We criticise US, they too can criticise us: Karpal
Malaysiakini.com
Jul 26, 2008
Athi Veeranggan 

If one is ever ready to criticise others on their application of rule of law, one should be prepared to accept similar criticisms against its own system, Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh said today.
MCPX

In a statement, the DAP veteran ticked the government off for rejecting Washington's concern on the application of rule of law in PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy charges.

karpal singh altantuya murder case pc 240608 01“As such Washington's call for fair and just investigation on Anwar's case was necessary and understandable.

“Instead, as sovereign nation, Malaysia should make every effort to be consistent in ensuring justice via application of universal rule of law,” he said.

Yesterday, Foreign Minister Rais Yatim demanded that the United States stop “interfering” in an investigation into sodomy allegations against Anwar lodged by a former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

He was responding to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice statement on Thursday urging Malaysia to ensure a “transparent” investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations against Anwar.

Karpal said the Putrajaya administration should not accuse the US of meddling in the country's internal affairs when Malaysia itself was guilty of doing the same on Washington in many instances.

Not meddling in internal affairs

He cited the government's criticisms against the US on its application of the rule of law on its own citizens, especially on the high-handed action by law enforcers against blacks, and the treatment of prisoners in Guantanamo Bay as fine examples of interference.

He also noted that the Malaysian government under former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad was among the first government to criticise the treatment of Bosnian Muslims by the Serbs in 1990s.

“In a world of rapid globalisation, any country which criticises another on application of the rule of law cannot be deemed as meddling into the domestic affairs of the country.

“No country can deem itself as immune from criticism when the rule of law was defied and, rendered ineffective and impotent,” he stated.

syed hamid albar 070406“Therefore Malaysia should not suffer from a phobia over criticism by the US in regards to Anwar's case,” he added.

In light of the growing criticisms from abroad condemning the apparent high handedness in the way Anwar was arrested from his house last week, Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar recently briefed more than 90 envoys on this issue.

Karpal deemed the government’s move as “Putrajaya's lack of confidence in our very own legal system.”

“The government need not be apologetic by ensuring envoys that Anwar would be given a fair trial,” he said.

He said the government should not have briefed envoys if it was confident that Malaysia legal system upholds the rule of law and was beyond reproach.

Copyright © 1999-2007 Mkini Dotcom Sdn. Bhd.
Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/86790