By Ariff Sabri, Raub MP
Yesterday, while in parliament debating the amendments to the amendments of the Sedition Act, some of us also watched Najib answering the scripted questions on TV.
Now to those who are not familiar with parliament, there is a lounge or canteen where parliamentarians can go for drinks and food, while following the proceedings in the dewan proper. This is beneficial especially if proceedings extend for long hours as they did for two days in the just concluded session.
On the 6th of April, debate on POTA ended at almost 3 am. The proceedings on the 8th ended around 2am. On the final day- 9th of April, the proceedings ended at 4.21am.
I need to explain this, because there has been widespread unhappiness on the absence of PR MPs on these important days- especially when POTA and the amendments to the amendments of The Sedition Act were passed. I am not qualified to explain the absence of seral MPs. I can only say that 2 DAP MPS were absent because they were physically not in Malaysia. Otherwise 35 of us out of 37 were there.
Back to the Najib interview. Many crowded before the TV when the interviewer asked the prearranged question regarding Altantuya.
But before that, I want to get this out of my chest. Abdullah who? He was asleep most of the time- Tun Daim would probably regal us with stories about rip van winkle. People can be rude by asking, what does Pak Lah know?
Pak lah is better off staying out of this fight lest people start digging what he got when Najib took over as PM. There are some stories circulating that even Pak Lah was a beneficiary from the spoils when our country bought the 2 submarines. I don’t know about this- people tell me this.
Its ok- we will dig out the story when we come to power. Now you know, why UMNO is fearful of losing power.
PM Najib answered (or he didn’t answer the question direct) by saying that he has uttered the solemn oath of Wallahi, Wabillahi and Watallahi- that he didn’t know Altantuya.
I think the answer was meant more for the folks in the villages and in the Malay heartland- who would, I am very inclined to believe, will jump and exclaim- God Is great- see- Najib answered best!
But he did not answer the question really. Because, if Najib can prove his innocence by way of making the solemn oath, then anyone accused of any crime can avoid going before the civil courts by doing the same. Many wrong doers will get away easily.
The best way to solve the issue once and for all is to do a retrial- bring in Musa Safri, Razak Baginda and others- investigation officers and everyone connected to the brutal slaying. The retrial can be done- if we have a new government, a properly constituted court- believing the court system is not honest isn’t a legal mischief right? And some evidence and people left out during the trial of Razak baginda and the two policemen hitmen.
PM Najib hasn’t cleared his name yet. I know, it’s unfair to ask him to do more- but the standard of propriety required of a man in high office is also higher and vigorous.
About the other issues- not needing repetition.
It’s really a stupid tactic to explain away the issues raised by Dr Mahathir by alluding and aspersing that Mahathir is behaving that way because, he could not get the crooked bridge revived.
Nobody believes Mahathir is behaving that way- grilling Najib and asking him to resign actually because, Mahathir is petty. Or Mahathir wants to secure a place for his son Mukhriz.
Najib actually insults the intelligence of millions of Malaysians
His answers regarding the shadowy dealings of 1MDB and questionable finances of Reza Aziz and the role of Jho Low- are also lame.
Why do people find it strange the big guns within UMNO are not in the fore front defending Najib? They answer, they are playing their cards close to their chest. Why reveal you are with Najib when they know better than the rest of us, there is huge groundswell of rejection of Najib by UMNO members.
Who have been defending Najib? Mostly second rate leaders such as the one from JASA who lost in Batu Pahat and now wants to earn his spurs and show his gratitude for getting a job. The MCA- the Seven-Eleven Party trying hard to reclaim legitimacy and Gerakan. MIC is just thankful for getting a job for every of its MPs. So they all come together- to sing, We are the World.
*The opinions expressed in this article are that of the author and may not necessarily represent the views of The Rocket
*This article first appeared on sakmongkol.blogspot.com
