Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh has said that there is no point in engaging convicted felon Najib Abdul Razak in a debate as even the Pardons Board maintained his conviction while reducing the duration of his sentence.
In a statement today, Ramkarpal said that it was pitiful to see Najib - Malaysia’s sixth prime minister - reduced to a state of desperation.
“It has been brought to my attention that someone using former Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s Facebook account has challenged me to a debate. They even said that they would reach out to me for a suitable date and venue for the debate.
“As far as I know, no one from Najib’s camp has contacted me, but in any event, I assume the said Facebook post was instructed by Najib.
“Najib has challenged me to debate his unnamed representative on an issue which has already been decided, namely whether he deserves a pardon, particularly in light of a minority judgment by judge Abdul Rahman Sebli in his application to review his conviction in the Federal Court.
“It is pointless engaging with Najib on this issue as it is elementary that the majority judgment of the said application prevails. Even the Pardons Board maintained his conviction,” said Ramkarpal.
‘Stop wasting time and repent’
He added that, as such, any debate - whether with himself or anyone else - would not change the fact that Najib remains a convict and that his conviction is safe.
“It would be wise of Najib to stop issuing nonsensical challenges for a debate with others, the outcome of which, makes no difference to his plight.
“It is obvious that Najib wishes to use me to remain relevant by challenging me to this debate. I will not allow myself to be used by this cheap publicity stunt of his.
“It is a pity to see Najib in such a desperate state. Perhaps it would be best for him to make the most of his time in prison now by reflecting on his misdeeds and repent,” added Ramkarpal.
Yesterday, Najib’s representatives challenged the former prime minister’s detractors to a televised debate over the SRC International case.
“It appears that many in the public do not understand the facts of Najib’s SRC RM42 million case or have followed the court proceedings closely.
“We invite Ramkarpal to a televised open debate with a representative from our side on the subject of whether or not Najib deserves a pardon for the SRC case.
“Should Ramkarpal - who no longer has any reason not to attend since he is no longer a deputy minister - decline, other recent haters such as Tony Pua and (Mohammed) Hanipa Maidin can take his place,” the representatives said in a post on Najib’s Facebook page.
The Najib camp argued that a debate is now warranted since there is no longer any danger of sub judice or contempt of court when discussing the SRC International case.
Ramkarpal, Pua, and Hanipa had all been critical of the Pardons Board’s decision to halve the former prime minister’s jail time from 12 years to six years, and reduce his fine from RM210 million to RM50 million.
Ramkarpal and Hanipa had, among others, cited how one judge had called Najib’s defence a national embarrassment.
Najib’s camp, however, retorted that his critics were ignoring alleged irregularities in his trial, which led to the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Abdul Rahman Sebli in a dissenting judgment at the Federal Court stating that Najib had suffered an injustice and should be acquitted. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.