The Rule of Law

THE RULE OF LAW



Even though I am bedridden because of my stroke, I have been watching and reading as New Malaysia events unfold. While I rejoice in a ruling coalition that I support, I will not stop criticising.

It has now been over 100 days since PH’s inauguration.

And I ask, why are we so engrossed over the 100 days issue?

Right off the bat, I must state we have not achieved everything we promised. Instead, we have completed 21 of 60 promises. This is a significant accomplishment to the promises made on the campaign trails. 

And I am not concerned for the rest. We are given a 5-year mandate. So let us not lose sleep over it. There are extenuating reasons as to why we have not accomplished everything. We must not be corralled by the 100-days limit. Explain to the people. They are intelligent enough. After all it is they who overthrew the previous kleptocratic government.

What is the political meaning of the rule of law? It isn’t the application of law or according to the constitution, no one is above the law etc. Those are nice legal definitions to the lawyers. To the politician, it is the intelligent application of political power. You have power—use it wisely.

The PH people appear not to know how to use power. They appear to be more engrossed in proving they are more democratic than the previous government. We have nothing to prove to them. The people’s welfare is more important.

For instance, why give the BN people air time? They didn’t give us any when they were in power so let us give them none. We are no less democratic.

Then there is spending; if we have to spend, then we should. We need to spend on people’s housing. We need to spend on widening roads and street lightings, not on grandiose projects. In Pekan, the former PM Najib’s backyard, areas like Jaya Gading and Sri Damai do not have sufficient street lighting and widened roads. Pekan also has no flood mitigation facilities, nor efficient access to high-speed Internet. In my opinion, the best mark of a developed nation is not the amount of highways or factories, but the quality of life of its rural populace. They must be on equal footing with their urban counterparts.

The idea of open tender is good but it is also slow. Business people want quick results. Ministers must decide fast; business people want to negotiate and deal. After open tenders, ministers must use discretionary powers in deciding. Then they display their powers. Don’t behave like school children who don’t know how to use power.

As for the perpetual thorn in our side, DS Najib does not have to lose sleep over just RM2.1 billion assets. If the late JJ got his wealth through legitimate means, then Najib has nothing to worry about. There were rumours that the late JJ was holding some of 1MDB’s money so that must have gotten Najib worried.

I believe the greatest failure of the 100-days limit is the failure of this government to put the people who committed economic crimes behind bars. If Najib were guilty of economic crimes—and all signs point to yes—he must be sent to the bamboo river resort. He was the one who paid exorbitantly for various IPPs. The government should investigate Ananda Krishnan, the people at Genting Sanyen, and Jimah. Were these people forced to pay tribute money to UMNO?

Najib is hiding behind Clause 117, the MMA of 1MDB. It was he who overrode the board of directors, and ordered Shahrul Azmi to pay 1.3b into Jho Low’s account.

I hope Tun Mahathir will not allow Toh Puan Rahah to intercede on Najib’s behalf. It is not the first time we jailed a minister, why should Najib be the exception? Let’s see if a third-generation fake Bugis warrior can hold court in a six-by-eight cell.

The efforts of the PH government can be sabotaged by the 1.6m civil service. I have a friend who operates a PLKN and has been waiting for his payment just because the TKSU decided to act as a modern-day Napoleon. This idea of rehiring retirees who will give them extensions must end. Let younger people and new names rise up.

Sakmongkol will return.