Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohtar Abdullah should clarify  whether he had "cleared"  Rahim Tamby Cik of a sex scandal involving an underaged girl

(Kajang, Thursday):  The Attorney-General, Tan Sri Mohtar Abdullah, should clarify whether he had "cleared" former Malacca Chief Minister and UMNO Youth leader, Tan Sri Rahim Tamby Cik, of a sex scandal involving an underaged girl.

Rahim in a statement yesterday warning Anwar Ibrahim not to make slanderous references against him in his ceramahs said that he had  been cleared by the Attorney-General, Tan Sri Mohtar Abdullah of all allegations in an alleged sex scandal.

Rahim said that he would refer to the Attorney-General to determine the legal implications behind Anwar�s remarks and hoped that the Attorney-General will look into the matter and take action similar to that which was taken against Guan Eng, who is  in Kajang Prisons for 18 months for offences under the Sedition Act and the Printing Presses and Publications Act.

Mohtar Abdullah should explain the implication of Rahim�s statement, as the former Malacca Chief Minister seems to imply that  they have an understanding that Guan Eng would be punished for going to the defence of the honour, women�s rights and human rights of the then 15-year-old girl on the pleas for help by her grandmother.

In this connection, the Attorney-General should pay attention to the joint statement entitled "The Rule of Law Under Threat"  issued by 14 Malaysian civic leaders two days ago expressing grave concern about the "ever steady and increasing disregard for and erosion of the rule of law and the principles of natural justice".

The 14 signatories to the joint statement include former Lord President, Tun Mohamed Suffian, former Bar Council Presidents Raja Aziz Addruse, Dato� Param Cumaraswamy and Zainur Zakaria, social scientist Dr. Chandra Muzaffar, HAKAM President, Ramdas Tikamdas, Aliran President P. Ramakrishnan,  SUARAM co-ordinator Sivarasa Rasiah and writer Rustam A. Sani.     Other signatories  are Rasamah Bhupalan, Mehrun Siraj, Cecil Rajendra, Yang Pei Keng and  Gan Teik Chee.

The joint statement made specific reference to the Attorney-General�s handling of the case of Rahim Tamby Cik in connection with the sex scandal. It said:
 

"The Attorney-General, as another institution involved in the administration of justice, also has a crucial role to play in a democracy.  He is the first law officer of the country and is the guardian and protector of public interest. It has, however, been observed again and again that he has misconstrued his function. In the investigation into the allegations made by the underaged girl involving the former Chief Minister of Melaka, Tan Sri Rahim Thamby Cik, he went to the extent of exposing her admissions of sexual involvement with other persons in order to discredit her complaint. In spite of successfuly prosecuting those persons on the girl�s admissions, the Attorney-General chose not to believe her on her complaint against Tan Sri Rahim Tamby Chik. Recently, the Attorney-General published a set of guidelines setting out the basis for his deciding whether to prosecute or not. It is hoped that these guidelines will provide more transparency and will help improve the Attorney-General�s image in the eyes of the public."

In view of the underaged girl�s evidence in court during the trial of Guan Eng in the Malacca High Court, stating on oath that she had sex relationship with Rahim Tamby Cik when she was underaged, and the joint statement by the 14 civic leaders on "The Rule of Law Under Threat�, Mohtar Abdullah should explain whether he is prepared to re-open the case on Rahim Tamby Cik and to prosecute him in the way that he had successfuly prosecuted the other 14 persons in the same case for having committed the offence of statutory rape with a minor.

(17/9/98)