Pakatan Harapan leaders heaped praises when the Kuala Lumpur High Court convicted former premier Najib Abdul Razak and slapped him with a 12-year prison term and RM210 million fine on July 28.
However, Umno lawmaker Khairy Jamaluddin pointed out that the same leaders are now condemning the legal process after Lim Guan Eng landed in trouble.
According to the science, technology and innovation minister, this reeked of double standard.
He said DAP and Harapan leaders have been spewing criticisms and insults claiming that their secretary-general is a victim of political persecution.
Khairy also found it odd that DAP's official media proclaimed that “no evidence has been provided” against the former finance minister even before the trial.
“Their action once again demonstrates their double stand concerning the country's legal process.
“When it affects them, the judiciary is belittled to the maximum.
“Only last week, they had praised the court when a decision involving an Umno leader was in accordance with what they had desired,” he added in a blog post this afternoon.
Over the past two years, Khairy said numerous Umno leaders were hauled to court and the latter had respected the process.
“If confident of not being in the wrong, argue and prove it in court.
“There is no need to play the sympathy card by insulting the legal process as if it is not independent or politically motivated,” he added.
In response, Lim’s lawyer Ramkarpal Singh said the minister’s statement was “mischievous and misleading” and asserted that DAP had never criticised the judiciary.
He said a similar statement by Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan was just as misleading.
“In fact, the record will show that Lim had expressed his confidence in the judiciary in clearing his name when he said that he intends to prove his innocence in court and believes that the truth will prevail.
“Khairy and Shahril should refrain from making such statements which can lead people to wrongly believe that the DAP has levelled unwarranted criticism on the judiciary in respect of Lim’s case which is simply untrue,” Ramkarpal said in a statement.
He was responding to both Khairy and Shahril. The latter was quoted in Sinar Harian as saying:
“If you want to show solidarity, please proceed. No one will stop you. But just as BN respect the judiciary, so should DAP and Harapan. If it is true you are innocent, defend it in court.”
Earlier today, Lim claimed trial to a charge of soliciting a bribe with regard to the RM6.3 billion undersea tunnel project in Penang at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.
The former Penang chief minister was detained last night after being summoned to the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya.
Lim is slated to face additional charges in Penang on Aug 10 and 11.
Meanwhile, MACC has also detained his wife Betty Chew as well as businessperson Phang Li Khoon in Penang.
Phang was previously charged and acquitted together with Lim over the latter's bungalow scandal.
Whereas Chew was held in relation to Excel Property Management and Consultancy Sdn Bhd. - Mkini
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