COMMENT | What is considered routine justice elsewhere, where the rule of law is pre-eminent and a top leader gets the punishment he deserves, is hailed as "historic" in corruption-ridden Malaysia. Here, powerful politicians may evade justice and get away with even murder, and their court convictions are rare.

But historic may not always turn out in the public interest. It was historic that Umno was licked in GE14 but also historic that came back to power through the back door.

It was historic that Pakatan Harapan won power in GE14 and equally historic it was the most short-lived democratically-elected government in Malaysia, or anywhere in recent times.

Historic can turn out to be a double-edged sword in this land of twists and turns. Before your euphoria subsides another historic event overtakes and joy turns into despair.

Still, the Najib verdict is clear-cut and redeems a justice system often regarded with suspicion, even trepidation, because of political interference.

Time will tell if "historic" will bring about the ending many Malaysians want and what the culpable rightly deserve.

The guilty verdict in all seven charges faced by former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak and his sentencing to 12 years jail and a fine of RM210 million was long-awaited and welcomed by many.

A friend wrote in a WhatsApp group, "I was so moved when I saw the news that I actually cried in my heart and thank our Almighty God for answering our prayers."

It is symptomatic of the pent-up emotions of a nation that sees leaders who are long on rhetoric and promises but short on delivery.

For years, the politicians have toyed with the aspirations of a nation.

For years, Malaysians have suffered in silence over the abuses of power and corruption, over the degradation of their future because of the corrupt and incompetent governance of their nation.

Those who expose wrongdoings, tell the truth, sound the alarm, and do good are demonised, victimised, persecuted, and prosecuted.

Only the repressed citizens, the migrant workers, refugees, and other victims - often ordinary folks without political patrons - know what it is like to experience bullying and injustice in a modern nation with a neo-feudal and tribal culture.

The nation has so much potential, only to be hijacked by the wretched politicians, who dig their own graves like Najib, now reaping what he sowed.

"Historic" should be the dawning of a new era, a new system of governance, a new civilisation in Malaysia where the crooked go to jail because the law is no respecter of lawbreakers, whoever they are.

Malaysia-watchers had long decided Najib's guilt after the Sarawak Report first published the 1MDB scandal and what ensued after - the coverups and persecution of those who exposed the truth.

The New York Times in 2015 published documents on US$681 million ending up in Najib's account. Then began the soap opera at home.

Najib was the scriptwriter and director. The spinmeister thought he could wheel and deal out of his predicament but there is no such thing as a perfect crime and flawless execution.

Details were overlooked by the perpetrators and the admirable eagle-eyed judge was not fooled.

Where is the "thank you" note, he asked, a simple oversight but enough to demolish the cock-and-bull story of a Saudi prince and his "generous donation".

Those who live in cloud-cuckoo-land still think they are untouchable. But as I have written before, there is a High Official who watches the antics of the officials.

And He can't be amused by those who commit fraud on the people, even invoking His name, and seeking His favour and pardon, only to repeat the evil process.

There is no virtue in defending the corrupt

Najib ought to send a thank you note to the judge for meting out the 12-year sentences to run concurrently. He got away relatively lightly.

Leaders who abuse their power to enrich themselves are the reason why a nation is thrust into poverty, racial divisiveness, and lawlessness.

They create chaos, bogeymen, and the dark state for plunder.

After Najib's stepson and a former Sabah state leader got off the hook, without facing court trials, people were afraid Najib would do a similar Houdini (the famous escape artist) under a Perikatan Nasional regime.

What a relief to know righteous judges do exist independent of the corrupt leaders. Whatever happens next, history has been etched in stone by the judge and prosecutors who did their jobs impeccably.

Many Muslims in the country are pious, honest, and God-fearing but the same can't be said of those who steal, lie, slander, even murder, and use religion to hoodwink the simple-minded as well as sometimes even the educated.

There is no virtue in defending the corrupt. The court testimonies revealed how the corrupt operate.

It took a heroic prosecution team, a righteous judge, and a fair trial to deliver real justice to the victims of "the biggest case of kleptocracy in US history".

The bell tolls for the corrupt.

Talk of Najib getting a royal pardon is coffee shop gossip. So PKR president Anwar Ibrahim received a pardon but there is no comparison. Anwar was a political victim. Human rights groups and foreign governments have publicly documented that fact, including his skewed legal proceedings, etc.

Najib is a common thief.

Where are the human rights groups and foreign governments crying foul? Does any religion allow stealing? Instead, leaders and those given public trust who cheat and steal ought to receive double punishment.

The moral of the story in the 1MDB scandal is fulfilment of the old adage "crime does not pay". Or maybe in Malaysia, it is "do the crime, pay the fine, and go to jail".

In my book, there is a teaching that if you don't quickly punish offenders, they and others will be emboldened to further offend.

Najib's conviction may yet redeem Malaysia's seriously tarnished image abroad.

It is a historic conviction and let's hope it is a permanent one with more to come. Kudos to the judge, the prosecution, and the witnesses who told the truth. God bless Malaysia.

STEVE OH is an author and composer of the novel and musical Tiger King of the Golden Jungle. He believes good governance and an engaging civil society are paramount to Malaysia being a unique and successful nation.