“Hubby’s anti-Najib FB post”: “Crazy” attempt to question CJ’s “bias” slammed
ATTEMPTS to question the impartiality of Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat over a supposed Facebook post by her husband seen as critical of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has been criticised by an opposition leader.
Both former Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra) vice-president Datuk Hamidah Osman and Nooryana Najwa, one of Najib’s daughters, cried foul over the 14th General Elections (GE14)-related posting, with Hamidah even lodging a police report on the post today.
Notably, Tengku Maimun is one of the judges presiding over Najib’s final appeal in his SRC International RM42 mil corruption case. If he loses his appeal, Najib will go straight to jail as he has exhausted the appeals processes in the lower courts.
Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA) vice-president Lim Wei Jiet pointed out that Tengku Maimun’s husband, Datuk Zamani Ibrahim Zamani, has a right to hold a view on the GE14 results just like everyone else.
Lim Wei Jiet (Photo credit: MalaysiaNow)
“He’s not a member of any political party,” Lim added in a tweet today. “What craziness is this?”
Lim, who is also a lawyer by practice, asked why the alleged posting was being made an issue now, pointing out that it was uploaded on Facebook in May 2018.
“If this is an issue, why didn’t Najib request Tengku Maimun to recuse herself from the beginning?” he added.
Lim also said, “even if you want to judge”, the posting in full was “balanced” as the author also expressed sadness that his supposed friends in UMNO – Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan – had lost in GE14.
“The point is, almost everyone had views on who should be celebrated and condemned post-GE14. Why should that mean their spouse isn’t impartial?” Lim asked.
“Najib’s fall from the throne”
The since-viral screenshots of the post attributed to Zamani have to do with a personal reflection about the fall of the Najib-led Government leading up to and immediately after GE14.
In the write-up dated May 11, 2018, the author linked the GE14 results to the “rakyat speaking with such fury that it was a complete demolition of Be eND,” poking fun at Barisan Nasional’s BN acronym.
The author also wrote: “Happy because Najib had been dethroned. Sad for the demise of UMNO. Hopeful for the future.”
Earlier today, Hamidah lodged a police report at the Presint 7 police station in Putrajaya over the matter, claiming that the posting “tarnishes the image of the country’s justice system”.
“He’s not a member of any political party,” Lim added in a tweet today. “What craziness is this?”
Lim, who is also a lawyer by practice, asked why the alleged posting was being made an issue now, pointing out that it was uploaded on Facebook in May 2018.
“If this is an issue, why didn’t Najib request Tengku Maimun to recuse herself from the beginning?” he added.
Lim also said, “even if you want to judge”, the posting in full was “balanced” as the author also expressed sadness that his supposed friends in UMNO – Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan – had lost in GE14.
“The point is, almost everyone had views on who should be celebrated and condemned post-GE14. Why should that mean their spouse isn’t impartial?” Lim asked.
“Najib’s fall from the throne”
The since-viral screenshots of the post attributed to Zamani have to do with a personal reflection about the fall of the Najib-led Government leading up to and immediately after GE14.
In the write-up dated May 11, 2018, the author linked the GE14 results to the “rakyat speaking with such fury that it was a complete demolition of Be eND,” poking fun at Barisan Nasional’s BN acronym.
The author also wrote: “Happy because Najib had been dethroned. Sad for the demise of UMNO. Hopeful for the future.”
Earlier today, Hamidah lodged a police report at the Presint 7 police station in Putrajaya over the matter, claiming that the posting “tarnishes the image of the country’s justice system”.
Hamidah Osman (Photo credit: The Star)
“How can we be confident in the ruling made by Tengku Maimun being completely transparent, and fair and uninfluenced by her husband?” she asked.
“More so when the contents (of the Facebook posting) give the impression that the writer (Tengku Maimun’s husband) is someone who likes to see Najib fall,” she said, as she called on the police to uphold the “sanctity” of the judiciary.
In a later Facebook post, Hamidah also called on Tengku Maimun to recuse herself from hearing Najib’s case “to protect the integrity of the law” – but did not mention which case.
Meanwhile, Nooryana earlier this afternoon shared a screengrab of the Facebook posting on her Insta Story with this message: “This is why it’s a losing battle. Every single request from Najib’s team has been rejected by the court.
“It’s not justice, it’s politics,” she added.
“How can we be confident in the ruling made by Tengku Maimun being completely transparent, and fair and uninfluenced by her husband?” she asked.
“More so when the contents (of the Facebook posting) give the impression that the writer (Tengku Maimun’s husband) is someone who likes to see Najib fall,” she said, as she called on the police to uphold the “sanctity” of the judiciary.
In a later Facebook post, Hamidah also called on Tengku Maimun to recuse herself from hearing Najib’s case “to protect the integrity of the law” – but did not mention which case.
Meanwhile, Nooryana earlier this afternoon shared a screengrab of the Facebook posting on her Insta Story with this message: “This is why it’s a losing battle. Every single request from Najib’s team has been rejected by the court.
“It’s not justice, it’s politics,” she added.
“Sickening for UMNO to undermine the judiciary”
Meanwhile, Lim said it was “sickening that UMNO is trying to undermine the judiciary”, Tengku Maimun specifically, likely in reference to comments by netizens seen as critical of her.
“It (the judiciary) is not perfect, but (it is) one of the final bastions of independent institutions left in Malaysia – and they (UMNO) have no qualms of dragging it down to free a kleptocrat,” he said in another tweet.
He added: “We must stand up. We cannot be silent.”
A five-member Federal Court bench led by Tengku Maimun is currently hearing Najib’s final appeal in the SRC International case, with hearings set for tomorrow (Aug 19), followed by Aug 23 to 26, 2022.
The case deals with the alleged misappropriation of funds from SRC International – a former subsidiary company of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) – by Najib. Najib used to be SRC’s adviser emeritus and chairperson of 1MDB’s board of advisers.
In July 2020, Najib was found guilty by the High Court of seven charges of power abuse, criminal breach of trust and money laundering in the case. He was also fined RM210 mil and sentenced to 12 years in jail.
Najib appealed the charges and fine at the Court of Appeal. Last December, the appellate court dismissed the appeal and ruled that Najib’s conviction, alongside the jail sentence and fine, should be upheld.
The former finance minister is out on bail pending his final appeal at the apex court. – Aug 18, 2022
Meanwhile, Lim said it was “sickening that UMNO is trying to undermine the judiciary”, Tengku Maimun specifically, likely in reference to comments by netizens seen as critical of her.
“It (the judiciary) is not perfect, but (it is) one of the final bastions of independent institutions left in Malaysia – and they (UMNO) have no qualms of dragging it down to free a kleptocrat,” he said in another tweet.
He added: “We must stand up. We cannot be silent.”
A five-member Federal Court bench led by Tengku Maimun is currently hearing Najib’s final appeal in the SRC International case, with hearings set for tomorrow (Aug 19), followed by Aug 23 to 26, 2022.
The case deals with the alleged misappropriation of funds from SRC International – a former subsidiary company of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) – by Najib. Najib used to be SRC’s adviser emeritus and chairperson of 1MDB’s board of advisers.
In July 2020, Najib was found guilty by the High Court of seven charges of power abuse, criminal breach of trust and money laundering in the case. He was also fined RM210 mil and sentenced to 12 years in jail.
Najib appealed the charges and fine at the Court of Appeal. Last December, the appellate court dismissed the appeal and ruled that Najib’s conviction, alongside the jail sentence and fine, should be upheld.
The former finance minister is out on bail pending his final appeal at the apex court. – Aug 18, 2022
My guess is we are getting very close to the 1988 moment when UMNO decides it must remove the current bench of Federal Court judges and replace it with an "UMNO friendly Court"
ReplyDeleteFirst, I subscribe to the view that everyone has a right to be heard; spouses included.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, it is prudence for the spouse (in this case, the husband) to refrain from stating anything that may be used by unscrupulous people.
However, in this present case, what was said four years ago should not be dug up and referenced as an issue to tarnish the wife (Tengku Maimun).
More than half of all Malaysian voters did not vote for BN in GE14, and many expressed their opinion on-line.
ReplyDeleteThe judge is not involved, the person is not a member of a political party, and nothing was mentioned on the SRC case.
UMNO is trying to conjure up bias behind every bush, just because Najib's case of not going well, almost all consequent on his and his lawyer's actions and choices.
Time to grow up , UMNO-Jib
Time to grow up?
ReplyDeleteU, too!
But do u have that time?