Gerak founder Ezam Mohd Nor's decision to rejoin Umno will not temper with the corruption watchdog's non-partisan principle, said its new chief Mohd Nazree Mohd Yunus today.

Ezam had headed the NGO since its inception in 2005 and resigned from it to re-join Umno earlier this week.

gerak new leader pc 300508 mohd nazree Nazree who has taken over the group with immediate effect gave his assurance that the group will not stop from exposing corruption even if it involved the party of its former chairperson, Umno.

"We thank Ezam for starting up Gerak (but) we will remain as an anti-graft NGO that is non-partisan and neutral when it comes to fighting corruption," said Nazree in a press conference held at the group's office in Kelana Jaya today.

Ask to comment on Ezam's departure from Gerak due to his involvement with Umno, Nazree said that Ezam's decision was his personal stand and would not have any impact on Gerak's agenda.

Ezam yesterday informed the press that he has left Gerak in order to maintain the group's neutrality.

Under Ezam, Gerak had lodged several complaints to the Anti-Corruption Agency against several top Umno leaders and ministers, including against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Nazree also said that they were not funded by Ezam. The new Gerak chairperson said that they have other ways of financially sustaining themselves.

"We are trying to get some funding from Canada and we also sell books published by Gerak in order to generate some income to sustain our activities," explained Nazree.

Gerak to expose names soon

Nazree also said that he was currently reviewing the files of past corruption investigations conducted by the group under Ezam's leadership.

"Once we are done with the review, we will make it known to the media and the public about the details of our investigation," noted Nazree.

On Monday, Nazree added, Gerak will meet with the National Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) to ask the rights body to investigate on the National Sports Council monetary scandal.

Nazree said that Gerak wants Suhakam to probe into the monetary impropriety accusation made by former national gymnastics coach Yap Yee Yin two years ago.

"This is one of the five corruption scandals that we will expose in the future. There will be more," said Nazree.