Urimai urges MACC to probe Jagdeep’s kin’s appointment to appeals board

United for Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) urged MACC to investigate the recent appointment of Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo’s father-in-law as the head of the Penang Appeals Board set up under the state’s Freedom of Information Enactment 2010.

In describing the appointment as nepotism, Urimai chairperson P Ramasamy (above) said it seems to indicate a conflict of interest or abuse of power.

This comes after the Penang state assembly on Thursday passed a motion to appoint six members to the board, with Jagdeep’s father-in-law Baldev Singh Gurchan Singh being appointed as the chairperson.

The motion was presented by Jagdeep himself on Thursday and received unanimous support before the state assembly sitting.

The board was set up under the Penang Freedom of Information Enactment (Enactment 16).

Former Bar Council president Abdul Fareed Abdul Gafoor was appointed as deputy while the other four members are Harinder Singh Malkit Singh, Carolyn Oh, Nagarethinam Rengasamy Pillay and Regina Amalorpava Mary Aboorvasamy.

“It is unfortunate that Jagdeep, the son of the famous Karpal Singh, could go to the extent of nominating his father-in-law as the chairperson of the appeals board.

“Having served the state for three terms and two terms as the state executive councillor and currently the deputy chief minister II, Jagdeep should have known better than to indulge in nepotistic practice.

“Baldev might have the seniority and qualifications, but can a family member of the current deputy chief minister II be appointed to the appeals board? Isn’t this an example of conflict of interest or abuse of power?” Ramasamy asked.

Ramasamy, who was a former Penang deputy chief minister, also questioned how Jagdeep’s motion could have escaped the scrutiny of the state chief minister Chow Kon Yeow.

“Maybe Chow was busy fending off his critics rather than scrutinise such motions presented in the state assembly.

“Let us see what action Chow is going to take against Jagdeep. Is Chow going to give him a severe warning or going to ask for his resignation?”

Sheer hypocrisy

Sharing Ramasamy’s sentiments, Urimai secretary-general Satees Muniandy also urged Chow to explain on what basis or credential was Baldev chosen to head the board.

“Are there no other suitable and knowledgeable persons in Penang, other than the deputy chief minister’s father-in-law to be appointed as chairperson of the board? Is this not nepotism?” he asked.

While Baldev may be a senior lawyer in the northern state, Satees said the decision to appoint him when Jagdeep is serving as deputy chief minister showed the DAP state government’s “sheer hypocrisy in practising so-called competency, accountability and transparency”.

Malaysiakini has contacted Chow and Jagdeep for their response.

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