Anwar is wrong when he said the Lim Guan Eng case is a court matter as it concerns the larger issues of justice, freedom, democracy, good governance and the nature of a civil society and civilisation we want to build  in Malaysia

(Petaling Jaya, Saturday): Utusan Malaysia today reported that when he was yesterday asked by Malaysian students in London about the Lim Guan Eng case, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this is a court issue and has nothing to do with the government, but he conceded the need to review the issue and carry out reforms.

Utusan Malaysia’s report from London, under the heading "Kes Guan Eng urusan mahkamah" under the byline Hamzah Sidek, states:

"London 29 Mei - Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim berkata, keputusan yang dibuat oleh Mahkamah Rayuan terhadap Timbalan Setiausaha Agung DAP, Lim Guan Eng baru-baru ini adalah semata-mata urusan mahkamah yang tidak kena-mengena dengan kerajaan.

"Bagaimanapun, katanya, beliau melihat ad keperluan untuk mengkaji isu berkenaan dan melaksanakan reformasi.

"Anwar berkata demikian semasa menjawab pertanyaan dalam pertemuan dengan para pelajar Malaysia di Malaysia Hall di sini malam tadi.

"Beliau tidak menyatakan lebih lanjut tentang reformasi itu.

"Seorang pelajar undang-undang telah bertanya tentang kejanggalan yang dibangkitkan disini terhadap hukuman penjara yang dikenakan ke atas ahli Parlimen DAP itu berhubung dakwaannya mengenai kes seks budak perempuan di bawah umur di Melaka.

"Apa yang dipertikaikan ialah lelaki yang melakukan kesalahan terhadap gadis itu tidak dikenakan tindakan, tetapi Guan Eng pula didapati bersalah. Perkara itu turut disentuh oleh media Britain.

"Guan Eng yang juga Ahli Parlimen Kota Melaka, pada 1 April lalu telah dijatuhkan hukuman penjara 36 bulan oleh Mahkamah Rayuan atas dua tuduhan iaitu menghasut serta menerbitkan risalah mengandungi kenyataan palsu.

"Dalam ceramah ‘Kisah Benarnya’ pada 19 January 1995, Guan Eng didakwa mempertikai undang-undang negara selepas Peguam Negara, Tan Sri Mokhtar Abdullah membuat pengumuman tidak akan mendakwa bekas Ketua Menteri Melaka Tan Sri Rahim Tamby Chik di mahkamah berhubung satu kes rogol kerana berkurangan bukti.

"Beliau juga didapati bersalah mengikut Seksyen 8A(1) Akta Mesin Cetak dan Penerbitan 1984, kerana menerbitkan risalah mengandugi kenyataan palsu berbentuk fitnah bertajuk ‘Mangsa Dipenjara’.

"’Saya tidak mahu dilihat sebagai mengizinkan sebarang keterlaluan, tetapi perkara ini adalah urusan mahkamah. Saya amat bersimpati dan memahami keadaan tidak selesa yang saudara hadapi.

""Sudah tentulah ini satu bidang yang memerlukan kajian dan reformasi,’ Anwar menjawab pertanyaan pelajar itu yang menceritakan persolan itu sering ditimbulkan kepadanya oleh rakan-rakan sefakultinya."

The important public interest issues raised by the Lim  Guan Eng’s three-year jail sentence concern all Malaysians as they go to the very basis of the nature of a civil society the country is trying to build in the new millennium.

Guan Eng had never tried to bring the judiciary into public disrepute as what he did was to come to the defence of a helpless Malay grandmother and her family who had nobody else to turn to in seeking justice for an underaged girl when faced with the power, might and resources of the Malacca Chief Minister.

In speaking up for the rights of the weak and defenceless and championing the cause of the Malay grandmother, her family and the fifteen-year-old girl in 1994, Guan Eng is now paying the supreme price of disqualification as MP for Kota Melaka which he had held for 12 years and a three-year jail term. This is in dire contrast to the position of the former Malacca Chief Minister, Tan Sri Rahim Tamby Cik, who is not only free of worries about criminal charges and jail sentences, but could recently make a bid for a political comeback in UMNO, though it was not successful.

Other public interest issues raised by Guan Eng’s case include:

• Whether it would create a climate which would discourage MPs from conscientiously and diligently discharging their duties to speak up for the weak and defenceless against the mighty and powerful, leading to a serious erosion of public confidence in parliamentary democracy in  Malaysia.  It should be noted that not a single one of the  Barisan MPs - although they occupy over 90 per cent of the Parliamentary seats - had ever spoken up on behalf of the 15-year-old victim of statutory rape.
• Its effect on the fundamental right of freedom of expression in Malaysia, which is already too curtailed and constricted.
• Responsibility, accountability and transparency of the office of Attorney-General especially with regard to checks and safeguards against selective prosecution.
• Its effect on the restoration of national and international confidence which is the key to  Malaysia tiding through the worst economic crisis since the second world war, which is completing its eleventh month.
• Confidence, national and international, in an open and independent Malaysian judiciary.
• International image and standing of Malaysia.

These larger public policy issues and concerns make the Lim Guan Eng not just a court matter but an issue which goes to the root of the type of a civil society and civilisation we want to build in Malaysia and why all Malaysians, including the government, must address them.

(30/5/98)