PSM: Charges against Ramasamy politically motivated farce

Summary

• S Arutchelvan claims politics behind the CBT charges against Ramasamy.

• PSM deputy chairperson also says MACC is being used to silence PM’s critics.

• He decries double standards, pointing out that the ex-DCM was hauled to court but MACC has yet to charge anyone over Sabah graft scandal.

Without mincing words, PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan has described the charges levelled against former Penang deputy chief minister P Ramasamy as politically motivated.

He also urged DAP to share its thoughts on the matter, as Ramasamy was part of the party at the time of the alleged wrongdoings.

“Today, I stand to say Ramasamy’s charging by MACC is politically motivated and a farce.

“The charges against Ramasamy were when he was the DCM. Does this mean DAP leaders are corrupt while in office? Hope the DAP can say something on this,” he said in a statement today.

This morning, Ramasamy claimed trial to 17 counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) at the Butterworth Sessions court.

Ramasamy, who served as Penang Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB) chairperson from 2010 to 2023, was accused of using RM859,131.29 of PHEB funds between May 2019 and February 2022 without obtaining the board’s formal approval.

The charges were linked to the procurement of a gold-plated Thaipusam chariot in 2019, and payments for education sponsorships and medical assistance to individuals.

The former Perai assemblyperson quit DAP in 2023 after he was dropped from contesting the Penang state election.

What about Sabah scandal?

Unimpressed, Arutchelvan said it was convenient to charge Ramasamy since he is no longer in power.

He also contrasted MACC’s handling of Ramasamy’s case with the Sabah corruption scandal, where no one has been charged yet.

“MACC’s double standards, especially in handling Sabah corruption (scandal), are so obvious that it has lost all credibility as a graftbuster.

“It is just another tool to be used against political enemies since the abolishment of the ISA (Internal Security Act),” the former Kajang councillor added.

To Ramasamy’s credit, the PSM leader noted that the former was merely charged with procedural offences, not for swindling money.

“By levelling this charge, the newly extended MACC chief (Azam Baki) has merely distracted Ramasamy in writing more articles critiquing the prime minister,” Arutchelvan said.

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