AG: Govt will act on RCI report

According to Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail, the government needs admissible evidence for purpose of criminal prosecution.

(Bernama) – The government will act on any report or resolution by the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in Sabah, said Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail.

In giving this assurance, he said, where there were criminal elements involved, action would be taken, and wrongs would be righted.

“Yes, if there are criminal offences, we will act. This is the government’s promise. That is why, the RCI was set up.

“However, we must remember, if we talk about criminal prosecution, we have to see whether there is sufficient evidence. In the RCI, everything that people say is acknowledged, but without evidence, we cannot accept. We can accept hearsay evidence.

“To enable us to go to court, we have to look at admissible evidence. This is not an excuse not to take action against those who committed a crime. We will take action, but according to the law,” he told reporters after attending the Opening of the Legal Year 2013 at the Tawau court here today.

Also present at the event were Chief Justice of Malaysia Arifin Zakaria, Court of Appeal president Md Raus Sharif, Federal Court Judge Abdull Hamid Embong and Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Richard Malanjum.

Gani also urged all parties to have confidence in the RCI which he said had delved extensively into all issues which were exposed.

“Everyone knows that many were arrested [including] those with identity cards. This shows that the government is transparent. Looking at another aspect, it is a promise fulfilled.

“The prime minister [Najib Tun Razak] had said he would see to it that an RCI would be set up, and that it would be transparent and reliable. Otherwise, all these issues would not have been exposed.

“And, I am very glad and happy with it because that is what we want. Why, because the truth must come out exactly as it is,” he said.

Gani said that a mistake could have been committed earlier, and that mistake was being investigated, whether it was committed by government officers or the government itself, or there was an element of fraud or corruption, which should be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction.

“And, that mistake, we have to rectify… it is very important for this state [Sabah], it’s my state. We must do something. So, don’t be in a haste, let’s wait and see, just allow the RCI to do its job effectively,” he said.