Sunny side of SUARAM

By Azreen HaniThursday, June 14, 2012

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KUALA LUMPUR: Suaram director Cynthia Gabriel has denied allegations that the human rights group is closely linked to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

Cynthia told The Mole PKR leaders such as Tian Chua and Elizabeth Wong had left the group after they were elected as law makers and that they were no longer involved in Suaram.

“I have always maintained that Suaram is not a political party. There were no politicians on Suaram’s board of directors and we don’t have any ties with PKR, DAP or any other political parties", she claimed.

Cynthia admitted that she was appointed as a councillor of the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) by PKR-led Selangor government but insisted the position was given due to the council’s allocation to non-governmental organisation.

“It is a practise by Selangor government to encourage representation of civil society group in the council. It’s nothing political,” she explained. - The Mole

pic above from Friends of Pakatan Rakyat in London.

Cynthia Gabriel, Director of Suaram, is municipal councillor in the Petaling Jaya City Council, appointed by the Pakatan government of Selangor.

Tian Chua is the PKR Member of Parliament for Batu – and of course, PKR's Vice President. 

Irene Fernandez is a PKR Supreme Council Member. 

Elizabeth Wong is a former Coordinator of Suaram, apparently still involved in its governance, and is now a PKR state assembly member in Selangor. 

Dr Kua Kia Soong is a former DAP Member of Parliament. 

Sivarasa Rasiah is a PKR Member of Parliament for Subang, Petaling. 

Dr Syed Husin Ali is the former Deputy President of PKR.

The links continue outside of Pakatan member parties. S Arutchelvan is the Secretary-General of Parti Sosialis Malaysia, a PKR ally; Dr Nasim Hashim is its President. Premesh Chandran works for malaysiakini.com (CEO), and with Tian Chua and Elizabeth Wong was a member of the Network of Overseas Student Collective of Australia. - The Choice