Attempted cover-up and almost got away with it
YOURSAY ‘We need a free media and a Freedom of Information Act.’
Tale of two governments and a sex case
Anonymous #20513663: I think that without the fuss kicked up by the New Zealand media and opposition, all this would probably have been swept under the carpet by the NZ government in the interest of 'strategic bilateral ties' or whatever.
In that sense, the two governments are no different. The real difference is that, in Malaysia, if any fuss were to be kicked up by media, opposition, civil society, etc, about such an issue, there would probably just be an elegant silence from Putrajaya or a repression of the dissent.
Basically, 'national interests' will always be at work for both sides. The difference is the culture of impunity and un-accountability in Putrajaya.
It is important Malaysians not conclude that “Kiwis are our best friends forever”. The NZ government and different segments of the NZ society all have their own interests and the day when they are not be aligned with the interests of Malaysians, we will feel the pain.
According to reports, the NZ government did not volunteer this information but was ‘forced’ to make it public because the country has a Freedom of Information Act. Without all these constraints, my bet is that they would have covered it up too.
Malaysian military attache Muhammad Rizalman Ismail must be extradited but we cannot keep depending on other countries and their laws to bring our criminals to justice.
(By the way, you can see that nothing is happening in France on the Scorpene submarine case perhaps because the issue happened during a 'cohabitation' government composed of both sides of the political divide. Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy is being prosecuted now in part because his political opponents are in power. See, 'interests' everywhere.)
International pressure can be very, very effective in the Malaysian case. But not many Malaysians seem to realise that.
But we need a free media and a Freedom of Information Act, as well as all the other checks and balances of a functioning democracy. With that, we can solve our problems ourselves.
Haveagreatday: Yes, Malaysiakini journalist Ram Anand, you have spelled out the contrast between the two governments clearly.
The Umnoputras are so drunk with power that they do not learn from their past mistakes. They assumed the NZ government will take the cue from them and sweep matters under the carpet.
Jay Jay Denis: Indeed, stark contrast from two democratically elected governments. Ram hits the nail on the head with this one.
Guyintheglass: I think it is incorrect to compare responses against different events, in this case, NZ's action on the diplomatic issue and Malaysia's action on missing MH370.
If a comparison has to be made, compare the responses for the same event, which is the diplomatic issue.
The response Malaysia gave on this diplomatic issue was not wrong. NZ jumped the gun by releasing official communications but forgot about the informal discussions between the two parties. Eventually, they had to back pedal.
Why did NZ raise this after more than one month has passed? That is a question for them to answer.
YS Tam: That’s the trouble with Malaysiakini - always super quick to run down our country and take the side of a foreign country.
Both NZ and Malaysia made mistakes in handling this case but Malaysiakini only has toxic things to say about our country.
Anonymous_1398011840: YS Tam, take a look at the official documents released by NZ. That's what we call "evidence". No spinning, no framing.
There is even an attempt by Malaysia to close the case by requesting NZ to "sealed" the court documents. If the word "seal" is not familiar, please google it.
Malaysia even asked NZ to drop the charges. I don't see how you could defend the indefensible.
Amoda: YS Tam, please show us how you could side with our government which, instead of cooperating with New Zealand to charge the man who was caught breaking into a woman's house and tried to rape her, has asked Wellington to drop the case and seal the files?
Don't you have any shame what our government has done?
Fats: On behalf of ordinary Malaysians (or at least many Malaysians), I would like to say sorry to the entire world for the failings, misdeeds and incompetence of the Malaysian government.
Please forgive us, the ordinary Malaysians, for although we tried, we had been powerless against the mighty and evil forces of racism, religious extremism, corruption, nepotism and cronyism that have poisoned the country and have led to the present dismal state of the nation.
Please have sympathy on us, the ordinary Malaysians, whose only fault is to have been born in this country.
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