Patriot would like to see swift action and investigations opened into those alleged to be involved in the commission of an alleged crime as revealed in the released phone conversations involving former Prime Minister Najib Razak, his wife Rosmah Mansor, ex-Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commissioner commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad and several others.
Those in high office, abetted by very senior officials, have allegedly committed the gravest of crimes and no stone should be left unturned.
We are aware that MACC Chief Commissioner Latheefa Koya’s conduct of releasing the recorded phone conversations involving Najib Razak may be sub judice and breaches the rule of law.
Nothing in this new episode of phone recordings release adds to trial by media compared to what we already have. These are all secondary, considering that our country is at an abnormal time when much of the populace seems to be warped into the belief that the former prime minister is still innocent and opposition parties capitalise on using the ethno-religious card to divide the people further. Our nation is at the extreme low in terms of race-relations conflict.
Many supporters of the former prime minister and the previous administration are still in a frenzy-like mindset rebutting allegations of financial scandal of humongous magnitude. Many choose to see with blinkered eyes. Many have lost their sense of shame.
The people are also tired of the protracted court cases regarding the 1MDB fiasco, while many more cases have not yet been brought to the courts. As such, Latheefa Koya’s act of releasing the phone recordings may help bring a quick end to the nation and the people’s agony. Any breach of legal principles on her part is for the learned judges to decide, if it needs be.
What is of vital importance is for all Malaysians to acknowledge that very serious crimes have allegedly been committed by top leaders of the previous administration and shamefully abetted by top government officials. We need to quickly bring the shameful past to a close and heal wounds, quit the ethno-religious politicking and focus on nation-building.
We need to put effort into strengthening our economy. We need to raise employment and income levels. Our quality of life and standard of living has to rise. There is so much to do.
Patriot is of the opinion that the conduct of the MACC chief commissioner and her team of dedicated officers in releasing the phone recordings are to be commended and not ridiculed. We were told that even the prime minister was not consulted about the press conference. This is a positive step towards institutionalising the MACC as a fully independent body.
Let this coming year of the rat heralds a harmonious, prosperous and progressive Malaysia (which is also our Patriot vision).
Retired Brigadier General Dato Mohamed Arshad Raji is president of the National Patriots Association (Patriot)
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