HOT on the heels of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate the foreign exchange losses of Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) nearly 30 years ago, Putrajaya is now looking at a royal panel to look into the Memali incident.

There appears to be a renewed vigour these days to look into all the incidents that happened during the Mahathir administration that lasted  22 years. Would it have anything to do with the fact that Dr Mahathir Mohamad is now a political foe to the current government?

Or is it to account for all that has happened during the reign of the Barisan Nasional (BN) government, which continues to rule Malaysia? But only the Mahathir years, of course.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minster Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday eloquently put it that the law must be upheld and the responsible party held accountable.

“As home minister, I will personally study all the reports on the incident ,” he said, adding that in the name of upholding the law, all quarters should set aside their political differences.

“The Memali incident happened over two decades ago, but we have to keep in mind that the victims, families (and) children were denied their rights by the then government.”

Sure, Mr Home Minister. While you are at it, could you also recommend an RCI for the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) debacle? Or would that only be possible 30 years from now?

If anything, Zahid’s remarks this past weekend should make Malaysians sit up and realise why they must go out to vote.                        

We have been treated with derision by leaders who believe the country is theirs to play with. That they will consider investigations only when it suits them, not when the people need them.

Malaysians are understandably tired of all these political shenanigans. But beware apathy and fatigue, the biggest enemies to speaking truth to power. 

By all means, do investigate the BNM forex losses and the Memali incident on November 19, 1985, when 18 people, including four policemen, were killed and many more injured in the police raid to arrest religious teacher Ibrahim Mahmud aka Ibrahim Libya.

You don’t need an RCI to get to the bottom of these. You can open up the files and interview those involved. Or you can make a big show of it to let the world know you are looking into it. 

Stopping at that would just be for political purposes. Will the government take action based on the RCI report, because some past reports continue to gather dust? Will all those involved, right down to the mata-mata who were obeying orders, be punished or will it be just the top people?

Malaysians need a government that serves their needs, not one that panders to its own vain desires to score points and hold on to power.  If anything, you’re just cutting off your nose to spite your face. – August 2I, 2017.