AG acting like a judge now, says Dr M
Dr Mahathir Mohamad says Attorney-General Idrus Harun is acting like a judge in deciding whether to drop cases or not.
KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has accused Attorney-General (AG) Idrus Harun of acting like a judge in deciding whether to drop certain cases or not.
“The AG or public prosecutor is now acting like a judge. The AG easily decides that there is no case. The AG has become a judge,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
Mahathir (Pejuang-Langkawi) also said Idrus failed to object to allowing a certain “prisoner” to leave the country, in reference to Najib Razak’s successful application to visit his daughter in Singapore, who is expecting her second child.
“Yes, this is not against the law, but it sets a precedent. Can prisoners travel overseas to go for holidays in the future? Or are there two classes of prisoners?” he asked.
In another swipe at the former prime minister, Mahathir questioned why Najib had yet to undergo the punishment meted out to him in the SRC International case when the court had already found him guilty.
Noting that Najib had appealed the court’s decision, he said it had been nearly a year since the appeal was filed but no decision had been made yet.
“Justice delayed is justice denied.
“There are Malaysians who haven’t even been charged but have been thrown into jail, (so) why not those who have already been found guilty and sentenced? Instead, he’s allowed to leave the country.”
Mahathir also responded to Najib’s criticisms over the Pulau Batu Puteh issue, describing him as a “warrior” zealously fighting to defend the nation’s sovereignty.
But he questioned why the Pekan MP did not display the same zealousness when 1,370ha of reclaimed land in Johor were sold freehold to foreigners previously, adding that Najib had even officiated at the project.
Big budget, big debts
Mahathir also said there was no need to be proud of the RM322 billion Budget 2022, the biggest in Malaysia’s history, as it would incur big debts for the nation.
These debts would not only have to be serviced by the current government but also by future administrations, he said in urging Putrajaya to review the annual budget.
“Allocating additional funds to address problems does not always reflect the government’s concern or the budget architect’s wisdom. We do not need to be proud of the size of our budget.”
He said he understood the need to spend more to combat the pandemic and stimulate the economy, but questioned why Putrajaya showed no interest in recovering money that had been misappropriated.
“Money that was believed to have been stolen has been returned to the thieves. The government supposedly had insufficient evidence to prove that the money was government funds from 1MDB.”
He quipped that political parties in the government would win handsomely should a general election be held tomorrow, since the budget seemed to allocate greater funds for every section of the nation.
However, he maintained that the government’s debts would increase all the more, pointing out that Putrajaya was only projecting to earn RM234 billion next year when the budget would cost RM332 billion.
KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has accused Attorney-General (AG) Idrus Harun of acting like a judge in deciding whether to drop certain cases or not.
“The AG or public prosecutor is now acting like a judge. The AG easily decides that there is no case. The AG has become a judge,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
Mahathir (Pejuang-Langkawi) also said Idrus failed to object to allowing a certain “prisoner” to leave the country, in reference to Najib Razak’s successful application to visit his daughter in Singapore, who is expecting her second child.
“Yes, this is not against the law, but it sets a precedent. Can prisoners travel overseas to go for holidays in the future? Or are there two classes of prisoners?” he asked.
In another swipe at the former prime minister, Mahathir questioned why Najib had yet to undergo the punishment meted out to him in the SRC International case when the court had already found him guilty.
Noting that Najib had appealed the court’s decision, he said it had been nearly a year since the appeal was filed but no decision had been made yet.
“Justice delayed is justice denied.
“There are Malaysians who haven’t even been charged but have been thrown into jail, (so) why not those who have already been found guilty and sentenced? Instead, he’s allowed to leave the country.”
Mahathir also responded to Najib’s criticisms over the Pulau Batu Puteh issue, describing him as a “warrior” zealously fighting to defend the nation’s sovereignty.
But he questioned why the Pekan MP did not display the same zealousness when 1,370ha of reclaimed land in Johor were sold freehold to foreigners previously, adding that Najib had even officiated at the project.
Big budget, big debts
Mahathir also said there was no need to be proud of the RM322 billion Budget 2022, the biggest in Malaysia’s history, as it would incur big debts for the nation.
These debts would not only have to be serviced by the current government but also by future administrations, he said in urging Putrajaya to review the annual budget.
“Allocating additional funds to address problems does not always reflect the government’s concern or the budget architect’s wisdom. We do not need to be proud of the size of our budget.”
He said he understood the need to spend more to combat the pandemic and stimulate the economy, but questioned why Putrajaya showed no interest in recovering money that had been misappropriated.
“Money that was believed to have been stolen has been returned to the thieves. The government supposedly had insufficient evidence to prove that the money was government funds from 1MDB.”
He quipped that political parties in the government would win handsomely should a general election be held tomorrow, since the budget seemed to allocate greater funds for every section of the nation.
However, he maintained that the government’s debts would increase all the more, pointing out that Putrajaya was only projecting to earn RM234 billion next year when the budget would cost RM332 billion.
Extracts follow:
(Malaysia Gazette, 18 December 2019) – Yesterday, renowned lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah expressed his shock on how a convicted prisoner on death row could be given the access to meet a VVIP outside the Kajang prison.
The prisoner he meant was none other than the former Special Action Unit (UTK) officer, Azilah Hadri who was sentenced to death by hanging after he was found guilty for murdering Mongolian model, Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006.
Nevertheless, Shafee said that he could not verify the information but it was given to him my a trusted source.
Mahathir crony-proxy Abdullah Ang was given VVIP treatment and today is Parti Amanah’s financier
“The meeting between Azilah and the VVIP took place in early February this year. How could a prisoner on death row go out of the prison to meet a VVIP? How could that happen?
“I definitely cannot verify this information but it was given to me by a trusted source. The meeting was not in the prison but outside. When a prisoner is on death row, how could they be brought out just like that?
“That is against the law and protocol. I am waiting for a formal confirmation at this moment,” he told the journalists.
As a person with vast experience in the legal field, Shafee would not make the shocking statement without any basis.
Mahathir is spitting into the wind or ludah ke langit
If it truly happened as alleged, it seemed like the ‘dark history of 1989’ may return to tarnish the image of the country.
Here is the story.
On 19 August 1989, the Malay Mail made an exclusive daring revelation on how businessman, Abdullah Ang had the Super VVIP treatment at the Kajang Prison.
His room was equipped with refrigerator, carpet, video player and waterbed. Abdullah could also enter and exit the Kajang Prison as if he owned that place.
For the record, Abdullah Ang was the Chief Executive of the Malaysian Overseas Investment Corporation (MOIC) who had many friends among the government leaders and senior officers.
He had an eight years sentence and was fined RM100,000 by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on 15 December 1986 (which was lightened after mitigation plea). He pleaded guilty over the charges on criminal breach of trust amounting RM338,808.80.
Two years before his release date, Abdullah was seen around Kuala Lumpur! He was wearing a t-shirt and a pair of white pants. Upon getting the information, the editor of Malay Mail sent the journalist and photographer to track the prisoner.
In its report, Abdullah was also seen at the garment factory belonging to his family. There were no warden or officer from the prison at sight escorting him during his visit.
For more, see above link Why Is Mahathir Upset When He Did The Same?
The problem with this KT attack on Mahathir is that it's not just Mahathir being nasty making an issue about double standards for Najib.
ReplyDeleteThe court allowing Najib to travel to Singapore has been heavily criticised left and right all over the country.
Almost all ordinary people under similar circumstances have been denied permission to travel in the past.
How is the court going to rule in future ?
So sad and forlorn... KT has had to dig up a 1989 story to counter the latest controversy around Najib.
About 1/2 the population of Malaysia today hadn't even been born then.