From N Surendran, via e-mail
I refer to the pending appeal to the Court of Appeal by Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Omar against their conviction for the murder of Mongolian national Alatantuya Shaaribu.
Azilah and Sirul were convicted by the High Court as long ago as April 2009. The delay of this public interest appeal case for more than 3 years is unusual and unacceptable. The appeal is now to be heard only on Aug 27 2012. It is cruel and unjust to inflict such a lengthy delay in the appeal of death penalty cases. The accused must remain on death row, in the shadow of the noose, until the appeal is disposed off.
This is a case of grave public interest. Sirul and Azilah were members of the Prime Minister’s security detail at the time of the commission of the offence and Najib himself has been publicly implicated in the Altantuya-Scorpene case.
The PM’s close associate Abdul Razak Baginda was also charged for the murder, but subsequently acquitted. Now further evidence has emerged that has implications for the pending appeal. The late Altantuya’s father has said in Malaysia this week that he has seen a photo of Najib with Altantuya in Paris. Prior to this, Prime Minister Najib had publicly denied ever meeting Altantuya.
The mystery is that Azilah and Sirul appear to have had no motive to have killed Altantuya. If so, who then ordered the killing?
It is in the public interest that this appeal be heard expeditiously, preferrably before the 13th general elaction; the public is entitled to answers before going to the ballot box. The public is also entitled to know the reasons for the unconscionable and intolerable delaying of the appeal.
The writer is PKR’s vice-president.
1 comment:
Dr.Jeffry Kitingan is a Christian Kadazan from Sabah. But is he in favor of Bersih 3.0 or not? He is either pro-Bersih 3.0 or anti-Bersih 3.0. If you are pro-Bersih 3.0, then you are not anti-Bersih 3.0. If you are anti-Bersih 3.0, then you are not pro-Bersih 3.0. I do have a lot of respect for Dr.Jeffry Kitingan, but on this important moment in history, he and other Sabahans and Sarawakians must make a clear unambiguous public stand. I think the Malaysian citizens need to know.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The UMNO government agreed to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the large presence of illegal foreigners in Sabah and the widespread issuance of Malaysian Mykads and identification documents. But UMNO has yet to do something concrete. UMNO has to do something concrete before the General Elections(GE13). Starting the RCI work after the GE13 is a joke.
The Hindu Malaysians have the same problem. There is a UMNO minister who asked the Hindu Malaysians to have "nambikei" in UMNO. The word "nambikei" means "faith" in Tamil language. The reality is that due cronyism and favoritism, most Hindu Malaysians were sidelined. Now an UMNO Minister is asking Hindu Malaysians to put faith in him. It means that if the Hindu Malaysians vote for UMNO in GE13, then UMNO will respond by helping to uplift the Hindu Malaysians out of poverty. But faith can be given to the Almighty, not human beings because human beings do err all the time. It is dangerous to put faith in human beings because they may betray you too. What Hindu Malaysians need is equal rights and meritocracy.
At some point in time Sabahans must draw the line somewhere. Waiting for GE13 to be over before the RCI can do what they should do may not be a good idea. Any way, its up to Sabahans to decide. Should the RCI do its work before GE13 or after GE13 is the burning question. If the Sabahans continue to tolerate and have faith in UMNO, then it is their own problem. It is for Sabahans to wise up. It is for Sabahans to realize that they have been shortchanged. It is for Sabahans to decide their own future. Sabahans cannot and should not wait and wait for the RCI to do its work. I say that the RCI should do its work before GE13; and this should be the ultimatum. I say that RCI should complete its work before GE13; and this should be the ultimatum. I say that RCI starting its work before GE13 is insufficient. Starting its work and completing its work are not the same. Starting is only starting. Starting and completing are different. Sabahans have waited too long for RCI. There should be no more delays. The RCI must complete and finish its work before GE13. RCI must complete and finish its work to the satisfaction of the Sabahans before the GE13. It is important that the Sabahans be satisfied with findings of the RCI before the GE13 is held. This should be the ultimatum.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The political history of Malaysia can be divided into two chapters: that is, chapter one and chapter two. Chapter One is about UMNO rule with a 2/3 majority in Parliament. Chapter Two is about UMNO rule without a 2/3 majority in Parliament. We are now in Chapter Two. The beginning of Chapter Two is the end of Chapter One. Similarly, the end of Chapter One is the beginning of Chapter Two.
Chapter One had its social, political, and economic implications for the nation. Chapter Two has just begun and its social, political, and economic changes are something we have to wait and see.
Post a Comment