PETALING JAYA – “It’s Malaysia Day, but it seems like we are undoing our reform agenda, backtracking on election promises, and worse, contributing to a shrinking democratic space in the country.”
These were the words of former Klang MP Charles Santiago, who said it is difficult for the people to recover from the “stinging effect” of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s case where the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) dropped all 47 charges.
“The eleven reasons given by the AGC weren’t worth the paper it was written on.
“This case is of public interest…why is the 200-page representation paper by Zahid’s lawyers not made public?” he asked.
Santiago also said the delay by the AGC in filing for an appeal in the case of Datuk Seri Najib Razak and 1MDB’s ex-CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy raised several questions.
“Was this a case of negligence or intentional, especially when no one has been held responsible?
“Reforms by the Pakatan Harapan-led government must be given instead of people having to fight tooth and nail for it,” he said, in reference to the government’s actions to reverse promised reforms such as to review or amend the Sedition Act 1948, Printing Presses & Publications Act 1984, Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, and the Official Secrets Act 1972.
Santiago said he was also disheartened by the use of police to block farmers and Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s activists from handing over a memorandum to Parliament.
“We have always highlighted the plight of farmers and fishermen and the importance of food security. So, the question is, ‘What has changed now?’”
Santiago said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim fought 25 years to end the abuse of power and corruption through the “Reformasi” movement.
“He was kicked out of power, (faced) manufactured charges, ended his political career prematurely, went through a humiliating court process, was beaten in prison…yet did not waver on his principles.
“I want to see a resurgence of that Anwar, who galvanised hundreds of thousands of people in support of good governance and accountability.” – The Vibes, September 15, 2023
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