DON’T LET RAFIZI’S SACRIFICE BE IN VAIN: PANDAN MP A HERO FOR DARING TO EXPOSE CORRUPTION SHENANIGANS IN NAJIB REGIME – OPPOSITION POLITICIANS & ACTIVISTS FLAY PUTRAJAYA’S OVERT BID TO SILENCE WHISTLEBLOWERS

PAKATAN Harapan politicians and civil rights activists have expressed outrage and disappointment over the conviction and 30-month jail sentence meted out on PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli and former bank clerk Johari Mohamad today.

“This is a dark day for the country’s judiciary. 30 months is a heavy sentence, very frightening for citizens who could be potential whistleblowers to expose abuse of power, breach of trust, embezzlement and various forms of white collar crime,”   Amanah strategic director Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad told The Malaysian Insight.

The former Kuala Selangor MP said Rafizi was being punished for his efforts to expose corruption.

“You can’t avoid the bad perception the people have towards the country’s judiciary… which doesn’t protect the good citizens, but on the contrary, protects criminals,” said Dr Dzulkefly.

“If the effort to stop crime is considered a crime, then this country is being led by criminals.”

The Shah Alam Sessions Court had found Rafizi and Johari guilty for leaking banking information related to the National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp).

In 2011, Rafizi had exposed the national cattle-farm breeder’s purchases of luxury condominium units, a luxury car, two plots of land in Putrajaya, overseas trips and credit card expenses close to RM600,000 for business development purposes.

Owned by Umno Wanita head Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s husband Mohamad Salleh Ismail, the auditor-general’s report in 2010 had highlighted NFCorp’s failure to achieve its target of breeding 8,000 head of cattle in Gemas, Negri Sembilan.

Lawyers for Liberty executive director Eric Paulsen said the 30-month sentence was too harsh for Rafizi and Johari, who breached the banking law to expose mismanagement of public funds.

“This is shockingly excessive. Whistleblowers are being severely punished for revealing graft and abuse of power,”   he said.

Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) director Cynthia Grabriel said the court’s decision is disappointing.

“It demonstrates the flaws in our Whistleblower Protection Act that essentially does not encourage public reporting of corruption cases. It must be urgently amended to include safety and security of whistleblowers,” she said in an immediate reaction to the conviction.

She added that the Whistleblower Protection Act should not be subservient to the Banking and Financial Institutions Act and the Official Secrets Act.

“Today’s judgment shows why laws cannot be rushed through in Parliament without proper debates. It further reflects a clear lack of political will and leadership to fight corruption,”   said Cynthia.

Former Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusoff said the court’s decision sends a disturbing message to the public that in the name of secrecy, individual wrongdoings can be swept under the carpet.

DAP’s Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching said although a stay of the jail sentence was granted, the court’s decision disqualifies Rafizi from contesting in the 14th general election, which must be held by August.

“We must ensure his sacrifice is not in vain,” said Teo on her Facebook.

Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh said regardless of the technicality and justification used for their prosecution, it appears to Malaysians that the court is punishing whistleblowers.

“This injustice against Rafizi now provides a call for action for all Malaysians to reverse this nonsensical treatment at the ballot box. Your vote can ensure his effort to fight corruption is not wasted,” said Yeoh.

“This is a heavy sacrifice he is paying for the nation to be apart from his wife and child in his early years. The Malaysian Parliament will lose one of its brightest lawmaker by virtue of his disqualification in the next GE,”   Yeoh added.

Two days ago, Rafizi had tweeted that the only regret he has for entering politics is the time he has been apart from his son.

“We will have to register Ben for school this year. Ben will be in Standard 1 in 2020. That’s how quick time flies.

“I never regret anything that I did in politics. Except all the hours I didn’t spent with him while he grows up. Good night, Ben,” Rafizi had tweeted.

Bersatu youth chief Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman expressed his admiration for Rafizi.

“My prayers are with you. Only a few would do what you did. Only a few would spend jail time (to expose the truth),” he said on Twitter.

“It comforts me to know that there are still Malaysians like you.

“It breaks my heart to see you in jail. We will get you out, God willing,” he said.

– https://www.themalaysianinsight.com