Despite being on an unpublicised visit to China, DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang decides to give away his location as he is unable to contain himself over the 'most exciting judicial event for over a decade'.

The opposition leader was referring to the Shah Alam High Court's ruling to overturn the Official Secrets Act (OSA) conviction of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan) Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor.

In a press statement today, Lim said the judgment had rekindled the hope of Malaysians in the judiciary after endless disappointments.

"I am in Nangking for an eight-day private tour, which includes three DAP MPs, six former elected representatives and two parliamentary candidates to 'recharge our batteries', and we had intended to keep our tour very private and low key.

"However, we are so excited by the judgement because of the promise it holds that we had a short discussion and decided to collectively express our fullest support for the landmark decision," he said.

On Section 16 (A)

Yesterday, Justice KN Segara upheld Ezam's appeal against his conviction and two-year jail sentence. The judge also condemned Section 16 (A) of the OSA as 'meaningless, obnoxious, draconian and oppressive'.

Section 16 (A) alllows an authorised government official unquestionable discretion to issue a certificate certifying that certain documents had been classified.

Ezam landed in trouble when he released to the media documents pertaining to a corruption probe against Internal Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz (photo left) and former Melaka chief minister Rahim Thamby Chik in 1999.

The duo were later cleared of any wrongdoing by the Attorney-General's Chambers.

Meanwhile, Lim said the judge's admonishing of Section 16 (A) was in line "with the true and unperverted meaning of the rule of law and in the highest tradition of judicial rectitude and courage".

He added that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail must accept the decision, and there should be no pressure on the latter to file an appeal.

"In fact, the cabinet (in its weekly meeting) next Wednesday should focus on the issue of the integrity and preception of integrity of Rafidah as a result of the historic court judgment.

"Ezam's prosecution under the OSA could only mean the truth and veracity of the allegations against Rafidah which was made public by former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim in his police report against her in 1999. If this is the case, how could Rafidah continue to serve as a minister?" he asked.

Owing the public

Lim said the premier owed the public the duty of transparency and a satisfactory accounting of the ACA's investigations against the minister.

He also noted that the corruption watchdog had yet to reveal the outcome of its probe into the matter.

"Had the ACA questioned or informed Anwar about the outcome of his police report. The ACA announced a new policy of transparency last July, including keeping all complainants informed on the status of its investigations," he said.

Apart from Lim, the other prominent DAP leaders on the tour who expressed their support for the court decision were Bukit Mertajam MP Chong Eng, Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lin and former Selangor chief Ronnie Liu.

The rest were former Seputeh MP Liew Ah Kim, former Damansara MP Hor Cheok Foon, former Penang state assemblypersons Danny Law and Wong Hang Yoke, former Perak state assemblyperson Loke Swee Chin, former Sarawak DAP chairperson Chong Siew Chiang and Bruas parliamentary candidate Nga Hock Cheh.