YOURSAY ‘They did try to cover it up but at least, they are now doing it right.’
Wisma Putra: Rizalman to be sent back to NZ
Gerard Lourdesamy: The government should be given credit for this and it shows a clear commitment to uphold the rule of law and the intent and spirit behind the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Let due process take its course and all further debate on the guilt or innocence of Malaysian diplomatic attache Muhammad Rizalman Ismail should cease so as not to prejudice the investigations and proposed judicial proceedings in New Zealand.
Telestai!: Finally, common sense prevailed. It would have been disastrous for the country if the government decides to proceed with the Board of Inquiry.
This episode shows that even a senior minister like Anifah Aman can make serious miscalculations when it comes to scoring political brownie points for Umno.
Hplooi: For once, this is the right decision. If Rizalman is innocent (of which it may be the case since we do not know the full story), this will be the opportunity for him to clear his name.
And I have real faith in the NZ judiciary system. If our people are worried about security breach , they can always insist that Rizalman should not be question except in the presence of a representative from Malaysia.
The more this drags on, the more controversy it will attract, which will mean more unsavoury 'conspiracy' theory or unnecessary bad press for Malaysia.
I have an offspring who will be back in Wellington (January 2015 term starts), so I want Malaysia-NZ relationship to be on an even keel.
Negarawan: This is the correct decision but the damage has been done to the reputation of Malaysia due to the twisted handling of this case by the foreign minister.
‘Doing things right the first time’ is not the norm for the Umno government because of its lack of integrity, honesty, and competency.
Indeed, ‘doing things right the first time’ could have prevented the current racial and religious tension, and many other problems such as the screwed-up education system and high crime rate prevailing in the country.
Look south to Singapore to learn how they get things right the first time, and every time.
Ferdtan: The decision by the Malaysian government to send Rizalman to NZ for investigation with regard to the sexual assault is highly commendable.
This is what we expect from our government - to stand on the side of justice, no matter that the suspect is one of our own.
This is really a welcomed surprise from Umno government after so many missteps and blunders, both in domestic politics and internationally - remember the missing MH370 plane?
If only this good sense and decision are applied constantly in our domestic affairs, Najib’s government would have earned praises from the public.
Bumiputhran: Had it not been for the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) of NZ, the whole episode may have taken a different turn. The voice of netizens also helped to compel Anifah to relent.
Toffeesturn: The foreign minister must be held responsible for this shameful fiasco and be sacked, unless of course it was PM Najib Razak who had ordered the warrant officer's diplomatic immunity not be waived in the first place.
Legit: Malaysiakini readers and Malaysians should give Rizalman the benefit of doubt. It is the right decision to send him back to NZ to face trial, but he is innocent until proven guilty.
The NZ government, unlike Malaysia, can be trusted fully to give him a fair hearing. This also presents an opportunity for the Malaysian government on how to conduct its system of justice as one of its own kind faces the music in a foreign land.
ONG: After this, will all those in the Foreign Ministry and Mindef (Defence Ministry) who are responsible for the fiasco (the attempt to invoke diplomatic immunity for a diplomatic personnel alleged to be involved in attempted rape and burglary) be allowed to get off scot-free?
Jaded: For once, they are doing the right thing. They did try to cover it up but at least after all that, they are doing it right. At least, the victim will have a chance to defend himself.
Awakened: Yes, this is the right thing to do by the Foreign Ministry to allow Rizalman to be extradited to NZ. Justice must be seen to be done for both the perpetrator and the victim.
It does not make sense for Rizalman to be tried in Malaysia as the victim, prosecutors, witnesses and evidence are all in NZ.
Clearly, it is not practical to transport all these to Malaysia. Let the NZ court have a full trial and make its decision based on the evidence produced by both sides.
Since this case is already been made public, it is to the interest of both governments for the trial to be carried out as per international requirements.
This will also send a clear message that no one is above the law and a good deterrent for all to refrain from committing crimes in other countries.
Prudent: This is definitely the right decision. If the accused is not extradited, I don't think our PM down to every Malaysian diplomat will have the 'face' to attend any international diplomatic meeting. Malaysia will have effectively became a pariah nation.
Jesse: The foreign minister has earlier cast aspersion on the fairness of the NZ criminal justice system when he said that the diplomat would be sent back only if he receives a fair trial.
The NZ system is transparent and fair. I cannot say the same for Malaysia where our judicial system is corrupted and compromised. Anifah must be thinking that their system is like ours.
It is embarrassing to discover that he was telling half-truths for which our ministers are notable. Fancy asking NZ to drop charges and then trying to bluff your way out of it after being exposed for blatant lies.
Fourtan: Let us not forget that it took nearly two months for this case to come to light. Why?
Was Wisma Putra trying to protect this alleged criminal and cover up Rizalman’s alleged crime? How was he able to abscond NZ in the first place?
Did this finally go public because Wisma Putra has no way to keep this under wraps anymore? From what I have seen, Wisma Putra was trying to pull a fast one.
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