VOXPOP 'Tell us why the French court has the evidence of such sale if you believe that there were no such transaction.'

Defence minister denies sale of naval secrets

vox populi small thumbnail Tholu: The drama has started. This is the inaugural episode and it begins by creating bewilderment among the audience (read 'rakyat').

The protagonist first denies there was such a sale. The super actor, of course, knows that there will not be any excitement if he ends the script at that. So he next says that 'we will investigate thoroughly.'

Ordinarily if someone denies commission (pun intended) of an illegal act by his agents, it will be plain stupidity for him to go on to say that he will investigate. Otherwise, he would have not outrightly denied the wrong done in the first place.

Now, to further add excitement to the drama, the hero says he will investigate if, and only if, the 'activity is proven.' Generally an activity is proven at the conclusion of an investigation.

It is common sense (and of course, our protagonist has none of it) that an investigation process is superfluous if an activity is already proven.

And so now the drama gets really exciting. I can't wait for the next episode!

Anonymous_4196: Using the usual Umno logic, ‘guilty unless proven otherwise', I want put to you, Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, that you should prove to the nation that the Navy did not sell the information.

Tell us why the French court has the evidence of such sale if you believe that there were no such transaction. Don't just deny, prove it.

Azlan Ahmad: This involves "national security' and the alleged allegation is indeed an act of betrayal.

The case must be investigated and we must prove that there is no such leak of secret information, and if indeed this is the case, whoever is saying there is in France must bear the responsibility and pay the cost.

No way should this subject be left unattended. We, as a sovereign nation, must get to the bottom of this serious allegation.

Anonymous #47094963: We are all learned Malaysians. The issue here is not simply the sale of top secret documents to a French company.

The main investigation should be on how the top secret documents got there and who was responsible for the leak, and whether or not there was monetary gain.

The secondary investigation would be whether the minister in charge at that time took sufficient measures to prevent such the leak.

Swipenter: It is about time that the prosecuting judge wave a copy of the Malaysian ‘naval secrets' in the court in Paris and then demand who and how French defence giant DCNS got their copy.

Arms middleman Abdul Razak Baginda must stand in the court in Paris as a witness and we would see whether he can keep his trap shut and refrain from spilling the beans.

Geronimo: Like it or not, very soon, you will have to appear in Paris as a witness to this humongous corruption scandal, and during this time, you don't need to worry - the evidence will be slapped into your face.

If I were you or PM Najib Razak, don't bother coming back after that. You may need to book an onward flight to another country to hide or else, the moment you land on Malaysian soil, the rakyat will hang traitors like you.

Ruben: Please Zahid Hamidi, don't bother to investigate, as it will as usual prove futile. Let the French judge and trial do it for you and then you can go answer the allegation in the French court with the best defense team at your disposal.

Doc: I bet an Indian Navy personnel will be charged with selling naval secrets shortly.

Non-Malay PM: It's the constitution, stupid!

David Dass: The reality is that no non-Malay can become prime minister without substantial - perhaps overwhelming - Malay support.

And given today's reality, that is many years away. However, there is no constitutional barrier, whatever the learned professor, Khoo Kay Kim, may say .

The constitution was meant to capture the ideals and aspirations of our society whilst recognising the position of Islam, the Malay rulers, Malay as the national language and the special rights of the Malays. It was extended to cover the natives of Sabah and Sarawak when Malaysia was formed.

Surely the professor is not saying that a native from Sabah or Sarawak cannot aspire to become prime minister? The constitution underlines the equality of all citizens. Article 153 was meant to be a temporary provision to assist Malays to catch up.

That a non-Malay can theoretically become prime minister is not an issue Malays need to be worried about. The reality is only Malays can decide the issue, whatever the theoretical legal position.

Sze Tho Weng Ho: Kua Kia Soong, with all due respect, it's time you wake up from your academic slumber and face reality. You may be correct from a technical viewpoint, but reality is dictated by circumstances on the ground.

In Malaysia, the numbers and percentage means the Malay Muslim vote rules the day. The mentality of our people and the historical backdrop of our independence make it remote that we will ever be able to elect a non-Muslim/Malay to the PM's post.

In Khoo's opinion, this fact is bluntly stated. Like it or not, it is an unwritten arrangement since independence. For Kua to go on and on about the academic aspects of our constitution is naive at best and pigheadedly argumentative even.

Anonymous_4031: Kua, you are spot on. It is the constitution that is the only guide; all other considerations are invalid and are just figments of the imagination of bigoted minds.

In a practical sense, it is difficult but not impossible, for a non-Malay from Sabah, Sarawak or Peninsular Malaysia to become prime minister of Malaysia.

Anonymous #04866654: It's just plain ridiculous for a historian to interpret our Malaysian constitution just like our politicians are always prone to interpret/misinterpret it to their advantage, and in the process, create a lot of disharmony.

As for Prof Khoo, please stay out of politics and keep to your own area of expertise and leave the interpretation on the constitution to our lawyers and constitution experts.

Odin: One minor correction, Kua. 'Tanah Melayu' was not Malaysia's name before independence.

It was West/Peninsular Malaysia. Neither Sabah nor Sarawak has ever been called that. You are, of course, absolutely right in the rest of your contention.

If you ask me, I think Khoo would do well to just sit quietly somewhere and write his memoirs or whatever.

 

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