Investigate and charge Najib for “Week of Long Knives” for Penal Code offence of “activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy” or repeal the criminal provision altogether

It shows the extent of the delusion of some Opposition leaders that they believe and hope that there will be a snap general election, when there are no signs whatsoever why the Pakatan Harapan Government in Putrajaya should not serve out its full term.

The Pakatan Harapan government is stronger today after having weathered its first year, which unexpectedly, had to be focussed on draining the swamp – and what is most shocking, was to discover how horrendous was the swamp that was left behind by the UMNO/BN Government.

Although the task of draining the swamp is not fully done, the second year of Pakatan Harapan Government in Putrjaya should be better than the first year in terms of delivery of Pakatan Harapan pledges to create a New Malaysia.

It is not possible to undo the corruption, abuses of power and deviations caused by six decades of UMNO/BN government, as it cannot be accomplished in a hundred days or a year but a mission which will take years and even over a decade.

The Pakatan Harapan Government, however, must move forward in the trajectory to create a New Malaysia in keeping with the five pillar-promises of the PH General Election Manifesto, viz:

• Reduce the people’s burden.
• Institutional and political reforms.
• Spur sustainable and equitable economic growth.
• Return Sabah and Sarawak to the status accorded in Malaysia Agreement 1963.
• Create a Malaysia that is inclusive, moderate and respected globally.

On institutional and political reforms, I call on the Police to investigate and charge former Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak for the “Week of Long Knives” at the end of July 2015 under the Penal Code for “activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy” when Najib as Prime Minister orchestrated a multi-faceted operation to undermine parliamentary democracy by attacking important principles of democracy in Malaysia like the rule of law, doctrine of separation of powers, good governance and public integrity as well as a systematic attack on the independence, impartiality and professionalism on key national institutions like Parliament, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Police, Bank Negara, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the Auditor-General or the new-fangled criminal provision which could imprison a person convicted under it for 20 years, which introduced by Najib himself in 2012, should be repealed altogether.

During Najib’s premiership, the new Penal Code criminal offence of “activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy” was misused against critics and Opposition leaders who sought to protect and advance the cause of parliamentary democracy including those who tried to expose the 1MDB scandal which had transformed Malaysia into a global kleptocracy. Ambiga Sreenivasan, Maria Chin, Tony Pua, Rafizi Ramli, Tong Kooi Ong and Khairuddin Abu Hassan were among those who persecuted under this provision.

The offences of “activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy” are new-fangled offences in Sections 124B to 124N introduced by the Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2012 which was passed by Parliament in 2012, given the Royal Assent on 18th June 2012 and gazetted on 22nd June 2012.

The main provisions are:

Section 124B: “Whoever, by any means, directly or indirectly, commits an activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to twenty years.”

Section 124C: “Whoever attempts to commit an activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy or does any act preparatory thereto shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to fifteen years.”

Section 124D (1): “Whoever, by any means, directly or indirectly, prints, publicises, sells, issues, circulates or reproduces any document or publication detrimental to parliamentary democracy shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to fifteen years.”

Section 124E (1): “Any person who, without lawful excuse, has in his possession any document or publication detrimental to parliamentary democracy or any extract therefrom, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years.”

The Malaysian people, through the historic decision of the 14th General Election on May 9, 2018, had saved Malaysia from a terrible fate that would have befallen the country if Najib had been re-elected as Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Malaysians must not easily forget the darkness which they had escaped from by the historic decision of May 9, 2018.

Will the Opposition oppose the repeal of the criminal offences on “activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy” and will block and sabotage it as in the case of the repeal of the Anti-Fake News Act?