WHY IS LOKMAN ADAM NOT IN JAIL YET – AND APANDI ALI NOT CHARGED FOR 1MDB ABUSE OF POWER? NAJIB’S NO.1 HENCHMAN THREATENS ‘A MILLION PEOPLE’ WILL TAKE TO THE STREETS IF ROME STATUTE IS RATIFIED – WHILE APANDI POINTS THE FINGER AT GANI PATAIL FOR ROYAL ‘RESERVATIONS’

A MILLION people will march on June 15 if the government fails to confirm its withdrawal from the Rome Statute by month-end, said Sekretariat Suara Rakyat chairman Lokman Noor Adam.

He said the rally will dwarf last November’s protest against the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) and yesterday’s gathering to defend Islam and the constitution.

Lokman, who is also Umno Supreme Council member, said the United Nations website still shows Malaysia as a signatory to the Rome Statute.

“If the government fails to fully withdraw from the treaty by May 31, we will hold a mega rally on June 15, with the support of other civil society groups and political parties,” he told a press conference in Ampang today.

He said yesterday’s rally, held in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur, was “the first warning” to the government.

The gathering, participated by Umno and PAS leaders, saw a turnout of about 1,000 protesters.

“If it is confirmed that the government lied to the people about Malaysia’s status in relation to the Rome Statute, we will bring a million people to the streets.”

Yesterday’s rally to defend Islam and the constitution, held in Kuala Lumpur, ended early due to rain. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, May 5, 2019.

Meanwhile, Gabungan Gerakan Perpaduan Kebangsaan chairman Mohd Razlan Rafii told The Malaysian Insight that the rally planned for next month will be called “Himpunan Sejuta Umat Bantah Statut Rom 1506” and held at Dataran Merdeka.

“It will be held from noon to night. We will allow 60 representatives of civil groups to address the gathering,” said the Umno man, adding that non-Muslim civil groups will also be involved.

Last month, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Putrajaya would not ratifythe Rome Statute due to “political confusion” surrounding the issue.

“This is not because we are against it, but because of the political confusion over what it entails, caused by people with vested interests.”

Malaysia, on March 4, signed the treaty and submitted it to the UN secretary-general. The country is allowed to withdraw before next month.

Last November, the government U-turned on its pledge to ratify ICERD following backlash from certain quarters that feared it would affect Malays’ special position and privileges.

The same month, Umno and PAS organised a rally in the capital, attended by thousands, to oppose the anti-discrimination convention.

Academics and political analysts have said rallies held in the name of race, religion and royalty are a new platform used by the opposition to swing support away from Pakatan Harapan.

They said such gatherings work for the opposition in the same way Bersih rallies did for the now-defunct Pakatan Rakyat and PH. – the malaysian insight

AGC voiced concerns over Rome Statute during BN rule, says Apandi

CONCERNS that ratifying the Rome Statute will affect the Federal Constitution and Malay rulers led the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) to reject the treaty during the Barisan Nasional administration.

Former attorney-general (A-G) Mohamed Apandi Ali said when he was in charge of the AGC, he and his officers had agreed with the reservations in the opinion given by his predecessor Abdul Gani Patail.

Gani was A-G from January 2002 to July 2015 before Apandi held it until last June.

“If I recall correctly, he (Gani) was concerned that the ratification might be contrary to our constitution, as it might affect our constitutional monarchs,” Apandi told The Malaysian Insight today.

Apandi said the constitution remains the same despite in change of government.

“We have to uphold the law and not act merely on the instruction of the government. We call a spade a spade according to the law.”

He was asked to shed light into why the AGC refused to go along with Putrajaya on the Rome Statute in the past.

Yesterday, current A-G Tommy Thomas told a public forum that his two predecessors had refused to implement the Rome Statute.

Thomas’ view on the A-G’s role differed from Apandi’s. The former reportedly said with the government as his “client”, he should be expected to follow instructions.

“I did not know that as A-G, I can refuse to act on the instruction of the client (the Cabinet),” Thomas said.

When Gani was A-G, the Barisan Nasional government under Najib Razak wanted to be part of the International Criminal Court in late 2010, following Israel’s attack on vessel Gaza Freedom Flotilla, but the AGC objected.

In August 2015 after the downing of Malaysia Airlines’ MH17 in Ukraine, Najib’s cabinet again ordered the AGC then under Apandi to prepare for the ratification of the treaty. The AGC refused again.

The matter has now become an issue under the Pakatan Harapan administration.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced last month that Malaysia has no choice but to quit the treaty, following criticism from the Johor palace and other parties over fears that the statute will undermine the institution of Malay rulers.

Gani could not be reached for comment. – the malaysian insight

THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT