YOURSAY | 'A half-baked barbarian representing M’sia as one of the embassy staff. Shameful!'

Rizalman pleads guilty to indecent assault in NZ case

Bad Head: Why is it that the statement of facts had to be interpreted into Bahasa Malaysia for Malaysian High Commission military attache Muhammad Rizalman Ismail in the New Zealand court? Does he not understand English?

If not, why did Malaysia send someone who does not understand English to an English-speaking country?

Hopeful123: ‘Embarrassing’ is the least to describe this sorry episode. Foreign embassy staff are supposed to uphold the sanctity and honour of their motherland.

Here we have a half-baked barbarian representing Malaysia as one of the embassy staff. Shameful!

Why was he posted to New Zealand when he can't speak or understand English? Oh my God, what level has the Malaysian government descended to? God save us.

MinahBulat: Really, a Malaysian high commission military special attache who cannot speak English?

Indeed, why did he need a Bahasa Malaysia translator? Shouldn't Wisma Putra send a person who can speak English?

Vijay47: Going through the chronology of the events in this miserable case, we are again treated to our image being dragged through the mud.

First was the refusal of waiver of immunity. This is understandable because in Malaysia, certain criminals will enjoy all manner of protection.

Second is the "ambiguity" over New Zealand's position on the matter. On May 10, ‘Hang Tuah’ appears in court. On May 12, an informal meeting was held and the ambiguity arose. Yet, nine days later on May 21, Malaysia refuses to waive immunity.

If the Malaysian High Commission believed since May 12 that ‘Hang Tuah’ was free to ‘balik kampung’, why the need to reaffirm refusal of immunity? It must have been in response to further demands from New Zealand. So where is the ambiguity?

Third, on a case as serious as this, does the Malaysian Foreign Ministry usually communicate on email with foreign junior staff?

Anon1: I wonder how many other perverts are serving with our foreign embassies.

Tok Karut: This is a lesson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to get on with a proper rigorous orientation for their officers abroad.

Freethinker: Since Rizalman has now pleaded guilty, can we now look into the matter where instructions had been given to New Zealand to close the case and seal the documents?

Isn't this action alone illegal under Malaysian law - an obstruction of justice and the concealment of truth?

Versey: I absolutely agree with Freethinker's comment. Diplomatic immunity should never be employed to cover such serious crime.

The Foreign Ministry should not have wasted taxpayers' money to fly him home, but should have let him face the legal music there and then.

If the Foreign Ministry dared to negotiate in an attempt to cover up such a crime committed in a relatively transparent country like New Zealand, where everyone is equal under the law, it cannot blame the public at large to suspect what this ministry had been doing in other Third World countries where the rule of law is not well-respected, or where the authorities share the belief that cash is king.

Simply Best: Rizalman's defence lawyer is a QC (Queen's Counsel), so who is footing the bill?

ADE007: What an idiot. Why try the case in a civilised country? Just do it in Malaysia, and you would have been a hero.

No time frame set for 1MDB probe, says minister

RCZ: De facto law minister Nancy Shukri, what hogwash. Allegedly the single biggest heist of the century that is affecting Malaysians and all its institutions, and the probe is taking its own sweet time?

We all know why, don't we? What kind of government and leaders do we have? What a sickening lot.

Hopeful123: Nancy, did you forget that the Conference of Rulers wanted this to come to a close at the earliest possible, as it is affecting a lot of other things, such as public confidence, foreign investments, etc?

Now you say that the case can go on as long as it wants. Have you no respect for our rulers?

Kingfisher: YB Law Minister, please use your position and powers of legitimate persuasion to expedite this urgent matter in the interest of the nation without compromising the righteousness, forensic precision and objectivity of any investigation an issue of this serious nature demands.

Indeed, we are reminded of the instructions of their royal highness via the Rulers’ Council on this matter. Many view that the nation is kept on hold for a number of reasons linked to the 1MDB scandal and that there is an urgent need for an enabling environment for the nation to move ahead and beyond the interests of any individuals or groups.

Some may think that are possible wrongdoers who continue to hold positions linked to the scandal without voluntarily accepting to be reassigned temporarily pending the completion of the investigation.

While some are maybe of the view that a number of government institutions entrusted to monitor and act on national abuses of statutory bodies may be under undue duress.

Burong Merah: It may take one year, if lucky. Two years perhaps, it could also be five years, or maybe 10 years, or possibly 100 years for us to complete the 1MDB probe.

What kind of a government have we?

Justice Pao: In other words, the probe will last until all the evidence and witnesses have expired and the rakyat with their short memories have totally forgotten everything about what 1MDB is about, and Najib and his gang would have escaped.

Tailek: In Umno language, "quickly" means nothing less than a few years. If, however, an opposition member is involved, "quickly" would mean yesterday.

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