AS the court proceeds with the appeal by convicted felon, Datuk Seri Najib Razak on his last lap, all Malaysians have a duty to uphold the justice system under the stewardship of chief justice Tengku Maimun.
The five-member bench of the Federal Court led by Tengku Maimun – the country’s first woman chief justice – deserves all law-abiding citizens’ trust, reverence and solidarity.
It is most despicable when the defence and his legal entourage, together with certain pockets of Malaysians, have no shame or fear in deriding the judges.
It was acrimonious that some have resorted to social media to issue threats against the life of our chief justice.
While Patriot stands by the courts, we demand and reiterate that the rule of law should be given utmost respect.
We, therefore, call on the police to immediately investigate and detain all those who are guilty of attacking the honour of our courts – irrespective of who or what their station in life is.
We categorically demand that the safety and good name of our nation’s first woman chief judge are not riddled with malicious plots, and must be protected and ensured of security at all times.
We, therefore, call upon the Communications and Multimedia Ministry to take all stringent and necessary measures to haul up all who use social media to advance diabolic, dirty agendas that are destroying the good name of our nation.
Whether it is the defendant, his family members, defence council, political party members, or random individuals who are sympathetic towards Najib belittling the judiciary, action must be taken against such person/s without fear or compromise.
If our judges are not protected from political advances, societal indifferences, or brazen attacks, the nation’s good name suffers.
The vast majority of sensible, honourable and respectful citizens are getting tired of the drama as 1MDB and SRC cases stream through our courts all these years.
Hence, Patriot calls upon all lawmakers, civil servants and their heads, religious leaders and our rulers to join the chorus of lawful citizens and patriotic Malaysians to register categorical duties in protecting the good name of the judiciary.
During this time of drivelling, choking social media antics attempting to insult, smear, even threaten and undermine our five-member judges including our venerable chief justice, all Malaysian leaders including politicians, religious and congregational heads, NGOs, activists, and professional bodies must lend their voices to stand by our judiciary.
We must together go to war against all those who attempt to live by thuggery, threatening the members of our courts and ultimately sinking our state into a failed status.
Patriotism is dead if we remain as wayside observers. – The Vibes, August 21, 2022
Brigadier General Dato’ Mohd Arshad Raji (Rtd) is president of the National Patriots Association (Patriot)
