Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says the public are free to lodge complaints against those who break the law, and maintains that these acts are in no way seditious.
He explained that the basic law of Malaysia is the constitution, a comprehensive body of laws which determines the legal structure of Malaysia from the Yang Di Pertuan Agong to the Rulers of the States, to the Federal and State Governments and the bodies empowered to rule and enforce.
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says the public are free to lodge complaints against those who break the law, and maintains that these acts are in no way seditious.
Citizens, he said, can also speak freely on these matters and this would not be considered seditious.
In a blog post today, Dr Mahathir said among the most important objectives of Pakatan Harapan when it was trying to overthrow the Barisan Nasional government led by Datuk Seri Najib Razak, was the restoration of the Rule of Law.
He accused Najib of ignoring the law when it suited him, and said laws were instead abused in order to oppress the people.
“Instead of protecting the people, the laws exposed the people to unknown but real fears,” he said.
He explained that the basic law of Malaysia is the constitution, a comprehensive body of laws which determines the legal structure of Malaysia from the Yang Di Pertuan Agong to the Rulers of the States, to the Federal and State Governments and the bodies empowered to rule and enforce.
All other laws, he said, are derived from the constitution, and that no law which in any way negates the constitution may be promulgated.
“The Rule of Law applies to everyone from the Rulers to the Prime Minister and Ministers, to the civil servants and ordinary citizens.
“There is no provision which exempts anyone from the Rule of Law. For the Rulers there is a special court but the laws are the same as the laws applicable to ordinary citizens. The Rulers too must respect the laws,” he said.
He said it was disturbing to see blatant breaches of the law being perpetrated in the mistaken belief that immunity has somehow been accorded.
“We had agreed that Malaysia accepts democracy, i.e rule of the people by the people, and for the people. This by common consent takes the form of a Parliamentary Democracy with a constitutional monarch at State and Federal levels. Towards this end the constitution and law at different levels have been promulgated.
“Unfortunately certain breaches of the laws have been committed without action being taken by the law enforcement agencies. In other words the Rule of Law has been ignored.
“The result is predictable. The citizens suffer from injustices. Businesses cannot be done properly. Property has been seized. Unusual and illegal actions have been perpetrated,” he said.
Dr Mahathir said as such, public complaints against such actions are legitimate and do not breach any law.
“They will not be considered as sedition in any way. They will be regarded as free speech. Citizens can make reports on these matters or openly speak about them.
“The Pakatan Harapan Government will uphold the law and the rights of the citizens. The Rule of Law will be upheld.”
Source: NST Online
Mahathir: Complaints against law-breakers not seditious https://t.co/bhmfAuwyK6
— Raggie Jessy Rithaudeen (@RaggieJessy) January 2, 2019
