The Enigm@ Chronicles

Yesterday new Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim made his statement that the Malaysian government should make an official apology for the debacle of the sacking of then Lord President Tun Salleh Abas which sparked the judicial crisis in 1988.

As a credit to Zaid I have to say the man actually had the guts to come out and make the call for an apology and also proposed reforms for the country ailing judiciary system. It’s this type of no holds bar politician who is making an attempt to clean up the mess this country’s in that gives me hope that not all is lost.

Yet in regards to the apology, it is my opinion that the statement calling for an apology is the only ‘official word’ the government will be offering. An all out apology to Tun Salleh Abas is something I think will not materialize!

This is due to the fact(conjecture) that an “official apology” from the government will signal that it has made a mistake and such an apology will definitely be solid ground for legal actions to be taken against the government. I’m no lawyer but I think this will be the likely scenario if any apology materialises - which I strongly believe wont!

So for the time being I don’t expect to see any sort of apology issued and I would be frankly stunned if such an apology would actually come to be. On that note the statement calling for the apology - an informal formal apology if you must - is the only sign that the government is repentant on the issue.

Lastly I am wondering if the non-formal apology will also be extended to the other persons wronged in the 1988 judicial crises i.e. Tan Sri Wan Suleiman Pawan Teh and Datuk George Seah?

(Pics courtesy of cortnie dee.)

Tags: judiciary, malaysia