Stop Humiliating Tun M
Why drag in the police? Najib Razak should just sue Tun Mahathir for slander, or civil defamation—that, at least, is how a man should behave.
Zaidgeist
For the first time in our history, the police commenced investigation on a 90 year old former Prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad presumably for criminal defamation. I heard it’s regarding something he said about the current Prime Minister during the Bersih 4.0 rally two months ago. Sadly the same Police force still have not shown any interest to question the current PM Dato Sri Najib Razak Najib over 1MDB, despite police reports had been lodged against him more than 10 months now.
From what I recall, Tun Mahathir did say something that could well be grounds for a civil claim, but why drag in the police? Najib Razak should just sue Tun Mahathir for slander, or civil defamation—that, at least, is how a man should behave. After all the issue is a simple straightforward one; did Najib take the money from 1MDB / SRC or not. Then did he pay off all those UMNO / BN leaders to keep them quiet , and continue to support him in power?
Criminal defamation laws that use the police and the state to coerce and stop citizens from speaking up are outdated and should be repealed. They were created by the colonial masters to instill fear on the populace . They have a pernicious effect on society and should be abolished.
The United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, the Human Rights Committee of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other international bodies have all called for the abolition of criminal defamation. Our self-styled transformative and moderate Prime Minister, however, prefers to humiliate Tun Mahathir by sending in the Police.
But Tun Mahathir, as always, is being extremely smart and strategic in his approach. He has refused to answer any question posed by the police. I have received many calls from Tun Mahathir’s admirers, asking me if the police can charge him for not answering their questions. I told them that in a police state—which we clearly are at this point—whether one answers the question or not is immaterial; if the police want to charge you, they will. They will ask you questions even if you do not know the basis of the investigation against you. That’s probably why Tun has so far refused to answer their questions.
