KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pix) today stressed that there is no provision which exempts anyone from the “Rule of Law”.
The prime minister said the rule of law applies to everyone from the Rulers to the Prime Minister and Ministers, to the civil servants and ordinary citizens.
“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.
“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,” he said in his latest entry on his blog chedet.cc tonight.
Mahathir expressed his concern to see blatant breaches of the law being perpetrated in the mistaken belief that immunity has somehow been accorded.
“The result is predictable and the citizens suffer from injustices. Businesses cannot be done properly. Property has been seized. Unusual and illegal actions have been perpetrated,” he added.
Mahathir said public complaints against those who abuse the rule of law are legitimate and do not breach any law, and neither should they be construed as sedition.
“They will be regarded as free speech. Citizens can make reports on these matters or openly speak about them,” he said.
Mahathir also pointed out that the basic law of Malaysia is the constitution and it is 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.
He said all other laws are derived from the constitution and no law which in any way negates the constitution may be promulgated.
The prime minister said among the most important objectives of Pakatan Harapan when it was struggling to overthrow the kleptocratic government of Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak was the restoration of the rule of law.
“Najib had ignored the law when it suited him. In fact the laws were abused in order to oppress the people. Instead of protecting the people, the laws exposed the people to unknown but real fears,” he said.
Mahathir also stressed that the Pakatan Harapan government would uphold the law and the rights of the citizens and the Rule of Law would be upheld. — Bernama
