fail to act against them and they continue with their consumerism activities.

For starters, Hashima will be writing to Bank Negara soon to alert the central bank to the alleged attempt to siphon monies out from the old Cash account which is frozen.

She maintained that, as one of the three signatories of the account, she has a right to lodge a complaint with Bank Negara and the police on the matter.