I am perplexed with the Courts. One Court made the right decision recently when it made the ruling that a politician should not be able to sue the media for writing about their performance while in office. This was the case of Pahang MB Adnan's civil suit against Utusan Malaysia. The court ruled in favour of Utusan. But another court ruled in another case that a media outfit had a case to answer when the Pirate was suing them. Isnt that being inconsistent?
Lately people are talking about discretion and indiscretions. Discretion refers to the choice, option or power (my words) given to someone to dispose of some matter. The AG having the discretion to prosecute or not to prosecute a case is a very good example of discretionary power. There is a debate now about the AG's discretionary powers.
Even a former Chief Justice has got involved in the discussion. Normally in other countries retired Chief Justices write learned books on law and cases they heard but here they give interviews and get involved in business. Along the way from bench to business they also went across the river for chili tomyam - with a long lasting after taste. Not bad. Inspiring Kadir Jasin to pen his pantun as well.
Has the AG got the absolute discretion to prosecute or not to prosecute? The way things are now, even if the AG likes or does not like someone's face, he may or may not press charges against that person. And there is absolutely nothing anyone can do about it.
The Bar Council is challenging this discretionary power granted to the AG. Perhaps the time has come where the AG is either appointed by Parliament or confirmed in his appointment by the Parliament. And the AG must be made answerable on a periodic basis (six months or every 12 months) to a Parliamentary oversight committee which must have the power to censure the AG for "indiscretions".
An indiscretion on the other hand is an epidemic that afflicts too many people, especially those in power. Or your family members.
How the public views indiscretions depends on the moral fibre and moral standards of society. Or of your family. If once in a while your uncle got drunk on weekends and went cavorting with women (of other races) it was not his fault. There are many wicked women (of other races) around. It was their fault.
If your uncle committed indiscretions and later was forced to "marry" his indiscretions, thats not his fault too. Blame his wife (your aunty). She was wicked too. She drove your uncle to his indiscretions.
In Singapore (a kafir country) MPs have resigned because of indiscretions. Once before a Speaker resigned for the same reason. Also in many countries, usually kafir countries, if MPs lie in Parliament they have to resign. But not in Malaysia.
A Dato friend of mine talks about the "chicken house in the wings" where the 'chickens' keep score on how many roosters came a calling ! They keep scores on their indiscretions !! Wow !! That is Malaysia.
Chua Soi Lek (who is deemed a kafir) admitted his indiscretion. Well it was on TV already. Yet because of his valour in admitting the ardour, Chua Soi Lek was forgiven. If he were like Titan the Sculptor he could go back to mixing his madder. Thats another limmerick al-to-get-her.
One fellow's indiscretions has landed him in Sg Buloh because certain types of indiscretions are still criminal in this country. Leave the Rapid KL Bus alone, no matter how alluring is the exhaust pipe. It is not criminal but it can give you a bad burn.
Indiscretion with a minor (under 16) is a statutory crime. Unless you can pull out a religious argument. The religious guys say even 12 year olds are fair game. When the PAS guys get caught for indiscretions, they demand four witnesses. If you dont have four witnesses then it is YOU who is the criminal. Not they. You say it was on TV? But TV is just besi.
Many in our Cabinet may have committed indiscretions. Many do not get "caught". Some of their indiscretions may have resulted in genetic manifestations (live births of children) - more than once. But most Malaysians just don't care. Because many Malaysians commit indiscretions themselves. Like your uncle.
So if we hear about indiscretions we just laugh them off.
The politicians do have different views about indiscretions. It depends on which side they are, who committed the indiscretion and when. If the indiscretion was committed by the opposing party, then it is bad.
Or if the defaulting party crosses over and joins the opposition, then he becomes clean as a white sheet. All his indiscretions are forgiven.
So lets just wait for more juicy news. - http://syedsoutsidethebox.blogspot.my/
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