The Court of Appeal's decision to affirm the High Court's conviction of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak on all of the seven charges is the right one and is applauded.
It offers a glimmer of hope that all is not lost in a country where political interference can make a difference to the outcome of court cases. Judge-fixing was a problem highlighted in a royal commission of inquiry several years ago.
Time will tell if all is well with the justice system and politics will have no bearing on all court cases. The idea 'man proposes but God disposes' was not lost on Najib and his supporters seen in a prayer session the night before the appeal hearing.
What was Najib expecting from a higher authority in the light of his conviction on not just one but seven charges? Surely he must know that God is not mocked and that a man reaps what he sows? And God will not hear the prayers of the corrupt except in contrition. Let us not forget Altantuya Shaaribuu is still awaiting justice.
Najib's reference to former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's forex loss was totally irrelevant. And also his claim of creating national wealth for the country. That defence ploy leaves us dumbfounded. If he has proof of Mahathir's 'crimes' he ought to do the right thing. It takes a thief to catch a thief, as they say. But merely making wild allegations achieve zilch.
Even if a country leader had created wealth for the country, does it mean he is entitled to help himself to the country's money? Najib not Mahathir was on trial and for serious corruption and abuse of power charges, not financial incompetence.
(Mahathir lost RM100 billion while he was the country leader, wrote Barry Wain, in his book 'The Malaysian Maverick in Turbulent Times'. Who knows if any national wealth may be recovered if a serious effort is made to uncover the truth in the allegations.)
In Najib's case, the charges hinged on his criminal conduct. The cases resulted in seven convictions. To say they caused national embarrassment is to be euphemistic. Events subsequent to the High Court verdicts were appalling. Najib was not remorseful, acted as if nothing had happened, created a 'Bossku' media blitz and had the chutzpah to cry 'political persecution'.
Najib like Mahathir belongs to the cartel of politicians who think they can do what they like when in power but have now fallen from the pinnacle. The bubble has burst. They must now face the reality that their arrogance and misplaced sense of invincibility, which led Najib to commit crimes, have caused their downfall.
Jail awaits
There was the fear that political wheeling and dealing may get Najib off the hook. But the Court of Appeal decision has removed that prospect. And that is why if Malaysia is not to suffer further national embarrassment or global shame, Najib has to face the inevitable and that spells jail time.
No one is above the law, not a king, a prime minister, religious leader, pop star, rich man, or anyone else in a Westminster-style democracy. The conviction and hopefully, eventual jailing of a prime minister, is what the country desperately needs to restore its badly tarnished image abroad.
Pride comes before a fall and the rise and fall of Najib is the object lesson Malaysia badly needs. For too long those who wield power and possess an inordinate sense of entitlement, whether it is the traffic cop, the person behind the public counter, the politician, a government minister, a titled person, a tycoon and so on - they who are culpable have behaved with brazen impunity.
If the most powerful man in the country, despite a failed cover-up, can be held accountable, given a fair trial and be convicted of his blatant crimes against the nation, the rule of law is indeed alive and well. National embarrassment or national shame will quickly make way for national redemption.
Malaysians can hold their heads high again when justice is done and seen to be done in their country. That's why Najib's case mustn't be allowed to prolong unnecessarily. Sentence delayed is justice denied.
But if justice is to reign, others also beyond Najib must be reined in to face a fair trial and be held accountable. - Mkini
STEVE OH believes good governance is in upholding the rule of law, making government accountable and delivering justice for every citizen.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
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