Parliament must address new crisis of confidence: Lim

comments     Published     Updated

DAP said Parliament's first task when it sits next month is to address the new crisis of confidence over the integrity of the government precipitated by Keadilan Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor's sentence under the Officials Secrets Act (OSA).

DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang said the sentence sent out an "outrageous message" to the nation and the world that in Malaysia "corruption is no crime while exposing it becomes a heinous crime".

Members of parliament, Lim said, regardless of party affiliation, must be fully conscious that their national duty on the first day of the 10-week Dewan Rakyat budget meeting, which falls on Sept 9, is to "categorically and conclusively destroy any such notion".

"Parliament cannot be blind however to the implications of Ezam's conviction and sentence and must rise up to the occasion to be true to their sworn oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution," said Lim, in a press statement today.

"This is to ensure that the integrity of the institutions of governance and Malaysia's international reputation are not sullied by double-standards and the illegal granting of immunities to top political leaders from prosecution for offences under the law," he added.

On Wednesday, Ezam was found guilty of OSA for exposing documents of the corruption investigations of International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz and former Melaka chief minister Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik at a press conference in November 1999.

Ezam, jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim's former political secretary, had exposed a document signed by Abdul Gani Patail on 14 March 1995 stating there was a prima facie basis to prosecute Rafidah on five counts of corruption.

Immediate question

He also exposed a document stating that the Attorney General chambers and Anti Corruption Agency had concluded by June 1994 that there was prima facie case to prosecute Rahim on four charges of corruption based on information supplied by the then DAP MP for Kota Melaka Lim Guan Eng.

Lim said the immediate question that arises is "Why should Ezam be convicted and jailed for violating the OSA for exposing two secret documents while Rafidah and Rahim are granted immunity from prosecution when the government has admitted to the truth and veracity of the documents?"

"Which is the more heinous crime OSA offence to expose corruption or corruption itself?" he queried.

Lim said the Petaling Jaya sessions court in convicting Ezam under the OSA was not interested or concerned about the truth or genuineness of the contents of the secret documents.

"This raises the fundamental question as to whether in administering such blind justice, our judicial system is really concerned with justice and rule of law," he said.

"If Parliament is blind, deaf and mute on this grave issue, then it will be guilty of gross dereliction and become party to a grave injustice to Ezam and the nation," he added.

This is not the way for Malaysians to celebrate our 45th National Day, lamented Lim.



Malaysiakini
news and views that matter


Sign In