Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak raises serious issues about the credibility of his government when he questioned the timing of the rape allegation against Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim, which was allegedly committed in 2007.
At a press conference in Putrajaya covering another matter, he also noted that Rais had issued a denial that he raped an Indonesian maid four years ago.
“He has made a statement. He stands by his statement. He is willing to be investigated. So let the process take its course.”
Perhaps, Najib’s most damning and irresponsible statement was that the crime was allegedly committed three years ago.
“We cannot prejudge and pronounce something against someone before a proper investigation is done. In any case, what happened was in 2007. The question is, why (bring it up) now?”
Does Najib know something we don’t?
We are aware he is privy to more information. So when he said “In any case, what happened was in 2007,….”, he omitted to use the important word “alleged”.
Is he implying the rape actually happened? The omission of one word changes the complexion of this sordid matter.
Najib appears to be condoning this most heinous of crimes. Where is his integrity? Where is accountability and respect for the rule of law? As a supposed leader, he has made a serious error of judgement.
If Rais issued a denial all those years ago, then is Najib saying that the denial will suffice?
What about a proper investigation to verify the allegation and prove his innocence?
If the woman in question was out to besmirch Rais, then she ought to be punished.
Either way, we cannot have those who are under suspicion of crime saying they denied it and the police saying, “Oh ok then. Not guilty. Case closed.” Nor can we have women or men who are wanting to sully peoples reputations for reasons of their own, and then getting away with it.
No, Prime minister. A crime is a crime, whenever and wherever it was committed.
You have now made our government into a laughing stock. As a leader, you should have come out with a statement, either to refute these serious allegations made about your minister when the news first broke. But you dithered.
The minister who is the alleged rapist should also have come out with a statement then. Instead, he waited. Probably, as was the case four years ago, he held his breath hoping ‘it’ would go away, and it did. He was safe. And he must have rued the day Wikileaks was established.
The cabinet should have made a statement to defend one of their own. Or at the very least, individuals who do not have their own personal baggage should have come out in defense of the alleged rapist. But they prevaricated. And did worse damage.
They possibly did not believe in this man’s innocence hence they could not come out in his defense. At worst, they must all have held their breaths; if this man were to fall, any one of them might be next.
Najib should know, as a leader and as a person who claims to uphold the religion and integrity of the Malaysian peoples, that there is no statute of limitations on serious crimes.
Did Najib not take an oath at the beginning of his premiership to uphold the faith and act in the interests of the king, his people, and the country?
Hypothetically, if Najib’s daughter had been assaulted in 2007, would he now dismiss the allegations and say “…In any case, what happened was in 2007. …”
No father would trivialise the rape of his daughter.
1 comment:
This is what the West calls Third World Justice.He is responsible for the crime but he is not guilty in accordance to the rule BY our law.
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