A prominent Chinese community leader and businessman was recently declared bankrupt by the Federal Court and the grapevines have it that it could be linked to his vocal criticism of several government policies.

However, when the question was posed to the 71-year-old businessman, he denied the speculation but dropped considerable hints to insinuate that something did smell fishy.

"I don't think it was so serious till that extent," Ngan Ching Wen told malaysiakini in a recent interview but added that he was declared a bankrupt 'under very special circumstances'.

Explaining, he said it is uncommon for the country's highest court to hear a bankruptcy matter as it is usually settled at the High Court.

On April 1, he was declared bankrupt when the Federal Court allowed an appeal by the Singapore-based Moscow Narodny Bank Ltd to enforce the order against him for failing to settle a debt of RM5.5 million.

This was despite that the debt, according to Ngan, was not incurred by him. He said he was acting as a guarantor to a loan made to another businessman, who had failed to meet the debt repayments.

Powerful feathers ruffled

Ngan said he did not realise that his outspokenness had ruffled the feathers of some of the 'rich and powerful' which in turn restricted his business and social activities.

However, the father of three and managing director of Unico Holdings Bhd remained tightlipped on the identities of these 'rich and powerful' people.

After being declared bankrupt, Ngan resigned as president of the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce, a post which he held since 1997.

Previously, he was also at the helm of two significant Chinese associations in Malaysia.

From 1991 to 1994, he was president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

Following this, he was president of the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (SCAH) - an umbrella body to 362 Chinese guilds and associations in the state - from 1998 to 2002.

During his tenure with SCAH, Ngan was known for his vocal and critical stand on government policies that affected the Chinese community.

In 1999, he lashed out at the government for allegedly being irresponsible and not transparent during the Nipah virus outbreak that left scores dead and disabled the pig-rearing industry.

Two years later, he was back in the limelight after publicly criticising MCA's acquisition of two Chinese dailies.

'Anti-BN' label

During the interview, Ngan revealed that certain political leaders had complained to the Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership about him.

"I was labeled as anti-BN. So whenever BN leaders met me, they saw me as an enemy," he said, adding that a minister, who is a friend, told him about this and asked to him to be careful.

"When I did these things (criticising government policies), I never thought of the consequences. I only did what I thought was right," he said.

One of the consequences, he recalled, was being blacked out by the media.

Asked if he considered himself as being 'anti-government', the veteran businessman replied in a diplomatic fashion.

"If the government is right, we have to give full support, but if the government has done something wrong, the people should be allowed to voice their objections.

"Even if the government is not happy with the criticism, it should rectify the mistakes. You can't blame the people for this and that ... I never said all that I have done is right, I did mistakes too but I don't like to blame others," he said.

'Diary of a bankrupt'

Following the bankruptcy order, Ngan vanished from the public eye for about a month and he later explained why in an article published in the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce magazine in July.

"I was a celebrity but suddenly I became a 'low level' person. I could no longer walk alongside influential and powerful figures.

"During the first month, I did not attend any high society functions as I did not want to embarrass the host and also to avoid people consoling me," he said in the article titled 'Diary of a bankrupt for 100 days'.

Ngan told malaysiakini that the bankruptcy order has affected his daily life as people now perceive him to be a failed businessman.

"I do not have a platform to say anything. Even if I wanted to, nobody would listen to me.

"But then I ask myself 'who I am'? A writer once said that our greatest glory consists not in never falling, but rising every time we fall. I remind myself of this all the time," he said.

Did nothing wrong

On the same note, Ngan said he would still be supportive of the Chinese community despite his present position.

"If the Chinese community still needs my help, I would offer, but without using my name. I have been involved in such activities for more than 30 years now, I have developed a passion for it," he added.

Asked if he would consider being actively involved once he settles his debt, he replied: "Even if I want to involve, do you think people would like me to be involved? Nobody is indispensable."

He also said that he has heard many cynical remarks about him but does not lose sleep over it.

"I did not do anything wrong so I don't feel sorry for myself. I have never cheated anybody," he added.

On his immediate resignation from the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce, Ngan said he did this because he did not want people to think he was power crazy.

"Those who understand me would still be supportive and have sympathy for me," he added.