Banning of the book “The March to Putrajaya”
Kim Quek
I am terribly disappointed at judge Rohana Yusof’s decision to reject my application to declare the seizure and subsequent banning of my book “The March to Putrajaya” null and void.
The judge’s one sided judgement which completely ignores the argument submitted by me and my legal counsel is obviously a flawed judgement.
It cannot help but convey the unmistakable signal that the present political hold on the judiciary to deliver what the political masters want is intact.
It means that Malaysians will continue to be denied their fundamental liberties guaranteed under Part Two of the Constitution – which include the freedom of expression – through abuse of power by the Executive, which will be ultimately protected from legal accountability by a compliant judiciary.
It is ironical that the Institution – judiciary – entrusted by the Constitution to play the role of ultimate protector of citizens’ rights against encroaches by the Executive has found itself playing the reverse role – the ultimate protector of an abusive Executive that tramples on people’s fundamental rights.
It should be very clear by now that we cannot count on any of the existing state institutions – judiciary included – to look after the people’s interest and to ensure that they truly enjoy what is due to them in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
This calls for the final solution to this tragic predicament faced by the nation – a complete overhaul of our institutions through a change of political leadership.
As for today’s judgement by Judge Rohana, who also rejects the celebrated cartoonist Zunar’s application to lift the ban on his two cartoon books in the same judgement, both Zunar and myself have pledged to fight the legal battle to the very end, despite the thinning chances of receiving justice as we ascend the judicial hierarchy.
Our legal effort is part of the larger political movement aimed at turning a new leaf for the country – for ourselves and for generations to come.
