KUALA LUMPUR: The rule of law in Malaysia can be so abused to the point that the people don't get the justice they deserve, claimed Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He said this two days after urging all parliamentarians to disregard party lines and vote against the 2021 Budget to help the country recover from economic uncertainty brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
"It seems that the rule of law can be so abused that justice will not be done," he said in the stinging comment on Twitter today.
The Langkawi Member of Parliament said leaders who were corrupt were cleared from standing trial over their crimes and he expected more politicians who committed crimes to be let off.
"The former Ketua Menteri (Chief Minister) who faced 42 charges of financial wrongdoings had all the charges withdrawn by the Attorney-General (AG).
"Again, it is all legal. The AG has the right to withdraw charges. The rule of law is not breached," he said in a sarcastic tone.
Dr Mahathir added another case where the accused was discharged on the promise he would return the rest of the money later, which was possibly referring to the sixth prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's stepson, Riza Aziz.
"And now a man who bribed a minister was fined after he admitted to doing so. But the minister who accepted the bribe is discharged without being acquitted.
"Again, it is completely legal and in accord with the rule of law. Maybe later on even a man convicted of stealing millions of government money will be pardoned. This too would be according to the law," he said.
Though he did not specify names, it could be possible Dr Mahathir was referring, among others, former Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, who recently had been granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal over his RM1 million corruption case.
The Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) pro-tem leader also used the Sabah assemblymen as an example, where he claimed that elected representatives were bought causing the dissolution of the state government.
In Sabah, assemblymen who are supporters of the government suddenly left the ruling government. Why? The only explanation is that they had been bribed," he said.
Dr Mahathir added that people could elect the government through elections, but now the elected government is being replaced by a government of the people rejected by them.
"The losers rule. The winners form the opposition.
"You would think this is wrong. But the law says it is legal. It is therefore a part of the rule of law. We must accept," he said.
Dr Mahathir said when it comes to things associated with democracy, it is vital for all governments and the people to subscribe to the rule of law.
"We all believe that if we do this, we will enjoy good governance and, the people would be protected through the application of laws.
The stinging comments came two days after Dr Mahathir and his former political arch-nemesis Tengku Razaleigh Tengku Mohd Hamzah urged fellow members of parliament (MPs) to vote "based on their conscience" for the good of the people and the nation at the third reading of the 2021 Budget, which was yesterday (Tuesday).
Dr Mahathir and Tengku Razaleigh, better known as Ku Li, said they had come together to discuss ways the country could progress amid the pandemic and return to the glory days when Malaysia was dubbed as one of the Asian Tigers, when the duo were in the Cabinet together.
Their call however, was met with disappointment for them after the RM322.5 billion 2021 Budget was passed at the committee stage with 111 parliamentarians having voted 'yes', against 108 'no' and one MP absent (Tengku Razaleigh, Gua Musang MP) during bloc voting yesterday.