YOURSAY 'How can Ling be sentenced when the rest of Umnoputras who have benefitted from the deal are happily enjoying the loot?'

Court acquits Ling of PKFZ cheating

Versey: If former transport minister Ling Liong Sik is not guilty of "cheating" the cabinet, does it not mean that the entire cabinet knew about it and had agreed to this "unscrupulous" deal?

If that be the case, we would have no hope that the present government can transform this country to be one better off in good governance because the fabric of a good, clean and efficient government is just not there when "dirty" dealings and those crooks in power are all woven together.

Such inter-connectivity means if one falls, the entire cabinet could not stand and hence they have to "you help me, I help you" to cover one another's back. Sigh!

Cala: There is little difference between criminals on the streets and those corrupt ruling elites in Third World states.

The former take away the lives of our precious ones, while the latter take away my future, your future and the future of many generations of our children because of their looting and plundering.

Rayte: What can we expect? Too much is at stake. The current government cannot set a precedence of ex-minister (or current minister) being found guilty in court.

This will open up the Pandora's Box. They have to protect themselves. Furthermore, there's no election to worry about for the next few years.

Malaysian 001: In most countries, the rule is the top guy who signs the documents is responsible. Here, we have an incredible judge telling us the guys who prepared the papers are liable.

What concept of accountability and responsibility are we following? Ling could have given instructions to his officers after receiving them from then PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Let It Pass: I think he has suffered enough. Let him go. However, it is a pity that the real culprit is still out there enjoying the good life.

Ketuanan Rakyat: No surprise at all. How can Ling be sentenced when the rest of Umnoputras who have benefitted from the deal are happily enjoying the loot?

More than half a century of power, the Umnoputras-led Bankrupt Nation (BN) is becoming even more openly abusive and racial in their attempts to siphon off taxpayers' money. Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Clearwater: No one cheated. The cabinet, comprising the deaf, dumb and the blind, just threw away an extra RM720 million for the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) land purchase.

Additionally, the letters of support from the government to raise billions in funds for its construction were implicit guarantee. So what? It was not their money. And BN still get voted back into power.

Judge: Ling can't be blamed over inaccurate PKFZ papers

Lim Chong Leong: Are we to sign documents and not be responsible for its contents? Can I use this defence when my bank sues me for the loans which I am about to start not to repay since this court judgment says I do not have to be responsible for whatever I sign?

Can I say please sue my lawyer because they prepared the documents and I only sign them?

This judgment means that all ministers can do whatever they like and spend public funds freely because they are ultimately not responsible for the ministry's action. What happened to our maxim of ministerial responsibility?

Hajile Leumas: Put the blame on those in the Transport Ministry who prepared the proposal because Ling didn't know what he signed? How ridiculous can it get?

All the three key witnesses played their roles very well and were in a "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" charade and it paid off.

So what next? We live happily ever after. After all, everyone is clean ... just like a fairytale. All the millions or hundreds of million ringgit are now safely in Swiss bank accounts.

Swipenter: This Bolehland culture of non-accountability and non-responsibility has now been "immortalised" by this judgment and legal precedent.

The man who started this culture is none other than Mahathir. So long as you are of use to Umno Baru you can act with impunity.

CiViC: Ahmadi Aswani, as a judge, you should know the difference between blame and accountability. The court does not convene to establish who to blame, but whether he is accountable under his responsibility as the minister.

You have just set a dangerous precedence, as from now onward ministers do not need to worry about authorising matters under their purview as long as they have "officers" to draft for them.

Amused Malaysian: This is another case of botched prosecution. The Attorney-General's Chambers is getting quite good at it. Only present part of the evidence and leave the judge no choice to dismiss the case due to insufficient evidence and facts.

The judge is correct - he can only rule based on facts.

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