Don't let them stay for long in high positions - Faizal Azumu

SHAH ALAM - Politicians who abuse legal institutions should not be allowed to remain in their high positions.

Perikatan Nasional (PN) deputy chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu stressed that the people must not allow politicians to insult the pillars of the institution.

He said that the Federal Constitution and Rukun Negara must always remain as the benchmark to be followed in maintaining the sanctity of the institution.

"I, like all other Malaysians, believe that this pillar cannot be used or abused for political gain.

"We can argue and dispute it all day long about the political narrative, but legal institutions should remain impartial," he wrote on Facebook today.

The Bersatu deputy president allegedly made the remark in reference to the case of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi last Monday who was acquitted by the Kuala Lumpur High Court of 47 charges of breach of trust, corruption and money laundering from his Akalbudi Foundation funds.

Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah acquitted Zahid after granting the request of Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar who informed that the Attorney General's Chambers wanted to stop all proceedings against Zahid at that stage.

Faizal then went on to urge the people to vote for politicians who respect the rule of law and respect the constitution in the upcoming elections.

"Vote for politicians who remain committed to the rule of law even if it is difficult for them to do so. Let us not forget that the true character of a leader is only revealed when he is empowered," he urged.

The former Youth and Sports Minister explained that the legal system will only function at an optimal level if the line is not crossed, that is if politicians stay in their lane and do not impose their political whims on the institution as they wish.

"Unfortunately, today, this line has been blurred. Simply for political survival, the Attorney General's Chambers was ignored.

"Judges are disrespected and left exposed to circumstances that tarnish the sanctity of the institution. A prosecutor was forced to retire early in the middle of a high-profile trial.

"The public service and the rule of law have been made a complete mockery. It will take years for the pillars of our institution to recover from this disgrace. The black stain on the system will remain for generations," he said.

According to him, the matter was completely unfair as the institution did not have access to a proper defence or the right to reply.

"It had nothing, but the sanctity of the constitution and the rule of law to rely on," he said