Lim: Hamzah must explain why he did not pursue action against culprits when he was Home Minister

“Why does he only now threaten to use the information against the current government? Is Hamzah trying to use the files as his bargaining chip in negotiation with the government in order to obtain something he wants?”

(NST) – A backbencher said the authorities must immediately start probing former Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin for being complicit in the cover-up of certain pro-government politicians when he held the post.

Kepong member of parliament Lim Lip Eng said this followed Hamzah’s statement that he has a lot of files against government party leaders from the time he was Home Minister.

Lim said such revelation should stir the authorities into action as such files could be classified under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

“Hamzah has caught the attention of many people when he revealed that he has a lot of files against government party leaders from the time when he was home minister.

“Can Hamzah keep the files which he has claimed that he now possesses, especially after his term as the home minister?

Lim said Hamzah should explain why he did not pursue the cases against the culprits is he was already aware of the incriminating evidences in the alleged files.

“Why does he only now threaten to use the information against the current government?

“Is Hamzah trying to use the files as his bargaining chip in negotiation with the government in order to obtain something he wants?”

Lim said Hamzah, who is now Opposition leader, was duty-bound to uphold the course of justice by reporting the crimes to the authorities but had failed to do so.

He added that if the files are under the OSA, it is obvious the Bersatu secretary general would have committed a crime by holding on to the files.

“The authorities have to investigate to see if Hamzah was, in fact, complicit with the culprits in covering up their acts,” he said.

A news portal had previously quoted Hamzah as saying that he has files against government leaders from the time he was Home Minister.

Since then, lawyers had also stepped forward to say that Hamzah’s statement implied that he knew of wrongdoing and questioned why he did not act on the matter when he was at the home ministry.

They said withholding information on a crime is an offence and the authorities should start probing Hamzah.

Hamzah had previously been quoted by a newsportal as telling the government not to find fault with Perikatan Nasional as he could do the same with them.

Hamzah had said during an interview that he “has files on government party leaders” from his time as a minister.

“I used to be the home minister, I think I’ve got a lot of files against them too, whether I want to use it or not,” he was quoted as saying.