GERMAN EMBASSY ADMITS TO FUNDING SUARAM

THE German Embassy here has admitted contributing funds to Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd, a company linked to Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

Its ambassador to Malaysia, Dr Guenter Georg Gruber (picture above), said the embassy funded project-specific initiatives.

"The project with Suaram was in 2010, which we had evaluated," he said, adding that he could not recall what the project was, and that "the amount (of funds) was limited".

He told reporters this after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Universiti Malaysia Pahang and two German companies here today.

The initial investigation by the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) revealed the existence of fund transactions between Suara Inisiatif, which was registered under the Companies Act 1965, and Suaram.

CCM has been criticised by several NGOs for allegedly failing to act against Suaram which admitted to receiving funds from foreign countries, among others.

The criticism followed reports that Suaram was not an NGO, but a company, namely Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd.

Asked whether the embassy would fund other Suaram projects, the envoy said the mission would look at any proposal "that is in accordance to our values".

"We also supported the Bar Council over the rights of indigenous people. We do it all the time. This is close to our value system," he added.