TUN ABDUL HAMID MOHAMAD
Former Chief Justice of Malaysia
RESPONSE TO ALL MY CRITICS
RESPONSE TO ALL MY CRITICS
By
Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad
On 25 November 2018, I went to PWTC with the intention of not taking any question after the speech. However, the time allotted for my speech was one hour while my speech was over in 25 minutes. The master of ceremony asked me whether I would take a few questions.
I pitied the audience. That is my problem, my weakness and my mistake. And I obliged. You know what kind of questions usually come from the audience. And I answered them. I regretted taking the questions as soon as it was over. I should not have obliged them.
The following day, Gopal Sri Ram reprimanded me for making political statements. Again, did he himself hear what I said in Malay? Anyway, this is my response:
What about an ex-Federal Court Judge who volunteered to prosecute a former Prime Minister, the decision to charge him had already been made during the election campaign by his political opponent who subsequently became Prime Minister? All I did was to give my comments on the number of votes obtained by the various parties. Which is worse? Besides, don’t forget that he was Tun Dr Mahathir’s counsel immediately before his elevation. If not, would he be appointed a Court of Appeal judge straightaway when even Eusoffe Abdoolcader had to serve in the High Court first?
When Tun Salleh Abas retired and stood for election on PKR ticket against Sharizat, nobody said anything. Then he stood for election on PAS ticket in Terengganu and became an Exco Member. Nobody said anything. I don’t join any party or stand for election. Which is worse?
Throughout the history of the our judiciary, a former BN Member of Parliament (Tun Mohd Zahir Ismail), a former BN Speaker of the a State Legislative Assembly (Dato Wan Adnan Ismail), a former opposition (Gerakan, before it joined BN) Member of Parliament (Dato’ Mustapha Hussain), two PAS State Legislative Assembly candidates who lost in the general elections (Dato’ Ariffin Jaka and Dato Mohd Arif), a BN parliamentary candidate (Dato’ Ian Chin) and an opposition (SUPP) parliamentary candidate (Tan Sri George Seah), both of whom lost in the general election, were all appointed as judges. Nobody raised any objection. They were involved in party politics even before they were appointed judges.
Even after PRU 14, a retired judge served as Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee of a component party of PH. Why didn’t he admonish the ex-Judge?
If Mahathir can change, Waytha Moorthy can change, why can’t I? I did not give my opinions on political issues when I was in service. I do so only after I have retired. I am the people too.
On the same day, 25 November 2018, Malaysiakini reported under the title “Bedridden ex-CJ says ‘war’ to protect bumi rights not over”. I must say it was quite a fair report even though it highlighted on my going there in an ambulance and only one aspect of my speech. I don’t blame it for highlighting my going to PWTC in an ambulance as it would make good news and, perhaps, no one had ever done that in this country. That could be a record, too.
Free Malaysia Today’s title “ICERD: Don’t trust Putrajaya, says Tun Hamid” as reported on 26 December 2018 clearly puts words in my mouth. However, the content is quite fair as it quoted from my speech, even though it focused only on one aspect of my speech.
After that convention, it became clear that the re-named “Thanks-giving gathering” on 8 December 2018 at Dataran Merdeka (812 gathering) was gaining support throughout the country. I wrote “Amanat Tun Hamid” which was video-taped and played that night as part of the campaign.
No doubt my articles and speeches on ICERD played an important part to make the Malay/Muslim public understand the issue and influenced them to travel to Kuala Lumpur to join the gathering, even more than my speeches opposing the repeal of the Sedition Act, four years earlier. I told the organizers that I would not be attending the gathering as the place was not suitable for my condition. However, two posters appeared with my photograph urging the public to attend. Clearly, someone was using my name to influence the public to attend the gathering.
A few days before 8 December 2018, it was made known that SUHAKAM would be holding a gathering to celebrate the human right’s day on the same day and Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir would be attending it. That was seen as an attempt to undermine the 812 gathering by SUHAKAM which strongly supports the ratification of ICERD.
In late afternoon 7 December 2018, when the buses carrying supporters for the 812 gathering had either arrived in Kuala Lumpur or were on their way from all over Semenanjung Tanah Melayu to participate in the “2nd Malayan Union” uprising, Tun Dr. Mahathir dropped another bombshell against SUHAKAM that he would not be attending SUHAKAM’s function. Not only that, the reason given by the Prime Minister must have hurt SUHAKAM. He said, “I decided that we will not accept ICERD. Suhakam wants to accept ICERD. So, how can I go?”
The next day, on 8 December 2018, The Star Online reported, “Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s absence at the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia’s (Suhakam) Human Rights Day gathering has done them a favour, says Tan Sri Razali Ismail.” That clearly was a face-saving statement.
Back to 812 gathering. In my article “Ratifikasi ICERD: mengimbas Kembali” issued on 10 December 2018, I summed up:
“No Matter how many participants were estimated, the rally created history in three aspects:
1. It was the largest gathering in the history of the country;
2. It was the largest gathering of Malays throughout history.
3. It was the most peaceful and the cleanest gathering in the history of the country. Not a single summons was issued and not a piece of paper was left behind.”
No comments:
Post a Comment