Were the 5 charges against Suaram company politically motivated?

By Teoh El Sen. Published by Free Malaysia Today on 8 September 2012.

Pro-establishment Malay rights groups demanded to know why Suaram was registered as a company, Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd, with a paid-up capital of RM2. Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) and Perkasa have accused the NGO of being funded by foreign powers to “destabilise the peace of the country”.

The Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) then raided Suaram’s offices and found that the company was suspected of having breached the Companies Act 1965 for carrying out activities unrelated to the purpose of its establishment as a business.

More recently, Germany’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Dr Guenter Georg Gruber, admitted to channelling funds to Suara Inisiatif to finance specific project initiatives. In response, Foreign Minister Anifah Aman asked for an explanation of the funding, saying that it could be “seen as interference in the domestic affairs of a sovereign state” because the Malaysian government considers Suaram to be politically-biased.

Suaram has consistently denied any wrondoings and in defence, claim that the timing of the checks were clearly “political” as the NGO has been aggressively highlighting the suspected corruption in the Scorpene scandal, which implicates Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

Suaram adviser Kua Kia Soong has revealed that Suaram receives money from Finland, the United States, Canada and various state governments in Malaysia, as well as donations from citizens. He argues that Suaram was a registered company as the authorities have traditionally made it difficult for vocal NGOs to be properly registered as a society.

Read more here:
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/09/08/un-rep-ok-for-ngos-to-receive-foreign-funding/

Even the Malaysia government received foreign funding but nobody has accused it of being a 'foreign agent', argues United Nations Special Rapporteur, Maina Kiai.

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/09/08/suaram-company-to-face-five-charges/
Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) has identified five charges under the Companies Act 1965 to be made against Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd (Suara Inisiatif)... He said the action taken against Suara Inisiatif was not politically motivated, but because of the offence it allegedly committed.