The Witch-Hunt Against Azam Baki

 

The bottom line is this is not about justice. This is about getting rid of Azam Baki. And Pakatan Harapan will keep going until someone, somewhere, rules that Azam is guilty and hence must be removed as the boss of the MACC (so that the corruption case against Lim Guan Eng can be dropped).

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

When I was asked back in 1999 whether I was of the opinion Anwar Ibrahim is innocent of the allegations against him, considering the trial judge had ruled that Anwar failed to prove his innocence, my reply was:

Anwar may most likely be guilty (as I, too, have received information from independent sources regarding his sexual exploits) but the question is: did the prosecution prove Anwar’s guilt?

It is not Anwar’s job to prove his innocence but the prosecution’s job to prove his guilt. And Anwar must be presumed innocent until proven guilty. And in a criminal indictment he must be proven guilty beyond any shadow of doubt. If there is even a slight doubt, then the benefit of the doubt needs to be given to the accused and he must be found not guilty.

Also important is that justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done (and justice delayed is justice denied). And in the spirit of double jeopardy a person cannot be tried twice for the same crime.

This is really about Lim Guan Eng’s Penang undersea tunnel corruption case

Even under Islamic law, a person who makes an allegation (say, of adultery) must prove this allegation. And if that person cannot prove the allegation, then that person must be punished instead.

For example, you accuse me of adultery. If proven, I will be punished with 100 lashes. If you cannot prove it, you will be punished with 80 lashes instead. So make sure you can prove your allegation against me or else you will be on the receiving end of the law.

In Azam Baki’s case, MACC’s Anti-Corruption Advisory Board and the Securities Commission have both cleared him of any wrongdoing (so he was in essence tried twice). Not satisfied that Azam has been tried twice and has been cleared twice, Pakatan Harapan still wants the Parliamentary Select Committee on Agencies under the Prime Minister’s Department to put him through a third trial.

However, legally, the Parliamentary Select Committee on Agencies under the Prime Minister’s Department cannot do that for reasons of procedure according to the Standing Orders.

READ MORE HERE: STANDING ORDERS OF THE DEWAN RAKYAT

Nevertheless, if the Parliamentary Select Committee on Agencies also clears Azam of wrongdoing, then what? Does Pakatan Harapan now want a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to be set up to try Azam for the fourth time?

And if the RCI also clears Azam, will Pakatan Harapan then want the Conference of Rulers to discuss this matter at the next Conference of Rulers meeting and try Azam for the fifth time?

The final solution

And, say, the Conference of Rulers also clears Azam, what is the final solution? Will Pakatan Harapan propose that Azam be tied up and dunked into the river or lake — and if he floats that means he is innocent and if he drowns that means he is guilty (like how they used to deal with witches in the old days)?

The bottom line is this is not about justice. This is about getting rid of Azam Baki. And Pakatan Harapan will keep going until someone, somewhere, rules that Azam is guilty and hence must be removed as the boss of the MACC (so that the corruption case against Lim Guan Eng can be dropped).