FAC News - Friday, August 23, 2002 8:44 AM

"I am proud of Ezam," Bahirah

National Justice Party (Keadilan) Youth Leader Ezam Mohd Nor said that life in the Kajang Prison is worse than in the Kamunting Detention Centre.

Ezam was recently ‘released’ from Kamunting where he was being detained without trial to serve a two-year jail sentence for an offence under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

“My cell is 12 by 10 feet and I am given only a mattress to sleep on. No desk to write, no chair, nothing else, and I am only let out to walk or exercise twice a day for two hours,” said Ezam.

Ezam was found guilty of exposing ‘secret’ documents pertaining to corrupt practices of Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s ministers. The said documents were Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) investigation reports that had recommended criminal proceedings against the ministers concerned. The Attorney-General had also signed these documents and had supported this recommendation.

Ezam delivered a ten-page speech in response to the guilty verdict and sentence where he said he is prepared to go to jail 1,000 times over if this is the price he has to pay for exposing corruption.

Ezam never thought he would be acquitted in what he classified as a political trial and had prepared his speech days ahead of the verdict in anticipation of the foregone conclusion.

Bahirah Tajul Aris, Ezam’s wife, was calm and composed when the verdict was delivered.

“It was to be expected,” said Bahirah. “We never thought for one minute Ezam would be acquitted.”

“But the sentence seems to be rather stiff. No one has ever been jailed under the OSA before. At worse it was a RM1,500 fine. This is the first jail sentence under the OSA.”

“I suppose my husband has, again, made history. He is the first man to go to jail for exposing corruption. While I am saddened, at the same time I am proud of him. He stood his ground and faced the consequences without backing down.”

“It is hard on the family. Ezam told me he just hopes the children will understand and, when they grow up, they will realise that this is the price one has to pay for a better society.”

“Ezam told me we may have to suffer now,” said Bahirah, “But the sacrifice is for the sake of the children. It is to give our children a better Malaysia.”

“I don’t feel like we have lost anything. The loss is to Malaysia. If Malaysia can jail someone for exposing corruption, then what kind of country do we have?”

“We need more people like Ezam. We need to fill up our jails with people whose only crime is exposing excesses and abuses of corrupt leaders.”

“However, there can only be one Ezam, and he has to carry the weight of the whole country on his shoulders.”

“No, I am not sad, I am proud. Which other Malaysian wife has a husband of Ezam’s convictions?”