‘Soros must explain Suaram involvement’

(NST) – A former Parti Keadilan Rakyat leader Ng Lum Yoong said yesterday currency speculator George Soros should shed some light on allegations that he financed Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) to “attack” the French defence industry.

“Soros should explain to Malaysians and to the French why he had used Suaram to attack the French defence industry,” he said in a statement.

New York-based Open Society Institute, which was founded by Soros, had allegedly paid human rights watchdog Suaram RM774,000 (between 2008 and last year).

“Why did Soros make use of illegal entities such as Suaram to hire two French lawyers, William Bourdon and Joseph Breham to fight the case?”

Ng said Soros should have hired the litigators himself.

“Soros should have paid the lawyers directly from America since the French are competing with the Americans for defence contracts all over the world.”

Ng, who was one of the founder members of PKR, also said that it was unfair for Soros to interfere with the Malaysian government’s decision to purchase two French-made Scorpene submarines.

“Since Soros is involved, it’s no wonder why Suaram and Pakatan Rakyat strongly oppose the purchase the subs.”