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‘No, no, no, wait, wait, wait, oooh, confidential’
Sabah graft - of blood boiling and more protests
Outgoing CJ gives Anwar history lesson
‘No, no, no, wait, wait, wait, oooh, confidential’
The royal addendum for former premier Najib Abdul Razak’s house arrest continues to be a confounding saga and those who can shed some light appear to be a little tongue-tied.
Former attorney-general Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh, when quizzed, responded: “No, no, no.”
His successor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar said: “I will not comment.”
As the opposition and former premier’s supporters screamed blue murder, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s aide Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin said the government should declassify minutes of the Pardons Board meeting.
He said this would put an end to accusations that the government had ignored or withheld the royal addendum issued by the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.
When Federal Territories Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa was asked about this, she replied: “Nanti, nanti, nanti (wait, wait, wait).”
However, she later clarified that the minutes of the Pardons Board meeting would remain confidential.
Finally, Anwar, who has faced calls to step down over the imbroglio, mustered an “oooh”.
The addendum drama also witnessed a slugfest between PAS and DAP, with allegations of “treason” and “cancer” thrown into the ring.
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Sabah graft - of blood boiling and more protests
Warisan leader Darell Leiking’s “blood is boiling”. He is incensed that MACC appears to be ineffective in tackling the corruption allegations against Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor and his assemblypersons.
“It makes my blood boil, thinking that nothing is being done to rope those alleged corrupt actors,” he lamented after rewatching the videos published by Malaysiakini.
Equally upset, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) students are planning to hold a second edition of their Gempur Rasuah Sabah gathering.
This is despite a pro-Hajiji organisation Sekretariat Gerakan Bangkit Sabahan threatening to sue them for RM5 million over their first rally held on Dec 31.
“We are not intimidated,” declared Suara Mahasiswa UMS president Muhamad Fadhil Muhamad Kasim, who described it as a “holy and pure struggle”.
Gerakan Bangkit Sabahan has also vowed to organise a counter-rally with UMS students, with its chief adviser Zulkarnain Mahdar claiming it would be 20 to 30 times larger.
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Outgoing CJ gives Anwar history lesson
Outgoing Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat is confident that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will continue to uphold judicial independence.
However, she also saw it fit to give the Pakatan Harapan chairperson a history lesson, recalling the latter’s remarks on the subject in the past.
She recounted how then-opposition leader Anwar, in 2009, raised an objection in the Dewan Rakyat over the Judicial Appointment Commission (JAC).
She said Anwar had objected to the Parliamentary Bill (which has become law) because it was not enough to increase judicial independence.
“Incidentally, 15 years ago, before the Judicial Appointment Commission Act 2009 was enforced, the then leader of the opposition made the comments that he did, as reflected in the Hansard, on the appointment of judges and judicial independence.
“I am certain that now, as prime minister, Anwar and his government will remain true to those comments by continuing to unreservedly remain committed to upholding the cause of judicial independence,” she added.
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Views that matter
 | Yoursay |
 | By Dobby Chew |
 | By Koo Wee Hon |
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