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FAC News - Friday, August 9, 2002 8:50 AM Press
Statement: 8 August 2002 The conviction of the Youth Chief of National Justice Party, Mohd Ezam Mohd Noor for leaking confidential documents relating to corruption of ministers by the session court yesterday is a political victimisation of Mohd Ezam and a testimony of the government's condone of corruption practices of ministers and government officials. The information and documents of these Anti-Corruption Agency's documents exposed by Mohd Ezam contains investigation result of the agency on the alleged corruption committed by the International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz and the then Malacca Chief Minister Rahim Thamby Chik. The agency has suggested in the investigation conclusion to charge the two ministers in court. The question is why are there no actions or prosecution brought against the two ministers? Should this type of information, which is of interest of the public be classified as confidential or official secrets in the name of "national security"? Whose security are we talking about here? Instead of prosecuting the two ministers for alleged corruption, the government chose to convict Mohd Ezam for exposing the so called "official secret" under the Official Secret Act (OSA) and sent him to jail for two years. This decision clearly shows the government is more interested to victimize Mohd Ezam who is a strong political opponent to the government than fighting corruption and upholding good governance in its administration. The judiciary of Malaysia has once again failed to rectify the situation to uphold justice and to protect public interest in the case of Mohd Ezam's conviction. It has failed to check the open abuse of the notorious OSA by the executive power to cover-up corruption and to persecute political opponents in the name of national security and social stability. OSA is clearly no more than a piece of offset scandals act. Suaram pays tribute to Mohd Ezam for his courage in exposing these ACA's documents to defend public interest. Suaram calls on the government to repeal the OSA immediately and to enact a freedom of information act to ensure free-flow of information and to protect information providers. With the recent statement of the de facto Law Minister Rais Yatim that the government is making new laws to protect witness, in the same light we call on the government to free Mohd Ezam from prosecution. Suaram strongly urges the government to initiate prosecution of Rafidah Aziz and Rahim Thamby Chik if it is sincere of its commitment to good governance and combating corruption. Released by,
Suara Rakyat
Malaysia (Suaram)
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