Sunday 24 February 2008

Trials and Tribulations





Abdul Razak kicks chairs and hits a door at his murder trial
Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, who is being tried for abetting two policemen in murdering Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, was widely reported to have lost his cool on the 90th day of the trial on Wednesday.

He had an angry look when his father Datuk Abdullah Malim Baginda whispered something to him before the trial resumed at about 9.30am.

After the proceedings were adjourned for lunch, the 48-year-old political analyst surprised all those present in the High Court when he suddenly kicked at chairs and banged a door with his hands. He was also seen crying before his lawyer Wong Kian Kheong and mother calmed him down.

Finally, about three hours later, Razak Baginda apparently could not stand it any longer and he ‘exploded’.

What did he say?

Reporters who were in court have been quoted as saying that Razak shouted again and again,


“Matilah kau Pak Lah!”

“Matilah Pak Lah!”

“I am innocent!”

“I am innocent!”

NOTE: “Matilah kau Pak Lah” means ‘Death to (the end of) you Pak Lah’ (Pak Lah is the well known nickname for Abdullah Ahmad Badawi)

Clarification:
It needs to be pointed out that the words in Bahasa Malaysia above, are a simple spoken form of the language, the word 'mati' could mean, dead, death, end, over, finish. Since the proper contex is unclear, the interpretation of the phrase "Matilah kau Pak Lah" is debateable.

After which he went on a rampage and kicked the chairs and doors in the courtroom.

The Judge was said to have been flummoxed and appeared to be unsure of what to do.

Both the defence lawyers and the prosecution legal team were reported as being shocked.


The Sun newspaper evidently initially carried the full story, complete with the details of Razak Baginda's outburst.


However, it is understood that the Ministry of Home Affairs ordered The Sun to withdraw their first print run which carried the 'Matilah Kau Pak Lah!' outburst by Razak Baginda.

Consequently the Sun was forced to withdraw thousands of copies of their initial print run.


Whatever actually happened that day in court, strange, dangerous and devious things are happening in Malaysia folks.

Court cases and Royal Commissions of Inquiry are developing into soap operas, and one cannot help but wonder if justice is being properly administered.

Are defendants the only persons implicated, or even worse, could they be convenient scapegoats?

Good people are never involved in the suppression of facts, denial of free expression and imposition of restrictions on the open reporting of the news, only the wicked, devious and manipulative would effect and condone such things.

One thing which is certain, in the Malaysian main stream print and electronic media, and on the local radio and television stations, the truth is never apparent, and there is little or no transparency and very little openness or honesty.

Such occurrences are not sign of a healthy democracy; to the contrary they are indicative of autocracy, elitist supremacy and distaste for accountability.

The truth will always prevail sooner or later, and then those who are truly guilty will certainly receive their due punishment.












TWO FACES, YES / NO?


Saúde!


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