Ex-CJ: Set aside political differences in fighting graft
“They screamed for action to be taken against their opponents but when their members were investigated, they alleged that they were persecuted. When their opponents were arrested, charged, tried and convicted, there was complete silence from them.”
(NST) – Former Chief Justice of Malaysia Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad has called on politicians on both sides of the divide to set aside political interests in the fight against corruption.
Hamid said corruption was not always in the form of political donations but rather informed by “personal and direct” interests.
“For those in power, the attitude that they are an exception is not going to help… no one is special and none is an exception.
“For the opposition, the attitude that today is your turn and tomorrow will be our turn is not going to help either,” he said in his speech at the First United Premier Lecture on Integrity yesterday.
Drawing on his experience as Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Advisory Council chairman, he said fighting corruption should be a common ground for all.
He also expressed his disappointment in those who took sides based on their political leanings.
“Some groups take sides according to their vested interests, in the name of the people, justice, fairness, equality, freedom of speech, human rights and democracy.
“They screamed for action to be taken against their opponents but when their members were investigated, they alleged that they were persecuted.
“When their opponents were arrested, charged, tried and convicted, there was complete silence from them.”
He called on all leaders, including corporate leaders and top level management, to set a good example.
“Very often, people tend to focus on the public sector while the private sector escapes attention. Government, public servants, judges and others must be clean while companies and businessmen need not as they are only to be judged by how much profits they make.”
Hamid also defended the judiciary, alluding to attempts to discredit its integrity during the sodomy trial of opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“When the judgment turned out to be in his favour, (Anwar) said that he was acquitted because the government was worried about the negative image abroad if he were convicted.
“Is that not an allegation or an inference that the judge took instruction from the executive to arrive at his decision or that the executive dictated the decision to him?”
He cited, in comparison, cases where government leaders such as former Malacca executive councillor Datuk Sahar Arpan and former Negri Sembilan executive councillor Datuk Waad Mansor were successfully convicted of various crimes without questioning judicial integrity.
“For that matter, (former Transport Ministers) Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy whose cases are still pending are all fighting their cases on merits, not by attacking judges or the judiciary.”
