FAC News - Wednesday, August 21, 2002 9:31 AM

Suhakam, stop acting like a monkey: Lim

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, Suhakam, should stop acting like the allegorical three monkeys that sees no evil, hears no evil and speaks no evil said Lim Kit Siang, Chairman of the Democratic Action Party, yesterday.

“Suhakam must speak up on the new crisis of confidence over the integrity of government precipitated by Ezam's OSA conviction, which constitute major multiple human rights violations, as it should not  behave like the allegorical three monkeys with eyes that see not, ears that hear not and mouths that speak not,” said Lim.

National Justice Party Youth Leader, Ezam Mohd Nor, was convicted for an offence under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) and sentenced to two years jail for exposing the existence of documents implicating senior ministers in Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s government of corruption.

The documents Ezam was alleged to have been illegally in possession of were Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) investigation reports recommending criminal action against the ministers concerned.

Whet embarrassed the government even more is the fact the documents were endorsed by the Attorney-General who had supported the recommendations for criminal action against the ministers but, till today, no action has been taken.

In a surprise turn of events that gave most the impression he must have been most unwell, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said on Monday that the public sector must always operate with the highest standard of honesty and integrity.

"Nothing else will do, as the Government had zero tolerance for corruption and wanted it to be eradicated at all levels,” said Abdullah.

Abdullah added that the Government “possessed ample political will to ensure that the scourge is eradicated in both the public and private sectors and that ethics and integrity should be at the core of every person”.

“This is the first time any top government leader in Malaysia had embraced the ‘zero tolerance for corruption’ concept,” said Lim.

“Abdullah's ‘zero tolerance corruption’ speech has fallen like a damp squib, arousing hardly any interest or attention.”

“The general reaction is a mighty yawn or the response, go tell it to the Marines,” quipped Lim.

“Has Abdullah a plan of action to demonstrate the government's new-found ‘zero tolerance for corruption’ pledge, such as naming corruption as the number one enemy in the country and to declare total war against graft?” asked Lim

“Unfortunately, Abdullah's declaration of ‘zero tolerance for corruption’ cannot withstand public scrutiny for a minute when the government is totally indifferent and blind to the new crisis of confidence in the integrity of government, precipitated by the conviction and two-year jail sentence of Keadilan Youth Chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Noor under the OSA, which  sent out the outrageous message to the nation and the world that, in Malaysia, corruption is no crime while exposing corruption is the heinous crime.”

“An easy and immediate test as to whether the government has a ‘zero tolerance for corruption’ is whether the Cabinet is prepared to take a stand to address the greatest corruption scandal in Malaysia to mark the beginning of the 21st century following the conviction and jailing of Ezam under the OSA - the illegal immunities from prosecution granted to the International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz and former Malacca Chief Minister Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik.”

“Ezam's conviction and jailing under the OSA have proven the genuineness of the secret documents relating to the corruption investigations of Rafidah and Rahim, viz. that the Attorney-General's Chambers had been satisfied that there were prima facie case to prosecute Rafidah and Rahim for multiple charges of corruption, giving rise to the great moral and anti-corruption question.”

“Which is the more heinous crime?” argued Lim. “Offence under the OSA to expose corruption or corruption itself under the Anti-Corruption Act?”

“I am more concerned about Suhakam's silence on this great moral and anti-corruption question, and I call on Suhakam to speak up on the new crisis of confidence over the integrity of the government, precipitated by Ezam's OSA conviction, which constitutes major multiple human rights violations, as it should not behave like the allegorical three monkeys with eyes that see not, ears that hear not and mouths that speak not.”

“Suhakam can only remain blind and unconcerned about the gross injustices of convicting Ezam under the OSA while immunity of prosecution is granted to Rafidah and Rahim for corruption by committing a gross dereliction of its statutory duty to protect and promote human rights - the rights to information, justice and good governance.”