The spat between outgoing Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) president Paul Low and a member of the organisation has intensified.

TI-M member and consumerist Koris Atan has accused Low of ‘high-handedness’ in dealing with criticism since being appointed Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department last Wednesday.

fomca vice president k koris atan 120611 02 Koris (right) questioned Low’s call to refer him to the executive committee for possible disciplinary action, including dismissal, saying the latter should comply with procedures before arriving at a judgment.

"Before ... saying I should be removed as a member, Low should file a complaint," Koris told Malaysiakini .

"The organisation will form a disciplinary committee to probe the matter and hear both sides of the story. The disciplinary board will recommend the next course of action, whether to reprimand, suspend or sack me.

"Who is he to say I should be removed? Has he been appointed a judge for this case? The disciplinary board should be the final authority. Low is talking rubbish.”

Koris had initially queried if TI-M had obtained the exco’s endorsement to get BN head Najib Abdul Razak to sign the Election Integrity Pledge ahead of the 13th general election.

If it had, Koris urged secretary-general Josie Fernandez to furnish the minutes of the meeting which endorsed the decision.

He also asked why a member of TI-M does not have the right to raise questions pertaining to the integrity and transparency of the organisation.

This shows that TI-M is a "regimented" organisation in which only the director and the secretary-general can speak up, he claimed.

NONE "Low (left) is now threatening to initiate legal action against me. But he has also been taken to task by several others, including hundreds of commentators on Malaysiakini . Is he now going to drag all of us to court?"

Low has also come under fire from several DAP leader over his seemingly softer stance on public declaration of assets by cabinet ministers.

In an interview with KiniTV and Malaysiakini , Low had been non-committal when asked if he would point out colleagues suspected of graft, saying the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission can conduct a probe into any such complaints.

Offer of mediation

When contacted, Fernandez said a complaint has yet to be filed against Koris.

NONE On the Integrity Pledge, Fernandez (right) said the exco were informed about Najib signing it two days before the event on Feb 20.

She maintained that the organisation has always acted professionally in its duties.

"We criticised the PM on the pledge being violated when we found him in giving out various incentives and urging civil servants to support him (while caretaker premier," said Fernandez.

"The pledge is not legally but morally binding. A leader who signs the pledge is expected to set the tone and ensure that the election process is carried out in an ethical manner. We have been monitoring the government on these issues.”

On the spat between Low and Koris, Fernandez offered to be the "facilitator" to help resolve the issue.

She urged the two members to come to the organisation’s office so that she can facilitate an open discussion between them.

"Both members have different roles to play. Koris is an NGO activist who has been talking about issues for a long time. He is very enthusiastic and passionate in what he says and does," she added.

"Low has been overwhelmed with the sudden barrage of criticism since his ministerial appointment. He should be given some time to settle down into his new role.”

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