As the court proceeds with the appeal by convicted felon Najib Razak on his last lap, ordinary people have a duty to uphold the justice system under the stewardship of Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat.
The five-member bench of the Federal Court led by Tengku Maimun, the country’s first woman Chief Justice, deserve the trust, reverence and solidarity of all law-abiding people.
It is most despicable when the legal entourage, together with certain pockets of people, have no shame or fear in deriding the judges.
It is outrageous that some have even resorted to social media to issue threats against the life of the Chief Justice.
While Patriot stands by the courts, we demand and reiterate that the rule of law be given utmost respect.
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We therefore call on the police to investigate with speed and bring to book all those guilty of attacking the honour of the courts, irrespective of who or what their station in life is.
We categorically demand that the safety and good name of the nation’s first woman Chief Judge be upheld in the face of malicious plots; she must be protected and her safety ensured at all times.
We therefore call upon the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia to take all stringent and necessary measures to haul up those using social media platforms to advance their diabolical, dirty agenda, which is destroying the good name of our nation.
Whether it is the appellant, his family members, his counsel or political party members and individuals sympathetic towards Najib who are belittling the judiciary, action must be taken against such persons without fear or compromise.
If our judges are not protected from the political advances, societal indifference or brazen attacks on our judiciary, the good name of the nation suffers.
The vast majority of sensible, honourable and respectful people are getting tired of the drama all these years as the 1MDB and SRC International cases stream through our courts.
Hence, Patriot calls upon all elected representatives, civil servants and their heads, religious leaders and our Rulers to join the chorus of the people who want to protect the good name of the judiciary.
In the face of the drivelling that is choking social media, and attempts to insult, smear and even threaten and undermine the five-member bench, including the Chief Justice, all Malaysian leaders – politicians, religious and congregational heads, NGOs, activists and professional bodies – must lend their voices to stand by our judiciary.
We must go to war against all those who attempt to live by thuggery, while threatening the members of our courts and ultimately sinking the nation into a failed state.
Patriotism is dead if we remain as wayside observers.
Retired Brigadier General Dato’ Mohd Arshad Raji is president of the National Patriots Association (Patriot)
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
