The dictum that one remains innocent unless proven otherwise ought to be the overriding consideration in all cases where prosecutors exercise their jurisdiction in filing charges against anyone.
Having decided to institute changes, prosecutors have the onus of proving their case beyond reasonable doubt. That, I believe, is the mechanism of the judicial process when it involves the ordinary person.
However, when politicians, especially those from the opposition, are charged with a violation of the law, they complain about being victims of political persecution.
If politicians are alleged to have committed acts of misfeasance while in office, they have the opportunity to provide cogent evidence to rebut the allegations in court. They need to face up to the charges and prove their innocence, failing which they must face the consequences of their misdeeds, as proven in court.
Though that is the flow of the law, politicians leverage on their political clout to create the illusion that they are victims of selective persecution – even before the courts can decide on their innocence or guilt. Being politicians, some of them have even cultivated the art of playing to the gallery to sway public perception to their side.
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Without so much as giving the judiciary the chance to hear and decide their fate, these politicians claim innocence, regardless of the possibility of them being convicted as charged. But until their case is decided, their claims of political persecution must remain an illusion and not a reality.
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
Mahathir is a second generation Indian immigrant from Kerala, India. An old school friend confirmed this last week. My friend, Koyakutty, admitted he himself is from the same village as Mahathir Kutty a/l Mohammed Iskandar Kutty… Mahathir is a racist, never liked the Malays because he wasn’t one. He did nothing to help the Malays except to condemn them. His cronies were Vincent Tan, Lim Goh Tong, Ananda Krishnan. Daim was only only his frontman