Jail Sentence for Guan Eng

Aliran is dismayed and disturbed by the Court of Appeal’s decision to jail opposition MP Lim Guan Eng for a total of 36 months, thus enhancing the High Court’s earlier sentence, which in any case would have already disqualified him as a Member of Parliament.

The latest sentence has not dispelled the widespread perception that the Attorney-General’s charges against Lim are politically motivated. (Lim had accused the Attorney-General of selective prosecution in a statutory rape case which implicated the former Malacca chief minister Rahim Tamby Chik.)

This perception has gained further credence following the underaged rape victim’s public disclosure in the court not long ago that Rahim had sexual relations with her. The Attorney General, however, had previously not filed charges against Rahim because he claimed there was insufficient evidence.

Article 10 of the Federal Constitution explicitly guarantees the fundamental right of freedom of expression. Given his responsibility as Member of Parliament for Kota Melaka, one would have thought that Lim was merely carrying out his duty in protecting the interests of the rape victim, a Malacca resident.

If even MPs are denied the right to raise issues as representatives of the public, how can we call ourselves a caring, democratic nation?

Many Malaysians are as deeply disturbed as Aliran over the court’s decision -   as the government must surely be aware by now. They cannot fail to notice that Rahim is free, while Lim  - who fought for justice for the rape victim - will go to jail and be disqualified as MP if the Federal Court upholds the Court of Appeal’s verdict.

Executive Committee
4 April 1998